Quinta da Gaivosa
The Gaivosa estate is one of the six Douro properties of the Alves de Sousa family. Its 25 hectares of vines have an average age of 60 years, planted on the typical schist soils of the Douro valley.
Domaine Philippe Delesvaux
Philippe, and his wife Catherine Delesvaux, of the eponymous domaine, make exquisite sweet wine of the highest order in the Loire’s Coteaux du Layon.
Cobaw Ridge
Alan and Nelly Cooper set up Cobaw Ridge in 1985, having bought the land in 1981 as a place from where they could commute (quite lengthily) to Melbourne. Their original plan had been to sell the grapes, but they were smitten and decided to make wine before the first crop was off the vine, which was in 1989.
Concrete eggs in winemaking
The first egg vat was commissioned in 2001 by Michel Chapoutier, following discussions and design between Chapoutier and French vat manufacturer Marc Nomblot, whose company has been making concrete wine vats since 1922. The shapely historic connection to Roman amphorae was not coincidental in the design.
Should Brunello di Montalcino change its rules?
Among the crowd of sangiovese-based Tuscan wines, Montalcino stands out like a beacon of pure sangiovese, challenging yes, but inspiring also in its purity of expression. There are moves afoot to change the rules to allow the ubiquitous cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah into the blend which would ‘internationalise’ the style, and arguably make Montalcino wines indistinguishable from the rest of the crowd.
Wine, Terroir and Climate Change, by John Gladstones
Gladstone’s earlier book – Viticulture and Environment (1992) – was a seminal text on climatic and geomorphological influences on grape growing, and any sequel to that book has been too long in the waiting. In this volume the agricultural scientist explores the history and science of soil and climate in wine production, and critiques climate change in the viticultural context.
Muscadet Crus Communaux
The Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine appellation experienced little short of a seismic shift in July with the approval of three Muscadet crus communaux, or communal crus, by INAO. It’s Muscadet, Jim, but not as we know it.
Pizzini Wines
The King Valley in Australia’s Victoria attracted several migrant families from Italy, who later moved into the winemaking traditional to their homeland. The Pizzini family were one of those pioneers of grape growing and winemaking, and they are renowned for growing several Italian grape varieties.
The future of English sparkling wine
English wine is the flavour du jour, but is it set up to capitalise on the recent awards and consumer demand?
Baglio del Cristo di Campobello
In the chalky white soils south of the town of Campobello di Licata in the province of Agrigento in Sicily lies the Bonetta family property of Baglio del Cristo di Campobello. The name may not easily roll off an anglophone tongue, but the wines roll across that same tongue in a much more delicious fashion.
