Around 1718, Charles III Philipp, Elector Palatine and Habsburg governor, was visiting Salurn in South Tyrol when he met Clemens Pankert, a teenage button-maker barely three and a half feet tall. Impressed by the young man’s wit, Charles invited him to join his court in Heidelberg. Pankert, also known by the Italian name Giovanni Clementi,… Read More »
Herrenhof Lamprecht is a historic estate in Austria’s Vulkanland Steiermark. Once a monastery, it began its current phase of wine production in 2005 and now has 11 hectares of vines, including three hectares devoted to Furmint. The wines were tasted with Gottfried Lamprecht. He makes them in 600-litre barrels, using oak from his own forest… Read More »
As autumn brings shorter days and cooler evenings, spritzes can still make a refreshing aperitif. Their simple formula—spirit, sparkling wine and soda—can take on seasonal flavors such as orchard fruit, herbs, bitters and spiced citrus. The spritz began in northern Italy in the late 19th century, when Austro-Hungarian soldiers diluted local wines with sparkling water.… Read More »
Norway’s Nikolai Haram Svorte won the 2026 ASI Best Sommelier of the World competition, taking the title on his first attempt. France’s Pascaline Lepeltier placed second, while Japan’s Wataru Iwata came third. The final took place in Lisbon on 16 October before a live audience at the historic Coliseu dos Recreios. Of the 66 sommeliers… Read More »
Global wine-auction sales reached $159.21 million in the second quarter of 2026, down 21% year on year but well above the same period in 2023 and 2024. Auction houses reported a market showing signs of recovery, though buyers remained selective. Strong vintages, excellent condition and clear provenance mattered: exceptional wines sold well, while weaker examples… Read More »
Global wine-auction sales reached $159.21 million in the second quarter of 2026, down 21% year on year but well above the same period in 2023 and 2024. Auction houses reported a market showing signs of recovery, though buyers remained selective. Strong vintages, excellent condition and clear provenance mattered: exceptional wines sold well, while weaker examples… Read More »
Napa Valley’s wine-growing history dates back to the 19th century. Today, the California region is known for celebrated wineries, restaurants and scenic vineyards. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Napa’s signature grapes, with the variety expressing different characteristics across the region’s 17 sub-appellations, or American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). But Napa produces much more than Cabernet: both… Read More »
Santuvario is a small natural wine producer based in Borgomanero, in Alto Piemonte, at the foot of the Alps. The local Boca wine region has contracted dramatically: where vineyards once covered around 1,000 hectares, only about 10 remain. Ivano Barbaglia and Paola Fornara began making wine under the Santuvario name in 2012. Their vineyards sit… Read More »
Chicago-based wine educator Christy Fuhrman and Canary Islands winemaker Loreto Pancorbo have received the 2026 Barca-Velha Golden Vines Master of Wine Scholarships. Each will receive £35,000 to support their MW studies and visit SOGRAPE wineries and vineyards in Portugal. The scholarships are run by the Gérard Basset Foundation. This year, the selection panel chose the… Read More »
Oltrepò Pavese, in Lombardy in northwest Italy, is a hilly wine region bordering Piemonte, Liguria and Emilia-Romagna. Although it also produces still wines, the focus of a recent tasting was Classese: traditional-method sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir. Classese production is growing quickly. The region currently produces around 800,000 bottles, up from 400,000 two years… Read More »