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.
All in culture of wine
New Zealand is a young country: first settled by the Maoris in the 1200s and then by Europeans in the 1800s. The two main islands are much bigger than they first appear—there's a lot of land devoted to farming, each island has mountain ranges in the middle, and the major cities are small. It was only in the 1980s that New Zealand wine became available internationally. For a young country with a small population, New Zealand has made its presence felt in sport, beer, and wine.
Australia is both an island and a continent, shaped by British colonialism and European immigration. The culture is frank and irreverent, never afraid to try something new. A vast country, the major cities are separated by swathes of empty nothingness. It's a sports-mad, beer-mad, barbeque-mad, and a wine-mad place that never ceases to surprise.
South Africa's wine culture goes back nearly 400 years: in the early 1800s, Vin de Constance was considered one of the great wines of the world. But apartheid caused South Africa to be extremely isolated—it was only with the introduction of democracy in the 1990s that the country's wines became available internationally. A vibrant, diverse country, South Africa is a captivating yet contradictory country to visit.
A focus on six Mediterranean countries not particularly associated with wine, but where wine has been made for centuries if not millennia. Religion, politics, and war have interfered with the development of wine culture, but there's still plenty to learn about the history and identity of Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria by looking at their relationship with wine.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 led to many changes in the countries previously under its rule. Wine had been seen as bourgeois, and therefore production had not been encourage. The various countries' wines have slowly re-emerged since the 1990s with an appreciation of traditions and styles that had been neglected. The latest episode of "The Culture of Wine" covers the Balkan States, eastern Europe, into the fringes of Asia.
Hungary has a long history of wine culture: Tokaji was the first region in Europe to install rules for viticulture and winemaking. Tokaji is also one of Europe's great sweet wines, but the Soviet rule after the Second World War saw the country's wines go in to decline. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, Hungarian wine has been revived: Tokaji is once again great, and there are lots of interesting wines made across the country.
Austria is in the heart of Europe, once the centre of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire. It’s now a small country, but with a fascinating culture which straddles Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Germany: a powerful, dominant central European country famous for Riesling and sweet wine. It’s been shaped by many wars which have also shaped trends in its wine industry. Migration to and from Germany have been part of its culture, and the culture of other countries. The history of wine production shows that Germany is volatile, unpredictable, but always fascinating.
Greece: a country whose ancient history defines modern civilisation but whose culture and wines are now on the fringes of Europe. The latest episode of “The Culture of Wine” looks at Greece and how wine fits into its long history, its culture, its geography, and why we should be drinking Greek wine.
In both culture and wine, Italy is vast and varied, impossible to fully understand. The fourth episode of “The Culture of Wine” explores why it’s difficult to understand and why so many visitors fall in love with the country because of its cities, countryside, people, food, and wine.
Third episode of “The Culture of Wine”: Portugal, a small country on the Atlantic edge of Europe with unique culture, language, and wines.
The first episode of my new podcast series, “The Culture of Wine,” available exclusively on Patreon.com, focused on France. The second is on Spain: here’s an overview of what’s in the episode.
As part of my podcast, there is a new series called “The Culture of Wine,” available exclusively on Patreon.com. It looks at the historical, geographical, regional, political, and metropolitan cultures in which wine is made and sold. The series moves through 17 countries: first up, France. Here’s an overview of what’s in the first episode.
