‘It all started in a class I was taking in Burgundy in 2016,’ says winemaker Katrina Rank about her winemaking partnership with de Villaine: Composition. On that day in Burgundy, Rank had asked Bertrand de Villaine if he’d ever considered making wine from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a proven sweet spot for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.… Read More »
Owner Nick Clarke purchased the historic Blackdown Park estate in 2010 (near Haslemere, Surrey), and has planted 25 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier vines located in five plots. The oldest plantings are from 2004 and the most recent from 2018. This site is the highest part of the South Downs, and the… Read More »
Website: https://chateaudelagreffiere.com/en/ Greffière is an exciting producer in the Mâconnais, based in La Roche Vineuse, and they also have a bit of history. The Grezuard family has been here since 1924 but the buildings, typical of the Mâconnais, date back to 1790. We met with Gaylord Petrillo and Xavier Greuzard. Xavier is mainly focused on… Read More »
A new record was announced by Switzerland-based merchant ARVI after it sold the 27-litre bottle of Bibi Graetz Colore 2016 for 100,000 Swiss francs (£87,104). It’s the most expensive bottle of Italian wine ever sold, said the retailer on its Instagram account. No details were given about the buyer of the wine, which contains the… Read More »
Andrew Jefford enjoys an original take on the complexities of Italian wine. By Andrew Jefford Andrew Jefford reviews Italy in a Wine Glass: The Taste of History by Marc Millon. Here’s a rarity: a wine book that rewards reading from beginning to end. I gulped it down, and I finished wanting more. Marc Millon is… Read More »
Website: https://terres-secretes.com/en/ The wine world needs good, affordable wine, and when cooperatives are well run, they can help provide it. Terres Secrètes, based in Prissé in the south of the region, is one such cooperative, and this was a good first visit. We were hosted by Xavier Ritton (export director) and then we were joined… Read More »
In a world where the trend is for ever greater focus on single sites, Harry Eyres considers the merits of blending. By Harry Eyres A singular, shining identity. The expression of a particular, unique place on the Earth’s surface—call it terroir—blessed by geological and microclimatic felicities, hallowed by a name rich in historical or at least… Read More »
Topics of discussion covered viticulture, packaging, sales and social responsibility. ‘Climate change is and will continue to modify wine production conditions and requires adaptation from growers,’ said Dr Steve Ostoja, the director of the California Climate Hub. The forecast for growers includes more heat waves, spring starting earlier, a shift in growing degree days, tree… Read More »
Website: http://www.dugat-py.com Things are changing in Burgundy (or Bourgogne, as the region now likes to be called). A new generation is coming into family domaines and is open-minded about doing things a bit differently, both in the winery and the cellar. Due to the rising success of this region, they have the budget to do… Read More »
The best wines to pair with the silky smooth Italian cream dessert. By Joanna Simon Much as I like the description of panna cotta as mere blancmange with a fancy accent, it really isn’t true. Panna cotta is made from sweetened cream set to perfect wobbliness with gelatine. Traditional English-style blancmange (just try finding a… Read More »