Articles

The first truffle dog competition in Priorat

by  |  22-02-2022

This past Sunday, the 20th of February, 2022, marked the first ever competition for truffle-hunting dogs in Priorat. While Spain may not be a country known for its truffles, they exist in plentitude throughout all... more »
Photo by Gutter & Stars

Exceptional English Chardonnay

by  |  17-02-2022

Sure, still whites made from Chardonnay in the UK have been around for a while, but now it’s a variety that’s definitely found its voice. While grown in the country for some time, my first... more »

Revisiting an urban favorite: Broc Cellars

by  |  15-02-2022

Back in 2011, I was spending a good deal of time at a local San Francisco bar called, Koko Cocktails. Beyond enjoying a drink, my reasons for this were twofold. Number one with a bullet... more »

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 »

Cul de Cuvée 05-02-2022: Glass Edition!

by  |  05-02-2022

A bluntly-curated selection of absolutely random recent bits from around the wine and drink world. Oh, maybe you noticed that this is the special Glass Edition! Why? Because there’s just been so damned much crap... more »
Photo from Tablas Creek

A taste and talk with Tablas Creek

by  |  03-02-2022

The first time I visited Paso Robles was in the early summer of 1994. I’d just graduated rom high school and found myself in possession of a car that was too fast for my age.... more »

In The Glass: Gritelles – Manou 2019

by  |  01-02-2022

“Reduction”, as defined by the Oxford Companion to Wine, is a: “chemical reaction that is in effect the complement of oxidation and one in which an element or compound gains electrons.” That’s obviously quite scientific... 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 »