Many joke that Chardonnay is the chicken of wine grapes. Although more neutral in flavors, it offers flexibility to produce many wine styles. In this article, I explore its evolution in California and share characteristics of the wine it makes in other parts of the world.
Whether you think I am talking about cooking wine, or are an actual lover of these fortified wines, this post has something for everyone, thanks to our recent time at Blandy’s on Madeira Island. The trip was spontaneous, thus not much prior research except for reading Tom Mullen’s Forbes article and booking a tour at the only organic winery on the… Read more »
Today we share a holiday week wine from Granache Blanc pioneer Cellar Barbara Forés. Called ‘brisado’ in Spanish (orange wine), here Granacha Blanca (white Grenache) is skin-macerated and aged in clay amphorae 6-months. This method was a traditional and locally called ‘brisados’ then somewhere as time passed was forgotten. Mother daughter team Carmen Ferrer and Pili Sanmartín Ferrer decided to… Read more »
On a trip to Aragón a few years ago, we had the opportunity to delve into the wines of this somewhat isolated Spanish region. Basing ourselves in the historic city Zaragoza, we visited vineyards and wineries to obtain an overview of the area, the land (where rainfall is in short supply) and the varied faces of Garnacha. One in particular… Read more »
There are several areas in the world noted as verdant yet the Rias Baixas region in Galicia, Spain tops many and offers their star grape, Albariño.
Spring is transition time, a deliberate shift from the heaviness of winter to outward energy and light. Loimer’s Grüners are a shift from light to great pleasure. Austria put itself on the wine map via one grape, Grüner Veltliner. It’s the leader among grape varieties in the country and thriving in 41% of the total vine area. To learn more… Read more »
Ismael Gozalo thrives on microbial communities in his Segovian land and cellar at MicroBio Wines in Castilla y Leon. These microbes are paying off!
Bodegas Ontañon has made wine in Rioja for five generations. Today they focus on Viñedos Singulares (single vineyards) and their new Queiron winery in eastern Rioja.
The Clot de l’Origine winery is as incognito as proprietor Marc Barriot himself, often called the icon of natural winemaking in Roussillon. When the door opens, you enter controlled chaos- bubbling ferments, oxidative smells and bottles of super distinctive wines that may just blow your mind.
A budget friendly sparkling wine from the land of big reds, a little known yet high quality alternative to Champagne. Why don’t more people know about Crémant de Bordeaux?!?