Latest dispatches

The A-Z of Wine: 'Q' is for 'Qvevri' and 'R' is for 'Rkatsiteli'

Today, we head off the beaten track to cover two exciting entries in the A-Z: the clay winemaking vessel known as a "Qvevri", buried under the earth to keep it cool in a Marani (winery), and the ancient grape "Rkatsiteli"  – both native to Georgia (the country, not "Georgia on my mind" Georgia). The archaeological evidence for winemaking goes back ~8000 years in Georgia (the oldest in the world) and they were making Rkatsiteli wine using Qvevri – they've found the old vessels in ancient cave systems, and they had the Rkatsiteli seeds in them! So this is an ancient style of wine we're tasting. Qvevri winemaking is in fact so distinctive that it's been recognised by UNESCO as a truly distinctive part of Georgia's cultural heritage. And, on top of all of that – as if it weren't enough to be cracking on with – this is an Amber wine: a wine made from white grapes, but using the red wine technique. So much to explore in just 3 minutes!

When is Wine Actually Ready to Drink?

Mind you... the "right time" to open a bottle is really whenever you want it! 😉 But if you want to sync that time up with when the wine itself is at its peak, using our Vintage Chart can come in handy! View it here 🔗 https://www.wineenthusiast.com/wine-vintage-chart/

Missing in America

Forgotten Wines of America: A Deep Dive into Regional Treasures In this episode of 'After Wine School,' hosts Keith Wallace and Alana Zerbe embark on a road trip exploring the often overlooked and forgotten wines of America. The discussion spans a variety of regions, starting with Virginia's troubled history with Vitus VRA vineyards and the rise of Norton and Petit Verdot grapes. They move north to highlight Finger Lakes' Riesling and lesser-known Georgian grape Saperavi, then delve into Pennsylvania's history with grapes like Chambourcin and Barbera. The conversation continues with New Jersey's traditional French-inspired wines, Vermont's hybrid grape success stories, Texas' renowned Tempranillo, and several rich yet underappreciated grape varieties in California. The episode wraps up with mentions of emerging wine regions like Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona, encouraging wine enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the diverse and rich heritage of American wines. 00:00 Introduction

Bonarda

Bonarda Monsupello La guida dei vini cult in tutte le sue sfaccettature. L'obiettivo è quello di narrare la storia delle cantine, di descriverne le storie dei territori, dei vini, e i sistemi di coltivazione adottati per concludere con la degustazione dei vini. Leggi Ora: https://amzn.to/3faTp1y Italian Wine Collection allows readers to discover Italian wine information with most famous grape varietals . This guide helps readers to feel comfortable visiting the wine local wine shop and picking out an italian bottle they’ll taste. Italian Wine Collection https://amzn.to/3SQ84D Stappa una bottiglia e unisciti a noi!Cerchi un gruppo di amici con cui condividere la tua passione per il vino? Inizia il tuo viaggio nella cultura del vino, entra nella tribù: https://ko-fi.com/winecollectionaddict Pop a bottle and join us!Looking for a group of friends to share your passion for wine? Start your journey into wine culture, join the tribe: https://ko-fi.com/winecollection

McLaren Vale Grenache: Worth The Hype?

Grenache has three homes: Spain (where it's called Garnacha), southern France, and increasingly, McLaren Vale in South Australia. Today we're tasting six flagship Grenache wines from McLaren Vale's top producers to see if this region really is the future of the variety. In Memory of Pete Fraser: As we celebrate McLaren Vale Grenache, we want to acknowledge Pete Fraser, the visionary winemaker behind Yangarra, who sadly passed away recently. Pete was instrumental in elevating McLaren Vale Grenache to world-class status and his legacy lives on in every bottle. His dedication to whole bunch winemaking, organic viticulture, and showcasing what this region can do has inspired an entire generation of winemakers. Rest in peace, Pete. Your impact on Australian wine is immeasurable. What Is Grenache? One of the great grape varieties of the world. Traditionally grown in hot climates, known for red fruit flavors, silky tannins, and when done right, incredible elegance and structure. McLaren Val

Testalonga - Swartland Darlings | Testalonga Mielie Chenin Blanc 2024 | #HANtv S05.Ep14

