PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: GIROLAMO RUSSO ๐ฎ๐น๐ท๐
The land they cultivate has a unique and extraordinary geological history: its characteristics are the result of centuries of volcanic eruptions. To fully appreciate the morphological complexity of this landscape, one has only to think that Mount Etna formed over half a million years ago. Read full article >
TODAY'S WINE RECOMMENDATION: HEITZ CELLARS ๐ท๐คฉ๐บ๐ธ
Family owned since its founding in 1961, Heitz Cellarโs legacy runs as deep as the roots throughout the Napa Valley; a winery legend that has helped shape the history of Napa Valley winemaking. Read full article >
RECOMMENDATION OF THE DAY! ๐ซ๐ท๐๐ท DOMAINE HENRI BOILLOT
Domaine Henri Boillot represents the success that is born of hard work and determination. The Domaine, led by Henri Boillot himself, encompasses fifteen hectares of some of Burgundyโs top terroirs* in Puligny-Montrachet (including the famous 1er Cru monopole Clos de la Mouchรจre), Meursault, Beaune, Pommard, Volnay, Grand Cru Batard-Montrachet and Clos Vougeot. Henriโs intimate understanding of Burgundy coupled with his dedicated approach gives birth to highly sophisticated wines with global appeal. Read full article >
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: ๐ซ๐ท๐ท๐คฉ DOMAINE A.F. GROS
Domaine A-F. Gros is a 10-hectare estate comprised of vineyards situated in both the Cรดte-de-Beaune and the Cรดte-de-Nuits. The talented young winemaker, Mathias Parent, possesses one of the most distinguished pedigrees in Burgundy. Read full article >
BEST SELECTION OF PORTUGAL WHITES ๐ต๐น๐ฅ๐
The familiar images of Portugal โ Mateus Rosรฉ, Port, and Madeira โ do no more than hint at the incredible diversity of this wine country. Portugal is now a key exporter of premium โ and superโpremiumโtable wines, labels that can compete with the best of Rioja, Bordeaux, and Burgundy. It is a country of endless possibilities and opportunities: Portugal boasts a number of distinct wine regions, each with their portfolio of indigenous grape varieties, unique terroirs, and climates. Its landscapes, ranging from the Minhoโs undulating green hills to the Douroโs steep terraces, are achingly beautiful. Read full article >
WINES OF DOMAINE GรNOT-BOULANGER ๐ท๐ซ๐ท๐
Guillaume and Aude Lavollรฉe represent the fourth generation of vignerons at Gรฉnot-Boulanger. Their wines are produced exclusively from estate-owned vineyards, located along all three Burgundy cรดtes, from Chambolle Musigny, down to the domaine in Meursault, and on to Mercurey. With 22 hectares, Gรฉnot-Boulanger is one of only a few family-owned Burgundian domaines to produce such a diverse range of over 30 appellations, including three Grand Crus and thirteen Premier Crus. Read full article >
CHAMPAGNE YOU MUST TRY ๐ฅ๐พ๐ซ๐ท LES MONTS FOURNOIS
Born in Champagne in a growerโs family, Juliette Alips rapidly found her passion. With the mentorship of her close cousins, Raphaรซl and Vincent Bรฉrรชche, she discovered and learned all the ins and outs of producing champagne, from farming to vinification, tasting, and blending. Read full article >
PRODUCER OF THE DAY: ๐คฉ๐ท๐ ILLAHE
Illahe Vineyards is one of nine vineyards situated in the Mount Pisgah area. In this prime grape-growing region, the majority of our vineyard lies on marine sediments atop ancient siletz rock. Read full article >
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: CHรTEAU RAYAS ๐ซ๐ท๐๐ท
The spirit of Jacques Reynaud, the godfather of Chรขteauneuf-du-Pape, is always present. When the legendary founder of Chรขteau Rayas died suddenly in 1997, his wife asked their nephew, Emmanuel Reynaud, to take the reins at both Chรขteau Rayas and Chรขteau Fonsalette. Already making wines at his fatherโs Chรขteau des Tours, Emmanuel agreed. Read full article >
DOMAINE JACQUES PRIEUR ๐ซ๐ท๐คฉ๐
| It would be an understatement to claim that Domaine Jacques Prieurโs vineyard holdings are great. The domaine is the only property in Burgundy to own vineyards in five of the regionโs most famous Grand Cru vineyards: Le Montrachet, Le Corton, Les Echรฉzeaux, Le Musigny and Le Chambertin. The domaine holds vineyards in 17 other prestigious appellations for a total of 51 acres under vine. |
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ROBERT AMPEAU & FILS ๐ซ๐ท๐คฉ๐๐ท
Situated in the star-studded Puligny-Montrachet appellation of Burgundy, Domaine Robert Ampeau et Fils boasts a beautiful collection of the regionโs finest Premier Cru plots, four of them in the prestigious climat of Meursault. Read full article >
SAVIGNY LES BEAUNE ๐ซ๐ท๐ท๐คฉ
Between the Hill of Corton and Beaune, the landscape opens up like a map unfolding. The hills of the Cรดte de Beaune recede a little on either side of the little river Rhoin. These vineyards are of ancient lineage. For much of their history, they belonged to the domaine of the Dukes of Bourgogne, to neighbouring religious houses, or to the Knights of Malta. An imposing 14th century castle testifies to the appellationโs aristocratic qualifications. The
AOC status dates from 1937.
