Peter M.F. Sichel’s life was the stuff of cinematic thrillers. As a young German Jew, he escaped the Nazis and emigrated to America, where he signed up with the predecessor to the CIA. After working as a spy during World War II and the Cold War, he returned to his family’s wine business, where he helped build Blue Nun into …

Arista Winery, a top-quality producer of Sonoma Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, has sold its 36-acre estate on Westside Road in the Russian River Valley to Chris Underwood, CEO of Young’s Holdings, Inc. The estate includes eight acres of vines (seven planted with Pinot Noir and one planted with Chardonnay) along with a winery facility and hospitality space. The purchase price …

Decanter is one of several partners for the Drinklusive 2025 mentorship scheme, which officially opened for applications on Monday 24 February via The Three Drinkers website. Founded in 2023 by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Aidy Smith, Drinklusive offers an impressive roster of training and work experience opportunities for aspiring drinks writers and content creators from underrepresented communities. Drinklusive said its …

2024 was a big year for Vega Sicilia. The Ribera del Duero powerhouse celebrated its 160th anniversary – not least with a lavish event at London’s National Gallery, under the watchful eye of dramatic masterpieces from the Spanish Masters – and rose to the top of Liv-Ex’s Power 100 ranking. Perhaps a landmark moment that marked the beginning of a …

A period of price declines on the fine wine secondary market could be flattening out, according to the views of merchants and other businesses responding to a survey by Liv-ex, a global marketplace for the trade. ‘Most market participants feel that prices are close to bottoming out,’ said Liv-ex this week, after surveying is trade members.  Not that a significant …

There was a time – not too long ago – when bitter-based beverages were a rarity on American cocktail menus. The Aperol Spritz and Negroni craze changed that. US consumers began experimenting with bittersweet flavour profiles that acted as a gateway to gradual appreciation of the botanical and herbal profile of amaro. ‘Amaros benefited greatly from people wanting to branch out …

Soon it will be time for the 97th Academy Awards to grace the screens and this year marks a new official Champagne partner for the Oscars. Domaine Clarence Dillon and Clarendelle return as the official wine partner for the third year running, with a duo of new wines on display –  La Clarté de Haut-Brion 2021 (white) and La Clarence …

An expressive and distinctive white, showing plump flavors of Key lime pie, with apricot, peach and ripe melon notes. Freshly grated ginger, candied green apple and lemon verbena linger on the sleek, juicy finish. Drink now. 131,000 cases made. Source : 9a36e69a4bae7c256cc7166c142d439f

Few people in history achieve true mononymity, fewer still in the world of wine. But for 50 years, one American importer of some of the world’s greatest wines was known and revered as simply, “Martine.” On February 9, Martine Saunier, famed wine importer and founder of Martine’s Wines died at the age of 91. A pioneer in many senses of …

There’s a brand new Kirkland Rioja out there, spotted first by our reader Dave P at a Costco store in Bend, Oregon. Price was $6.99 and Costco item number is 917056. This is actually slightly less expensive than the current Kirkland Rioja Reserva. Ironically, the item number is the same. Interesting development for sure, and […] Source : http://costcowineblog.com/new-7-kirkland-rioja-spotted-jme-seleccion/

When the final gavel struck at this year’s Premiere Napa Valley Auction, the mood in the room was celebratory, as attendees felt optimistic about the future of Napa Valley wines thanks to the promise of the 2023 vintage and the support of the people who make up the wine industry. This year’s auction, held on Feb. 22 in the Barrel Room …

Located in northern Argentina, the Salta Wine trail is one of the most stunning in the world, combining majestic natural landscapes with a renowned winemaking tradition. The journey into Salta’s Calchaquí Valleys reveals a world of incredible terrains and unique flavours. Cafayate, the heart of the region’s wine scene, is found at the southern end of the Calchaquí Valleys, a …

Assyrtiko grapes at Jordan in Stellenbosch ‘Climate change is going to have a big impact in this country.’ Those are the words of viticulturist Rosa Kruger, who has been at the cutting edge of next generation viticulture in South Africa’s Western Cape over the last two decades. ‘What was predicted 10 years ago is now real. We have terrible floods, …

This delivers an energetic tumble of blackberry, boysenberry and black currant paste flavors injected with bramble and apple wood and supported by a licorice snap accent. The strapping finish is laced with violet and iris notes, while a cast iron edge lends bass. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2045. 24,000 cases made, 2,400 cases imported. …

Nimmi Malhotra is a new judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Marcelo PinoNimmi Malhotra A wine communicator based in Singapore, Nimmi Malhotra has a strong background in publishing. Her introduction to wine came in Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, where her family runs a boutique vineyard, sparking her passion for the industry. She further honed her wine knowledge through …

Although overall Champagne exports dipped slightly in 2023, over 26 million bottles were shipped to the US, which remains the top export market for French wine and spirits. Growers and cooperatives account for 14% of the Champagne region’s total export revenue, and the rise of grower Champagnes is reshaping the market. Celebrated for their authenticity, sustainable practices and connection to …

A strong run of vintages makes this a fascinating time to delve deeper into the Nebbiolo strongholds of Barolo and Barbaresco in Piedmont’s rolling hills, where style icons and hidden gems alike offer riches for collectors at all levels. Piedmont is sometimes described as Italy’s answer to Burgundy, but producers’ masterful work with Nebbiolo in the Langhe hills deserves its …

The company owns wine stores in Battersea and Marylebone, along with a nationwide online retail business. It has been a stalwart of the UK independent wine scene since 1991, having successfully navigated all manner of challenges over the past 34 years. However, duty increases and Brexit have delivered a fatal one-two punch to the business, which will close permanently on …

We started hearing rumblings last week that the new Oakville was out there, and happily found it on our last visit. This bottle usually arrives in Q1 every year, coming in a little early last year (Jan) but right on time with this 2022 vintage. Of course, the first thing to notice is the price […] Source : http://costcowineblog.com/2022-kirkland-signature-oakville-cabernet-sauvignon/

When the Contini Bonacossi family purchased the Tenuta di Capezzana in 1926, the estate came with a stock of wine from the 1925 vintage of Villa di Capezzana di Carmignano. Last week, Beatrice Contini Bonacossi, Filippo Contini Bonacossi, Serena Contini Bonacossi, and Ettore Fantoni hosted a tasting of this now 100-year-old wine at the Il Magnifico restaurant in Florence.  While …