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Ettore Germano Oddero’s Vignarionda Riserva 2009: ‘exquisite balance’ From 9/11 and Barack Obama to the rise of social media with the birth of YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, the first decade of the new millennium saw the world entering a new, for-better-or-for-worse era. The James Cameron movie Avatar (2009) allegorised numerous themes of the day; Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (2006) …

Preparing for winter dormancy, vines in Burgundy watch quietly as the colors change around them in the late autumn. Burgundy (and much of France) has had a particularly challenging harvest this year after a very cold and wet growing season beset with mildew and other disease issues. Yields are expected to be down 25% or more. INSTRUCTIONS:Download this image by …

Shiraz Central – winery in the Pyrenees in Victoria, Australia The 2024 vision of Australian Shiraz is both surprising and exciting – and innovative producers in the country’s southeast are demonstrating the versatility of styles and expressions that can be made in this first-rate region. To explore what’s happening within this dynamic sector, you’ll need to visit Victoria, Australia’s second-smallest …

Japanese whisky enthusiasts will recognise Nikka – one of Japan’s most respected and long-standing distilleries. Founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, who was inspired by Scotch whisky, Nikka has spent 90 years perfecting its craft. At this year’s Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (DFWE) in Singapore, Diego Araud, director of La Maison du Whisky, will lead a tasting of five unique …

Sauska Cellar, Tokaj. In partnership with Wines of Hungary The mighty Danube as it divides Buda from Pest. Historic Art Nouveau architecture, grand coffee houses and decadent Turkish baths. Be?la Barto?k, Ferenc Puska?s. All indisputably Hungarian icons – but volcanoes? Yes indeed, Hungary is dominated by a volcanic landscape whose impact is key to the character of the country’s wines. …

Women taking part in the study reported a greater intention to purchase a wine when it had ‘feminine’ cues on its label, researcher said.  This effect was enhanced the more strongly participants identified with other women – something known as ‘in-group identification’, said researchers from Washington State University (WSU), writing in the International Journal of Hospitality Management. Feminine cues were …

Agave field in Yagul Valley, Oaxaca, Mexico In a sun-kissed valley of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, Luis Niño de Rivera pulls a machete from his pocket and starts to hack a large agave plant with intimidating precision. Cutting away the leaves, or pencas, he’s after the piña, the heart of the plant. Once cooked, fermented and distilled, it will become mezcal, …

Four wine styles to consider for a risotto recipe: Aromatic whites, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Bacchus High acid Italian white wines, such as Pinot Grigio or Pecorino Unoaked Chardonnay Light red wines, such as Gamay or Pinot Noir The first rule when making risotto is to avoid using cheap cooking wines, says food writer Pete Dryer. He’s talking about those sub-£7 supermarket …

These are the Best Incoming Emails for this week.   43rd Annual Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition I’m beginning with my ‘ole pal Dan Berger, at Vintage Wine Experiences. Dan and I have a lot of history in wine, basically since the early 90s. The 43rd Annual Dan Berger’s International Wine Competition is worthy of […] The post Best Press …

Leading chef and humanitarian José Andrés is always working. But if he chooses to rest, at least he’ll have a new place to do so once he opens his first hotel, the Bazaar House, in the heart of the Georgetown historic district in Washington, D.C. Announced in late September, the boutique hotel will open in 2027 with 67 rooms and …

Bottles of wine from Sainsbury’s with food The latest Sainsbury’s tasting showcased bottles from its autumn/winter 2024 range – including 35 new listings – that are ideal for seasonal drinking. They run from hearty warming reds such as Argentinian Malbec  and Rioja to full-bodied Chardonnays and fizzes that are perfect for festive celebrations. You’ll also find food-friendly bottles that are …

Lorraine Leheny and Warren Gibson A young winemaker couple: one Kiwi, one Australian, both born under the star sign Libra. Both had a deep love of Italy and shared a dream of making their own wine. Work had taken them around the globe, but a job in New Zealand called them home. They lost no time in securing land and …

Vineyard in Sussex. Figures from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show that England has suffered its second-worst harvest since records began. Wheat, winter barley and oilseed rape all saw double-digit declines. Most winemakers have only just started harvesting grapes this week, so trade body Wine GB was reluctant to provide an official estimate on the 2024 …

Roberto Duran is head sommelier at 67 Pall Mall Singapore. He started his career in his native Spain, working his way up through some of the country’s most renowned Michelin-starred restaurants, including Miramar and Mirror. After joining 67 Pall Mall in London as part of the opening team, Roberto rose rapidly before taking a break from the club in 2017. …

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. Italy triumphs at World Tasting ChampionshipSome of these wines are brutal. NZ Sav Blanc …

Ron Rubin’s TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES program has his thoroughbred headed to the barn. The magnitude of Ron Rubin’s TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES program cannot be underscored. Ron’s dream is to give away 450 Automated External Defibrillators (AED), and only 42 of them remain. More details are on my blog Ron Rubin’s TRAINED FOR SAVING […] The post Thoroughbred Headed …

Vineyards in British Columbia. ‘Shaped by two antithetical phases, 2022 was a unique interpretation of the region’s extremes’ ‘This was a very strange growing year,’ reflects Costa Gavaris of the boutique Rigour & Whimsy label. To most outsiders, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley may be puzzling at the best of times. North of the 49th parallel, it is often mistakenly deemed …

The BIH Spotlight Awards has become a pivotal platform for showcasing the contributions of individuals and businesses across the UK, promoting diversity and inclusion within the hospitality, food, and drink sectors. As part of our ongoing commitment to championing diversity, Decanter is honoured to be involved in recognising the exceptional work of writers whose talent and creativity bring new perspectives …

Police raids in Milan and Turin on 14 October have dismantled a criminal network that was making and and selling fake versions of French grand cru wines, said the Europol law enforcement agency. Counterfeiters were selling the fake grands crus for up to €15,000-a-bottle (£12,500), it said, without naming any specific wines or producers that were targeted. Raids also took …

Katherine Cole profile picture credit: She Saw Things 2024 has proved to be rough for wine, from plummeting Bordeaux prices to dire health warnings. In the US, per-capita consumption of wine is back at 2011 levels. But as we enter the year’s final stretch, I think of moulded plywood and feel hopeful. Economic and social constraints are forcing the wine …