The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
58 results across all types
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'U' is for 'Uco Valley'
Jamie heads to the Uco Valley in Argentina – the shining Napa Valley of the South – to taste a wine made by our friend Karim Mussi. Here, in the foothills of the Andes, at around 1100m in altitude, the wines cannot help but be influenced by their dramatic surroundings!
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'Y' is for 'Yarra Valley'
We head an hour away from the city of Melbourne to explore the fabulous Yarra Valley, showing that Australia can make cool-climate wines like traditional method sparkling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir every bit as well as it can make jammy Shiraz with an animal on the label! We head to Phil Sexton's Giant Steps to look at their Pinot Noir which picks from a selection of sites across the valley to showcase the region.
videoTOWTC: Wines of Viña Ventisquero (2026)
Viña Ventisquero is one of Chile’s most dynamic and forward-thinking wine producers, known for combining innovation, sustainability, and a deep respect for the country’s diverse terroirs. Founded in 1998, the winery set out with an ambitious goal: to explore the full potential of Chile’s wine regions, from the cool coastal valleys to the rugged Andes foothills. Today, it stands as a modern benchmark for quality and experimentation in South American winemaking. Planting vineyards in extreme and p
videoTOWTC: Wines of Jumilla (2026)
Wine has flowed through Jumilla’s history like a cherished river. The tradition of viticulture here dates back over three millennia, as phyloxera changed wine forever, the French developed and industrialised this area of Spain, with huge growth in vineyards, and advances in wine making techniques and styles. Today, the vineyards of Jumilla produce some of Spain’s most renowned wines, with Monastrell grapes at their core. The vines themselves seem to whisper stories of generations who worked tire
videoThe 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 syst
videoTOWTC: Wines of New Zealand (2026)
It has been far, far too long since we went down under to New Zealand and explored this exceptional country and its huge variety – indeed, no longer is it so dominant on Sauvignon Blanc as it used to be, with many standout regions, grape varieties and producers!
videoRibera Del Duero Tasting Pack
@wineguyjamie talks through three stunnng wines from Ribera Del Duero as part of Reach for Ribera Del Duero
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'S' is for 'Saignée method' and 'T' is for Touraine
We head to Joel Delaunay in the Touraine region of the Loire Valley in France to explore this beautiful place and the incredible range of wines – including this rosé. We also talk about different ways of making Rosé, including the "Saignée" method, where you start off making a red wine, then bleed off some of the juice after a few days, giving a more concentrated red wine and also a delicious rosé as a side effect!
videoTOWTC: Wines of Ukraine with Sera Crow
We finally head to Ukraine to check out it's dynamic wine scene, which is increasingly growing in reputation for creating thrilling wines from indigenous and international grapes, recovering from years of abuse focusing on volume over quality under the Soviet regime! For this tasting, we are delighted to be joined by Sera Crowe, ambassador for Ukrainian wine, as we explore 6 fantastic wines.
videoTOWTC: Back to School
For our first tasting of 2026, Alex and Jamie are taking you Back To School as we study some topics and their intersection with the world of wine! - Physics / Chemistry - Environmental Science - Biology - Innovation - Economics, and more! Will your wine knowledge put you top of the class, or will you be in detention until you know your Claret from your Beaujolais?
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'Z' is for 'Zinfandel'
We head to California to taste some serious Old Vine Zinfandel, on its own native roots (rather than being grafted to a phylloxera-resistant plant's roots) courtesy of its 40-foot deep roots going down into sand! The bugs hate this! We are at Cline Family vineyards, one of the most legendary names in Californian winemaking, based in Sonoma, but here the vineyards are just east of Oakland in Contra Costa county.
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'X' is for 'Xinomavro'
We head to Greece to check out their flagship red grape: Xinomavro. In the North of the country, Alpha Estate, otherwise known as Ktima Alpha, are pioneering new expressions of traditional Greek grapes alongside some more international varieties in the shadow of the mountains and next to a lake. All very pretty!
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'W' is for 'Whole Bunch'
We explore whole bunch winemaking in the Bot River region of South Africa, in this case using a fabulous Syrah from Gabrielskloof. This wine is remarkably old world in style, with the crunchy fruit flavours coming from the whole bunch method, and silky tannins and spice aided by the inclusion of the ripe stems in the winemaking process.
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'V' is for 'Volcanoes'
Volcanic soil, rich in minerals and vitamins (probably – ed.), produces some of the most fascinating and characterful wines on the planet, whether the Canary Islands, parts of the Napa region or, in this case, Sicilia. We head to Donnafugata who are a 5th-generation family winery, but who have only recently made the move to Sicily to explore the Etna Rosso style of wines made on the slopes of the volcano.
videoThe 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!
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'Z' is for 'Zinfandel'
We head to California to taste some serious Old Vine Zinfandel, on its own native roots (rather than being grafted to a phylloxera-resistant plant's roots) courtesy of its 40-foot deep roots going down into sand! The bugs hate this! We are at Cline Family vineyards, one of the most legendary names in Californian winemaking, based in Sonoma, but here the vineyards are just east of Oakland in Contra Costa county.
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'Y' is for 'Yarra Valley'
We head an hour away from the city of Melbourne to explore the fabulous Yarra Valley, showing that Australia can make cool-climate wines like traditional method sparkling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir every bit as well as it can make jammy Shiraz with an animal on the label! We head to Phil Sexton's Giant Steps to look at their Pinot Noir which picks from a selection of sites across the valley to showcase the region.
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'X' is for 'Xinomavro'
We head to Greece to check out their flagship red grape: Xinomavro. In the North of the country, Alpha Estate, otherwise known as Ktima Alpha, are pioneering new expressions of traditional Greek grapes alongside some more international varieties in the shadow of the mountains and next to a lake. All very pretty!
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'W' is for 'Whole Bunch'
We explore whole bunch winemaking in the Bot River region of South Africa, in this case using a fabulous Syrah from Gabrielskloof. This wine is remarkably old world in style, with the crunchy fruit flavours coming from the whole bunch method, and silky tannins and spice aided by the inclusion of the ripe stems in the winemaking process.
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'V' is for 'Volcanoes'
Volcanic soil, rich in minerals and vitamins (probably – ed.), produces some of the most fascinating and characterful wines on the planet, whether the Canary Islands, parts of the Napa region or, in this case, Sicilia. We head to Donnafugata who are a 5th-generation family winery, but who have only recently made the move to Sicily to explore the Etna Rosso style of wines made on the slopes of the volcano.
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'U' is for 'Uco Valley'
Jamie heads to the Uco Valley in Argentina – the shining Napa Valley of the South – to taste a wine made by our friend Karim Mussi. Here, in the foothills of the Andes, at around 1100m in altitude, the wines cannot help but be influenced by their dramatic surroundings!
videoThe 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!
videoThe 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!
videoThe A-Z of Wine: 'O' is for 'Oxidation'
For once, we actually do the wine you're probably expecting for the topic! Because where else in the world are you going to explore Oxidative styled wines other than Jerez in Spain, home of Sherry? This one is an Amontillado: a nice middle ground between biologically-aged sherries – where the wine is aged under a film of yeast which shields it from the oxygen – and oxidatively-aged sherries, where the oxygen hits the wine and transforms the flavours. And, unlike your gran's Bristol Cream, this one is bone dry and pairs beautifully with food!