Californian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are two of the most distinctive styles of wine coming out of the Golden State, and yet within the past decade a host of new producers have emerged who are challenging the prevailing popular styles, generating a sense of reinvigoration and creating a more complex, dynamic and fascinating view of […]

Lodi is a treasure-trove of hidden secrets and the home of some of California’s most interesting old-vine vineyards. Best known for head-trained Zinfandel, there are also incredible plots of Cinsault, Petite Sirah, and other fascinating varieties grown side-by-side with great-value versions of the international varieties such as Cabernet, Chardonnay and Merlot. As one of California’s largest […]

PUT A CORK IN IT! Why are fine wines invariably closed with a cork – but why do we use the term ‘corked’ to describe all faulty wines? What causes those faults, and how can we identify, and name, them? Dr Paulo Lopes, the R&D lead at Amorim – the Portuguese world leader in the production […]