This is was my drinking on Sunday night. I arrived in Adelaide late Saturday, jet-lagged as hell, and promptly crashed, sleeping through until Sunday morning. Then I woke early, breakfasted,…
In Adelaide: discussing wine science with a taxi driver
So, I rolled into Adelaide airport at 8 pm on Sunday night, after a long flight from London via Dubai. On the plane I alternated between sleeping, working, and listening:…
In Seattle: Le Pichet and Bar Melusine
There are few compelling reasons to be rich. But one of them is so that you have enough budget to eat out all the time. While I was in Seattle…
The Riesling Rendezvous 2016, Seattle, Washington State
Three days in Seattle. So much Riesling! The fifth annual Riesling Rendezvous was in town, and I attended it for the first time. Riesling is a grape that has had…
The judgement of… How useful are comparative blind tastings?
It’s 40 years since Steven Spurrier’s famous Judgement of Paris (also a story in Greek Mythology). This was the tasting that is credited with opening the way for New World…
Underwood: Oregon wine in a can
Underwood wines come in 375 ml cans. It’s striking packaging. I was curious, so I bought a pair to try, for $5.99 each from World Foods in Portland, Oregon. They…
Riesling Rendezvous: why analytical data don’t tell us much about the taste of Riesling
I’m at the Riesling Rendezvous conference in Seattle, Washington State. Held every three years, it’s an in-depth dive into this most distinctive of white wine grapes. It began on Sunday…
Three days in Portland, Oregon
Portland is one of the USA’s most vibrant cities. It’s known for its food and drink scene, and for being a hub for artistic, creative and alternative types. And…
In Oregon: Beckham Estate Vineyard
Andrew and Annedria Beckham (pictured above) are making some of Oregon’s most compelling wines, and they have a great story, too. We visited their property in Parrett Mountain (in the…