Our scientific knowledge about what makes wine ageworthy is currently limited. I know the rules: the things that should make wines capable of ageing. There’s low pH (high acidity), the…
A brief report from day 1 of the Real Wine Fair
Today was day 1 of the Real Wine Fair, held at the rather wonderful subterranean venue of Victoria House in Holborn. I was there to give a seminar, and also…
A dinner in honour of Paul Symington, with 1945 Graham
On Thursaday night, I attended the Decanter Man of the Year dinner held in honour of this year’s recipient, Paul Symington. Right from the outset, when Paul was rung with…
Could science kill the magic of wine?
Does an increased scientific understanding of wine kill the magic? This is a question I find myself asking with increasing frequency. If our progress in wine science means we can…
Two very nice sparkling wines: New Zealand and England
Two very nice sparkling wines: one from Kiwi land and one from over here. Both pretty serious, and not expensive. Huia Blanc de Blancs 2005 Marlborough, New Zealand I’d been…
Lethbridge, a winery built of straw
I have just written up a review of the wonderful wines of Lethbridge, from Australia’s Geelong region, not far from Melbourne. I really liked them, and you can read the…
Hungary, Day 4, with the awards ceremony in Budapest
The last day of my Hungarian visit. I was in Budapest for the awards ceremony for the Pannon Wine Challenge. I spent the morning catching up with Agnes Herczeg, CEO…
Two Champagnes to celebrate the premiership win
I was born in the season when Manchester City last won the league. We’re talking football here (association football, or soccer, for those outside Europe). It was called the 1st Division…
Hungary, Day 3, and a visit to lake Balaton
It is a measure, perhaps, of how good some of the wines in the Pannon Wine Challenge were that when the winners were unveiled at the end of tasting, the…