Catalan Wines

Recuperating ancient grape varieties in Pla de Bages

by  |  25-04-2018

Over the last 15 years in Spain, there has been a heavy push to preserve old buildings using public funds that were otherwise crumbling into ruin and oblivion. Some might read this cynically as simply... more »

Celebrating single grape diversity: Grenaches du Monde 2018 & Grenache³

by  |  15-04-2018

Today closes the 6th edition of Grenaches du Monde, an event that, much like Grenache itself has been a roving vagabond, seeing itself set up shop wherever Grenache has made its presence known. While starting... more »

Ancient Georgian winemaking loses one of its modern founders

by  |  12-04-2018

It’s sad to report the passing of Georgian winemaker, Soliko Tsaishvili. He had been diagnosed in the early stages of pancreatic cancer in 2016 and while receiving treatment since, friends reported that he succumbed to... more »

“Corpinnat”, the newest classification for Spanish sparkling wines

by  |  11-04-2018

Cava, Spain’s sparkling wine Denomination of Origin based almost entirely in Penedès, Catalonia now has another potential classification to add labels. If this seems like déjà vu, that’s likely due to being reminded of Cava... more »

The Catalan wine boycott?

by  |  03-03-2018

It’s a trick question to ask where in Spain they produce the largest amount of wine. As Spain is always one of the Top Three producers of wine in the world (along with France &... more »

An updated taste of Armenian wines

by  |  16-02-2018

Just over a year ago I was invited to visit and explore all that is Armenia wine. A great and typically exhausting trip, I wrote a summary of the wines tasted and wineries visited if... more »

Decanter goes “premium”–and fully online

by  |  20-11-2017

Decanter “Premium”. I hadn’t really thought much about it until Richard Hemming made mention of it on his site. You see, Decanter.com has introduced a new “Premium” option which is in essence, a paywall making... more »

The Creation of Priorat Singulars

by  |  17-11-2017

In Barcelona, Spain on November 27th, a new association of wine producers from the DOQ Priorat appellation in Catalonia officially presented of their new group and concluded with a tasting that included current releases as... more »

Lady strangler news, Escanyavella 2015

by  |  18-10-2017

There exists an old grape in DOQ Priorat that sits in something of a legal limbo called, Escanyavella. Essentially it means “old lady choker” or “strangler” depending on how poetic you might want to be... more »

Napa’s newest wine bar, Compline, opens

by  |  02-10-2017

It’s something like 15 years now since I was working full time for a Napa Valley winery and back then, I was lucky enough to based in San Francisco for most my work. I say... more »