Full-on judging on Sunday, followed by a recreational (not work) trip to Ravine Vineyard for a few of us. They make really good wine, but they are also a great hospitality venue. We sat and watched football, enjoying beer and some excellent pizza. We even had a kick around, trying to avoid the vines with… Read More »
“`html South Africa’s national grape has changed, says Tim James. By Tim James The chances are that if you have bothered to acquire an opinion (first- or second-hand) of Pinotage as a grape variety, it’s going to be a poor one. But wait—things have changed, and your opinion should keep up. It’s arguable that one… Read More »
In this life and the next, a river of wine will always be charged with meaning. By Stuart Walton From heavenly paradise to tool of vigneron protesters, Stuart Walton follows the flow and significance of the river of wine. According to the Qur’an, Jannah, the heavenly paradise that awaits the devout after death, will be… Read More »
Assessing the best young and mature red wines from the Central Portuguese region. By Richard Mayson The Dão has improved enormously over the past 30 years, with the best wines now making good on their considerable promise, says Richard Mayson, after a tasting shared with Simon Field MW and Andrew Jefford and featuring additional commentary… Read More »
The third day in Canada’s Niagara wine region. Judging was solid: I was with Jeremy Bonia (who runs restaurants in St Johns, Newfoundland) and Sharon McLean (over from Victoria, BC). It went quickly, and we had some nice wines in the varied flights we tasted. Jeremy and I then headed out to explore the beer… Read More »
The best wines to pair with the satisfyingly rustic Chilean vegetable stew. By Joanna Simon I can’t imagine that anyone ever visits Chile’s Secano Interior—Maule, Itata, and Bío Bío—without eating the vegetable stew porotos granados; probably several times in the summer when the principal ingredients, borlotti beans (aka cargamanto, cranberry beans, or Roman beans), maize… Read More »
A few decades from now, young sommeliers may be learning about Benedicto and Moribel, along with Tempranillo, Graciano, and Mazuelo. Spanish researchers at the Institute of Vine and Wine of Castilla-La Mancha (IVICAM) found the two grape varieties showed promising results where adapting to climate change is concerned. Tests have suggested Benedicto and Moribel, parent… Read More »
Newly released results for the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2024 include 117 coveted Platinum medals, representing just 0.64% of all wines tasted in this year’s competition. With more than 18,000 entries blind-tasted by nearly 250 world-leading experts in a rigorous, multi-stage judging process at DWWA 2024, consumers can be confident that Platinum award winners… Read More »
A solid day of judging wine followed by a tasting of Prince Edward County wines and dinner at the Two Sisters Winery in the Niagara River sub appellation. It was good to be back judging in the National Wine Awards of Canada competition, which is really well organized. 1800 wines this year, with a team… Read More »
Margaret Rand heads to newly fashionable wine-growing corner of Essex. By Margaret Rand Margaret Rand visits England’s most densely planted corner to discuss with John Atkinson MW the benefits of the area’s clay-rich soils and Burgundy-like climate, as well as the enormous strides made by the Danbury Ridge winery. “It was obvious 20 years ago… Read More »