[ad_1] Juan Pablo Murgia Few winemakers have the opportunity to be pioneers in new regions and fewer still in regions of extreme terroirs, where textbook viticulture doesn’t apply. Perhaps none see such groundbreaking efforts yield world-class wines in less than a decade. However, all of this is true of Juan Pablo Murgia, who, as head winemaker of the Avinea group, …
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Bordeaux gets alcohol-free wine shop as times change
[ad_1] Bordeaux city centre has recently gained a shop dedicated to dealcoholised wines. It is a sign of the times that central Bordeaux recently gained a shop dedicated to ‘dealcoholised’ wine, and alcohol-free alternatives in general. While the concept may not be to everyone’s taste, plenty of curious winemakers and consumers have been calling in at Belles Grappes since it …
Read More »Peking duck and wine pairing
[ad_1] Peking duck served with pancakes, vegetables and condiment at Zither Garden, Hong Kong. Credit: South China Morning Post via Getty ImagesPeking duck: what’s the authentic way to enjoy it? As one of the best-known Chinese dishes, Peking duck was once an imperial cuisine dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Roasted duck, with its crispy, golden-brown skin and rich …
Read More »Napa Valley’s Newest Appellation: Crystal Springs
[ad_1] Napa Valley has a new appellation. Thirteen years after Coombsville was created by the federal government as an American Viticultural Area (AVA), the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has approved Crystal Springs of Napa Valley. Wineries that wish to bottle their wine with the new AVA on the label got the thumbs-up on Nov. 15. Crystal Springs …
Read More »Cal-Ital’s Time Has Come
[ad_1] Thirty years ago, the descriptor ‘Cal-Ital’ could often trigger a shudder of revulsion for an informed buyer of American wine. Many were scarred by inexpensive, high-volume efforts by the state’s largest wine producers eager to discover the next big thing. The Cal-Ital movement died something of a merciful death in the early 2000s, leaving behind little trace save for …
Read More »Walls: The best new Côtes du Rhône wines under £20
[ad_1] Could a Côtes du Rhône ever score 100 points? There’s no reason why not. In fact, Domaine Gramenon scored 97 points in the recent 2023 Rhône vintage report. Score inflation? No; the wine deserved it on merit. Scroll down to see 16 of Mat Walls’ top 2023 Côtes du Rhône under… [ad_2] Source : https://www.decanter.com/premium/walls-the-best-new-cotes-du-rhone-wines-under-20-549397/
Read More »Wine News: What I’m Reading the Week of 1/26/25
[ad_1] 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. Nonalcoholic California wine has come a long way. But here’s the harsh realityThey …
Read More »The big pour: Why large wine formats are soaring in popularity
[ad_1] An imperial of Château d’Yquem 1996 was the star of the show as members celebrated the festive season at 67 Pall Mall last month. Diners at the upmarket London wine club also enjoyed an 18-litre melchior of Blandy’s Madeira, while others polished off various magnums and double magnums. Similar scenes were playing out at Oswald’s, another exclusive wine club …
Read More »Decanter’s Dream Destination: Scenic Sapphire, Rhône river, France
[ad_1] The Scenic Sapphire Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours eight-day, food- and wine-themed cruise down the Rhône river, from Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, 283km south as the river flows to the Roman city of Arles, takes passengers through – and to – some of the country’s most storied wine-producing regions. The 135-metre Scenic Sapphire can accommodate 147 passengers in its …
Read More »What are lees in wine?
