2018 began in New Zealand, where I’d been staying for Christmas. It was to be the first of several joy-filled trips to this wonderful country. This time last year, I’d…
Bad smells
A while back we had a cat. It originally belonged to Eric Clapton and we inherited it through a friend of a friend, and it was a nice cat, black…
In Argentina (1) visiting the El Esteco winery in Cafayate
There’s something different about Argentina’s Calchaqui Valley. It’s the most northerly of the wine regions in Argentina, and it’s the highest. The light is a little clearer – startling, even….
Seven German Pinot Noirs
German Pinot Noir (known locally as Spätburgunder) can be quite wonderful, and of late seems to have been getting better. But Pinot is a tricky grape and it’s sensitive to…
The fab Ensedune Malbec from Foncalieu, alongside a couple from Argentina
Foncalieu is a Languedoc-based coop with 650 member growers and has a turnover of €54 million. For the region, its production mix is unusually weighted towards white and rosé (both…
Wellington Wine Country (2) Ata Rangi, one of New Zealand’s top wineries
Martinborough pioneer Ata Rangi is one of New Zealand’s most celebrated wineries, and so I was quite excited to be able to catch up with winemaker Helen Masters to taste…
In Porto (5) dinner at Esplanada Marisqueira
The next night it was back to Matosinhos, the Port area of Porto, where the seafood restaurants are congregated. We went to Esplanada Marisqueira, a rather grand establishment, with Vitor…
Beware the wine consumer champions
There is a new breed of consumer champion loose in the world of wine. They are a band of vocal marketers, commentators and ‘thought leaders’ who are upset and outraged…
Wellington Wine Country, NZ (1) Dry River
I first visited Martinborough just over eight years ago, and now I was back. Part of the Wairarapa, it has been an important region for Pinot Noir in New Zealand,…