Catalan Wines

Carinyena Blanca: Tasting a grape that’s finding its place in Empordà

by  |  13-08-2019

Catalunya’s Denomination of Origin Empordà has just announced an institutional plan to “realize the potential” of the grape, Carinyena Blanca (White Carignan.) Going forward this will involve making it a permitted grape as per their... more »

Ribera del Duero to shine a light on their whites

by  |  01-08-2019

The Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spanish State Bulletin) isn’t light reading. There are sticky gobs of technical announcements for absolutely all facets of the government but, if one is willing to hone in on the... more »

Tast del Decenni 2019: The DOQ Priorat 2009 vintage

by  |  02-07-2019

In 2009, the heaviest shoe of the Global Financial Crisis had finally fallen. All the maneuvering, consolidating, and bailing of companies and governments truly came to a head for and was deeply affecting European countries,... more »

Searching for sparkling in Georgia

by  |  25-06-2019

In keeping up with the wines of Georgia, this week I’m in Tbilisi, tasting the current vintage. Things are definitively in motion here as while the recent protests have tapered off, a Russian ban on... more »

Champagne’s terroir problem

by  |  01-04-2019

The train to Champagne departs Paris every hour at 36 minutes past from Gare de l’Est. While the carriages might be from an past era, the trip isn’t long with the congestion and sirens of... more »

The Mas Doix – Lede Family partnership

by  |  28-03-2019

In Priorat, you hear a great deal but often know very little. This was shown no better than hearing changes were afoot last year with Mas Doix in the village Poboleda but not really knowing... more »

Let’s talk about ’16 and Álvaro Palacios

by  |  25-03-2019

A decade ago, despite living just an hour away in San Francisco, my visits to Napa Valley were readily-dwindling in regularity as tourism was then and is now, out of control. But in a nearly-final... more »

Speaking of Herència Altés

by  |  18-02-2019

In Spain, judgment of a person is regularly passed based upon their given name. If you can figure out the origin of either of the family names, you base your conclusions upon that. If the... more »

Priorat continues trying to reclaim the Siurana River

by  |  12-02-2019

Each and every river begins with a single drop of water. It may not be apparent when looking at such mighty torrents as the Amazon or Congo, but somewhere, deep in a far-flung hinterland, one... more »

Corpinnat and the death of fine Cava?

by  |  01-02-2019

At the end of January, the lucky wineries in Penedès, Catalunya were those out pruning their vines. Then there were others, dealing with heavy affairs that don’t happen every year, but perhaps once a generation.... more »