Essays

Üllo: Why the wine sulfites & headaches myth never dies…

by  |  06-12-2018 ~ 2 Comments

So as is typically the case, the claim was framed as such: "A wine filter that will make your pinot noir headaches disappear" and as always, the claim was most assuredly not true and probably... more »

A small taste of Málaga

by  |  26-11-2018

You are spoiled, simply spoiled, when it comes to wonderful food and drink in Spain. There are however those more spoiled than others and I posit that anyone in Catalunya or the Basque Country lives... more »

Sta. Rita Hills on the up. Tyler – La Rinconada 2014

by  |  20-11-2018

For anyone who enjoys lunacy as a past time, blind tasting is there or you to occupy your spare hours and potentially drive away any potential spouse. I do sympathize with people in this pursuit... more »

An oasis of wine in Mitzpe Ramon, Israel

by  |  01-10-2018

A brief “vacation” last year was spent zipping around Israel to see bits I hadn’t seen during my first trip in 2014. The main population centers of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are in the dead... more »

A taste from the east, Crama Ferdi

by  |  13-09-2018

One judges wine competitions neither for fame nor money which is good as both are in staggeringly short supply for the activity. So, why do it? Well, to challenge yourself into being more analytical about... more »

Storing wine post Coravin

by  |  20-08-2018

I’d previously delved into the potentially life-changing event that bringing a Coravin into your home means, at least in terms of wine. Depending upon who you are or whatever your walk of life, the fact... more »

Life, under Coravin

by  |  23-07-2018

The Coravin. This little device has changed the face of wine service and storage massively since its creation in 2011. The act of jabbing a hollow needle through the cork in a wine bottle, injecting... more »

The daze of rosés

by  |  21-07-2018

It’s somewhere around the second half of July where Rosé season officially opens in Europe. When does it close? Well, that used to be the end of August when you could go visit Paris and... more »

Continuum: How the Mondavis pressed on

by  |  14-05-2018

One of the grandest of sagas that took place in Napa Valley during the 20th century was the split between the original Mondavi brothers of Robert and Peter. Many a wine drinker will know the... more »
Mustard, Napa has it

Seeing the Napa Valley of now

by  |  26-03-2018

This past February, the impossible happened: I actually slept in Napa Valley. In fact, I slept seven nights and passed an entire week within the confines of these world-famous vineyards bracketed by the Mayacamas and... more »