======================= hanTV EPISODE CHAPTER INDEX: ===================== 00:00 - XX 01:12 - xx 02:21 - xx 04:39 - xx ===================== TECHNICAL SPECS 🔬The wine is a blend of three vineyards from the the Swartland. The koffieklip/granite soils near Malmesbury giving bush vines planted in 1981. Bush vines on the foothills of the Piketberg mountains in Moutons Hoek planted in 1961 on deep sandstone soils. The second vineyard planted in 1998 is close to Redelinghuys and 18km from the cold Atlantic ocean on the West Coast. The vineyard is also dry land farmed and gives a specific saltiness to the grapes. All organically and dry land farmed. The fruit was hand harvested and whole bunch pressed. The wine is a blend of three vineyards which were co fermented in a 5000L concrete tank for 6 months then racked off its gross lees and placed back into the concrete tank. No yeast (or other) inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2 shortly before bottling were added ====

Bouvet Ladubay Crémant de Loire 2023 Review | Crémant: The Ultimate Everyday Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine season is here, and we are kicking it off with one of our favorite styles for everyday bubbles. This episode dives into Crémant and puts the focus on Bouvet Ladubay Crémant de Loire, a Loire Valley sparkling wine that delivers serious quality without the Champagne level price tag. This week, we talk about why Crémant is such a smart value play, how it compares to Champagne, and what makes traditional method sparkling wines stand out. The conversation explores what to look for when buying sparkling wine, why acidity matters, and how lees aging shapes texture and character. Along the way, we dig into  Bouvet Ladubay’s history in the Loire Valley and why they are considered one of the region’s top producers. This episode is all about understanding sparkling wine beyond the label and rethinking when and how you open a bottle of bubbles. If you love value driven wines and want better options for everyday drinking, this one is worth the listen. Connect with the show. We wou

The PERFECT Red Wine Gift 🎁🍷

Looking for the perfect red wine gift? Carpineto Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 is my pick. It is the original heart of Tuscany in a glass. Dark fruit, herbs, leather, sweet tobacco, and incredible value at around $30. Ranked #25 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2025 and perfect with holiday meals. Gift it or keep it for yourself. Both are good decisions! Follow @CarpinetoCarpinetoWines for more! ___________________ ABOUT V IS FOR VINO: Wish learning about wine was easier? It's fun AND easy with your personal sommelier, travel guide, and host, Vince! Join him as he travels the world of wine - eating, drinking, and breaking down wine topics for you up close and personal! Want to know more? On each episode of V is for Vino, you'll: - Meet a winemaker and learn their story. One of the best parts of drinking wine is getting to know the place where it came from and the people who made it! - Learn about the grapes. Vince breaks down wine topics easily, making them fun and easy to un

The A-Z of Wine: 'P' is for 'Piemonte / Piedmont'

What could we possibly have done for the letter P but to head to Northern Italy to visit our great friends at G D Vajra, a family stalwart making astonishing Barolo. Indeed, Barolo and other wines made from the Nebbiolo grape are seen as the crown jewels of this wonderful region! So... you're probably getting the trend now... 😂 that's not what we're going to taste, because it turns out that the locals actually prefer to drink something else!

Movie Trailers DEC 2025: Coming Soon to Drinkers

Dave and Dallas delve into upcoming films set to release this December and January, offering their candid opinions on the effectiveness of each trailer, while sharing 4 different wines and deciding which upcoming movie likely pairs best with each. TRSILERS WATCHED: The Chronology of Water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCBwuJ0pKMA Man Finds Tape https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VexyLStKQAQ The Rabbit Hole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-SebLbGTZY&t Rosemead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwQy6jV1QCM Merrily We Roll Along https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKyQEq47Mc Dust Bunny https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btzw2I7sfSk Lone Samurai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1gfbqQGmGo Anaconda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jak4wgv9uRE Greenland 2: Migration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ieN10lX40 We Bury The Dead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE-W-wEJJqw All You Need is Kill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7pNOtFACTk WINES SUPPED: Vitatge Vielh Lapeyre Jurancon Sec Clos C

My Christmas recommendation - Istenič Cuveé Natura 2020 #wine #sparklingwine #istenic #slovenia

Give the Gift of Scribe 🎁 1858 TRIO

Three Estate bottlings of historic significance: 2024 Estate Sylvaner 2024 Estate Riesling 2024 Estate Hillside Riesling #scribewinery #riesling #wine #giftideas #gifting