WELCOME TO WINE TERROIRS & TALES

Looking across Brunello vineyards and the Val d'Orcia towards Monte Amiata These days top Italian wines are famous, expensive and sought after, especially Barolo and Brunello, but even recently it was not always thus. A century and a half ago they were mainly white and unknown, and this century opened with the so-called ‘Barolo Wars’ and ‘Brunellogate’. We forget how new all this renown, quality and wealth really is. If the road was rocky, much of the demand, and in my opinio

Walking under the Nebbiolo vines of Carema, Alto Piemonte Pilgrims used to walk this route centuries ago, with a stick and sack over their shoulder and I guess the simplest of leather sandals. Now I follow the nice new road signs with an ap on my i-phone, state of the art hiking boots and breathable clothes. The scenery is the same but I guess the Francigena from Canterbury Cathedral to St Peter’s in Rome has changed a bit. If you enjoy walking in glorious countryside plus al

Quality and Good Value Pinot Noir from Argentina A stupid, unserious question naturally, of course there is. But given the endless hype about Burgundy and stratospheric demand and pricing, it does beg answering. And I’m not going to cover the obvious alternatives in Oregon or California, or New Zealand, or Alsace and Sancerre. No, I’m going to a country really known only for one grape which is very far removed from Pinot. Argentina. And to make it a bit more interesting, let’

A Quick Heads Up Having published a wine book, a wine blog and an Instagram site devoted to the grape, I was happily surprised when I was asked by the Academie du Vin Library if I would review some of their books. As it was set up by Hugh Johnson (whom I met years ago and have read so often) and Steven Spurrier (whom I knew and who features prominently in my book), I of course concurred. What better way to spend one’s retirement than reading a hopefully good tome on my favour