Documenting great food, great wine and great restaurants.
Laguardia, Rioja: September 2021
Artadi has symbolized quality for some time under the astute stewardship of owner Juan Carlos López de Lacalle. His remarkable journey began with transforming a cooperative operation into a well-respected private winery, firmly placing Artadi on the world wine map.
Continuing our trip after visiting López …
Haro, Rioja: September 2021
Few winemakers in Spain evoke as much authenticity and respect for tradition as Viña Tondonia – López de Heredia. We were granted a chance to tour the winery and discover their oenological philosophy from up close. A fascinating part of the process relies on the cooperage …
Penedès: Autumn 2022
Enric Soler, sommelier turned winemaker, has become a vanguard of the Penedès wine scene. His commitment to the preservation and enhancement of the native Xarel·lo grape, his pioneering embrace of biodynamics, and his unflinching commitment to quality, have marked him out as a visionary in a region …
A traditional, low-alcohol beverage, makgeolli is a cloudy rice wine that bridges the gap between the rural simplicity and the modern sophisticated palate of Korea. Born from the fermentation of rice, water, and nuruk, a wheat-based starter, it is an embodiment of Korea’s agrarian roots and traditions, known for …
Napa Valley, California: June 2022
Kongsgaard is a family-owned winery that produces some of the most distinctive and sought-after Chardonnays in California. A pioneer of a style, his legacy is clear both in his wines and his disciples – such as Andy Erickson, Abe Schoener of the Scholium Project, Duncan …
Healdsburg, California: June 2022
California’s wine country is undergoing a transformation. A new generation of winemakers is exploring new varietals and cooler terroirs, creating a new paradigm of Californian wine. Among them, Arnot-Roberts stands out for its authenticity and excellence. Established in the early 2000s by two native Californians and …
Montmartre, Paris: March 2023
Château Rayas is one of the most revered and sought-after estates in the southern Rhône Valley, producing wines that are unlike any other in the region. The estate is run by Emmanuel Reynaud, who inherited it from his uncle Jacques Reynaud, a legendary figure in Châteauneuf-du-Pape …
Since 1953 Oxford and Cambridge students have battled in a blind tasting competition. Twelve wines, six whites and six reds, are served blind in two flights of 20 minutes. Students must guess varietals, country and region of origin, appellation, and vintage. The team that gathers the most points wins. …
The legend of Tokaji wines is deeply embedded in the history of wines. Its intense concentration, honeyed aromas and luscious sweetness have enticed the royalty and intellectuals since the 17th century. However, the quality has varied dramatically over the years and only recently has it come back to its former …
The steep vineyards of Priorat are hardly accessible terrains and entail a great deal of physical labour. As has often been the case in other Spanish great viticultural areas, such as Ribeira Sacra (Galicia) and the Canary Islands, industrialisation and the urbanisation of the population has left many of these …