The winelands of South Africa’s Western Cape region were hit by the largest and most devastating storm in living memory at the end of September, while the country celebrated its Heritage Day weekend. Nearly 16 inches of rain fell in less than 48 hours in some areas, causing catastrophic damage as rivers burst their banks, roads were washed away and …

This article may be filed under the Book Reviews section of Vinography, but it isn’t exactly a book review. That’s because I’m not exactly a neutral party when it comes to the 5th edition of the Oxford Companion to Wine. During the pandemic I spent countless hours volunteering as a contributor to the largest revision yet for what some people …

Hello, and welcome to my weekly roundup of the wine stories that I find of interest on the web. I post them to my magazine on Flipboard, but for those of you who aren’t Flipboard-inclined, here’s everything I’ve strained out of the wine-related muck for the week. Jancis Robinson Shares a Look Inside the Evolution of The Oxford Companion to WineThis …

Founded by Takis Soldatos and Mario Calzolari, both leading figures in the global wine industry for the last 30 years, Mare Magum has quickly established itself as a leader in the production of wine at unbeatable price/quality. The two entrepreneurs have been able to create a wine production and distribution company where passion for terroir goes hand in hand with …

Etna, Sicily with vineyard in foreground A complex melange of cultures which folds in elements from its past occupants –ancient Greeks, Romans, Normans and Arabs – Sicily today is one of the most dynamic wine scenes in Italy. Its cuisine, language, architecture and wines are unique. Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for eight brand-new wines from Sicily …

Vouvray is famous for its wines made from the Chenin Blanc grape.  The wines range from dry (sec) to very sweet (moelleux) and all are grown on the chalky limestone soils of the appellation, located just north of the Loire River and northeast of the city of Tours. Producers typically press Chenin Blanc whole bunch, ferment in stainless steel, and …

La Roche Trouée, or the holey rock at the top of Le Mourel hill, in the midst of Corbières’ Boutenac cru, looking west towards the Alaric moutain. Corbières & Minervois 2022 vintage rating:  4 / 5 Corbières & Minervois 2021 vintage rating: 3 / 5 Despite the rumbling autoroute that forges east-west through its heart and the sea of towering …

It is the fastest-growing luxury wine brand in the United States over the past year, according to data from Circana Market Advantage. Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) will pay $900m up front to purchase Daou Vineyards, plus an additional earn-out of up to $100m. CEO Tim Ford said: ‘The US is the world’s largest wine market and we’re beyond thrilled to …

Bordeaux 1982 bottles Considered one of the region’s greatest-ever vintages, 1982 produced a plentiful crop and a raft of ripe, generous and rich wines that ushered in a new style of ‘rockstar opulence’ for Bordeaux. It effectively launched the career of the now-famous (and retired) critic Robert M Parker Jr, who opposed leading US wine writers at the time by …

Think of Australian wine, and one region probably pops to mind: the Barossa. With its picturesque landscapes of lush vineyards and sun-baked stone farmhouses, this corner of free-settled South Australia isn’t the country’s oldest wine region but – thanks to a worldwide thirst for Aussie Shiraz – it’s definitely the most famous. Home to respected names like Yalumba and Torbreck, …

Softly sparkling and fresh, with a plummy range of dark berry and cherry fruit, plus accents of anise and tea rose. Drink now. 3,300 cases made, 2,000 cases imported. Source : aded89a400a1282be9e539166b20bdec

Compact and hits all the right notes, with a smoky herb and peppercorn entry to the tight blackberry core. Ends on a gravelly note. Drink now through 2030. 5,500 cases made, 4,500 cases imported. Source : 21c8fdf4892da6e5e95cdeff9a23931c

Inspired by Wine Country, Edith Maxwell, also known as Maddie Day (Pseudonym) California History Richard “Dick” Reinhardt – Quick Wiki, because I know it all to be true: “Richard Reinhardt (born March 25, 1927) is an American journalist, author, and historian, whose books and articles have focused mainly on the American West, especially San Francisco […] The post Murder in …

If I had to select the single most important and impactful trend in the world of wine, it would have to be the renewed focus on ancient and indigenous grape varieties around the world. For millennia, cultures around the world have planted and selected wine grapes that matched their tastes, their climates, and their needs. These grape varieties not only …

Bodegas Ysios (Laguardia, Rioja, Spain), designed by Santiago Calatrava In June 2017, the Consejo Regulador of Rioja unveiled a new framework that caused a surge of excitement across Spain’s viticultural landscape. After much passionate debate, Spain’s engine for global export was to embrace terroir with the creation of a new ‘Vin?edos Singulares’ (single vineyard) designation. Many of the region’s top …

The post Wine Reviews: Mini Round-Up for October 30, 2023 appeared first on 1 Wine Dude. I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) …

The Abbaye de Sainte-Hilaire in Limoux. Limoux 2022 vintage rating: 4 / 5 Limoux 2021 vintage rating: 3.5 / 5 The wines of Limoux stand somewhat apart from many of the other wines of Languedoc; the use of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Franc seems at odds to the use of Mediterranean varieties like Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre …

Paolo Scavino sorting Nebbiolo grapes Enrico Scavino left school in 1951 so that he could begin helping his father, Paolo at the family estate. Nothing unusual about that, except that Enrico was just 11 years old. Over 70 years later, he’s still there, although now assisted closely by his daughters Enrica and Elisa. Enrica focuses on marketing and administration, while …

Clos Fantine’s beautiful vineyard in Faugères. Languedoc 2022 vintage rating:  4.5 / 5 Languedoc 2021 vintage rating:  3.5 / 5 Even after tasting over 900 wines and spending many hours visiting the region, it is still somewhat difficult to draw solid conclusions about the latest vintages in Languedoc. This is due to a number of reasons. Firstly, depending on each …

In the last three decades organic wine has evolved dramatically, in both quality and market placement. From an obscure trend, often misinterpreted as anathema to balance and character, organic certification is now almost a compulsory requirement among professionals and consumers alike. This fast and dramatic change owes much to Millésime BIO, the world’s largest and most respected event focused solely …