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Greek Wine: Delving Into Santorini’s Assyrtiko Grape

Peter Wearing Uncategorized January 13, 2023February 9, 2021

Exploring Greek Wine: The History Of Assyrtiko Grape Assyrtiko is by far one of the most iconic grape varieties from Greece. Native to the Cyclades island of Santorini, Assyrtiko has developed a reputation in the wine industry as a versatile grape. The Assyrtiko grape variety has the capability of making wines in a multitude of styles. Ranging from fresh white wines to nutty dessert wines and is widely applauded by chefs all over the world for its food-pairing prowess. …

Fortified Wine: The Ultimate Guide To This Wine Type

Peter Wearing Wine Profiles September 19, 2022February 9, 2021

From sherry to port, fortified wines come in a variety of colour, flavour, and sweetness. One thing they have in common, however, is that these wines have all gone through – as the name suggests – the process of fortification. In this article, we will discuss the fortification process, the different expressions of fortified wines and the considerations to keep in mind when pairing them with food. What Is Fortified Wine? A glass of fortified wine is a true delight …

Champagne: Celebrate The New Year With This Classic

Peter Wearing Featured, Wine Profiles Leave a comment January 28, 2021December 2, 2020

A glass of Champagne is a great sparkling wine option to celebrate many wonderful occasions.

Champagne is most often associated with elegance, celebration, happiness and extravagance. With the New Year being reigned in all over the world, many wine aficionados choose this sparkling wine for marking the beginning of a brand new year. Yet, the history behind Champagne shows that this sparkling wine is more than just the celebrations it is associated with. Below, we discuss its origins and the best food pairing options to choose when serving. The History Of This Sparkling Wine Many …

Wine Rack Or Wine Cellar: Which Is The Better Storage Option?

Peter Wearing Featured, Wine Storage Leave a comment January 13, 2021November 19, 2020

When it comes to wine storage, there are many options you can choose from such as wine rack vs wine cellar vs wine cooler.

Wine Storage: Which is the Best Option? For many wine enthusiasts looking to expand their wine collection, one of the main queries they may have is which storage option is right for their needs. There are many considerations that need to be kept in mind when choosing a wine storage option. For example, if you go down the route of a wine cellar then price and location are two factors that will play a large role. In this article, we …

An Insider’s Guide to The Rioja Wine Region

Peter Wearing Featured, Regional Profiles Leave a comment December 14, 2022November 19, 2020

Rioja wine is known for its fruity and floral aromatic characteristics and its ability to age as well as wines from Burgundy and Bordeaux.

Exploring Rioja: Spain’s Fine Wine Capital Spain may be well known for its famous bullfighting, flamenco dancers, salty slices of Manchego cheese and delicious paella dishes but, it is also home to one of the oldest and well-respected wine regions in the world, Rioja. This region is considered Spain’s fine wine capital and it isn’t hard to understand why. Producing almost 300 million litres of wine per year, this Spanish wine region is home to red wines made from key …

Why is Brunello di Montalcino so Special?

Peter Wearing Featured, Wine Styles Leave a comment August 13, 2021November 11, 2020

Why is Brunello di Montalcino so Special? Montalcino is a small Tuscan town about 45 minutes drive South of Siena. For many years, the area grew a grape variety they called Brunello. It was only in the late nineteenth century that it was determined to be the same grape as Sangiovese. However, the clone of Sangiovese grown in this area is smaller than the clones grown in Chianti. That, combined with the warner climate, meant that the wines around Montalcino …

An Insider’s Guide To Merlot Wine: All You Need To Know About This Grape Varietal

Peter Wearing Featured, Grape Profiles 1 Comment August 12, 2021August 4, 2020

Merlot is considered extremely versatile and adaptable. Great when used as part of a blend but also delicious on its own, this grape varietal has left a lasting impression on the wine industry.

Merlot is a grape varietal that is praised and loved by many all over the world. But what exactly makes this grape so special? In this article, we look at the origins of merlot wine, the main regions where it is grown and it’s most defining characteristics. Merlot: The Origins Of This Beloved Grape Variety The earliest mention of this grape varietal was recorded in the French wine region of Bordeaux in approximately 1784. It is believed that during this …

Chilean Wine 101: The Regions, Grapes And More

Peter Wearing Featured, Regional Profiles Leave a comment January 28, 2021June 29, 2020

Chilean wine is characterized not only by its rich and bold red grape varietals but also, its crisp and fruit-forward white grapes, offering something for everyone.

A Brief History Of Chilean Winemaking Chile may fall under the category of a New World wine region but its winemaking traditions and industry certainly aren’t young. Over the last 30 years, quality Chilean wine has competitively made its mark on the modern global wine industry but its history of wine production dates back to the 16th century. In the early 1500s, Spanish monks brought wine grapes to New World regions including Chile. Upon discovering the perfect soil and climate …

Giacomo Fenocchio: A Radical Traditionalist

Peter Wearing Uncategorized, vWinery Profiles January 13, 2023June 2, 2020

Giacomo Fenocchio: A Radical Traditionalist One of the advantages of working in the wine business is meeting remarkable people from around the world who eventually become close friends. One such person is Claudio Fenocchio, a true gentleman farmer, passionate about his land, his wine and his family. This post will look at the history of the estate, wines produced and some of the great vineyard holdings. History The Fenocchio family has been making wine in Monforte since 1864. But it …

What Is Tempranillo? An Insightful Guide

Peter Wearing Featured, Grape Profiles Leave a comment December 14, 2022May 6, 2020

Tempranillo, the quintessential Spanish grape, is known for its thick skin and beautiful juxtaposition of both earthy and fruity characteristics.

Examining This Spanish Grape: The History Of Tempranillo Tempranillo is the quintessential Spanish grape. The third most planted varietal in the world, it is most famous as being the primary grape of Rioja reds where it is blended with a bit of Graciano, Mazuelo or Garnacha. Originating in the Iberian Peninsula, it dates to at least the ninth century, and Spain is responsible for 80% of the world production. Tempranillo now grows in most of the Spanish red wine regions, …