Exports of wine from the Loire Valley have experienced a significant boost, increasing by 5.9% in value in 2024, which amounts to a record €200 million. This growth comes as the overall export value of French wine has declined for two consecutive years. The surge is attributed to a rise in demand for higher-value bottles,… Read More »
Champagne Alfred Gratien has released a remarkable special edition, the Cuvée Paradis Rosé 2008, which encapsulates both tradition and innovation. Composed of 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir, this wine is noteworthy not only for its blend but also for the unique process it underwent—being disgorged in January 2023 after spending extra time on the… Read More »
Finca Allende is an esteemed winery in the Rioja region, characterized by a single-vineyard approach. Owned and managed by Miguel Ángel de Gregorio, the winery is located in Briones, a village steeped in rich viticultural history. Miguel’s journey into winemaking began in 1986 while he was a university teacher in Madrid. His interest led him… Read More »
In an insightful reflection from 2017, David Schildknecht delves into the concept of "minerality" in wine tasting, examining whether it transcends mere buzzword status. Despite its relatively recent emergence, the term "minerality" has quickly become enshrined in wine discourse, shrouded in ambiguity—what Jancis Robinson MW dubs “the illusive M-word.” At a 2014 symposium on minerality,… Read More »
Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) has launched an innovative Interactive Wine Map of Marlborough, marking a significant advancement in accessing detailed information about New Zealand’s largest wine region. Developed with the help of local geospatial experts MapHQ, this digital tool is based on AMW’s original Wine Map of Marlborough and provides a comprehensive digital resource for… Read More »
Pascal Chatonnet: The Gray Eminence of Wine Margaret Rand interviews Pascal Chatonnet, a Bordelais consultant winemaker whose scientific approach revolutionized the understanding of wine faults. Chatonnet’s deep-rooted connection to St-Emilion dates back to the 16th century, where his family initially worked as coopers and stonemasons. His family previously owned Château Ausone, but his grandfather sold… Read More »
Ata Rangi is a leading winery based in Martinborough, New Zealand, known for its pioneering role in the region. My experiences visiting this winery on multiple occasions have always been eye-opening, showcasing the tremendous potential of New Zealand’s viticulture. The latest release from Ata Rangi is their 2022 Pinot Noir, which has an alcohol content… Read More »
In Joséphine d’Yquem: A Remarkable Woman, a Legendary Wine, author Christel de Lassus explores the life of Françoise-Joséphine de Sauvage d’Yquem, revealing two key themes: her pervasive personal losses and her relentless pursuit of late-harvest winemaking. The book draws on an extensive collection of family archives, suggesting that Château d’Yquem may have produced the first… Read More »
Champagne is mourning the unexpected passing of Frédéric Panaïotis, the esteemed chef de cave of Ruinart, who tragically died at the age of 60 during a freediving training exercise in Belgium. The diving club Reims Palmes Apnée announced his death on Sunday, highlighting the loss felt across the Champagne community. Panaïotis’ career began after twelve… Read More »
My first significant introduction to Zinfandel came through reading "Angels’ Visits" by David Darlington, which was later republished as “Zin.” This book captivated me early in my wine exploration journey, revealing how this unexpected grape variety emerged as California’s own. Zinfandel’s history in California dates back to the 1850s during the gold rush, when winemaking… Read More »