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Moscato d’Asti is a surprising match for culinary delights from the East Moscato d’Asti from Asti DOCG is a sweet wine with an effervescence, yet not quite a sparkling wine. The best examples of Moscato d’Asti offer an array of aromas including fresh grapes, fleshy citrus, roses and jasmine. And on the palate, their sweetness is balanced by an acid …

The Rieslingfreak team The idea of Rieslingfreak seems absurd – an Australian winery that produces only Riesling wines, and up to 19 styles each vintage that focus on various different sites, blends and winemaking techniques. However, the execution of this grand idea over the past 15 years by husband-and-wife winemaking team John and Belinda Hughes shows a spark of focused …

Vineyards in Jura, France. Paul Bonin headed to his vineyard in Gevingey to give the vines their first cut, but he was shocked to find that they had been stripped of their grapes. The 48-year-old winemaker initially suspected that birds had devoured the grapes while he slept, but he then realised that he had fallen victim to burglary. ‘Friends showed …

Harvest at Alexandre Bonnet, Les Riceys. As much of France reels from one of the toughest growing seasons of recent times, Champagne was still holding on to some quiet optimism as harvest continued through September. Quiet, that is, because yields are low and maturity unpredictable. Optimistic, though, because outside of the Aube in Champagne’s south, Reims and the Marne Valley …

When the final paddle was raised at the newly christened Sonoma County Wine Celebration and live auction last month, the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation (SCVF) had raised nearly $1.6 million for local charities. That’s up from last year’s $1.3 million total. The three-day event, which included a welcome reception and country-themed party, culminated with the live auction on Sept. 21, …

Ready? Wine Collecting ChatBot Source : https://www.wine-blog.org/index.php/2024/10/02/ready-wine-collecting-chatbot/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ready-wine-collecting-chatbot

Terraced vineyards alongside the Douro River. Portugal’s Douro Valley has long been celebrated for its fortified Port wines, but in recent years, a new contender has emerged – its still red wines. At the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), Douro reds achieved an impressive 12 Gold medals, setting a new record for the region. This milestone marks a significant …

Inside the October 2024 issue of Decanter magazine: FEATURES Bordeaux: What’s wrong, and how to fix it Andrew Jefford examines the great region’s ‘image problem’, and posits some possible remedies Decanter Hall of Fame: Susana Balbo Amanda Barnes profiles this year’s winner of our major award, and her global influence Decanter Rising Star: Pascaline Lepeltier Christina Rasmussen on a prominent …

Newly launched Berry Bros & Rudd Auctions will hold its first sale this autumn, offering collectors around the world opportunities to buy rare wines and spirits, said the UK merchant. It marks an entry into the fine wine auction market for Berry Bros & Rudd (BBR), which was founded in London in 1698.  No start date or specific lots have …

The rich palette of Balkan grapes that producers can draw from is the foundation for the region’s most exciting wines. As winemakers in Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia strive to create wines that speak of their terroir and heritage, international grapes are increasingly giving way to historic local varieties – which consumers can begin exploring by trying these six standout …

Cantina Ottella winery, Lugana, Italy Questions of philosophy and art are key to understanding the wines of celebrated Lugana producer, Ottella. Ethics meet aesthetics from the moment the visitor wends their way up the driveway, under the watchful shadow of the Monte Baldo to the east and the refreshing breezes of Lake Garda to the north. Situated in Peschiera del …

Tinazzi winery and vineyards in the comune of Sant’Ambrogio di ValpolicellaDiscover the pearl of Verona In 2014, the Tinazzi winery acquired land in the comune of Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, constructing a state-of-the-art winery and cellar for the boutique production of high-quality wines. Tinazzi planted vineyards to take advantage of the natural contours of the land and the woods on the …

A view of Oakville. Napa Cabernet 2021 vintage rating: 5/5 Authenticity, complexity, density and power are the hallmark traits of the 2021 Napa Cabernet wines. Savoury-packed and mineral-rich with ample mid-palate concentration and densely layered red and black-fruited profiles, wines are framed by compact tannins that etch themselves onto the palate with a fine, pinpoint granularity. They are unquestionably age-worthy …

Decanter North America Editor, Clive Pursehouse Exclusively for Decanter Premium subscribers, North American Editor Clive Pursehouse comes to London fresh on the heels of his Willamette Valley 2022 vintage report to share his exuberance for the region with Decanter’s London readers in advance of Decanter’s London Fine Wine Encounter. Join Clive and Simon Davies of A&B Vintners for a lively conversation …

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. SimplicityA lovely piece of reflection. The Science of Heat Stress in GrapevinesAn excellent primer, …

Harvest 2024 is in full swing in California wine country. It’s the busiest time of year, and Napa Cabernet superstar Thomas Rivers Brown took a break to tell Wine Spectator’s Straight Talk podcast host James Molesworth about the realities—and rigors—of harvest season. Brown also shares his “Ziploc baggy mini-maceration method” for determining when a vineyard parcel is ready to be …

Patrick McGrath MW (left) and HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh (right) at the launch ceremony of Domaine Evremond. After nearly a decade of planning and construction, Champagne Taittinger’s Domaine Evremond in Kent was officially opened by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh, on 26 September, with plans for the cellar door to open in spring 2025. The new winery …

2023 harvest at Les Lavières in Savigny-les-Beaune for Domaine Tollot-Beaut. Abundant, generous, but often complicated, 2023 delivered a solid, if rarely stellar, harvest. While 2022 was almost magically easy, weather conditions in 2023 posed challenges at every turn. François Labet, co-chairman of Burgundy’s regional body, the BIVB (bureau interprofessionnel des vins de Bourgogne), laments the work the vintage required: ‘In …

The Roots Fund is a non-profit organisation created in 2020 to support people of colour in the wine (and recently spirits) industry through education, career placement and mentorship. It was founded by Carlton McCoy, Ikimi Dubose-Woodson, and Tahiirah Habibi, all of whom saw the organisation as a way to help aspiring wine professionals overcome some of the obstacles and challenges …

Florio Masala wines Perched on the westernmost tip of Sicily, Marsala speaks of tradition, and no producer more so than the pioneering Cantine Florio. Founded in 1833, the winery was the first in the region dedicated to the production of high-quality Marsala wines, with control of every element from the vine to the bottle. Celebrating excellence In 2022, the team …