Donald Hess, a businessman, art collector and a vintner on four continents, died at the age of 86 in Bern, Switzerland, on Jan. 30. Born in Switzerland in a family of brewers, Hess built a successful mineral water company before entering the wine industry in 1978 by purchasing 700 acres of vineyards in Napa Valley’s Mt. Veeder appellation. Originally intending …

(image: NVWA) Every so often, the idea of challenging the merit of earning wine certifications becomes de rigueur, and we start to see articles pop up meant to prod that debate. This is, I think, in part due (unfairly) to the ridiculous modern cultural war against expertise in general (there’s a very interesting book on the topic, if you’re looking …

The underground cellars of Bodegas Ollauri, along with the three historical buildings above them, are the material heritage of five centuries of winemaking history. The symbolic aspect of this heritage is, however, all the more valuable, carrying the narrative and spirit that has shaped the soul of Rioja. Walking through the kilometre-long galleries is a journey through time, with the …

Blue Rock Vineyard is a small artisanal winery in Alexander Valley that produces high quality, hand-crafted Bordeaux-inspired wines and Pinot Noir from Sonoma County grapes. The owner of the winery is Kenny Kahn, pictured here. Kenny is a passionate vigneron who is among the producers in Alexander Valley who are deeply committed to producing authentic high quality estate wines.  Over …

Racks of carefully stored fine wines at Octavian Vaults’ Corsham Cellars facility in the west Wiltshire countryside There are no better products to buy than wine. Fact. With its infinite variety, wide range of prices and ability to (a) increase in value, and (b) make your steak taste better, it appeals to nerds, collectors and sybarites alike. Which perhaps explains …

Familia Geisse vineyards in DO Altos de Pinto Badeira Altos de Pinto Bandeira, located in Brazil’s southern Serra Gaúcha wine region, has been recognised as a DO for traditional method sparkling wines. The new DO, which is the first in the New World that’s exclusively for sparkling wines, was announced on 29 November 2022. The first wines labelled DO Altos …

Montefioralle, Greve in Chianti, Italy Decidedly distinct from one another, Italy’s 20 regions present fascinating diversity in their grapes and wines. Each region has its own identity, but when considered as a whole, the country’s production regularly rivals that of France as the largest producer in the world. For its scale and notable breadth, judging of Italian wines at the …

Aszú harvest at Tokaj Oremus The Furmint story beyond Aszu? Sylvia Wu My second visit to Tokaj was during the Aszu? harvest season. The rare chance to walk through the volcanic vineyards, cherry-picking those sticky, shrivelled berries coated with furry, brown botrytis was fascinating. The eye-opening trip also introduced me to the region’s wide range of styles beyond Aszu?. Besides …

Introduction How does the shape of a restaurant table impact how much you eat? How can you use your music playlist to complement your menu? Which types of songs can make your wine taste more acidic? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with journalist Nell McShane Wulfhart. You can find the wines we discussed here.   Join …

Inside the February 2023 issue of Decanter magazine: FEATURES Spain travel: glorious day trips for wine lovers Shawn Hennessey suggests 10 days out from five cities Rioja Gran Reserva: my top 20 Sarah Jane Evans MW’s selection Regional profile: Ri?as Baixas With Tim Atkin MW in Galicia Six from Spain: regions, dishes and wines A tour of gastronomic delights, with …

Domaine A&P de Villaine at Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise In the past several years, ‘Burgundy’ and ‘bargain’ have seldom appeared in the same sentence. Despite the price escalation, finding value is eminently possible even in the current market of tiny supply and surging demand. One possibility is to explore regional appellation wines that receive just the appellation ‘Bourgogne’. Scroll …

A rich version, with plum, blueberry, earth and spice flavors backed by vibrant acidity. Fruity and balanced, leaving a pleasantly astringent grip on the finish. Drink now. 10,000 cases made, 6,000 cases imported. Source : dec460e31beca32afd891053c231f9b0

Juicy and direct, with cherry and berry flavors and subtle herb details. Drink now. 60,000 cases made, 4,000 cases imported. Source : 1f1b820fff5616ff368d359e3450db1c