For this year’s guide, we have called on our expert colleagues in Spain and the UK to share their insider knowledge on what is happening in Rioja, looking at the most interesting wines and the best places to visit. Our aim is to bring you an authorit

Top Burgundy and mature Bordeaux have been among the highlights at recent Hong Kong-based auctions by Sotheby’s and Christie’s. In April, a Sotheby’s auction featuring ‘a remarkable Burgundy cellar’ saw a six-bottle lot of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

For many years now, America’s fine wine epicentre has been in that special valley between the Vaca and Mayacamas mountain ranges that we all know as Napa. First established in the 19th century, the Napa Valley’s quality and reputation are known throu

Rioja is arguably Spain’s most famous wine worldwide, but it’s fair to say that the region is still finding its feet when it comes to attracting international visitors. And it’s not for a lack of attractions: as a travel destination, one of Rioja’s g

What led you to a career in fine wine? My family. Being a first-generation Italian American, wine is an important part of my culture and was always on the table at home. Both my uncles were wine importers, and I was recruited into the business by on

There’s no doubt that the best Riojas improve with cellaring. The idea behind this spotlight tasting, therefore, was to see how these wines were performing after 10 and 20 years. However, the comparison can’t be based on age alone: the vintage factor

Early spring in Napa is a time of promise. Mustard greens spring to life in the vine rows and the coming vintage release still in barrel allows us a look ahead. Darting from tasting to tasting in Premiere Napa Valley week this year, my anticipation m

The best Rioja wines are designed to be aged, first in barrel and then in bottle, for many years. Some of these wines, produced in exceptional vintages, develop great complexity over decades and stay in pristine shape even after a century or more. Su

I have long had an affinity for this lovely wine. In my native Philippines, the national beverage is beer. Growing up, I never dreamed that wine would be part of my career path. Most Filipino households never even had bottles of liquor or beer at hom

What happens when the rain stops? Yes, farmers face multiple challenges. But this is the worst. No water, no life. The grape vine is well adapted to dry climates. It has, though, its limits. These are site-dependent and depend on evapotranspiration r

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW 95 Sarah Jane Evans MW 95 Pierre Mansour 94 £33.95 Alliance Wine, NY Wines Amaren means ‘of the mother’ in the Basque language. It is indeed Juan Luis Cañas’ aim to get deep into the roots of Rioja Alavesa, by working only

Appellations of origin are regulated under a common law in the EU. You might think that they’re therefore very similar across the member states, but this is far from true. Italian appellations, for example, tend to designate specific wine styles, and

Each month our experts answer your burning wine questions. Email your queries to editor@decanter.com WHAT’S IN ASAUTERNES? Abottle of Lay &Wheeler own-label Sauternes enjoyed recently showed clearly it was produced by Ch. Suduiraut and bottled at th

You would be surprised at how exciting it can be to taste nearly 140 Malbecs back-to-back. Far from any monotony, there was a compelling diversity of wine styles, regions and expressions in this panel tasting. Proving that premium Malbec remains at t

Global warming of more than 2˚C could significantly affect grape growing in up to 70% of existing wine regions, a recent study has found. Scientists from several institutions, including the University of Bordeaux, developed a global map of possible c

How many wine lists do we read in the course of our drinking life? And where do your eyes go first when you look at one? To the right-hand side of the page, of course. The prices. I always start with a cursory glance at the whole thing: is it snappy

US$70-$75 Black Bear Wines, chappellet.com, Wineworks, Yiannis Bright, long, lean, fresh and nuanced. Terrifically inviting aromas of sea spray, lemon cream, apricot and white peach, with a hint of seagrass. Light to medium-bodied, fresh palate expre

I have lived most of my life in Athens, a city that blends and balances the ancient with the modern. This blend is how I experience this age-old culture’s cuisine. Its roots are ancient, its core has been preserved, yet over the years it has harmonio

Former ‘ghost distillery’ Port Ellen has been resurrected as part of a £185 million investment by Diageo. The Islay single malt distillery was founded in 1825, but mothballed in 1930. After reopening in 1967, it was closed again in 1983. Its last cas

Tapas, pinchos or pintxos (as it is written in Rioja Alavesa and the rest of the Basque Country) come in various forms and sizes. But regardless of the wording, everyone agrees that they are small appetisers served alongside a drink. Understanding th

Registered vineyards 66,797ha Geography Rioja is 120km (northwest to southeast) by 35km (northeast to southwest) Altitude 900m at the highest part Main soil types Clay-limestone, ferrous-clay and alluvial 14 authorised grape varieties White Viura, Ma

For many people living in California’s Napa Valley, including me, the word ‘evacuate’ is no longer just a word. It’s a fear; a gnawing in the pit of your stomach. Come August in the valley, even as the vines have taken on that beautiful, pregnant-wit

What we have in mind when we talk about ‘fine wine’ is European – bottles of French, maybe Italian, maybe Spanish origin. Even in the US, a country not lacking in ego, European wines have long been hailed as the hallmark of quality. ‘Wine has never b

BW 95 MF 93 PM 95 fincadelarica.com Pleasant blueberry and red cherry fruit. Youthful and fleshy with firm yet ripe tannins. Polished and evolving, showing sensitive oak treatment. A serious wine with a long spicy finish. Drink 2024-2031 Alc 15% BW 9

PBT 95 SJE 94 PM 93 £34.95-£37 Alliance Wine, Uncorked Alluring aromas of white flowers, with a touch of spice and leesy oak. Powerful and weighty in a plump style. Restrained lemon and lime fruit, spicy and full of complexity. Drink 2024-2037 Alc 14