South African model of cooler climate
Understanding the cooler aspects of the South African climate is complicated. South Africa’s climate is undoubtedly warm Mediterranean and hot continental. But there are a number of cooling influences, most notably from both proximitous oceans, and high up at altitudes of 1,000m and more.
Bordeaux and climate change: reds.
Four top Bordeaux producers recently got together in London to discuss climate change and the Bordeaux paradigm over the past 20 years. The news is not … yet … catastrophic.
Casa Silva research Chilean terroir
In researching very small scale viticultural units, Viña Casa Silva have discovered that even very small distances in the vineyard can produce different results in the wine.
Storing wine: issues and options
The briefest of internet searches about wine storage yields a plethora of possibilities for almost any shape and size of space you may have available to mature your favourite bottles of wine.
Good conditions for wine maturation
A summary of best practice for wine maturation.
Under the influence of Carlo Ferrini
Last month in London, heralded consultant winemaker, the Italian Carlo Ferrini, presented some of the wines he’s influenced, and outlined his philosophy.
South African shiraz
Shiraz plantings have increased from 2% of the vineyard area just over a decade ago, to 10% today. It is now the fourth most planted variety in South Africa.
Alto Adige pinot noir
Pinot noir accounts for less than 7% of the Alto Adige vineyard area, not quite 350 hectares. Even so it is still considered a core variety for the region, having been first planted here in the mid 19th century.
Ayala's lesson in dosage
A tasting seminar of low dosage and no dosage champagnes was hosted by the president of Champagne Ayala, Hervé Augustin in London in January 2010. Three pairs of Ayala’s Champagnes were compared, with remarkable flavour differences attributable to the dosage at bottling.
Minerality – quote, unquote
Minerality is an emotive, and poorly understood term. I’ve been quizzing people over the past year, and here is what’s being said.
