Catalan Wines

Finding ’14 & La Festa de la Verema

by  |  04-11-2016

Two years back, I wrote an account of the 2014 harvest which is where the photo above was from. It was nasty. What wasn’t desiccated was full of botrytis or then underripe and green. It... more »

Abadal – 3.9 2011

by  |  29-10-2016

There are some DOs in Catalonia that are relatively unknown such as, Pla de Bages. Located very close to Barcelona, this lesser known aspect is due not to the amount of production but the fact... more »

When making (experiments in) wine

by  |  20-10-2016

Much like when an actor decides to record a music album, it takes a pretty arrogant wine writer to decide to make wine and even more so for a sommelier. Given that I’m both of... more »
Emeril Lagasse, well-known showcooker

Showcooking & Wordsenglish in Catalan wine

by  |  17-10-2016

There really isn’t a week that passes in Catalunya where I don’t see some event that has a session of “showcooking” scheduled. I’m not really sure how this word entered the regular vernacular although to... more »

Catalan Carignan & The “Best” Catalan Wine

by  |  10-10-2016

Last Friday the winners were announced for the 4th edition of the Vinari Awards. This is the main wine award for all of Catalonia and this year I participated as one of the judges. So,... more »

Bridging wine’s language silos

by  |  30-09-2016

Vinum is a wine shop in my adopted village of Porrera where it’s usually the mother of the family that owns it, Cori who you’ll find behind the counter. She’s from the next county over,... more »

The Grapes of Spain

by  |  28-09-2016

If there is one native Spanish grape that a typical wine drinker will know, it is Tempranillo, and for most consumers, the story ends there. In the second half of the 20th century, it was... more »

In The Glass: Jean Leon – 3055 Merlot/Petit Verdot 2015

by  |  23-09-2016

One of the wineries high on my list to visit in Catalonia is that of Jean Leon. Being that it’s in DO Penedès, it’s a touch out of the way for just casually stopping in,... more »

Lafou – Els Amellers 2015

by  |  17-08-2016

For those who don’t know it, Lafou in DO Terra Alta has quickly risen to be one of the reference cellars for the appellation. Both their reds and whites are showing the brilliant potential that’s... more »

Gettin’ Grenachey – Cellers de Scala Dei & RAR

by  |  21-07-2016

There are those who, if a wine hasn’t spent at least a year in the finest French oak and isn’t from the finest block of vines, then they consider it to have little worth. Honestly,... more »