Kirk Bray and Paul Pujol, two classmates from a wine program at Lincoln in 1999, began scouting potential vineyard sites in Waipara. They got their start when Kirk’s girlfriend introduced him to an opportunity to acquire land from an old sheep farm. Paul bought two paddocks but sold them when he relocated to Alsace. This… Read More »

Gallo, the largest wine company in the world, operates three of the biggest wineries globally, located in California. Despite not typically inviting journalists for tours, their extensive facilities can be explored using Google Earth. The company, which dropped the "E&J" from its name in 2024, runs a bottling and shipping winery in Modesto, along with… Read More »

Langham Wine Estate: An Evolution in Sparkling Wine In the picturesque chalk and flint country of Dorset, Langham Wine Estate has emerged as a notable player in the fine sparkling wine scene. Established by Justin Langham and his team, including head winemaker Tommy Grimshaw, the estate has transformed an initial skepticism into a thriving wine… Read More »

I have been thoroughly impressed with the wines crafted by Leo Sommer, particularly those from his Sommer Blaufränkisch 2020, a notable blend from the Leithaberg region of Burgenland, Austria. Recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying this wine at a local restaurant called Das Fritz, where it truly shone. The Sommer Blaufränkisch 2020 is characterized… Read More »

2024 Chablis stands out as a vintage marked by charm, liveliness, and a distinct salinity, despite the adverse weather conditions it faced. The narrative surrounding this vintage was initially colored by a devastating hailstorm, persistent mildew, and an overcast summer, leading many to assume the quality would be compromised. However, those who tried the wines… Read More »

Sietze Wijma has joined the panel of judges for the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Based in the Netherlands, he is a renowned wine educator who operates under the company name The Art of Tasting. Wijma employs a unique methodology in his courses where wines are paired with added flavor compounds to assist wine… Read More »

Judith Beck is making remarkable strides in the world of natural wines from her vineyard in Gols, Burgenland, Austria. Owning 15 hectares of land, Beck has embraced biodynamic farming since 2007 and shifted the winemaking process towards a more natural approach after taking over her family estate. The wines she produces are not only impressive… Read More »

In her second coverage of the 2024 Burgundy vintage, The World of Fine Wine’s Burgundy critic Sarah Marsh MW provides a thorough evaluation of the region’s villages, crus, and lieux-dits. Côte de Nuits Marsannay to Gevrey-ChambertinIn Marsannay, winemaker Edouard Clair notes that rain was heavier between Gevrey and Marsannay. Despite the adverse conditions, there are… Read More »

I visited Fabien Duparray of Domaine Jules Desjourneys back in 2018 and was truly impressed with the wines he offered. Recently, I had the pleasure of tasting the Jules Desjourneys Pouilly-Loché 2019 from Bourgogne, France. This wine, with an alcohol content of 13%, showcases remarkable tension. It balances richness from ripe pear and peach flavors… Read More »

In a challenging year plagued by adverse weather conditions, the Côtes du Rhône region has surprisingly delivered some delightful wines that are ideal for immediate consumption. The impact of the vintage is particularly pronounced in this appellation, where lower-tier wines can reflect the variances more distinctly compared to higher-end crus. As a result, wine enthusiast… Read More »