News of the new: Coming soon to a list near you!
The Mad March Hares are thwacking each other on the noses, the sun has decided that it’s safe to come out, supermarket asparagus is still coming from Peru (but not…
Doug Decants: Les Chemins de l’Arskose
The Les Chemins de l'Arkose domaine is located in the heart of Montpeyroux in the Auvergne region. Yvan Bernard and Audrey Baldassin cultivate 8-hectares of vines on the various beautiful terroirs of Puy-de-Dôme. The soils are clay-limestone,…
Spotlight on: Kelley Fox Wines, Oregon
Formerly General Manager and Winemaker of Torii Mor Winery before working a stage at Gibbston Valley Wines in New Zealand with Grant Taylor, eventually Kelley became associate winemaker at…
Feeding the Ox – A Celebration of Oxidation
Networking with O2 When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be ~ Lao Tzu Only those who will risk going too far can possibly…
Spotlight on: I Vigneri, Sicily
A native of the city of Catania, Salvo Foti studied oenology and began his career in 1981 as a technical and agrarian advisor to some notable estates in eastern Sicily.…
Doug Decants: The Wines of Morlanche
In 2015, Lisa Lavagne and Brice Banchet decided to build their life project in the family home in Morlanche, to grow vines and make wine on the land belonging to…
I See Orange
Symbolic Significance of Orange *Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and tropics. *Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination,…
In Praise of Brett
Thirty years ago Jasper Morris MW was hosting a wine dinner at a restaurant I used to work at. I can’t remember the wine region we were showcasing, but one…
Doug Decants: Wild Pony, Bianka & Daniel Schmitt
The Schmitt winery has been in the family for over 230 years with Bianka and Daniel working their 16 hectares for the last decade. They work in full biodynamics which…
In Praise of VA
I love VA (with apologies to Randy Newman) There is a little-known HM Bateman cartoon with a picture of me drinking a beaker of wine, supported by the tagline: The…