News
The Rioja Alavesa issue
by Miquel Hudin | 06-03-2023
Making news lately has been that the Rioja Alavesa region is striving to create their own Denomination of Origin completely separate from DOC Rioja to be called, “Arabako Mahastiak/Viñedos de Álava” (using both names in... more »
Looking back, looking forward with Ukraine
by Miquel Hudin | 27-02-2023
Whatever Putin may have been planning in order to mark the one-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine didn't come to pass last week despite the rumors. Russia simply continues with more of the... more »
Maturana Buena, Maturana Mala
by Miquel Hudin | 13-02-2023
Tracking down the relationships of vitis vinifera varieties which comprise the grapes from which our wines are made is no easy task. Back in 2012, the book Wine Grapes took an impressive stab at researching... more »
From the Tasting Bench
by Miquel Hudin | 08-02-2023
The fact that things in life can't always be placed into a specific box applies as much to wine as anything else. I mention this as today sees the addition of a new section on... more »
The leopard’s spots of Reserva de la Tierra
by Miquel Hudin | 25-01-2023 ~ 4 Comments
It was back in October of 2021 when the story broke about massive fraud having been allegedly perpetrated by Spanish company, Reserva de la Tierra which is based in the municipality of Borges del Camp... more »
A surprise batch of Catalan Vins de Finca
by Miquel Hudin | 22-12-2022
Charting the path of Vi de Finca wines in Catalunya or those of Vino de Pago in greater Spain, is a mighty tricky affair. While these are both single vineyard certifications akin to something of... more »
The Catalan Vi Novell class of 2022
by Miquel Hudin | 07-12-2022
It's time yet again to take a look at the vi novell from Catalunya, the very first wines from the latest 2022 harvest. You're undoubtedly thinking, “Hold on a baguette-jabbin' minute. The French cornered that... more »
Wine & the War-Life balance in Ukraine
by Jenia Nikolaichuk | 21-11-2022
Much like all other aspects of the country, Ukrainian winemaking is going through extreme times. The 2022 vintage has been one of the best of the previous decade--according to those who were able to harvest... more »
Cul de Cuvée 12-11-2022
by Miquel Hudin | 12-11-2022 ~ 4 Comments
A bluntly-curated selection of absolutely random recent bits from around the wine and drink world served up "mostly fresh" for your enjoyment. If you ever thought, "I really enjoy reusing my teabags until their spent,... more »
News from the OIV
by Miquel Hudin | 07-11-2022
Due to all things pandemic (yeah, it's still here...) the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) had canceled its annual congress for two years. Now in 2022, they've picked it back up with the... more »