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Domaine Sylvain Cathiard & Fils
Domaine Cathiard was established in the 1930s when their fruit was sold to local nรฉgoรงe as was common back in those days. Sylvainโs father Andrรฉ ran the estate from 1969 until 1985 with his son becoming more involved in the latter years. Sylvain began to rent the familyโs vines by fermage agreements, before taking over his fatherโs own vines when Andre retired in 1995 Read full article >
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: BENJAMIN LEROUX ๐ซ๐ท๐ท๐
Benjamin Leroux was born in 1975 in Beaune, not to a vigneron family, yet decided in his teens that wine was what he wanted to do. After his enology studies, he worked at Cos d'Estournel in Bordeaux, Domaine Drouhin in Oregon, Louis Jadot in Beaune, and Comte Armand in Pommard, where he was named technical director and manager at the age of 24. Read full article >
LOPEZ DE HEREDIA ๐ช๐ธ
Lopez de Heredia - one of the most venerable producers in Spainโ produces traditional, age-worthy Rioja. Their wines are legendary and still made the way they were when the winery was founded over 130 years ago. Following a tradition that has been passed down through generations, their wines are released at least 5-10 years after harvest, which provides added complexity and elegance to their Crianzas and Gran Reservas. Read full article >
CHECK OUT OUR SELECTION OF WINES OF CHRISTIAN MOUEIX ๐ซ๐ท๐บ๐ธ
In the world of wine, few have the experience of Christian Moueix. With over fifty years of producing wines in Bordeauxโs Right Bank and thirty-eight in the Napa Valley, his record in both the old and new worlds has given him unrivaled insights. Read full article >
RECOMMENDATION OF THE DAY! ๐คฉ๐ท๐ SIMON BIZE & FILS
There are a handful of domaines in Burgundy that we think of as almost being synonymous with their village - Domaine Simon Bize is one of them. Read full article >
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: ๐ซ๐ท๐ท๐คฉ BRUNO CLAIR
Bruno Clair created the eponymous estate in 1979.
His family history is quite complex, as is often the case in wine estates in Burgundy. The family began making wine at the beginning of the 19th century and Bruno represents the sixth generation of winegrowers.
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WINES OF COMTES LAFON ๐ซ๐ท๐ท๐
For those who love great Burgundy, this winery needs no introduction. However, for those who want to learn more about the regionโs great terroirs, tasting the wines of Domaine des Comtes Lafon is a true education. Jules Lafon migrated to Burgundyโs Cรดte dโOr from his native Tarn-et-Garonne in the southwest of France in 1887. Three generations later, in 1984, their great-grandson Dominique took over the domaine. Read full article >
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: ๐ท๐คฉ๐ซ๐ท MOREY COFFINET
Domaine Morey-Coffinet goes back to 1978 when it was created from vineyards from two other Chassagne domaines โ Domaine Marc Morey and Domaine Coffinet. Read full article >
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: ๐ท๐๐ PRESQU'ILE
Presquโile is a family-owned winery in the Santa Maria Valley, dedicated to crafting exceptional, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from Santa Barbara County. Presquโile Vineyard was designed and planted to create a diverse tapestry of blocks that feature an array of clones, exposures, and elevations. Read full article >
WINES OF CHรTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE ๐ท๐ซ๐ท๐
Chรขteauneuf-du-Pape is a historic wine region located between the towns of Orange and Avignon, in France's southern Rhรดne Valley. It is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wine, largely made from the classic southern Rhรดne grape trio of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvรจdre. Read full article >
WINES OF MAISON LOUIS JADOT ๐ซ๐ท๐๐ท
Maison Louis Jadot is one of the most trusted and revered wine houses in Burgundyโs Cรดte dโOr. Frรฉdรฉric Barnier, Jadotโs esteemed winemaker, and his team balance tradition and technology, focusing on the purest expression of each wineโs terroir. Read full article >
WINES OF DOMAINE GEORGES ROUMIER ๐ซ๐ท๐ท๐คฉ
The first vineyard plots of the Domaine formed part of the dowry of the late Geneviรจve Quanquin, who married Georges Roumier in 1924. At the time, Georges Roumier was the winemaker of famed Domaine Comte Georges de Vogรผรฉ. Read full article >
OREGON PINOT NOIR ๐บ๐ธ๐ท๐
Oregon has made a name for itself with Pinot Noir. These high-quality wines invite comparison to Burgundy rather often, since Oregonโs cool climate is perfect for fussy Pinot Noir. These versatile wines range from light and fruity too serious and age-worthy. The Willamette Valley, Oregonโs leading wine region, has two-thirds of the stateโs wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 700 wineries. It is recognized as one of the premier Pinot Noirโproducing areas in the world. Read full article >
BAROLO YOU MUST TRY ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ท
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Barolo is one of the most prestigious, age-worthy, and collectible wines in the world. Like so many of the greats, Barolo is a fascinating expression of a particular place as experienced through the lens of a consistent grape variety. In that regard, there are many compelling similarities between Barolo and Burgundy, the latter of which is a highly demarcated region where minute differences in terroir and micro-climate affect the character of the Pinot Noir that grows there.
