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Monthly Archives: January 2025

Vinography Images: Winter Shadows

Gnarled old vines make unusual silhouettes as the afternoon light catches the tips of the grasses that have sprouted with the winter rains in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region of France. The region has an unusually high proportion of older vines that are still producing wine. INSTRUCTIONS:Download this image by right-clicking on the image and selecting “save link as” or “save target …

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Vintage Port 2022: A tale of unexpected freshness

It’s now a worn cliché to say that good winemakers are those able to produce a good wine from a bad vintage. Perhaps it could be added that a superior vineyard is able to withstand severe climatic conditions and still deliver outstanding fruit. Both statements seem validated by the Vintage Ports from the troubled 2022 growing season; few but characterful, …

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Furmint February: The versatile grape winning global acclaim

Primarily grown in Hungary, Furmint is the key grape variety for deliciously sweet Tokaji, but has proven itself a versatile variety to watch in Hungary and beyond. As wine expert and Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) Regional Chair for North, Central and Eastern Europe Caroline Gilby MW explains, ‘Furmint is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and versatile grape varieties in …

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Marelise Niemann: South Africa’s Grenache Champion

Marelise Niemann(credit drwinkler) Marelise Niemann has long been recognized for her Grenache Noir sourced from bush vines grown in granitic soils in the Swartland’s Paardeberg.  However, with the 2022 vintage she has expanded her menu to include three additional, single vineyard Grenaches from different sites and soils:  Bot River (schist soils), Swartland’s Piekenierskloof (sandstone soils), and Swartland’s Riebeekberg (schist soils …

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Exploring Armagnac

Tasting barrel samples of Armagnac at Domaine de Pellehaut The region of Gascony in Southwest France, for many, epitomises the irresistible charm of rural France. Dotted with medieval bastide villages, its gently rolling countryside holds the promise of a slower pace of life, punctuated by long lunches of foie gras and magret de canard, washed down with a glass or …

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Brief history of Naples wine auction as new record is set

Auctioneer Lydia Fenet Besting last year’s record, the 2025 Naples auction raised just over $34m. Unique wine experience lots fetched in the range of $500-800,000 and a package with a wine-coloured Bentley netted $1.7m. Top wine lots included a curated trip provided by Napa’s Staglin Family Vineyard. Two couples will join the Staglin family on a tour of Switzerland – …

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Facets of Sauvignon: Tasting the Appellation Marlborough Collection

I’ve long said that selecting the top 12 wines made in your region each year using a blind tasting run by a third party and then sending that case of wines to commentators around the world is one of the smartest and most compelling bits of regional wine marketing I’ve ever experienced. I’m thrilled to get my Gimblett Gravels collection …

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lechecce has added a photo to the pool: Source : https://www.flickr.com/photos/38070237@N06/54296968726/in/pool-912056@N21

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lechecce has added a photo to the pool: Barolo in the abstract #3…. Lets dance…… ;o)) Source : https://www.flickr.com/photos/38070237@N06/54297012609/in/pool-912056@N21

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Naples Winter Wine Festival Raises over $34 Million for Children’s Charities

The Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF) celebrated its 25th anniversary by raising over $34 million—a record high, beating last year’s total by $1 million—for children’s charities at its annual event on the last weekend in January. The nation’s top-raising charity wine auction gathered around 650 wine lovers under a big tent outside the Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, to bid on dazzling …

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lechecce has added a photo to the pool: Barolo in the abstract #2…. Source : https://www.flickr.com/photos/38070237@N06/54295821962/in/pool-912056@N21

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lechecce has added a photo to the pool: Barolo in the abstract #1…. Source : https://www.flickr.com/photos/38070237@N06/54296695886/in/pool-912056@N21

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“Like a Memory of the Sea” (Ronchi di Castelluccio Recent Releases)

The post “Like a Memory of the Sea” (Ronchi di Castelluccio Recent Releases) appeared first on 1 Wine Dude. When describing what makes his family’s wines (and those from Italy’s Romagna in general) unique, Ronchi di Castelluccio‘s Aldo Mario Rametta keeps coming back to one thing: the soil. “The soil is like a memory of the sea,” he says (rather …

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Australian Grenache: Panel tasting results

Beth Pearce MW, Sara Muirhead MW and Ben Chan tasted 51 wines, with 7 Outstanding and 25 Highly Recommended Australian Grenache: Panel tasting scores 51 wines tasted Exceptional 0 Outstanding 7 Highly recommended 25 Recommended 15 Commended 4 Entry criteria: Producers and UK agents were invited to submit their 100% Grenache wines from the 2020, 2021 and 2022 vintages With …

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Chichic Wine Resort

In the heart of the Quebrada de Humahuaca UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chichic Wine Resort is a visionary project sure to fascinate discerning lovers of fine wine and luxury. Taking its name from the Quechua word for ‘milestone’, the new, exclusive Chichic resort will redefine sophistication in one of Argentina’s most captivating regions. Situated 3,000 metres above sea level, Chichic …

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Wine prices to rise in UK ‘double tax slam’, says trade

Changes to duty tax mean UK consumers face the prospect of higher wine prices on some bottles from February 2025, leading trade members have advised.  A sliding-scale duty tax system based on alcoholic strength will be extended to many still wines for the first time on 1 February, and alcohol duties will also rise in-line with inflation, said the UK’s …

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Wines of Racha-Lechkhumi: Royal Khvanchkara Reborn

Royal Khvanchkara started out life in the 1870s as Kipiani, named after the Rachan nobles who started making a semi-sweet wine from Aleksandrouli and Mujuretuli grapes[1].  It was renamed Khvanchkara in 1927 when the Soviets expropriated the estate; they later built the Ambroulauri Wine Factory, which was again rebuilt in 2001.  Khvanchkara became very popular in Russia and was said …

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Great-value white wine: 20 bottles to try

We’ve chosen the wines below based on value and quality and while many may be familiar names, we’ve also thrown in a few more unusual options to explore, all tasted and rated by the Decanter team. Our selection of great-value white wine showcases 20 refreshing pours all priced at under £20. Scroll down to see notes and scores for 20 …

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