[ad_1] Bottles of champagne ageing in the cellar of Champagne Henri Lemaire. What are lees in wine? Essentially, lees are a byproduct of fermentation, during which yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. As fermentation comes to an end, the yeast dies and sinks to the bottom. These dead yeast cells, along with other solid particles such as grape …
Read More »Montecillo Vineyard: Mountain magic in Sonoma
[ad_1] Cabernet rows at Montecillo Vineyard near the top of the Moon Mountain AVA. Montecillo Vineyard has perhaps been one of the best-kept secrets in Sonoma County. Its old-vine Cabernet goes to some very talented winemakers. Coming from gnarled vines planted in the 1960s, dry-farmed above the fog line in the Moon Mountain AVA, where the hot day’s sun creates …
Read More »Familia Torres to invest €6m in winery dedicated to non-alcoholic wines
[ad_1] The Natureo range, produced by Familia Torres, has stood out in the no-low category since it was first launched in 2008 As demand for low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks continues to rise, one of Spain’s leading producers is making a significant investment in the category. Familia Torres has announced it will invest €6m (£5,074,110) between 2024 and 2026 in a …
Read More »Andrew Jefford: ‘Along with firelight and song, wine is humanity’s oldest friend’
[ad_1] Many leading wine-consuming nations are drinking less: UK wine consumption was down 2.9% in 2023 compared to 2022; the USA was down 3% and Canada down 5.6%. Chinese wine consumption plummeted by 24.7%. France is about to pay wine-growers €4,000 per hectare to uproot some 30,000ha of vineyards, with a further 70,000ha targeted. Australia had two years’ worth of …
Read More »Non-vintage rosé Champagne: Panel tasting results
[ad_1] Tom Hewson, Eugenio Egorov and Victoria Mason MW tasted 82 wines, with 1 Outstanding and 41 Highly Recommended Non-vintage rosé Champagne: Panel tasting scores 82 wines tasted Exceptional 0 Outstanding 1 Highly recommended 41 Recommended 38 Entry criteria: Producers and UK agents were invited to submit their non-vintage rosé Champagnes in any dryness level, from zero dosage up to …
Read More »Vinography Unboxed: Week of 1/19/25
[ad_1] Hello and welcome to this week’s dig through the pile of wine samples that show up asking to be tasted. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the better bottles that have crossed my doorstep recently. This past week included an eclectic mix of wines from here, there and everywhere. …
Read More »Marilisa Allegrini in Tuscany
[ad_1] Marilisa Allegrini with daughters, Carlotta (l) and Caterina, and CEO Andrea Lonardi. Until the early 1980s, Valpolicella was regarded as a cheap, thin, quaffing wine of no distinction. Until, that is, Giovanni Allegrini and a handful of others changed that perception by acquiring outstanding vineyards and producing wines with concentration and personality. After his death in 1983, Giovanni’s sons …
Read More »Vinography Images: Wine Country Residence
[ad_1] A lot of people pay big bucks to live amongst the vines. But if you’re a Rufous Hornero, you just find a convenient end-post and start building. Also known as the Red Oven Bird (and sometimes affectionately as the Engineer Bird) these relatively nondescript birds are all over Uruguay and the rest of South America. This one made its …
Read More »Costières de Nîmes AOC: Celebrating the Rhône’s southernmost appellation
[ad_1] Costières de Nîmes AOC is the most southerly appellation in the Rhône valley, nestled at the edge of the Rhône delta, in the hills overlooking the Camargue, with vineyards as little as 20km (12.5 miles) to the Mediterranean sea. The appellation is best understood as two halves, either side of a large hill: a south-facing half facing the sea, …
Read More »Edward Ragg MW
[ad_1] Edward Ragg MW is a new judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Edward Ragg MW, Ph.D.Edward Ragg MW Edward co-founded Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting in Beijing with his wife and partner Fongyee Walker MW in 2007. Having read English at Oxford University, Edward began blind-tasting at Cambridge whilst writing an M.Phil. and, later, Ph.D. dissertation on …
Read More »Decanter luxe list: Kickstart your 2025 in style
[ad_1] Whether you’re looking to fête the start of 2025 in the utmost style or still planning this year’s calendar, we’ve pulled together some of the most decadent ways to celebrate the end of the winter season and beyond – because why should the party stop after New Year’s Eve? If you’re still trying to find a gift for that …
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