Category Archives: Grape Varieties

Journey Through the Past to get Lost in a Field

Back at the end of May I was wandering around the Tobacco Dock venue for the Real Wine Fair and I happened to spy Tim Wildman. I have been a fan of his Aussie Petnats for ages, so I thought … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, English Wine, Grape Varieties, Petnat, Rosé, Sparkling Wine, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Regenerative Viticulture by Dr Jamie Goode (Book Review)

Regenerative Viticulture is a phrase being bandied around a lot right now, but it is sufficiently new, and current, for the majority of people, that many probably don’t really know exactly what it means. This is why Jamie Goode has, … Continue reading

Posted in Grape Varieties, Natural Wine, Viticulture, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Science, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Far Flung Grapes – A Different Kind of Wine Travel

“ The Whale that wanders round the Pole is not a table fish. You cannot bake or boil him whole, nor serve him in a dish…” Hilaire Belloc I’ve always loved this poem and I remember writing this first verse in … Continue reading

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Wir Trinken…Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir, what do we know about it? It’s “the” cool climate red grape variety. Many would omit “cool climate” and claim it’s absolutely the finest red grape bar none. It ripens late and is very fickle, dependent on location … Continue reading

Posted in German Wine, Grape Varieties, Wine | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Wir Trinken…Blaufränkisch

There are a number of grape varieties which are almost completely identified with one country yet which have spread beyond false borders, especially those borders which have moved around in Central Europe, or in the Alpine regions. These varieties might … Continue reading

Posted in Austrian Wine, Czech Wine, Grape Varieties, Hungarian Wine, Slovakian Wine, Slovenian Wine, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Switzerland – Game On

I was reading an article written and published in April by Valerie Kathawala on the Planet of the Grapes web site (that’s the US online magazine, not the London wine merchant of the same name), called “Have Swiss Wines Finally Arrived?“. … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Grape Varieties, Swiss Wine, Wine, Wine Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Isolation Inspiration Part 1: Furmint Crowdcast from Newcomer and Kiffe

I wrote earlier this week about the Zoom event hosted by Nekter Wines last Friday, an enthralling conversation with Steve Matthiasson focused on his Linda Vista Chardonnay 2017. It was the first of a series of Friday night slots from Nekter, and … Continue reading

Posted in Austrian Wine, Grape Varieties, Hungarian Wine, Rust, Wine, Wine Agencies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Godforsaken Grapes (Book Review)

I’d been aware of Jason Wilson’s Godforsaken Grapes (2018) for some time, but it had never really registered as a book I needed to read until an American friend recommended it in the strongest terms. I think what had put me off, … Continue reading

Posted in Austrian Wine, Grape Varieties, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Travel, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Swiss Wine by Sue Style

To give it its proper title, Sue Style’s latest book is The Landscape of Swiss Wine – A Wine-Lover’s Tour of Switzerland. Now you all know that I’m a bit of a fan of Swiss Wines, and from time to time … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Grape Varieties, Swiss Wine, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Ugly Ducklings Can Be Swans” (Says Doug Wregg)

Ugly Ducklings can be Swans! That was the title of the tasting given by Doug Wregg at Solent Cellar in Lymington on Friday night. Doug’s company, Les Caves de Pyrene, has proved that statement a thousand times over in the thirty-odd … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Grape Varieties, Natural Wine, Slovenian Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments