News

Deeper details on Valencia’s wine border conflict

by  |  11-02-2022

For years now, a local skirmish between the three denominations of origin in Spain’s Autonomous Region of Valencia has been brewing. While in no way living up to geopolitical crisis that’s been unfolding in Ukraine,... more »

DO Terra Alta brings “brisats” to the forefront

by  |  08-02-2022

DO Terra Alta, in Catalunya, Spain has been quite busy recently. In their regulatory council’s last board meeting of 2021 they approved a long list of changes. The most prominent was their making a very... more »

An update on the “Reserva de la Tierra” scandal

by  |  28-01-2022

The fraud case of Reserva de la Tierra is in the news again and recent developments warrant taking another look at it. In brief, at the end of October of last year, three Catalan denominations... more »

The wines from Garnacha in Rioja 2022

by  |  25-01-2022

It is a justified assumption that 99% of the Riojan wines one encounters will be majority if not fully-based on the grape, Tempranillo. At 88% of all red plantings, it is unequivocally the dominant variety... more »

Cul de Cuvée 22-01-2022

by  |  22-01-2022

A bluntly-curated selection of absolutely random recent bits from around the wine and drink world. The search for mother’s little helper Ever wonder what your mom is looking for in a sparkling wine? To drink... more »

The wines of Rioja’s Viñedos Singulares 2022

by  |  14-01-2022

If someone has not spent time in the Rioja region, it’s nearly impossible to impress upon them as to how incredibly large and diverse it is. Something like 100km long and 50km wine in terms... more »

A look at The Language of Yes 2020

by  |  07-01-2022

I took advantage of being in California during the holidays to order and try the new “Language of Yes” wines coming from the Rancho Réal vineyard in Santa Barbara County. They’re being produced by legendary... more »

The wines from Trepat in Conca de Barberà 2022

by  |  17-12-2021

It’s obviously been a tough couple of years, leading to the cancelation of countless events and although some are trying to restart, that’s quite precarious and I don’t see this changing any time soon. I... more »

Cul de Cuvée 11-12-2021

by  |  11-12-2021

A bluntly-curated selection of absolutely random recent bits from around the wine and drink world. Oreos? Oh, gloreos! The big news in the wine world has of course been the Oreo wine by Barefoot. Designed... more »

Best Spanish wines of 2021

by  |  08-12-2021

For the first time I’m doing a Best Spanish Wines list which is accompanying my yearly Best Catalan Wines list. Why are they separate? Some may assume it’s some kind of political statement but the... more »