News

Distilled – The ultimate Bloody Mary

No smoke without fire Celebrated on World Bloody Mary Day, 1 January, this classic vodka-and-tomato-juice cocktail is also a winning hangover cure, according to its disciples. But more importantly it’s one of those recipes that can be tweaked and refined to suit your individual taste perfectly. Step forward Tongue in Peat, the world’s only peat-smoked tomato juice, which makes a …

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Top Dining Articles of 2023

Last year, the return to post-pandemic normalcy meant tantalizing new dining options sprouted seemingly everywhere, while existing restaurants reinvigorated themselves, and their wine lists benefitted from a push for diversity in styles and price points. Wine Spectator’s top dining articles of 2023 reflect our readers’ desire for the accessible and the exciting, from a list of supermarket wines that satisfy …

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New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: Panel tasting results

Roger Jones, Freddy Bulmer and Cat Lomax tasted 197 wines with 6 Outstanding and 24 Highly recommended. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: Panel tasting scores 197 wines tasted Exceptional 0 Outstanding 6 Highly recommended 24 Recommended 72 Commended 74 Fair 21 Poor 0 Entry criteria: Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their latest-release dry, still white wines …

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Decanter Italy Experience 2024: Announcing an extraordinary lineup

Calling all Italian wine lovers! Get ready for the Decanter Italy Experience as we unveil a remarkable lineup of exhibitors. In a little over a month, renowned Italian wine producers will gather at The Landmark London to showcase the exceptional labels that bring pride to Italy. Immerse yourself in a unique grand tasting experience, where passionate winemakers will eagerly guide …

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How we taste wine at Decanter

Above from left: Spain expert judges Pierre Mansour, Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW and Sarah Jane Evans MW assess wines in the Rioja Gran Reserva and Reserva 2014 panel tasting (results will be published in spring 2024) For almost 50 years, Decanter has been an authority on wine – in print, and now in print and online – providing readers around …

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Turning Tables: Pastis Makes Its Way to Washington, D.C.

Who’s behind it: On the heels of Pastis Miami’s opening, restaurateurs Stephen Starr and Keith McNally are bringing French bistro concept Pastis to the nation’s capital. It joins the acclaimed Starr Restaurants portfolio, which includes Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner Pastis in Manhattan, as well as Restaurant Award winners Le Zoo in Bar Harbor, Fl., Le Diplomate in Washington, …

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Robots in the Vineyards: Could AI Be a Green Winemaking Ally?

It’s probably not what Rudolf Steiner imagined. At Oregon State University, researchers are pairing cutting-edge technology with organic, sustainable and biodynamic agriculture to create their most recent invention: the “Pied Piper.” The prototype is a robot designed to naturally disrupt the mating of vineyard pests such as treehoppers and stink bugs through the use of harmonic vibrations. Early-stage AI robots …

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Expert’s Choice: Alsace Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir has been known in Alsace since the Middle Ages. It once flourished, but war and conflict reduced it to just 2% of regional production by 1969. Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 18 Alsace Pinot Noir wines to try By the 1990s, it was often boring, lacking the spicy, earthy nuance and beguiling, perfume-like cherry …

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Best Michigan Riesling: Top bottles to try

Modales Wines’ vineyard. Lake Michigan, the fifth largest lake in the world, is an integral part of quality grape growing in the state. The Michigan coastline is extensive and full of peninsulas formed thousands of years ago due to glaciation. Arctic glaciers pushed south during the ice ages and carved out the major Great Lakes basin. The lake accumulates heat …

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Cognac producers deny dumping brandy in Chinese market as EU trade dispute with Beijing heats up

Last week, China announced a probe into brandy imported from the European Union (EU) after noting price reductions of 15.88%. However, producers in France have now questioned the ‘real purpose’ of the investigation, noting that the alleged discounts are unusually small for a formal government probe. In reality, they have been caught in the crossfire of a tit-for-tat trade dispute …

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Rare Napa Valley wine country home for sale at $12.5m

A view of the property nestled on Wappo Hill in Stags Leap district. Surrounding trees give a secluded feel to the newly-listed, luxurious Napa Valley wine country home on Wappo Hill, but the 20-acre (8.1 hectares) estate also features 360-degree views of the local landscape, including vineyards in the renowned Stags Leap district. It lies a short way up the Silverado …

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I’ll Drink to That!: Robert Drouhin is From a Good Vintage

There’s a new episode of I’ll Drink to That! available. Episode 497 features Robert Drouhin, who led Maison Joseph Drouhin for almost 50 years. His family still owns that Burgundy house today, in addition to Domaine Drouhin in Oregon. Robert Drouhin assumed control of Maison Joseph Drouhin in 1957. The handover was sudden after his father suffered a stroke, and in hindsight, …

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Wine News: What I’m Reading the Week of 1/7/24

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. To drink or not to drink?Didn’t come with real recommendations, though. Ancient Roman wine …

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Champagne and Korean Fried Chicken: The Cote Team Opens Coqodaq in New York City

On Jan. 12, Gracious Hospitality Management (GHM), the group behind Cote Korean Steakhouse, is opening its latest restaurant, Coqodaq, which will offer a fine-dining take on wildly popular Korean fried chicken. Ambitiously, the restaurant’s team also plans to build the largest Champagne program in the United States. A project four years in the making, Coqodaq is located on East 22nd …

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New co-chair to join Decanter World Wine Awards: Welcoming Beth Willard

Beth Willard announced official fifth DWWA Co-Chair Marking Beth Willard’s 10th year as a DWWA  judge, including principal roles as regional chair for North, Central & Eastern Europe and Spain, she will join the 2024 competition as co-chair alongside the existing four-strong team. An accomplished wine buyer with well over a decade of experience sourcing quality wines across the globe, …

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Meet the judges: Q&A with Pierre Mansour

Pierre Mansour Pierre Mansour is by no means new to DWWA judging. A wine judge with the competition since 2006 – just two years after it launched 21 years ago – he is one of competition’s longest standing judges. Mansour’s standout memories: ‘Sherry judging!’ he exclaimed. ‘If you luck out and get selected to judge for this panel, you’re always in …

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Walls: How to find value in the Rhône

A view across the landscape to Mont Ventoux. Unless you’re unusually adept at managing your Christmas finances, your wine budget for January is probably looking rather depleted. I know mine is. The Rhône is often nominated as a region that offers good value for money, and there are certain styles, appellations and producers that do indeed offer exceptional bang for …

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City guide to Udine

At the heart of the lovely Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in Italy’s extreme northeast, Udine is a handsome, authentic city with eye-catching architecture that’s a reminder of more than 350 years of Venetian rule. The small region, framed by the Alps and the Adriatic sea, and bordering Slovenia and Austria, is home to some of Italy’s best-known wine producing areas. Udine’s …

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