Les Crêtes – Petite Arvine – An Ode to Joy You could be forgiven for assuming that the Les Crêtes winery, run by the Charrère family, is French. In fact, this is an Italian producer based in the Valle d’Aosta, the autonomous Italian region bordering France and Switzerland. For many, the Aosta Valley provides the first experience of Italy when …
Biodynamic Bibliography – A Written Resource
Biodynamic Bibliography – A Written Resource During my wine career, I have collected (and read!) many publications about Biodynamics, some good, some not. In this Centenary Year, several readers have been in touch asking how to discover more about Biodynamics. Hence, this Biodynamic Bibliography should act as a helpful introductory resource. Biodynamics was first postulated by Rudolph Steiner in 1924. …
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 …
Gin the Ultimate Companion – New Book Review
Gin the Ultimate Companion – New Book Review Gin, the Ultimate Companion is a new book by Ian Buxton, published on 7 October 2021. The subtitle is “the essential guide to Gins, Flavours, Cocktails, Tonics and More”, and, as we shall see, it lives up to this description admirably. It may be the only book on gin that you’ll ever …
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 …
New Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia – Book Review
New Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia – Book Review The New Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia is now in a new 6th Edition. It’s a privilege to review this mighty tome, as I recall using the 3rd Edition of 2001 for the WSET Diploma exams. Twenty years on, that book, though still in use, has inevitably become outdated. Revisions mean this new Edition is …
Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs – Book Review
Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs – Book Review This article reviews a new wine book by Ian D’Agata, entitled Italy’s Native Wine Grape Terroirs. It follows on from his indispensable previous book, Native Wine Grapes of Italy. Here D’Agata continues his focus on Italian native grape varieties. This time he shows how these can communicate a unique “somewhereness” in the wines made from them. …
Chablis and the Grand Auxerrois – Book review
Chablis and the Grand Auxerrois – Book review Chablis – it’s the best known white wine. And not just in the UK, which is still its biggest market, but worldwide. It’s so famous that many don’t realise it’s made only with Chardonnay grown in a small group of villages in northern Burgundy. Even though it’s a unique expression, Chablis is …
Silly Tasting Notes and Neuroenology
Silly Tasting Notes and Neuroenology It might seem obvious, but the taste of wine occurs in the human brain. Indeed, there is a good deal of scientific research that’s gradually revealing how this works. A terrific book called Neuroenology, by Gordon M. Shepherd, explains this in detail. So why also include the Silly Tasting Notes in this article? Well, once the taste …
Book Review: The Philosophy of Coffee
Book Review: The Philosophy of Coffee For me, a day without real coffee is unthinkable. Instant coffee is only for dire emergencies because even bad coffee is better than none. I prefer Italian espresso to keep the jitters at bay. However, I enjoy finding new coffees, drinks and venues to try. Consequently, a new book called The Philosophy of Coffee is the …
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