Barolo is a wine that rewards patience.
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PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: ๐ซ๐ท๐ท๐คฉ CHรNE BLEU
All Chรชne Bleu wines are grown, hand-picked, made and matured on the estate, the Domaine de La Verriรจre. The Domaine lies in a privileged spot - a secluded mountain saddle above the little village of Crestet, north-east of Avignon, in the Dentelles de Montimirail mountains. They are on the northern face of the Mont St Amand, above Gigondas, in the foothills of Mont Ventoux, Provenceโs highest mountain. Read full article >
PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT: DOMAINE DE TRรVALLON ๐ซ๐ท๐ฅ๐
Just a short distance from Saint-Rรฉmy-de-Provence, on the north side of the Alpilles, is the Domaine de Trรฉvallon, situated in the village of Saint-Etienne-du-Grรจs. Here, everywhere, limestone emerges from the ground. It is ubiquitous and shapes this harsh, dry land. Read full article >
GET TO KNOW THE PRODUCER: BODEGAS CHACRA ๐ฆ๐ท
Chacra was created by Piero Incisa della Rocchetta in 2004 with the intention of finding the most unobstructed expression of the climate, micro-climate, and terrior of Mainquรฉ in the Rรญo Negro region of Patagonia.
Respecting the environment by following biodynamic and organic principles, Piero strives to make wines that are transparent, pure, delicate, and floral with a strong minerality.
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GET TO KNOW THE PRODUCER: GRGICH HILLS ๐บ๐ธ
Miljenko โMikeโ Grgich first gained international recognition at the celebrated โParis Tastingโ of 1976. Then, in a now-historic blind tasting, a panel of eminent French judges swirled, sniffed, and sipped an array of the fabled white Burgundies of France and a small sampling of upstart Chardonnays from the Napa Valley. When their scores were tallied, the French judges were shocked: they had chosen the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Mike Grgich, as the finest white wine in the world. Mon Dieu! The results stunned the international wine establishment and immediately earned Mike a reputation as one of the greatest winemakers in the world. Read full article >
GET TO KNOW THE PRODUCER: DOMINIQUE LAFON ๐ซ๐ท
Domaine des Comtes Lafon has been in the Lafon family since 1865. Dominique Lafon took over the domaine in 1983. It is comprised of approximately 14 hectares situated in the communes of Volnay, Monthรฉlie, Chassagne-Montrachet, and of course, Meursault, where the domaine and its monopole vineyard Clos de la Barre are located. Read full article >
GET TO KNOW THE PRODUCER: DOMAINE ROBERT CHEVILLON ๐ซ๐ท
The stunning collection of premier cru and old-vine vineyards held by the two Chevillon brothers would make any Pinot Noir grower jealous. Their innate ability to carefully tend the vines and master the difficult Burgundian conditions provides ripe, healthy clusters of grapes year after year. Taste through the barrels of Chevillon post-harvest and it doesn't matter what happened the year before, almost as if by miracle, the wines show class and character and each terroir has its distinct idiosyncrasies. It is le vrai Pinot chez Chevillon. Read full article >
The Truth About Sulfites in Wine
Nearly 3,000 years ago, winemakers in Ancient Greece made a fascinating discovery[*]. If they took gypsum -- a chalky white mineral rich in sulfur -- and mixed it with their wine before fermentation, the wine would keep for years without spoiling.
