Articles

Wonderful Gran Reserva Cavas for unreasonable times

by  |  15-12-2018

It’s roundabout mid-December when the bubbly articles inevitably percolate throughout all manners of media. The codified thinking is that for these festive times, you’ll want what has been deemed the most celebratory of drinks: sparkling... more »

The ever-mighty Xarel·lo. Recaredo: Turó d’en Mota 2006 & Serral del Vell 2008

by  |  29-10-2018

Perhaps it’s because t hasn’t popped up on #sommlife or the less-used but seemingly less annoying #awesomm. Or, perhaps it’s just that the punt volat (·) tosses people for a wobbly, but Xarel·lo is still... more »

Why not to drink sparkling wines in a Champagne glass

by  |  31-07-2017

For most of July, I’ve been drinking a lot of sparkling wine. While it would seem a natural fit with the hot weather (and it’s not just my imagination) I’ve been tasting a vast array... more »

The list of the first qualified Cava de Paratge vineyards & their wines

by  |  14-07-2017

For some time there has been a lot of information floating around about the forthcoming Cava de Paratge (Spanish: Cava de Paraje) qualification for specific vineyards and parcels within the boundaries of DO Cava. If... more »

Adieu France – The regrafting of Catalan vineyards

by  |  09-03-2017

“I can’t speak for all of Spain, but Cabernet Sauvignon sucks in Catalunya. You pick it when it’s ripe and you’re going to be making dessert wine. You pick it before it raisins and it’s... more »

Recaredo’s Turó d’en Mota 2005 & 1999

by  |  17-11-2016

If you know Cava and you don’t know the Turó d’en Mota from Recaredo, then you may be displeased to learn that you really don’t know Cava. This lengthy-aged sparkling wine from a single vineyard... more »

Wine pairings for recycling days

by  |  05-02-2016

It’s often the case in Catalan or Spanish that when talking about wine pairings, they translate this to ‘marriages’ in English. Thus, ‘this wine marries well with lamb’ makes it sound like a wine prone... more »

Cava, for that bubbly time of year

by  |  08-12-2015

For those who love sparkling wines, this is a great time of year. However, the festive season can be a minefield of lesser bubblies just waiting to hurt your body, soul, and potentially, friendships. In... more »

Recaredo’s Turó d’en Mota

by  |  07-09-2015

It seems that despite visiting Recaredo several times, I keep forgetting to write about their top-end wine and property called, Turó d’en Mota. For anyone who visits Recaredo (and out of all the Cava makers... more »

Vino de pago, Vi de finca, & Grand Cru

by  |  22-06-2015

It seems that nearly every year now, a new “vi de finca” comes on to the market in Catalunya. Great, what on earth does this mean? And in case that’s not enough of a mystery... more »