Have you ever considered the grape pip? And its significance in history? Well, that little pip is incredibly important to the country of Georgia. Because it is the discovery of cultivated grape pips that prove that Georgian wine has been made for 8,000 years …
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The practical part of the Master of Wine exam is one of the hardest undertakings I have ever experienced. It is not only an intense academic experience, but a physical one too. In just over two hours you have to correctly identify (or get …
Vermouth is stepping forward in the drinks scene, from the back of the top shelf to becoming a best seller. Impressive considering that bars have barely been open this past year. But as more and more people have turned to making their own cocktails …
‘Minerality’. Probably the wine word most likely to cause excitement, fury and frustration in wine circles today. And, as it turns out, one that will most certainly fill a room with wine journalists. As was the setting for a conversation and tasting between Steve …
In the 19th century there were over 6,000 hectares of vineyards surrounding Pamplona, and over 50,000 in Navarra as a whole. The city that is known for the running of the bulls was also known for its overflowing wine production. The pilgrim’s route to …
While Croatia might conjure up images of a crystal-clear blue sea lapping white stone beaches on its many islands, there’s a different side to Croatia — the continental, inland side, which offers a completely different dimension to its wine. Surrounding the Croatian capital of …
It is no coincidence that Marlborough is the Mecca of New World Sauvignon Blanc and the heartland of New Zealand’s wine production. At the northeastern tip of the South Island it is sheltered from all the major and most extreme climatic influences, and instead …
Dom Maxwell has kicked off a trend without realising it. “My wife told me not to do it,” says the Greystone winemaker. “Her exact words were ‘aren’t you worried about the possums?’” Yes, possums are a problem in New Zealand. They are actually a …
Islands in the sea. That’s the Dolly Parton-esque term that locals use to describe the massive volcanic humps of land dotted around the Padovan-Venetian plains. Some call them child-sized mountains, some call them giant anthills, others – probably Italian men – say they look …
Gimblett Gravels has become one of the most celebrated sub-regions of Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand. What brought this region up from drag racing to racy reds? Hawke’s Bay is the oldest wine region in New Zealand, but the sub-region within it that is …