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 tagged sauvignon blanc
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has been one of the extraordinary success stories of the last forty years, creating an entirely new category of wine. In this episode, I interview Bruce Taylor, winemaker at Kono which is entirely Māori owned. We talk about the region, Sauvignon Blanc, current trends and styles of wine, and what makes Marlborough so distinctive.
Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes dismissed as producing one-dimensional wines which are grassy, herbaceous, and vegetal, designed to be drunk now. This episode discusses the much more versatile, varied, and diverse nature of Sauvignon Blanc, exploring the Loire, Bordeaux, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and California, from dry to sweet wines and the many expressions made from the grape.
The second episode focusing on the Loire Valley, looking at the many and varied appellations for white and sweet wine in the large region: from Sancerre to Vouvray to Coteaux du Layon to Savennières to Muscadet and more!
Revisiting the Loire Valley, with the first of three episodes focusing on the large, varied, and wonderful region. This episode looks at the grape varieties of the Loire Valley, their characteristics in the vineyard and the styles of wine they produce - including Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Melon, and other less well-known varieties.
Winemaking in Chile goes back to the 1550s - wine has been made continuously in Central Valley, the epicentre of the industry, since 1554. But internationally, Chile has only come to the fore in the last 30 years, meaning it's a country still learning a lot about its wines and their potential. This episode focuses on the history and geography of history and the main grape varieties planted.
