The 14th-century Torre Guinigi rises above the historic centre of Lucca in northern Tuscany. The dynamism of Lucca’s wineries has exerted an important influence on the region’s gastronomic scene, such that today, Lucca and its renowned ‘sea extension’ – the Versilia sandy-beach coastal stretch of Viareggio up to Forte dei Marmi – are at the forefront of the Italian culinary …
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A recent Christie’s auction of Château Latour wines sourced direct from estate owner Artémis Domaines has been a highlight. Muted trading and a downward drift in prices have been key themes on the fine wine market in 2024, despite some exceptions among older vintages, suggests data in the Market Watch section of Decanter magazine’s December 2024 issue. The monthly Market …
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The last half of the year always sees a rush of new releases in Champagne, and 2024 has been no different. What has changed, though, is the market, with sales down 15.2% in the first half of 2024 versus the same period in 2023, according to the Comité Champagne. Could this be the Christmas when the ever-increasing prices of Champagne …
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The leading show will bring together more than 1,100 wineries from across the country. Credit: Barcelona Wine Week From February 3rd to 5th, the Montjuïc venue at Fira de Barcelona will welcome over 1,100 Spanish wineries and 24,000 attendees in what promises to be Barcelona Wine Week’s (BWW) largest edition to date. With 75 Designations of Origin (D.O.s) and other …
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This year again delivered diverse and meaty releases of beautifully-written and designed wines and spirits books. There was a palpable shift in mood, no doubt catalysed by events from within the drinks industry and beyond: brows have lowered and the hedonistic, poetic and humorous sense the subjects at hand have come vividly to the foreground. For the benefit of all …
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In the northern hemisphere mid-latitudes where many Decanter readers live, late December means damp cold and blanketing darkness. The Christian narrative lends this moment a spiritual charge for believers – but the winter solstice was of signal significance in pre-Christian times, too, as light drained and ‘The world’s whole sap is sunk’ (John Donne’s phrase from his magnificent Nocturnal upon …
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Wines of the year lists are nothing new but the launch of our Top 50 US Wines, which comprises a list of our top US wines tasted over the course of the year, marks a first for Decanter. It delivers a deep dive into the country’s myriad wine regions, intensely talented winemakers and array of quality. Unveiled on Decanter Premium …
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Top Wines of the Year lists are far from novel, with most major publications compiling a list of their various takes on a ‘Top 100’ wines tasted in a given year. They may elicit controversy and second-guessing; but you know what they say about opinions, after all. In my second year in this role, as our US coverage has continued …
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Here are some wine options to consider if you’re planning to opt for duck or goose this Christmas, drawing on previous advice published on Decanter.com and recommendations from Decanter experts. Five wine styles to drink with duck or goose this Christmas Pinot Noir Barbera Rosé Champagne Riesling Pinot Gris Search all Decanter wine reviews here A great quality roast Christmas duck …
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Hello and welcome to my weekly 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 week included a Sauvignon Blanc from Kristof Nils Anderson who has established his own …
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Had I been writing 50, even 20 years ago about Nerello Mascalese – the Sicilian grape variety believed to have originated on the plain of Mascali, between Mount Etna’s eastern slope and the coast – this story would have been simple: an unfussy, high-yielding grape that ripens reliably and embraces Sicily’s oppressive heat. Its thin skin makes a bright red …
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To help you celebrate birthday and anniversaries with vintage flavour in 2025, I have plumbed the depths of my (less than) extensive cellar to bring liquid enlightenment for readers looking for vinous gifts. At the same time, I have drawn on the inspiration and experience of a small ‘advisory’ panel of experts and wine loving friends (mentioned below) who have …
Read More »Looking like something out of a Goya etching, a light well brings a splash of sunlight into the pitch-dark chalk cave underneath the cellars of Champagne Taittinger in the city of Reims, France. The seal on the wall celebrates the house’s exceptional Comte de Champagne bottling. INSTRUCTIONS:Download this image by right-clicking on the image and selecting “save link as” or …
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Bodega Bat Gara, Lezama, with the Sierra Salvada mountains to its west. According to the DO Getariako Txakolina (in the Basque language, otherwise Txakoli de Getaria), the first bylaws of Spain’s northerly Basque province of Gipuzkoa were drawn up in 1397 to include item 18: anyone destroying the local vines could be sentenced to death. It is a pointer – …
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Emanuel Pesqueira is a judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) Emanuel PesqueiraEmanuel Pesqueira Emanuel Pesqueira is a highly-experienced management professional with extensive expertise in food, beverage, and hospitality services. He has held various management and Sommelier roles. These have included being the Food and Beverage Manager at The Oxford and Cambridge Club and Head Sommelier & Maître …
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La Poja is a single-cru vineyard at the top of the La Grola hill in Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, in the Veneto region of Italy. The romantic explanation of the origin of the name is that it derives from ‘Pojana’, a bird of the falcon family which hovers over the crown of the hill. More prosaically, it might come from the …
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Decanter’s Rhône correspondent, Matt Walls, at Château Rayas. Credit: Matt Walls What feeling does an exceptional wine create when you drink it? It’s difficult to answer, as the greatest bottles give rise to all sorts of different sensations, insights and emotions. It makes writing a ranking of this nature tricky, as not all the wines are being measured on the …
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Rebecca Gergely Ohayon is a judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards. Rebecca GergelyRebecca Gergely Ohayon Born in Paris, Rebecca’s career started in 2006 after graduating a Master’s degree in Economics from the Sorbonne. Before applying to jobs related to her studies, she followed her boyfriend (now husband) to California and applied for a few summer jobs including one …
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Mike Best MW is a judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Robert Mathias MWMike Best MW Mike Best MW is a wine product manager at Boutinot, working principally with wineries in Spain, Portugal, USA & England. Previously, he was employed by the WSET, working with programme providers and industry groups to grow wine education in the South-East of …
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Lauren Denyer is a judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Robert Mathias MWLauren Denyer Lauren Denyer is the Diploma Events and Enrichment Manager at WSET School London, where she organises and hosts events and learning opportunities for the Diploma students. She also teaches all levels of WSET wine qualifications. She has extensive teaching experience having worked as …
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