Grapes

Grapes

31 Jan 2023

Heading off for Portugal and its native red grape varieties

With 250 native grape varieties, Portugal is enough to make other producer countries go green with envy. Comparing them with international standards is like comparing apples and oranges and just-burgeoning awareness means that they remain largely under the public’s radar. Heading off to explore Portugal’s vine heritage is like stepping into the shoes of a treasure hunter, away from the well-trodden vinous paths.

Grapes

16 Jan 2023

Nebbiolo, the prince of grape varieties in north-west Italy

Nebbiolo is widely considered to be the prince of Northern Italian grape varieties due to its elegance and undisputed longevity. This historic variety is widespread across North-West Italy, in Piedmont, Lombardy and Valle d'Aosta. We drill down on one of Italy’s most iconic grapes.

Grapes

01 Aug 2022

Savoy : Jacquère and Altesse vie for A-lister status

Savoy is France’s smallest wine region and has made a name for itself as a fount of zippy white wines, whose light, fresh characters have made them undeniable crowd-pleasers. Altesse and Jacquère are the star performers in the region’s mountain vineyards, and here’s what to expect from them.

Grapes

13 Jun 2022

Soil-searching for fine Pinotage

Like all inspiring wine countries globally, indigenous grape varieties are part of a quintessential blend of things to see, taste and experience. For South Africans, Table Mountain is their beacon of ancient soils, its "tablecloth" of cloud the introduction to the Cape's whimsical weather. And while the smell of Boerewors and Karoo lamb chops on a traditional open fire "braai" sets the scene for local fare, it is not fulfilled until Pinotage anoints the occasion.

Grapes

29 Mar 2022

Oporto and Douro: The perfect combination for making great wines

Port wine is one of Portugal’s oldest global ambassadors. There are few places in the world where wine has had such a remarkable influence as in the Douro. Consumer tastes have shifted though, from sweet to drier offerings. Santiago Jimenez goes on a journey along the region’s iconic river, seeking out, not its storied fortified wines, but the more recent addition to its present-day portfolio – still wines.

Grapes

02 Feb 2022

Are Bordeaux Cabernets under threat?

In around 2050, the Bordeaux wine region is likely to experience weather patterns similar to today’s climate in central Spain. Merlot is already in the hot spot, which obviously begs the question – will global warming affect other varieties such as the Cabernets (Franc and Sauvignon)? Their growing cycle at least could undergo profound changes, leading to transformations in style and structure. Gilbert & Gaillard travelled to the vineyards to find out more.

Grapes

31 Jan 2022

Valencia: Fallas, Paëlla ... and Bobal

Anyone with even a scant knowledge of the world and is familiar with the Valencia region in Spain, knows that it faces the Mediterranean Sea. Its main defining features are the ‘Fallas’ celebration and paella. But perhaps many who know or have visited the region, heavily influenced by ‘Riojitis’ or ‘Riberitis’, may be unaware of the grape variety native to this eastern Levante region with which many of its wines are made. Read on to find out more about Bobal.