Terroir in Champagne: Will Terroirists Kill the Blends?

Caroline Henry
Features
5 min read
The Champenois have long struggled with the notion of terroir. Unlike nearby Burgundy where just about every vineyard has had its terroir defined, in Champagne one will often speak about the generic Champagne terroir: that which makes Champagne’s wines unique. Common elements of this generic terroir are the region’s poor,

Discovering a Case of Our Own History

Dorothy Gaiter
Features
6 min read
As you know, John and I always encourage folks to experience new wines. If you’ve never seen something before and it looks interesting, try it. That’s the way your knowledge of wine grows and it’s a heck of a lot of fun. Well, I want to tell you a story

Five Experiences of Portugal, with a Side of Wine

Cathy Huyghe
Features
3 min read
Today, Portugal's extremely photogenic wine regions are being affected by a dizzying whirr of circumstances beyond their control, both political and financial. Currently, vineyards and winemaking exist in the midst of hundreds of years of fine traditions from music to horse breeding, with amazing gardens and upscale hotels punctuating the

MAN Vintners 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

Remy Charest
Wine Reviews
1 min read
From a dry-farmed vineyard and using a laid-back, relatively low-intervention approach, a very nicely structured cabernet sauvignon, with a good tannin structure and freshness - in particular for this price category, where residual sugar and excessive jamminess too often rule. Old World wine lovers will like this New World wine

Intimidated by wine? Start drinking.

David White
Features
2 min read
Intimidated by wine? You're not alone. Consider the prototypical wine connoisseur -- swirling his glass, sniffing his wine, and blabbering on about some French chateau. He's insufferable. Or consider a representative tasting note. Wine Spectator recently praised a wine for offering notes of "creamy boysenberry, plum skin and cassis .