News

Just-picked Napa Cabernet Sauvignon drops into the hopper on the way to the sorting table at Anomaly Vineyards in St. Helena, California. This year, most Napa Cabernet is still on the vine waiting to ripen, with many anticipating harvest dates in October or even November. INSTRUCTIONS:Download this image by right-clicking on the image and selecting “save link as” or “save …

A while back I published some thoughts on Montefalco Sagrantino. “But what about Paolo Bea!?” cried many people in response to the conspicuous absence of those wines from my report. What about Paulo Bea, indeed. Some people, we say, seem comfortable in their own skin. To me, this expression captures an interesting mix of characteristics: a modicum of confidence, a …

Giovanni Geddes, CEO of Frescobaldi and Ornellaia, yesterday announced his retirement. ‘At 78 years old last July it’s time to stop working,’ he said on the sidelines of the 15th edition of Ornellaia Vendemmia d’Artista in Venice. ‘Last Sunday, I left home at 4.30am to fly to New York and I returned yesterday [Wednesday] to be here in Venice. I …

Ceretto is one of Piedmont’s renowned wineries, a family-run institution that was founded in the 1930s by Riccardo Ceretto. Today, the business-savvy family has branched out into new areas of business including the supply of Piedmont hazelnuts and a confectionary company selling nougat. In more recent times the family has expanded into hospitality overseeing two restaurants in the region, including …

Members and Advisors of the Cask Whisky Association gathered at The Glenturret. Whisky fans who want to invest in Scotch are being advised to seek professional advice by a new trade body created by a small band of cask brokers. The CWA aims to share best practice and has formed an advisory board that includes distillery bosses, a lawyer, and …

One of South America’s most iconic wines, Casa Real, is set to release the new 2020 vintage on La Place de Bordeaux this September. The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo is now celebrating its third vintage being traded on La Place, marking its worldwide growing reputation as a fine wine worth collecting. A Chilean wine legend Casa Real was one …

Firmly imprinted in the wine canon, Bourgogne has long established itself as a benchmark of quality and character, synonymous with some of the world’s best wines. Bourgogne however, is not primarily a region of glittering estates. Its identity has been built upon the hard work of men and women – small growers and winemakers – with a deep connection to …

Many supermarkets have crowded and noisy aisles, which are not exactly conducive to thoughtful wine selection, so you may be tempted to grab a random bottle and swiftly move on. However, that approach can often lead to disappointment, as you will be left with a distinctly underwhelming glass of wine later that day. If you would like to reduce your …

Sir Rod Stewart CBE with Wolfie’s Whisky British rock singer and songwriter Sir Rod Stewart CBE has ventured into the spirits business with the creation of Wolfie’s Whisky After two years of extensive research and development, the whisky launched in the UK in May and has now been rolled out to the US. Stewart worked with business partner and beverage industry …

The Kentucky-based distiller has snapped up a 2,000 sq. ft. venue on Long Acre in Covent Garden, close to The Savoy and the Royal Opera House. Buffalo Trace promised to offer a ‘first-of-its-kind American whiskey experience’ in the heart of central London. Guests will be taken on ‘a narrative journey’ introducing them to the distillery’s storied history, culminating in a …

Virginia’s state Court of Appeals has ruled that a wine shipping merchant that facilitates sales between wineries and consumers is violating state law and must either obtain licenses for each winery it orders from or cease selling wine in the commonwealth. The ruling comes after Virginia’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) challenged California company Vinoshipper’s mode of business and it …

While a dish dubbed “thousand-layer lasagna” is likely to pique your interest, things get even more intriguing when you add an Italian-heavy wine list that pays particular attention to Barolo, Tuscany and Franciacorta. Last week, Vine Hospitality debuted Rollati Ristorante, a modern Italian-American restaurant in San Jose, Calif. This is the first Italian-focused restaurant from the Bay Area group responsible …

FAY estate ineyard at Stags Leap Wine Cellars QUICK LINK 2020 Napa Cabernet: full vintage report and top-scoring wines Roughly 1.6 km wide and 4.82 km long, the Stags Leap District AVA is marked by the jagged exposed rocks of Stags Leap, which stand out prominently above the region. It is the American AVA which produced the top-scoring red (Stag’s …

Brigitte Macron (far left), King Charles III, president Emmanuel Macron and Queen Camilla share a toast ahead of the banquet at Versailles Palace. King Charles and Queen Camilla began their three-day state visit to France in style last night as celebrities, sports stars, authors, winemakers and politicians joined the Royal couple at a state banquet in the Hall of Mirrors …

White beaches, Amazon rainforests, Rio carnival, football. It’s fair to say that wine isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Brazil. But this vast country is making significant headway into the global wine scene. Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 10 wines from Brazil to try The beginning of Brazil’s wine story …

Venturing into one of these stores is like entering Aladdin’s cave, as you will be met with an abundance of interesting and unusual wines from around the world. It may conjure up a sense of wonder and enchantment, but it can also be a little daunting if you have never visited the shop before. This guide is designed to help …

In the last 20 years, that landscape has changed. The finest wines are now luxury goods: tokens of exclusivity. Exclusivity means exclusion. The high peaks are sealed off by fencing; only extraordinary wealth will get you through the gates. What used to be said of yachts (to move our metaphor offshore) is now true of grand cru Burgundy or luxury …

‘To know where you are going, you must know where you’ve come from,’ commented Louis-Michel Liger-Belair as we began our most recent tasting. His level of success, however, requires more than self-knowledge, and the talent and hard work of the present generation deserves no small share of the credit. Scroll down for Charles Curtis MW’s notes and scores of 10 …

They were scheduled to visit Paris and Bordeaux in March, but the trip had to be postponed after protests over the French government’s pension reforms turned violent. The three-day state visit can now finally proceed as planned, so the royals will be greeted with a remembrance ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe today (Wednesday). After laying a wreath at the …

Culture Wine Bar took the award for Best Medium-sized List. The trendy wine bar fended off fierce competition to win the award for the Best Medium-sized List in South Africa. It won another gold star for offering the Best Sparkling Wine List in the country, before taking home the overall Grand Prix. Culture Wine Bar is located above a restaurant …