Weinviertel – the DAC journey
The Weinviertel, an expansive and diffuse region north of Vienna, is Austria’s biggest wine-growing region, with over 13,300 hectares. Ten years ago it led the way into the new, DAC-orientated Austria.
Pantelleria rejuvenated
Pantelleria’s main claim to fame is as an historic producer of fine sweet wine. Along with other celebrated sweet wines of the 19th century, passito di Pantelleria has a distinguished heritage, and after a period of decline, one that has been revived in the modern era, almost single-handedly, by Donnafugata.
Steinertal vineyard, Wachau, Austria
Steinertal is one of the first vineyards encountered at the eastern end of the Wachau. Two wines by Alzinger and FX Pichler highlight its favour.
The Etna crescent
Mount Etna is a rather unique place in Sicily’s, let alone Italy’s viticultural heritage. Often referred to as an island within an island, its grape varieties are indigenous, its rainfall is prodigious, (relatively, around 1,000mm), and it’s an active volcano, the highest volcano in Europe, peaking at 3,323 metres.
Is Soave’s garganega gauche or great?
The mainstay of Soave is garganega and the purpose of the tasting was to look at this grape variety to judge whether it deserves the bad press, or if it’s an interesting or even more than interesting grape variety.
Lower Austria 2010, vintage and wine highlights
Austria 2010 was pretty tough going, though there are plenty of lovely wines.
Bodegas Valdesil, Godello 2009, Valdeorras, Spain
This was the outstanding wine from Waitrose’s recent press tasting. It’s a real stunner, complex, sophisticated, layered with freshness running through its veins.
Luxembourg wines
Landlocked Luxembourg’s 1,300 hectares vineyards lie along a 42 kilometre stretch of the country’s south east border with Germany. Both still and sparkling wines are emerging from a period of evolution.
Douro grapes – lessons for climate change?
Portugal’s Douro valley is a complex, extreme, mountainous vineyard region; and it’s hot. Given the region’s long viticultural history, the vines tend to be well adapted to the extreme conditions. Vines are planted at river level, from around 100m above sea level, to above 500m up the slopes. Vineyard aspects cover the full 360°. In wine terms, these guys are at the vanguard of how to deal with a warming world.
Nicolas Joly on biodynamics
At the first ‘natural wine fair’ held in London in May 2011, Nicolas Joly of La Coulée de Serrant in the Loire, gave a seminar about biodynamics. This is much of what he said.
