By Lee Madueno
Beatriz founded Barco del Corneta in La Seca, the dusty heartland of Rueda, to rescue the grape from industrial anonymity. Joined by winemaker Manuel Cantalapiedra, a former classical pianist who...
By Jeff Patten
Rioja offers many things to the world, especially a terroir that manages to produce the greatest Tempranillo anywhere. But it also offers something far simpler: mature wines that you can...
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By Lee Madueno
Kenny and Lynn Likitprakong occupy a unique space in California winemaking. Through their Hobo Wine Company banner, which includes fan favorite projects like Folk Machine and Camp, they built a...
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By Jeff Patten
There is the Loire, and then there is the Loir. No, that is not a typo. The Loir is a smaller tributary north of the Loire—le Loir, incidentally, while the...
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By Lee Madueno
Italy rules the roost when it comes to rare, culty, skin contact amber wines with rarified prices to match. Collectors whisper the names of Friulian icons like Gravner and Radikon...
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By Lee Madueno
While Argentina has long been celebrated for its robust, sun drenched reds, a quiet revolution has been brewing at the extreme, chilly altitudes of the Uco Valley. If you believe...
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By Jeff Patten
Why do legendary Barolo producers in the village of Verduno continue to devote time and precious vineyard space to Pelaverga? Well, it provides so much of the aromatic magic and...
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By Lee Madueno
Some Champagne producers are famous because their wines are polished, consistent, and easy to understand. Vouette et Sorbée is famous for almost the opposite reason. Bertrand Gautherot’s wines are alive,...
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By Lee Madueno
The Grower movement in Champagne has achieved many great things over the last generation. It has introduced us to small farmers, revived forgotten villages, championed organic farming, and given us...
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By Jeff Patten
What happens when Barolo’s most exacting mind takes on rosé? That was the question we all asked when Roberto Conterno, the mastermind behind the legendary Barolo Riserva Monfortino, took charge...
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By Jeff Patten
In 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "There is a red wine of Nebiule (Nebbiolo) made in this neighborhood which is very singular. It is about as sweet as the silky Madeira,...
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By Lee Madueno
With its vineyards perched on remote ridgetop hills, the West Sonoma Coast, represents California winemaking, both figuratively and literally, at its absolute edge. This rugged territory of foggy redwood lined...
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By Lee Madueno
In this blog, we tend to favor the grower/producers; those small families farming their own vines and crafting wines that taste like somewhere specific rather than something merely consistent. But...
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