respekt-BIODYN – Committed to biodynamic wines of quality and individuality
As wine enthusiasts and readers of wine journalism, you are likely familiar with biodynamic agriculture – which has its roots in methodology that Austrian Rudolf Steiner developed in 1924, a century ago. […]
Sabar Wine Estate – ‘A small hill of great wines’
Founded in 2009 by Gábor Ádám, Sabar Wine Estate is a small producer – only 7 hectares – located on Sabar Hill (hence the name) in the Badacsony wine region, part of the Lake Balaton area. […]
Németh János Pincészet
While the family’s winemaking tradition in the Iván Valley of Hungary’s Szekszárd region dates back four generations, János Németh is considered one of the area's young, up-and-coming producers.
Stina Cuvée Red 2022 – ‘Stina is Brač and Brač is Stina’
”Brač stone. It’s so special and inspiring. Some turn it into a song, some a sculpture, we into wine.” – Stina […]
TILIA Estate – House of Pinots and More
TILIA Estate in Potoče, Vipava Valley – in Slovenia’s Primorska region – was founded in 1996. […]
Erdevik Estate – ‘A synergy of traditional and modern winemaking’
Erdevik Estate’s single vineyard block of 40 hectares is located on the 45th parallel in Serbia’s Fruška Gora region (like Bordeaux in France and Piedmont in Italy). […]
Don Melchor – ‘One story, one terroir, one wine’
As Viña Don Melchor celebrates the release of its 2021 vintage – its 35th – I had the opportunity to meet, taste with, and interview Enrique Tirado, the technical director (director of winemaking) and CEO of this iconic, singular wine for the past 27 years – at Napa’s Compline restaurant in January 2024. […]
Péter Pincészet – ‘Tokaj is my region. It is home.’
Located in Hungary’s Tokaj-Hegyalja region on the border between the villages of Tokaj and Tarcal, family owned and operated Péter Pincészet five hectares of vineyards, including Thurzó, Mézes-mály, Bige, Mogyorós, Mester-Völgy, Lónyai, and Kövesd.
Tajna Rizling Vlašský Zobor 2022
In 2008, husband and wife Rastislav Demeš and Anetta Demešová purchased and began replanting one of Slovakia’s historic vineyards in the Nitra region and Vrábel district – whose winegrowing tradition dates back to the 12th century – naming the winery Tajna (secret in Slovak), after the nearby village of Tajná. […]
Marcelo Papa – Amelia and Marqués de Casa Concha
In fall of 2023, the team at Viña Concha y Toro USA/Bonterra Organic Estates – which represents and imports the Chilean wines into the United States – invited me to lunch at Napa’s Compline restaurant to dine and chat with longtime esteemed winemaker Marcelo Papa, the Technical Director (Director of Winemaking) overseeing two of the company’s most prestigious portfolios, Amelia and Marqués de Casa Concha.
Fekete Pince Somló – The Fekete fkt ‘Gábor’ Hárslevelű is a golden elixir, vibrant and layered
Located in Hungary’s smallest appellation along the southern slope of the magnificent hill of Somló, the 4.3-hectare vineyard and winery is a true gem. Founded by the 1970s by Béla Fekete – the ‘Grand Old Man of Somló’ – and today led by Gábor Riesz – Fekete is committed to honoring the farming and vinification methods of ‘Uncle Béla’ while adding new twists to its flagship white wine varieties, Hárslevelű, Furmint, Olaszrizling, and Juhfark.
Benedek Pince – Third-generation winemaker Péter Benedek carries on his family’s legacy
In the village of Gyöngyöstarján in Hungary’s Mátra region, third-generation winemaker Péter Benedek carries on his family’s legacy in his grandfather’s original cellar, along with the assistance of his parents, who help care for the vineyards. […]
Márkvárt János – ‘I was born with 50% Kadarka in my blood.’
A descendant of a Swabian family, János Márkvárt, Jr. is a self-taught, third-generation winegrower and winemaker whose family has longtime roots in Szekszárd, Hungary.
Merlot: It’s (expletive) fine!
"Merlot: It's (expletive) fine,” exclaimed Jonathan Cristaldi, the moderator for “Merlot Renaissance: Celebrating Two Decades Beyond Sideways,” at the annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento January 23-25.
U.S. wine journalist Dr. Elizabeth Smith remembers Slovakia
In July 2023, wine journalist Dr. Elizabeth Smith visited Slovakia as a guest of Rastislav Demeš, owner of Tajna Winery. Across two and a half days, she visited three producers, the country’s famed grape breeder, and participated in a Riesling Vlašský and Dunaj masterclass. The editor of the Slovak wine magazine časopis Vinotéka, Ing. Juraj Mikula, interviewed Elizabeth about her visit, and published the Slovak-language article in the December 2023/January 2024 issue. With the magazine’s permission to republish, below is the English version.
Press Release: Information, Research and Discussions Highlight Wine and Winegrape Industry’s Largest Gathering GalleryPress Release: Information, Research and Discussions Highlight Wine and Winegrape Industry’s Largest Gathering
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Press Release: Information, Research and Discussions Highlight Wine and Winegrape Industry’s Largest Gathering
SACRAMENTO, CA, JANUARY 25, 2024 From every corner of the world, wine and winegrape professionals convened at the 30th annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium this week in Sacramento. […]