Paul Molleman is European director of the California Wine Institute. Based in The Hague in the Netherlands, he opened the office 20 years ago this year. In conversation with Felicity Carter, he discusses how California’s relationship with Europe has grown and changed.
What do you do when you’re making mountain wines, but you officially belong to a valley? Create your own appellation, of course. Adam Lechmere reports on a California initiative.
The largest volcanic eruption in history not only created the Greek tourist paradise of Santorini, but also a soil type that’s perfect for wine grapes. Yiannis Karakasis and Grigoris Michailos report on the tug of war over the island’s future.
Tasmania produces a mere half of one per cent of all Australian wine, yet the island state is increasingly being seen as a world-class location for sparkling wine. Dr Stephen Quinn reports.
The ‘savalanch’ of 2008, when Marlborough produced an oversupply of Sauvignon Blanc, created fundamental changes in this premium New Zealand region. Bob Campbell MW reports on the aftermath and recovery.
Although the Romans identified it as a prime viticultural area more than 2,000 years ago, Thermenregion remains something of a secret. But, as Mathilde Hulot discovers, the need to export means it’s unlikely to remain unknown for much longer.
Marche is an ancient Italian wine region, famed for its white Verdicchio. Yet for decades it’s had a reputation as a source of cheap bulk wine. Michele Shah says as the need to export becomes more urgent, replanting and premiumisation is underway.
It seems like everybody in the wine trade is trying to get closer to Millennials. Felicity Carter talks to Tyler Balliet, whose Wine Riot events have proved a hit with this group.
The Okanagan Valley, in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia , is a jaw-droppingly beautiful place to produce wine. Especially when the quality is so high, says David Lawrason.
The Austrian wine industry has completely revolutionised itself in the past two decades. James Lawrence takes a look at the ongoing project to classify superior vineyards.
When a Basque French pioneer brought Tannat to Uruguay, he stumbled across a perfect grape and terroir combination. David Furer explores a country that was recently named The Economist’s ‘Country of the Year’ for its contributions to happiness.
In many markets, wines served from a box carry a stigma and are unlikely to be drunk by connoisseurs. But in Sweden, producers who choose not to take advantage of the format are missing out on sales. Erica Landin looks at the issue from all sides.
The past 30 years have seen a wave of new investments in Alentejo in Portugal, a region that has weathered the crisis better than many. Dr Luís Antunes takes the temperature of the region and asks where it’s likely to go next.
It’s got a wine-growing history that dates back to the Roman world. It’s got more than 220 authorised grape varieties over 55,000 hectares of vineyards, and it’s one of the most exciting wine-growing countries in Europe.
