Vedernikov Winery
Valery Troychuk and his son Maxim, work with indigenous Russian grapes on their 200 hectares of vineyard, situated in the chilly Rostov region, where vines need to be buried to survive the winter.
American Wine, by Jancis Robinson and Linda Murphy
A reference book, in the style of The World Atlas, on the wines of the USA.
Meonhill
Forget big, brand-name Champagne houses investing in the UK to make sparkling wine. Fifth generation Champenois vigneron Didier Pierson has already been growing grapes to make English Sparkling Wine (ESW) on the South Downs since 2004.
Domaine de l'Arjolle
Family-owned Domaine de l’Arjolle is a producer making a virtue out of flavoursome and interesting, easy-drinking, varietally-labelled IGP wines, as well as ploughing the sustainability furrow.
Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
A masterclass led by Phil Sexton from Innocent Bystander/Giant Steps, and Martin Spedding from Ten Minutes by Tractor, explores Mornington Peninsula pinot noir.
Next stop – krasnostop
Krasnostop was the most interesting indigenous black grape variety I came across during my recent visit to Russia.
New wave Aussie chardonnay
A masterclass led by Phil Sexton from Innocent Bystander/Giant Steps, and Martin Spedding from Ten Minutes by Tractor, explores new wave Aussie chardonnay from the Yarra Valley
Château Massamier La Mignarde
Frantz Vènes is no newcomer to the Languedoc. The now 70 hectare Château Massamier La Mignarde, in the Minervois, has been in the family for 300 years. He is a fan of carbonic maceration.
La Chablisienne: quality and minerality
La Chablisienne is one of those rare enough things, a quality-orientated co-operative that’s also blessed by its members with some great vineyard plots, which boost its reputation overall. In addition, the co-op has explored in some depth the status quo on minerality.
A lesson in viticulture at Domaine d’Arjolle
Charles Duby, the viticulturist at Domaine de l’Arjolle in the Languedoc gives a great session on the role of the soil.
