Articles
Gremi Castle and well, sheep

A Georgian wine revival, how?

by  |  28-10-2017

For those immersed in the wine world, Georgian wines have been on fire for some time, so much so that most editors I work with don’t even want new articles about the country and its... more »

Dr. Carole Meredith, on social media and how to sell a little wine in a big market

by  |  23-10-2017

When Dr. Carole Meredith was interviewed for the documentary, “SOMM: Into the Bottle” she shot off a one liner about the wine industry, “Can there be any other business where there’s so much bullshit?” It... more »

Onward to Carignan(e)

by  |  20-10-2017

I’ve been tasting a rather enormous amount of Carignan lately for a forthcoming article. This has confirmed several things for me which are: 1) it’s delicious and this a grape very much capable of making... more »

Lady strangler news, Escanyavella 2015

by  |  18-10-2017

There exists an old grape in DOQ Priorat that sits in something of a legal limbo called, Escanyavella. Essentially it means “old lady choker” or “strangler” depending on how poetic you might want to be... more »

The 4€ Bierzo Mencía experience

by  |  12-10-2017

I have something of a Modern Art-like fascination with the grocery store chain, Lidl. The implementation of their stores varies wildly from one country to another and in some stores, such as those in the... more »

A further tasting of Bodega Otazu

by  |  10-10-2017

When the mega top-end “Vitral” by Bodega Otazu was announced earlier this year, I wrote a critique of the overall approach of creating what is for all purposed a “cult wine”, one which is created... more »

In The Glass: Krajančić – Intrada 2016

by  |  07-10-2017

The Dalmatian grape, Pošip can most certainly be boring, banal, and limp. If overproduced and fermented in large, not perfectly-controlled volumes it dies a mournful death aromatically. But, like so many grapes, when a simple... more »

Napa’s newest wine bar, Compline, opens

by  |  02-10-2017

It’s something like 15 years now since I was working full time for a Napa Valley winery and back then, I was lucky enough to based in San Francisco for most my work. I say... more »

In The Glass: Shavnabada Monastery – Saperavi 2007

by  |  27-09-2017

The Shavnabada Monastery is like many monasteries in Georgia: very, very old and with a killer view. They also happen to be the second monastery in Georgia to start releasing wines. The first of course... more »

Neither “whole” nor “food”, Don Simón in a healthy place?

by  |  23-09-2017

Whole Foods Market has been in the news a great deal recently as it was purchased by Amazon. More market-driven minds than mine have picked apart this deal to no end, so there’s little reason... more »