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 podcast
Two neighbouring countries, formerly of Yugoslavia. Kosovo's winemaking history goes back 2,000 years, with a renewed focus on quality after the bulk wines under Yugoslavia. Montenegro has one of the largest vineyards in Europe, with research into indigenous varieties and how best to develop them to advance the country's wine culture. Lots of history, with exciting potential for the future.
The small, landlocked country of North Macedonia has a long winemaking history. The source of much of the former Yugoslavia's bulk wine, there is a renewed focus on quality in identifying the best sites. This episode prevents an overview of the growing conditions, the grape varieties, and the styles of the wines.
Episode number four on the wines of the former Yugoslavian countries. Serbia's climate is continental, influenced by the river Danube and by mountains. There are some international varieties planted, but also indigenous varieties and some local crossings. Only 5% of wine is exported and the industry is quite fragmented, but the wines are of increasing interest and well worth exploring.
Episode 3 of series on the wines of the Balkan States and former Yugoslavia: Bosnia-Herzegovina. A small wine industry, with just 3,500ha of plantings but 11,000 growers. The main regions are around Mostar between the Adriatic Sea and high central mountains. It's still not a fully regulated industry, but there are a number of indigenous grape varieties which make the wines of current and future interest.
Episode 2 of my series on Balkan wine: Croatia. A beautiful country which attracts two and a half times as many tourists as residents, the wine regions can be divided into coastal and continental inland. There are some similarities with nearby Slovenia, Italy, Austria, and Hungary, as well as international varieties and those unique to Croatia. A fascinating wine country which is rightly gaining some more attention.
First episode on the wines of the Balkan States, starting with Slovenia, a country with lots of connections with neighbouring regions of Friuli in north-east Italy and Steirmark in southern Austria. The climate changes from Mediterranean on the coast to continental further inland, leading to a variety of styles. There's also the tradition of skin-contact white wines, which has been influential around the world. A country whose wines are well worth exploring.
250 indigenous varieties plus a handful of international; different names for the same variety, named after animals, people, and often hard to pronounce; field blends in a small, fractured vineyard ownership; maritime and continental climates: for such a small country, Portuguese wine is hard to pin down, but an understanding of the varieties helps. Here's an overview of some of the major white and black varieties and the regions they're grown in to gain a sense of Portuguese wine.
This episode explores some of the 40 grape varieties approved in Austria, including the classics such as Grüner Veltliner, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, and Zweigelt, lesser-known but historic varieties such as Welschriesling and Rotgipfler, and international varieties Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir.
Conversation with Sheila Donohue of Vero Vino, who specialise in importing "scarce and wild" Italian grape varieties. We discuss four lesser known—or completely unknown—varieties local to their regions : Schioppetino, Boschera, Famoso, and Durella. Expect lots of acid talk!
Interview with three Cava producers on its identity and what makes the sparkling wine different from others: place, grape varieties, ageing, and its history. Cava has introduced labelling terms and regional designations which allow producers to talk about exactly where the wines come from than before. Interviewees: José Maria of Vins Familia Ferrer, Mereia Pujol-Busquets of Alta Alella, and Marta Casas of Parés Baltà.
What's the difference between an Old and a New World Wine? Is there a differerence? This episode explores what the terms mean, whether we should use them, and how they can be an easy way into describing the wines of a prominent country? What the episode does not answer is whether England is New World or Old World!
There are many historic grape varieties from southern Italy, which are deservedly regaining attention. This episode looks at some of the black grape varieties across southern Italy, as well as Sicily and Sardinia: Agliancio, Negroamaro, Primitivo, Gaglioppo, Nero d'Avola, Nerello Mascalese, and others.
Malvasia isn't a grape variety, nor is it a family of grape varieties: it's a group of grape varieties which happen to have the same name. Some of them are related, some of them are not. Every style of wine is made, from white to rosé to red to sweet to fortified to sparkling. Welcome to the strange world of Malvasia!
Muscat isn't a grape variety, but a family of related varieties all with different features. There are also many styles of wine made from the Muscat family: dry, sweet, fortified, and sparkling, made all over the world. This episode explores all the different aspects of the styles of wine made from the Muscat family.
Interview with Amanda Barnes, author of The South America Wine Guide. We discuss grape varieties which are largely only found in the diverse continent: País/Criolla Chica, Torrontés, Vischoqueña, Quebranca, and others. A great insight into the wines of South America, not just Argentina and Chile, but Bolivia and Peru too.
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.
Italian white wine has improved greatly over the last 30 years, with much fresher, crisper wines. There are lots of different varieties which are associated with specific regions. This episode explores varieties from Pinot Grigio to Verdicchio to Zibbibo. Dive into the world of Italian white wine!
Sémillon is an historic Bordeaux variety, although plantings have fallen over the last 50 years. But it remains important, producing a range of styles: full-bodied and oak-aged, light-bodied and acidic, dry and sweet, and blends with Sauvignon Blanc. This episode explores the grape and the regions it's grown in: Bordeaux, Hunter Valley, Margaret River, California, Washington, and different parts of South Africa.
My recent visit to Mediterranean France and Spain gave me a chance to explore the possibilities of Carignan. It's a contradictory variety: younger vines producer high yields while older vines produce low yields for completely different levels of quality. It can be a minor or significant part of a blend, or a single-varietal wine. But one consistency: warm Mediterranan climates, which is what this episode is all about.
Priorat is one of Spain's most prestigious regions, the vines grown on steep slate slopes. Garnatxa (Grenache) and Carinyena (Carignan) are the two most important varieties, often from old vines. The wines of Priorat are known as big and full-bodied, but as I learnt on a recent visit there's a lot more diversity than that.
