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 »

Verjuice, an acidulant made from unripe, unfermented grapes, is one of Australia’s culinary treasures, notably popularized by food personality Maggie Beer. Though it has a long history in Europe and the Middle East—known by various names such as verjus in France and agresto in Italy—its prominence diminished with the rise of lemons in cooking. Historically,… Read More »

The wine communities in California are grappling with significant emotional and operational costs due to the recent immigration raids initiated by the Trump administration. This has heightened fears and uncertainties within the Latino communities, especially among farmworkers, who represent a vital labor force in the vineyards of California. With the growing season in full swing,… Read More »

Margate, a seaside town in Kent, has gained a new reputation as “Shoreditch on Sea.” Once considered rough around the edges, the town has experienced a revival, drawing an artistic and trendy community attracted by its scenic location and affordable property prices. Alongside its cultural resurgence, Margate is emerging as a culinary destination, making it… Read More »