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WINE 101 Pouilly-Fuissรฉ vs. Pouilly-Fumรฉ ๐ซ๐ท
Pouilly-Fumรฉ is produced entirely from Sauvignon Blanc grown in the easternmost region of Loire along the Loire River. The climate is cool continental, meaning winters can be quite cold and summers very warm. Here, youโll find other Loire white wines, such as Vouvray, Muscadet de Sรจvre-et-Maine and Sancerre. Read full article >
WHAT SETS APART BANDOL ROSร FROM OTHER PINK WINE?
There are some important differences between the rosรฉ made under the Bandol appellation and those of other regions. In Bandol, grapes are all handpicked and at least 20% of them must be Mourvรจdre. To guarantee ripeness and focus, yields are limited to 40 hectoliters per hectare. Cรดtes de Provence rosรฉ โ Bandolโs primary competitor for local supermarket shelf space โ is cheaper but the yields are higher. Read full article >
WMWS WINE SCHOOL ๐ซ๐ท CHAMPAGNE 101
What is Champagne?
To be called โChampagne,โ a wine must come from the Champagne appellation, a region of France slightly east of Paris. In France, such a region is referred to as an Appellation dโOrigine Contrรดlรฉe, or AOC.
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WMWS WINE SCHOOL ๐ฎ๐น SICILY ๐ฎ๐น
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, served as a crossroads for ancient civilizations. Today, it boasts one of Europeโs most dynamic wine industries! Sicily's
dry, warm climate features regular sunshine and moderate rainfall that suits wine production. Arid conditions reduce the chance of rot and mildew (especially in areas with coastal breezes) which makes Sicily a prime candidate for organic farming.
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GET TO KNOW THE PRODUCER: GIROLAMO RUSSO ๐ฎ๐น
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Giuseppe Russo is a quiet thoughtful man, formerly a pianist. Since 2005 he has been organically farming his family's old vineyards, many of the vines around 100 years of age, and he is restoring the old cellar under his house. He has 15 hectares of vines on the North side of Etna around the town of Passopisciaro.
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WMWS WINE SCHOOL ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ SCOTCH 101
All Scotch whisky was originally made from malted barley. Commercial distilleries began introducing whisky made from wheat and rye in the late 18th century. Read full article >
๐ซ๐ท๐ซ๐ท CHENE BLEU ๐ซ๐ท๐ซ๐ท
Blessed with a confluence of natural factors, Chรชne Bleu has the benefit of an exceptional location, multifaceted geology, and a southern Rhรดne climate with soils more typical of the northern Rhรดne. Read full article >
WMWS VARIETAL SPOTLIGHT ๐ช๐ธ TEMPRANILLO ๐ช๐ธ
| Spanish Tempranillo delivers contrasting flavors of leather and cherries. The finer the wine, the more balance there is between earth and fruit. The finish is typically smooth and lingers with the taste of tannin on both sides of your mouth. Tempranillo can be characterized as either a medium- to full-bodied, with red fruit characteristics. If youโve never tried Tempranillo before, you may find it has a similar taste profile to both Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. |
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WHITE MERLOT!!!! CHATEAU VIEUX TAILLEFER ๐ค๐ซ๐ท
The Blanc du Chรขteau Vieux Taillefer is a cuvรฉe that revives the history of the right bank of Bordeaux. This blend of five different grape varieties, a singular wine blended in majority with Merlot Blanc. Read full article >
COLLECTOR'S CLUB: FLACCIANELLO DELLA PIEVE 2015 ๐คฉ ๐ฎ๐น
The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is even more stratospheric than it was last year. Rich and ample on the palate, Flaccianello captures all of the best qualities of this radiant vintage. Read full article >
ITALIAN WINES YOU SHOULD BE DRINKING TODAY ๐ฎ๐น
Italyโs white wines are as diverse as the countryโs reds. With a trove of native varieties, there is an Italian white wine to fit every budget and every occasion. In fact, there are so many choices that shopping for an Italian white wine can be overwhelming Read full article >
DOMAINE CHANDON DE BRIAILLES ๐ซ๐ท
This historic estate was established in 1834. Claude de Nicolay took over from her mother as winemaker in 1988 and crafts traditionally styled wines from one of the Cรดte d'Or's great terroirs, the hill of Corton and its surrounding villages. Read full article >
WMWS WINE SCHOOL ๐ฏ๐ต SAKE 101 ๐ฏ๐ต
WHAT IS SAKE?
Sake, pronounced โsah-kehโ, is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. In Japan, sake is a general term for any alcoholic beverage, and what Westerners know as sake actually refers to nihonshu, the traditionally brewed and fermented drink. Sake is a category of its own with a unique brewing process and over 10,000 variations. Here we look at the brief history of sake, how itโs made, and the unique regionality of Japan that influences the variety of sake we enjoy today.
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