To many, Australia is the producer of bold shiraz, fruity chardonnay and soft-drinking blends. Which is totally understandable when internationally, not much else features on the shelves. However, even some Australians are still oblivious to the fact that Australia is producing some exceedingly good wines from varietals that have only
“When people visit Soave Classico for the first time they always say things like ‘I didn’t realize how beautiful it is here’,” said winery owner Meri Tessari, as we took the ten minute drive up the hill from the Medieval walled town of Soave to the tiny hamlet of Fittá,
There are now eighteen vineyards with sustainable practices in Long Island, and Barbara Shinn is leader of the pack. Shinn is a modest woman, thin and deeply tanned, with dirty blonde, shoulder length hair. She probably never intended to be a groundbreaker (pun intended) for Long Island vineyard farming. In
Beer and tequila are the traditional alcoholic beverages of Mexico. But the wine region of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula is changing dramatically, receiving many high scores from the American wine press, and a new breed of winemaker there is dedicated to producing premium wine. But the Mexican wine industry faces uphill
It’s an ironic incongruity: the Pacific Northwest appellation with the fewest regularly open tasting rooms (only three of them) is the source of a quarter of Washington State’s wine grapes—and has contributed to the most 100 point-scoring Northwest wines. The Horse Heaven Hills AVA may not yet be wine touring
They may have mischievous names: Sex on the Beach or Sexy Lady. They may be fanciful like Faliraky by Night or world-famous: Caipirinha, Cosmopolitan, Tequila Sunrise, Tom Collins. But they are all colorful, fun, fresh: a glass in hand, good company, a bit of music and the warm breeze from
From a dry-farmed vineyard and using a laid-back, relatively low-intervention approach, a very nicely structured cabernet sauvignon, with a good tannin structure and freshness - in particular for this price category, where residual sugar and excessive jamminess too often rule. Old World wine lovers will like this New World wine
Gin is getting its groove back. In the past five years or so, scores of new gins have hit the market, some entirely new products, some new twists on existing brews. Countries not known for gin, like Spain, have new brands and micro-distillers have been pushing the envelope on what