This blog began as a record of taking the WSET Diploma, during which I studied and explored wines and spirits made all around the world. Having passed the Diploma and become a WSET Certified Educator, the blog has become much more: a continual outlet for my passion for the culture of wine, spirits, and beer.
I aim to educate in an informal, enlightening, and engaging manner. As well as maintaining this blog to track my latest enthusiasms, I provide educational tastings for restaurants and for private groups. Details can be found on the website, and collaborations are welcome.
Wine is my primary interest and area of expertise and this blog aims to immerse the reader in the history of wine, to understand why wine tastes like it does, and to explore all the latest news. At the same time, beer and spirits will never be ignored.
For the drinker, whether casual or professional, today is a good time to be alive.
In the second episode focusing on Greek wine with importer Dionysi Grevenitis, we discuss the country's white wines. Following on from the first episode's focus on Assyrtiko, the conversation moves to Malagousia, Moschofilero, and Robola and the huge variety of white wine made in Greece.
Greece's wine history goes back thousands of years but it's only over the last 40 years that the industry has got back on track, with the production of outstanding white wine as well as very good red, from both indigenous and international varieties. I interview Dionysi Grevenitis, who has imported Greek wines for the last decade as the country has improved its international reputation. We talk about where Greek wine has developed in that time, as well as Greece's great white variety: Assyrtiko.
The third and final episode of my interview with Jérôme Hainz of www.bottlestops.com continues to focus on changes in German wine, in this instance the effect of climate change, the rise of organic and biodynamic practices, and how all this is affecting styles of wine in Germany.
Germany is most famous for Riesling - and rightly so - but there's a lot more to the country than just Riesling. This second part of my interview with Jérôme Hainz of BottleStops (www.bottlestops.com) focuses on other styles and grape varieties: Sekt and rosé, both of which have greatly increased in quality in recent years, as well as Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Sylvaner, and Trollinger to name a few ...
First of a three-part series focusing on Germany, with the help of with of Jérôme Hainz of BottleStops who runs a tour company in German wine country. As travel is difficult right now, the next best thing is to get news from the source! This episode focuses on how German wine has changed in the last twenty years or so, developing from a reputation for inexpensive sweet wines to having some of the greatest whites in the world. Also looking at the future of German wine, the episode provides a great insight into what's happening in Germany right now.
Wine is made in every state in the USA: this episode focuses on the lesser known but states that have potential to make interesting wine - Virginia, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Idaho. All states figuring out which varieties work best in which locations, and all worth keeping an eye on.
New York State is becoming more and more associated with quality winemaking, even if hybrids still dominate plantings. It has an extreme climate: inland it's cool continental, while on Long Island it's maritime with hurricanes a hazard. However, ambitious producers are learning to work with the conditions to produce extremely interesting wines from Riesling, Cabernet Franc, and Gamay. Definitely a wine region to keep an eye on.
Central Valley is the agricultural heart of California, home to Gallo, the world's biggest winery. There are, however, pockets where quality wine is made, such as the increasingly interesting Lodi. The Sierra Foothills are where California's modern history begins, with the 1849 Gold Rush. As in Lodi, there's plenty of old-vine Zin but particularly exciting are wines made from Mediterranean varieties such as Mourvèdre. These are definitely regions to look out for in the future.
Although not as famous as Napa Valley, Santa Cruz Mountains and surrounding AVAs have a lineage just as long and prestigious, although neighbouring urbanisation has hindered development. To the south are regions with a more recent history such as Paso Robles and Santa Barbara. This episode looks at the huge variety of styles of wine produced south of San Francisco nearly all the way to Los Angeles - exciting, diverse, and often high quality regions.
The second episode of the California series focuses on Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Sonoma is the historic heart of California's commercial wine industry, the first grapes planted in 1819 and the first winery was in 1857. It's very diverse, according to exposure to the ocean, altitude, and soil types, with a wide variety of grape varieties planted. And then there's Mendocino to the north, more remote with some extremely interesting wines being made. A lot to talk about, so dive in!
Beginning a new mini-series on California with Napa Valley, the state's most famous wine region. The episode traces the history of wine production back to the 1830s, and what makes Napa so unique through the climate, soils, geography, grape varieties, and the styles of wine made there.
The production of sweet wine in Bordeaux goes back 300 years, and up until the Second World War it accounted for a third of all wine made in Bordeaux. Now it's only 2%, but the small regions of Sauternes and Barsac make some of the greatest and most iconic sweet wines of the world - definitely wines any student should know about.
White Bordeaux is severely underappreciated, it was historically very important. Plantings of white varieties are slowly beginning to rise, so there is a welcome movement back to white wine. This episode focuses on the different varieties - mainly Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon - the different appellations, and the different price points in the context of modern Bordeaux and the global market.
Continuing the focus on Bordeaux, this episode is all about Cabernet Sauvignon and the prestigious appellations associated with this world famous variety, explaining what makes Bordeaux Cabernet so individual and distinctive.
Merlot is the most planted grape variety in Bordeaux, and is the base for wines at all price points and levels of quality. This episode focuses on the variety, its characteristics and the key Merlot-based appellations such as St-Emilion and Pomerol as well as nearby good-value alternatives.
The first of five new episodes on Bordeaux, France's largest appellation and one of the most famous and historic. This episode gives an overview of Bordeaux's history and how that is intrinsically linked to the development of its trade structure, classifications, markets, and styles of wine.
An amusing and unexpected transcription of an episode of my podcast. Gummi is the new Gamay!
In this third and final episode exploring on the Loire Valley, the focus is on its reds, rosés, and sparkling wines. The greatest and most famous red wines come from Cabernet Franc, but there are plenty of other grapes such as Pinot Noir, Gamay, Malbec, and Pineau d'Aunis. There's plenty of rosé too, and there are several appellations for sparkling wine, all adding to the incredible diversity of the Loire.
The second episode focusing on the Loire Valley, looking at the many and varied appellations for white and sweet wine in the large region: from Sancerre to Vouvray to Coteaux du Layon to Savennières to Muscadet and more!
Revisiting the Loire Valley, with the first of three episodes focusing on the large, varied, and wonderful region. This episode looks at the grape varieties of the Loire Valley, their characteristics in the vineyard and the styles of wine they produce - including Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Melon, and other less well-known varieties.
