Country and regional articles; thematic stuff, such as ‘cool climate’ (another pet topic of mine).
Bordeaux wine tourism, part 3 – the left bank
The Médoc – Bordeaux’s left bank – is a largely unprepossessing landscape made beautiful and dramatic by pristine row upon row of vines, carpeting the grounds of classic and charming châteaux. And it is remarkably recently that this most traditional of wine regions has begun to embrace wine tourists.
Guide to wine tasting – part 1
Part one of an eight part guide to wine tasting, written for France magazine. This month is sparkling wines.
Sonoma strikes for coolness
Sonoma, in California, made its cool climate case at a recent seminar in London, showing mostly pinot noirs with two chardonnays, a couple of classic grape varieties associated with cool climate viticulture.
Cool climate Australia
Australia is finding its cooler climate cool-spots. This piece explores the reality and busts some of the myths.
German pinot noir, emerging excellence
The recent emergence of German pinot noir (spätburgunder) on the world stage was revisited with this tasting seminar, held at Staatsdomäne Assmansshausen in Rüdesheim, Germany, in late September 2009, as part of a Master of Wine visit to the region.
Bordeaux and climate change: whites
Four top Bordeaux producers recently got together in London to discuss climate change and the Bordeaux paradigm over the past 20 years. The news is not great for white wines.
Viña Casa Silva: Veritable Carmenère Specialist
Carmenère specialist Viña Casa Silva, in conjunction with research institutions in Chile and Germany, is researching the best carmenère clones to make better quality wine.
South African model of cooler climate
Understanding the cooler aspects of the South African climate is complicated. South Africa’s climate is undoubtedly warm Mediterranean and hot continental. But there are a number of cooling influences, most notably from both proximitous oceans, and high up at altitudes of 1,000m and more.
Bordeaux and climate change: reds.
Four top Bordeaux producers recently got together in London to discuss climate change and the Bordeaux paradigm over the past 20 years. The news is not … yet … catastrophic.
Casa Silva research Chilean terroir
In researching very small scale viticultural units, Viña Casa Silva have discovered that even very small distances in the vineyard can produce different results in the wine.
