This blog began as a record of taking the WSET Diploma, during which I studied and explored wines and spirits made all around the world. Having passed the Diploma and become a WSET Certified Educator, the blog has become much more: a continual outlet for my passion for the culture of wine, spirits, and beer.
I aim to educate in an informal, enlightening, and engaging manner. As well as maintaining this blog to track my latest enthusiasms, I provide educational tastings for restaurants and for private groups. Details can be found on the website, and collaborations are welcome.
Wine is my primary interest and area of expertise and this blog aims to immerse the reader in the history of wine, to understand why wine tastes like it does, and to explore all the latest news. At the same time, beer and spirits will never be ignored.
For the drinker, whether casual or professional, today is a good time to be alive.
The Southern Rhône is most famous for Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but there are many other wines with localised influences. Gigondas and Ventoux are affected by the cooling Dentelles de Montmarail mountains; Tavel produces fuller-bodied rosé with perhaps more experimentation than is supposed; and there are the smaller, lesser-known villages which provide particularly good value alternatives.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the most famous names in French wine, producing a full-bodied style of wine most consumers are familiar with. However, the wines are much more diverse than its reputation suggests, with varied soil types, many grape varieties, aspect influences, weather patterns, and producer choices all influencing the final style of wine. A quick visit to the appellation showed that Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a lot of surprises to offer.
La Cité du Vin was opened in 2016, and is worth visiting Bordeaux in its own right. Last week was the second time I’ve been there and it’s well worth repeatedly visiting: after all, I got a glass of Bulgarian sparkling wine at the end, with views over Bordeaux as I sipped. What’s not to love?
St-Emilion and Pomerol neighbour each other and are always Merlot dominant, but there are lots of differences within the regions: soils, viticultural practices, aspect, quality, and the prices of the wines. Two prestigious regions which are hard to pin down.
A brief trip to Haut-Médoc to learn about the growing conditions, the effects of climate change, the styles of wine, and the effect of the Garonne river and Gironde estuary on the four famous villages of St-Estèphe, Paulliac, St-Julien, and Margaux.
Sauternes is a famous region for sweet wine in the south of Bordeaux. On a brief visit there, I learnt all about the importance of climate, inconsistent weather, and rivers, how noble rot develops, and how the wines of Sauternes are made. And I got to visit Château d’Yquem!
An initially intriguing but disappointing book about the world of natural wine that focuses almost exclusively on France: why do supporters of natural wine make it so difficult to understand and appreciate the producers and their wines?
An encounter with Johannes Selbach Oster of legendary German producer from Mosel. While tasting the wines, he talked about climate change, picking times, slopes, vessels used for ageing, and the wonder of Riesling.
A trip to Catalunya to learn all about Cava, confirming that the wines are a reflection of place and realising the importance of blending for sparkling wine.
Two regions on either side of the Spain-Portugal border, both making exciting yet extremely different wines from Albariño/Alvarinho which are expressions of culture and identity as well as winemaking.
Think all prosecco tastes the same? Think again. An overview of the different styles of prosecco, which are much more varied and historic than the commercial, inexpensive versions which dominate the market: one style, Col Fondo or Sui Lieviti, is even unique to the region.
Columbia Gorge: an AVA which is in both Washington and Oregon with a little bit of the character of both: wet in the winter, hot in the summer. It’s beautiful, with some kooky winemakers who have been experimenting with different grape varieties and winemaking practices since the 1990s with outstanding Grüner Veltliner and Gamay among the results. One of the most distinctive, unusual, and exciting regions on the US West Coast.
McLaren Vale lies south of Adelaide, a region revitalised since the 1990s. An old, historic area, there are numerous soil types, varied climatic influences, old vines, and new plantings of Italian varieties: visiting McLaren Vale is an insight into its past and its future.
Adelaide Hills has emerged in the last thirty years as a cool-climate region producing outstanding Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. It’s just outside Adelaide, but is completely different from nearby warmer regions such as Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. It’s also, despite its proximity to Adelaide, quite a remote, rural region: a trip to Australia’s agricultural heartland.
Tasmania is a now fashionable island off the south coast of Australia, becoming increasingly known for its high-quality sparkling wine—but there’s also Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and some amazing whisky. The perfect place to visit!
Review of Doctors and Distillers by Camper English, an entertaining look at the historical connections between medicine and alcohol, and the amazing and diverse drinks that have arisen as a result.
South America: a bewildering, vast continent where wine has been made for hundreds of years. The size of the continent makes it a difficult concept to fully understand, but Amanda Barnes has published the best, most comprehensive book on South America’s wines. It’s a must-have book: here’s why.
I went to a tasting of Abruzzo wines to see if Montepulciano d’Abruzzo can convince: I came away much more excited by the whites from Pecorino, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, and a variety I’d never heard of before, Cococciola.
Rancio is an extreme style of wine made in Mediterranean France and Spain, and a strong part of Catalan culture and history. It may not be the most popular style, but it’s fascinating and there is still some amazing examples being made as I discovered on my recent trip.
Catalunya may be more known for its red wines, but there’s plenty of great white wine made too from an array of varieties such as Garnatxa Blanca, Macabeo, Pedro Ximinez, and Malvasia. Should we be drinking these wines when we can’t afford white Burgundy?
