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Regional Spotlight

Alsace: Don’t Miss a Trick

How did that happen? Call it what you want (fashion, peer-group pressure, herd instinct, a historical hangover) but somehow or other Alsace has ended up as France’s most neglected and misunderstood wine region.

Top Five Galician Grapes: Unique Varieties from Northwestern Spain

Galicia is magical for many reasons. Its rolling green hills and foggy river valleys make it more like its Celtic cousins Ireland and Scotland than Spain, and you’re more likely to hear bagpipes than flamenco guitar. Instead of packing sunscreen, you’d be wise to bring an umbrella. And then...
Ribera del Duero

From Obscurity to Opulence: Ribera del Duero’s Remarkable Rise in the Spanish Wine World

Over its 42-year existence as a Denominación de Origen (DO), Ribera del Duero has transformed from a relatively unknown region to one of Spain’s most prestigious wine-producing areas.
Sherry

Rediscovering Sherry – A Look into the Past and Present

Many wine regions in Europe like to reference their long history, typically dating the arrival of the first vineyards back to the time of the Roman legions. Viticulture in Jerez may well have an even longer history than that; it’s entirely possible that the first vines in the region were planted...
bordeaux vineyard

10 Things You Might Not Know About Bordeaux

1. Bordeaux is big Bordeaux is almost four times the size of Burgundy and represents 14% of total French wine production. There are 103,200 hectares of vines over 65 different appellations. It is the largest PDO vineyard of France and represents over 1/4 of the AOP vineyard area in France.
Bordeaux

Bordeaux is Constantly Evolving and It’s Nothing New

A History of innovation There’s a long history of innovation in Bordeaux; introducing topping up and sulphur to produce the ‘New French Claret’ in the 17th century, solving Mildew with the Bordeaux mixture in 1878 to the introduction of stainless steel in the 1960’s, when Château Haut Brion was...
Marsala Vineyard

The Magic of Marsala

Marsala, the fortified wine hailing from the sun-soaked hills of Sicily. A wine that embodies the rich tapestry of history and culture of an Island just a stone’s throw from mainland Italy. Having recently returned from visiting the region here is a brief introduction and exploration of one of the...
Ribeira Sacra

Ribeira Sacra— A Historic Region with Modern Problems

Nearly 30 years after gaining Denominación de Origen status, Galicia's most “heroic” wine region is facing some familiar challenges.

Beaujolais "Gang of Four"

Kids in France grow up reading about the adventures of Asterix the Gaul.

A Rosé Renaissance in Provence

Dappled sunshine, joie de vivre holidays, and endless lavender fields are just the tip of Provence's appeal. The other is its world-famous rosé.
84-year-old Garnacha Vines - Campo de Borja

A Journey Around Some Of Spain's Oldest Vines

Home to some of the world’s oldest productive vines – there are Albariño vines in DO Rías Baixas that have been producing grapes for over 200 years - Spain is also believed to be home to more hectares of old vines than any other country.
Lake Garda
Photo Courtesy By Consorzio Lugana

Luscious Lugana: The Gem of Lake Garda

Did someone say Lake Garda? You had me at Lake! Those were my first thoughts when asked to visit the area close to Italy’s largest lake and home of the Lugana DOC.

Discovering the Gastronomic Heritage of France: A Visit to Dijon's International Center for Gastronomy and Wine

Uncovering the Secrets of Burgundy's Winemaking Tradition through Immersive Exhibitions, Workshops and Tastings...

Breaking Tradition: How Super Tuscan Wines Redefined Italian Viticulture

When I first joined the wine industry some 16 years ago, I was thrown in at the deep end specialising in selling the world’s finest wines to the well-heeled customers of Northwest London. In those early days, one of the topics that frequently plunged me under the water was when I had to sound...
Looking toward the Sibillini Mountains from the town of Offida, Andrea Eby
Looking toward the Sibillini Mountains from the town of Offida, Andrea Eby

Movin’ On Up: Marche’s Vinous March Toward World-Wide Respect and Recognition

“Andreeeeea! There is no plane from Napoli to Ancona!” This was the incredulous cry that I heard from my Campanian friends when I told them how I was leaving their beautiful region to visit Marche. They were sure that when I arrived at the terminal, that what I thought was going to be a plane...

Barolo Communes

Apart from the Côte d’Or in Burgundy, perhaps no other wine territory has been dissected in greater detail than the Barolo zone. This makes perfect sense, as these are arguably the two most ideal representations of the concept of terroir; just as Pinot Noir from one village in Burgundy reveals...
From Bitter to Sweet: Prosecco’s Heroic Hills

From Bitter to Sweet: Prosecco’s Heroic Hills

Walking along the path that leads to the summit of the Cartizze hill, the town of Santo Stefano gradually emerges in the distance, its bell tower and a few quaint houses standing as a punctuation mark amidst the harmonious mosaic of woodland patches and vineyards. Like real-life topographic...

Unearthing Tradition in Georgia

Zaza Kbilashvili's workshop lies in the village of Vardisubani, a short distance west of Telavi, the cultural centre of Kakheti wine country in Eastern Georgia. From the outside, Zaza’s home might seem unassuming, but once through the gate, its rustic yet elegant and bucolic appeal unfolds. A...

Catalunya, Xarel·lo and Unmissable Wines: Q&A with Ferran Centelles

Ferran Adrià’s legendary restaurant El Bulli defined modernist cuisine. The restaurant had an undeniable influence on haute cuisine trends both in Spain and across the globe. For 13 years, its wine programme was led by sommelier Ferran Centelles. Ferran continues to work with Adrià at the...

Priorat, The Wine of Life

Prioratans have a saying: Si ets calatà, de les pedres treuràs pa. Pero si ets a Priorati, treuràs vi. It means “The Catalan people make bread from stones, but the Prioratans make wine.” Their llicorella rock soils provide the kind of struggle that produces some of the most sought-after wines in...