Articles

Six wines from Penedès to know right now

by  |  26-06-2020

As is often the case, we’d just passed May 40th when summer suddenly exploded out of nowhere here in Spain. It seems that overnight we went from chilly nights and massive, biblical rains (that have... more »

Understanding the Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010-2017 vintages via Domaine la Barroche

by  |  09-06-2020

I seem to have a knack in catching Julien Barrot of Domaine la Barroche at awkward moments whenever I’m in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. When I first profiled their cellar, I stopped by while the whole family was... more »

In The Glass: AA Badenhorst – Family Blend Red 2015

by  |  01-06-2020

When interviewing a winemaker in Stellenbosch he told me, “You should head north. That’s where it’s all happening.” By “north” he meant, Swartland, the region around Malmesbury about an hour northeast of Cape Town. This... more »

“Over the Rainbow”, a very choice Covid-19 charity pack from DO Cariñena

by  |  25-05-2020

The town of Cariñena is quite literally at a crossroads. About a half hour southwest of Zaragoza in the Spanish region of Aragón, it sits on a rather vast, flat plateau around 500m in altitude.... more »

DO Penedès & ‘native’ reds

by  |  14-01-2020

In simpler times, if one were drinking a white wine from Spain, it would most likely have been a white from Penedès. This shouldn’t come as much of a shock given that 80% of the... more »

Wines for la Cuesta de Enero/Uphill January

by  |  02-01-2020

To all who have survived family and the holidays, well done. Now we arrive to the cold, murky days of January, probably broke, or at at least a bit broken. You probably don’t even want... more »

Anna Espelt on “Anna Espelt”

by  |  09-12-2019

The Espelt winery sits just outside the village of Vilajuïga, Empordà (Catalunya) and it honestly hasn’t changed a great deal on the outside over the last seven or even 10 years. A large, purpose-built concrete... more »

The wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in 2019

by  |  17-10-2019

For any lover of Grenache-based wines, and especially those found in the Southern Rhône, the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers up many delicious pleasures which is why I’m very excited to share the 2019 report today.... more »

25 years of Torre Muga

by  |  14-10-2019

Mid-October in Barcelona is still Mediterranean in terms of weather as summer clings to the days but is yet graced by a glint of cool air coming in at the fringes of the season. This... more »

10 Grenaches for the 10th annual #GrenacheDay

by  |  20-09-2019

Today, the world celebrates “International Grenache Day”! It’s one of the least-demanding celebrations that exists as it simply means grabbing a glass (or bottle) of Grenache near you and toasting all that’s toastable in this... more »