Serving Temperature – What’s Ideal For My Wine? I’m often asked, “What’s the ideal serving temperature for my wine?” That’s usually followed up with, “And how best to achieve it?” Both questions are important because the serving temperature affects a wine’s smell and taste. Getting that right heightens drinking pleasure immensely. Every wine has its Goldilocks zone. A common suggestion …
Rioja Wine Month returns throughout October 2022
Rioja Wine Month returns throughout October 2022 Rioja Wine Month comes to the U.K. throughout October 2022. It’s a month-long celebration of Rioja, Spain’s most famous wine region. Meanwhile, this article represents my small contribution to Rioja Wine Month. It contains ten recommendations, first tried at the annual Wines of Spain tasting held earlier this year and then subsequently followed up. …
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The World’s Wine Legends – Book Review
The World’s Wine Legends – Book Review The World’s Wine Legends is a new book by Stephen Brook, the subject of which is 100 of the world’s legendary bottles of wine. Stephen Brook is one of the world’s most prolific and awarded wine writers, with more than thirty published wine books, most of which I seem to own. Who better …
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Off the beaten track – some lesser-known Italian wines
Off the beaten track – some lesser-known Italian wines Despite the smaller harvests reported this year, Italy remains the biggest wine-producing country globally. Many readers will know that this massive volume of wine is also incredibly diverse, whether in quality, price, style, terroir, business or winegrowing philosophies. The last time I looked, there were 569 grape varieties registered, with 377 …
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Nas-cëtta, Part 2 – twelve Novello producers and their wines
Nas-cëtta, Part 2 – twelve Novello producers and their wines Nascetta, Part 1, looked at the rediscovery of Nas-cëtta. Local producers rescued this semi-aromatic white grape variety, which survived only in Novello in Piemonte. In 2010, the Langhe DOC exclusively authorised the production of white wine in Novello using only 100% Nascetta grapes, creating a dedicated subzone called Langhe Nas-cëtta del Comune …
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Wine Faults and Flaws: A Practical Guide. Book Review
Wine Faults and Flaws: A Practical Guide. Book Review Wine Faults and Flaws is a brand new book by Keith Grainger*. It took ten years to write and was published on 10 June 2021. This book does what it says on the tin and bridges the gap between heavy science and popular readability whilst retaining scholarship. You’ll find plenty of …
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Clos des Réas and the Best Birthday Present. Ever!
Clos des Réas and the Best Birthday Present. Ever! What’s the best birthday present you’ve ever had? I’ll tell you mine. It wasn’t apparent at the time, yet looking back, it acted as a catalyst for my wine life’s subsequent direction. Many years ago, there was a red Burgundy wine tasting in London hosted by Clive Coates MW. I was given …
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Lightstrike – Richard of York Gave Battle In Vain
Lightstrike – Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain Incidences of lightstrike are becoming an increasingly commonplace wine fault. At least, that’s my experience over the past couple of years. Whether at home, in restaurants, at tastings or even when wine judging. You may have noticed it, too, as it’s foul-smelling. Curiously, it’s also a less well-known fault than others, …
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Nadsat and Newspeak – Words for Wine
Nadsat and Newspeak – Words for Wine Are you self-isolating in Airstrip One, watching our dystopias unfold? Choose from climate emergency, the covid-19 pandemic, surveillance society, social media hate-crimes, fake news, or 1001 other worrisome issues (add your own here). Our world can sometimes seem like it’s becoming a combination of two classic books: George Orwell’s 1984 and Anthony Burgess’s …
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And I've got one, two, three, four, five, senses working overtime. Trying to take this all in - I've got one, two, three, four, five, senses working overtime. Trying to taste the difference 'tween a lemon and lime, pain and pleasure, and the church bells softly chime.
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