General

A guide to what’s good, bad, & questionable in wine titles16-07-2019

Long gone are the days of a bellied, middle-aged white man proclaiming himself a wine expert because well, he likes wine and wants to tell you about what he likes. No, we’ve reached an age... more>

In Cain I Trust17-06-2019

When writing about wine, everything digital is your best friend–right after a spittoon. A lightweight laptop, or in a pinch, the mobile, armed with either Google Keep for quick notes or Excel for longer tastings... more>

A more balanced amendment to OIV judging guidelines?09-05-2019

Given the amount of wine competitions and people touting themselves as “professional wine judges” these days, it may seem to the general public that setting up such an endeavor takes little more than coming up... more>

Et tu, Eto? Redefining single-serving wine, again.08-04-2019

The core issue with First World problems is that there are simply so many and they’re all so equally “serious”. The grocery store has run out of your preferred bottled water. Your personal trainer only... more>

Zayane, a new tribe on the Moroccan wine map03-04-2019

It was 2015. I was slightly younger, living in a different village, and most importantly, thought nothing of going to Morocco, in July, during Ramadan. That was an adventure worthy of the hardest of face-palm... more>

Do not get between Allison Janney and a porró.

Guzzling with the stars; six new celebrity wines18-03-2019

From press releases about Sarah Jessica Parker’s forays wearing gumboots into the vineyards of New Zealand, to Brangelina’s lucrative Provençal Rosé adventures, to Jon Bon Jovi’s uh, Rosé, to Drew Barrymore’s, uh… other Rosé (wtf?)... more>

Family wineries and the issue of Climate Change04-03-2019

Last week I was invited to a friendly, relaxed lunch in Barcelona, albeit one that was focused on the serious topic of Climate Change and how it relates to winemaking. The unfortunate joke behind the... more>

Wine Predictions for 201901-01-2019

In these illustrious times of silly-haired men holding sway over the misdirection of the world, predictions of any kind are slightly less useful than horse sweat. But, as little value as general predictions may have,... more>

The 2018 Wine Predictions in review26-12-2018

We arrive to that time of year for everyone’s predictions in the wine industry about the year to come. I’ll join in that bluster parade shortly but unlike everyone else, I like to go back... more>

Gifts for those wine type people you know and… dread?10-12-2018

Wine type folks (*) are horrible to get gifts for. “Oh!” you’re possibly thinking, “Surely, I can simply give them the gift of wine? No?” Forget about that pronto as most any bottle, unless insanely... more>