English and Belgian Sparkling Wine: A Promising Future A recent tasting of English and Belgian sparkling wines revealed an encouraging outlook for Northern European production, particularly highlighting Chardonnay as a standout varietal. This event, hosted by a panel that included Simon Field MW, Anthony Rose, and myself, involved a selection of wines nominated by their… Read More »

José Ignacio Maturana, after spending 15 years as the chief winemaker for Casa Silva, decided to embark on a new venture with his brother Sebastien in 2014. They established Maturana Winery in the diverse region of Maule, Chile, where they have made significant investments in constructing a state-of-the-art facility. This winery emphasizes sustainability and fairness,… Read More »

The New Douro Viticulture In a significant exploration of Douro’s viticultural evolution over the past 40 years, two key players, the Fladgate Partnership and Symington Family Estates, reflect on how their practices have transformed, especially following the World Bank-funded plantings in the 1980s. Charles Symington notes the dramatic changes in Douro viticulture during this period.… Read More »

Matías Riccitelli is emerging as one of Argentina’s notable winegrowers, originating from Cafayate in Salta and now operating in Las Compuertas, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza. Since establishing his winery in 2009, he has cultivated vineyards across some of Mendoza’s finest regions. His properties encompass 20 hectares of old vines in Las Compuertas, along with additional… Read More »

Popped into Dynamic Vines today and tasted through the 2022s from Emidio Pepe, a noteworthy winery that has been previously discussed extensively. Emidio Pepe is distinguished by its commitment to low-intervention winemaking, with none of its wines undergoing oak aging, which results in pure, expressive flavors. Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2022 This wine is beautifully… Read More »

Douloufakis is a winery located in the village of Dafnes, close to Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete. The vineyards are organically farmed and run by the third generation of the Douloufakis family, with Nikos Douloufakis at the helm since 1993, following his wine studies in Alba, Piemonte. Initially, Nikos planted several international grape… Read More »

In his final column for The World of Fine Wine, Michel Bettane reflects on his two-decade journey with the magazine and expresses profound concerns about the future of wine, stating, "The world of wine is on the brink of the biggest struggle for its survival since the phylloxera era." Bettane has been a voice for… Read More »

Pyramid Valley is a distinctive vineyard located in North Canterbury, New Zealand. My first encounter with this gem occurred during my initial trip to Aotearoa in November 2007, amidst my role as a science editor. After a symposium in Dunedin, I often took the chance to extend work trips, which led me to explore regions… Read More »

The tasting of Iberian fortified wines, including Port, Sherry, Madeira, Montilla, and Carcavelos, reveals a rich and diverse category that is increasingly niche but steeped in history. Despite a general decline in the popularity of these wines, they maintain a unique and important status in the winemaking world. Historically, fortified wines have their origins steeped… Read More »

A significant change is unfolding in the UK’s wine culture, marking a return to the familiar and traditional as consumers navigate through uncertain economic times and global socio-political challenges. This shift signals a movement away from the adventurous exploration of alternative wines and styles that characterized the previous decade. Over the last ten years, there… Read More »