It’s that time of year when wineries in northern Europe are working around the clock. The mechanical harvesters, presses, pumps, tanks and barrels are all scrubbed clean and ready for action. The frantic activity of the harvest
On a recent trip to Galicia I passed Bodegas Gerardo Mendez, in the town of Meaño and decided to call. It was a warm, sunny morning and Gerardo Mendez, with his healthy complexion and a broad smile, was working in the vineyards beside their impressively
Drinking chilled red wine during the summer is a nice alternative to whites or rosés and gives you the opportunity to taste wines made from grape varieties or from regions that are new to you. The key when choosing red wines for summer is to
When it comes to choosing wines we tend to play safe and select the classic grape varieties or regions. Beyond classic regions, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Bordeaux, Burgundy and grape varieties, notably Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and here in Spain Tempranillo, there are many other fascinating
What is needed to make a perfect marriage? Compatibility, personality, and independence. The same ingredients are needed to make perfect wine marriages. Some of the greatest wines in the world
As a wine drinker you are familiar with the terms light, medium and full bodied but have you ever stopped to think what they mean? What determines if a wine is considered to be light, medium or full? Is the quality of a wine determined
Following my article about tannins in wine, I was asked by a regular reader of this column to explain alcohol in wine
There are thousands of grape varieties that are used to make wine, however, just seven are considered to be the noble grapes from which the most sought after wines in the world are made
The term ‘Old Vines’ on a label is considered to add a certain prestige and quality to the wine in the bottle as it is thought that older vines produce the best fruit. Is this true?
Tempranillo is Spains most well know grape variety. The finest wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero are made predominantly from Tempranillo. It adapts well to the different soils and micro climates to produce wines that are distinctive yet distinctly Tempranillo.
Tempranillo is the diminutive
