Luke with Smudge

Luke Lambert: on new vintages and his Nebbiolo vineyard.

23May Posted by Jo Lory

You can tell a lot about a winemaker from their cellar. Luke Lambert’s is a modest brick building housing the large oak foudre he uses to age his wines, a large dining table and a very high end Italian meat

Read more →
3

António Maçanita: Electric Wines from the Edge

21Apr Posted by Jack Young

Energy in wine is intangible, but immediately recognisable. Does it come from the acidity, a bracing, mouth-puckering sharpness that makes a wine feel alive and pulsating with energy? Is it salinity, that salty, sea-spray taste that gives it a sense

Read more →
aandcwithbottles

Frenchtown Farms: working in harmony with nature.

7Feb Posted by Jo Lory

We caught up with Cara and Aaron Monkrish of Frenchtown Farms, via Zoom from the remarkable vineyard that goes into their Pearl Thief white blend. They told us the unusual history of the project, and about their intuitive approach to

Read more →
Wightman-and-sons

Wightman & Sons: The Accidental Winemakers

9Dec Posted by Jack Young

Winemakers often fall into two camps: some inherit the title and are described as having “winemaking in their DNA”; others have an encounter or “epiphany” which sets them on the path to winemaking, or a sense of romance that “ties

Read more →
Leo_rock

The long game: Leo Erazo’s journey towards sustainability. Part 1.

27Oct Posted by Jo Lory

Leo Erazo is a winemaker with a global perspective: after university he travelled for 10 years, studying biodynamic methods in California; soil types in South Africa; and geology in New Zealand before returning to South America. Rogue Vine was his

Read more →
House veg garden_kale_ winery

Water is life: Leo Erazo’s journey towards sustainability. Part 2.

27Oct Posted by Jo Lory

Since moving back to Itata Leo Erazo (Rogue Vine) has built a sustainable winery, and started planting some new vineyards close to the coast. I spoke to him about these, and the steps he’s taken to lower the carbon footprint

Read more →
G_BillDownie

William Downie: The devil’s in the detail

24Oct Posted by Jo Lory

Young Guns of Wine, a barometer for new talent on the Aussie wine scene once described Bill Downie as: This century’s original enfant terrible of wine. A cheerful iconoclast that scythed through convention. The Bill Downie who we spoke to

Read more →
Douro_Maio2018_JPEG_Full043

Old vines pull through: Márcio Lopes’ Douro wines

29Sep Posted by Jack Young

We’ve always loved Márcio’s benchmark Pequenos Rebentos wines from the Vinho Verde, they have incredible brightness and energy while still retaining a sense of character. So, when Márcio told us about his Proibido project, based in the Douro Superior, we

Read more →
Johan-tasting-The-Blue-Posts

Tasting the 2021 vintage with Johan Meyer in London.

15Sep Posted by Jo Lory

Johan Meyer was in London for a whirlwind of visits this week, we caught up with him to taste the newly arrived Mother Rock and Brutal! wines. Johan feels that the vineyards in South Africa got back of track in

Read more →
Casa-Castillo-9845

Casa Castillo: Mediterranean Spain earns its place in the sun

26Jul Posted by Jo Lory

Casa Castillo has come a long way in the 30 years since José María and his father took their vineyards back from the tenant farmers, and made their first wines. Now they are considered among the best in Spain, credited

Read more →