WSET Spirits Level 3

WSET Spirits Level 3

Matthew Gaughan
wset

I passed WSET Level 3 in Spirits, but it was not easy! So many fermentation techniques to learn about, so many styles of spirits. The course is an involved, intense insight into the world of spirits. Here’s what taking the course looks like,

Long Island

Long Island

Matthew Gaughan
USA

Long Island has a unique growing environment: the same latitude as Madrid, but heavily influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and more like Bordeaux. The region is celebrating its 50th anniversary, moving from a developing wine scene to one confident in its current direction with much more certainty about grape varieties and how to work with the sometimes difficult growing conditions. As a result, quality is far more consistent making Long Island a region to follow.

Dry Loire Chenin Blanc

Dry Loire Chenin Blanc

Matthew Gaughan
france

Loire’s dry wines from Chenin Blanc are currently quite fashionable for their high acid, linear, food-friendly style—but that wasn’t always the case. The last 30 years have seen a lot of changes to increase quality: better picking times, less sulphur, longer ageing to make more precise, expressive wines. Understanding Loire Chenin Blanc helps us truly appreciate the style and the quality.

St-Joseph

St-Joseph

Matthew Gaughan
france

St-Joseph is a—too—large northern Rhône appellation, which makes understanding it difficult. Historically, the best wines came from the southern part, and that’s arguably still the case now. There’s also a determination to make the boundaries more focused. Increasingly, there is excellent white wine being made too. Overall, St-Joseph is overgoing a welcome upswing in quality and consistency.

Southern Rhône: Not Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Southern Rhône: Not Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Matthew Gaughan
france

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

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Matthew Gaughan
france

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 in Bordeaux

La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux

Matthew Gaughan
france

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 & Pomerol

St. Emilion & Pomerol

Matthew Gaughan
france

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.

Haut-Médoc

Haut-Médoc

Matthew Gaughan
france

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

Sauternes

Matthew Gaughan
france

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!

Selbach Oster

Selbach Oster

Matthew Gaughan
germany

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.

Styles of Prosecco

Styles of Prosecco

Matthew Gaughan
italy

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, Washington

Columbia Gorge, Washington

Matthew Gaughan
USA

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

McLaren Vale

Matthew Gaughan
australia

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

Adelaide Hills

Matthew Gaughan
australia

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

Tasmania

Matthew Gaughan
australia

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!

Load More