Catalan Wines

The wines of DO Montsant 2022

by  |  20-06-2022

I’m very happy to be releasing the latest tasting report for DO Montsant today. Over half of the nearly 90 wines tasted resided within the vintage boundaries of 2018, 2019, and 2020. But, with 1/4... more »

The Hail Mary to save La Palma’s vine heritage

by  |  15-06-2022

It was on September 19th, 2021 that the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge in the island of la Palma, Spain began a massive, three-month long eruption. It’s no small thing to say that this was a... more »

Cul de Cuvée 11-06-2022

by  |  11-06-2022

A bluntly-curated selection of absolutely random recent bits from around the wine and drink world served up “mostly fresh” for your enjoyment. Well Sue Gray really put the “downer” in Downing Street as now that... more »

The wines of AOC Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022

by  |  31-05-2022

I’d missed that view of the “Pope’s new castle” seen above. It’s striking in how it lords over the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, making for spectacular photos whether day or night. My longing for it was... more »

SOMM a decade on, the aftermath of a documentary

by  |  26-05-2022

There are few if any films that have had such a profound impact on the wine world than the original SOMM film from 2012. I’m reminded of this constantly such as when I was leading... more »

Ukraine’s wine people finding homes around Europe

by  |  20-05-2022

The war in Ukraine continues to be a heinous atrocity. The only thing that’s clear now is that there will be no resolution any time soon, especially as Russia seems hell-bent to grind on despite... more »

Bordeaux 2021, En Primeur

by  |  18-05-2022

After three years away, the world’s wine professionals landed upon Bordeaux this spring for the (previously) annual En Primeur campaign covering the 2021 vintage. The general takeaway? Great estates made great wines. All others, take... more »

Cul de Cuvée 07-05-2022

by  |  07-05-2022

A bluntly-curated selection of absolutely random recent bits from around the wine and drink world. In bubbly-treason news, it appears that Anatoly Shariy won’t be enjoying much Cava any time soon. The Ukrainian who seemed... more »

Solidarity tasting for Ukraine

by  |  06-05-2022

On Monday, May 16th at 18:15 at the CETT school in Barcelona, enologist Blanca Ozcariz is organizing a benefit tasting with all funds destined to the World Central Kitchen to continue their work, feeding people... more »
Tast de les Mines, Bellmunt

Priorat’s Fira del Vi exceeds all expectations

by  |  04-05-2022

What is perhaps one of the biggest wine events in all of Catalunya or least the biggest for the Priorat region is the annual Fira de Vi that takes place on the first weekend of... more »