Delving into the different vinous chapters of Klein Constantia

Amanda Barnes takes a taste and read through Klein Constantia: The home of Vin de Constance. Books are always better when they’re enjoyed with wine — especially when they’re wine books. Even more so when you can drink the very wine described in the book — and so was my experience with the latest release from John Stimpfig’s First Press Editions’ Klein Constantia: The home of Vin de Constance. The...
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Rekindling the magic of Montes de Málaga 

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Awe-inspiring Amarone

Filippo Magnani finds himself revelling in the new releases of Valpolicella’s finest and shares his top tips both on what to taste and where to stay. The Amarone Opera Prima took place this year on 4th and 5th February, majestically organized by the Valpolicella Wine Consortium, at the Gran Guardia Palace in the heart of Verona. The president of the consortium, Christian Marchesini, opened the ev...
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Eli Ben-Zaken, the pioneer who built an Israeli icon

Adam S. Montefiore reflects on the extraordinary life of Israeli vigneron Eli Ben-Zaken in this short extract from his recently published biography on Domaine du Castel.  I picture Eli Ben-Zaken in the summer of 2021, standing on his own outside his house and winery at Ramat Razi’el as he defiantly fought against the fierce wildfires in the hills and forests that rise towards Jerusalem. The flame...
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Seeing beyond Semillon

Amanda Barnes hones in on Hunter Valley, finding a fine spread of varieties and styles, including fresh takes on its signature grape. It may be Semillon that Hunter Valley is best known for, but as a recent New South Wales tasting set out to prove — the region can do a whole lot more.  Australia’s first Albariño was planted here, in the Hunter Valley, back in 2014, which spurred on a bit of an A...
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Meet the Member: Rose Murray Brown MW

Rose Murray Brown MW is one of Scotland's leading wine writers and also hosts regular wine tastings and masterclasses. In this Meet the Member interview, Amanda Barnes learns how Italy was her first love in wine but how it was a rum tasting with sailors and sherry tasting with vicars that made a couple of her most memorable tastings.    How did you first get into wine?  I first discovere...
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Benvenuto Brunello

Filippo Magnani marvels at Montalcino and its marvellously mature wines, and salivates at the local expression of the Sangiovese grape variety. The village of Montalcino, assisted by the outstanding organization of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, hosted ‘Benvenuto Brunello’, dedicated to the new vintages of this famous wine, from 11th to 21st November. The 2022 edition gathered an ...
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A relatively large hidden Slovakian gem

The Castle of Pezinok
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Exploring the diversity of Los Chacayes

Amanda Barnes tours us through the new, but highly sought-after, appellation of Los Chacayes in the Uco Valley. This article and video first appeared in The South America Wine Guide. Since the first pioneer of the wine region, François Lurton and his family, planted here in 1996, Los Chacayes has exploded to become one of the hotspots of the Valle de Uco today with over 1,800 hectares of vi...
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Leary’s Global Wineology 2023 released

Charlie Leary has published his 2023 edition of Leary's Global Wineology: A guide to wine eduction, mentorships and scholarships. The handy guide takes readers through the world of wine education and helps offer guidance on which route is best to take, depending on your goals and experience. It covers well-known courses, such as the WSET and Court Master Sommeliers, as well as looking into deta...
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