Yesterday I visited one of the world’s most remarkable winery buildings. I had dinner at the Marqués de Riscal ‘City of Wine’. I’d heard about Riscal’s bold architecture, but it’s…
At Contino, Rioja, with winemaker Jesús Madrazo
Contino is an estate-based winery, which is unusual in Rioja. It’s based on a 62 hectare vineyard that is at the beginning of Rioja Alavesa, not far from Logroño. The…
In the Okanagan, BC, Canada: Le Vieux Pin, La Stella, Black Hills and Tinhorn Creek
Severine Pinte is the winemaker behind two high-end Okanagan properties: Le Vieux Pin and La Stella. The former is a Rhône specialist and is currently making some of Canada’s top…
In the Okanagan, BC, Canada: Meyer Family Vineyards, Culmina and CheckMate
Jak and Janice Meyer bought a small vineyard in the Naramata Bench back in 2006. Originally, this was just a hobby vineyard, but in 2008 when Jak started selling the…
Unintended and unexpected consequences
I was at a dinner last night when I heard the news. I really wasn’t expecting the British people to vote to leave the European Union. I was shocked. So,…
In the Okanagan, BC, Canada: Summerhill Pyramid, Liquidity and Painted Rock
Summerhill Pyramid Winery is one of the Okanagan’s most distinctive. We visited with Ezra Cipes, CEO and son of the founder Stephen Cipes. Stephen brought his family here back in…
In the Okanagan, BC, Canada: Mission Hill, Cedar Creek, Gray Monk and Tantalus
The second day of this trip was spent immersed in the beauty of the northern and central Okanagan. As a wine region, the Okanagan is simply too diverse to make…
In the Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada, day 1: Quails’ Gate
It’s never much fun when you have a tight connecting flight and then get delayed. Yesterday I arrived in Vancouver after a nice flight (6000 words written, a sleep and…
Dinner with Dirk: Chave 1988, De Vogüé Bonnes Mares 1969 and Taylors Vargellas 1976
Dirk Niepoort is one of my favourite people on the planet. Last night we dined at Noble Rot, and shared some very special bottles. Chave Hermitage 1988 Northern Rhöne, France…