When you notch up 20 years doing something, there is always an urge to look back, picking out the highlights and the lowlights while trying to plot a course for the future.
I used to host a wine slot on the BBC’s London FM radio station GLR back in the 1990s. This short 10-minute slot during the breakfast show turned into a half-hour spot and, to pad out the weekly wine tastings and anecdotes, I took to interviewing notable wine personalities. As it turned out, touring Australian winemakers usually landed at Heathrow in the early morning, so it was a doddle for them to come straight to the studio in time for my show. I interviewed many of the big names back then, and it was during this time that I learned more than I could possibly imagine about the stories behind the great Australian wines and winemakers.
I had always been a fan of Australian wines since the very beginning of my wine trade career in the late 1980s. I worked at The Barnes Wine Shop (now a branch of Lea & Sandeman) in southwest London, and it occurred to me that the Cabernet Sauvignons from, say, Cape Mentelle or Wynns were more attractive, accurate and delicious than the clarets at the same price level. Peter Lehmann’s or Tim Adams’ Shiraz trumped the various Rhône wines. Rosemount’s Chardonnay demolished inexpensive white Burgundies, while Pike’s Riesling outclassed the various Alsace and German counterparts.
DECADES OF VALUE
Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Decanter.
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Denne historien er fra January 2024-utgaven av Decanter.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Pepe Raventós
A single-minded commitment to sustainability and terroir, combined with business acumen and first-class communication skills, have made his one the most interesting (and divisive) names in Spanish wine. In the end, though, all he wants is for the land to speak through his wines
DO TORO - Tasting a land and its history
In Spain's Castilla y León, DO Toro still offers the serious, powerful Tinta de Toro that established its reputation - as well as elegant, refined expressions and even organic white wines
SPANISH ICONS
For decades, there were just a few wines regarded as Spain's most revered. Recently, these have been joined by a growing cast of modern-day powerhouses that have risen rapidly to win the hearts of critics and collectors alike. Read on to discover the 10 Spanish wines you should try before you die
Wine myths debunked
Accepted wisdom isn't always especially wise. Here are four examples from the world of wine
HUGH JOHNSON - 'I've often tried offering a little First Steps in Tasting'
There are a few bottles in my gradually dwindling cellar here that have question marks over them.
THE CAMINO - A food & wine guide
Quite possibly the world's most popular Christian pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago conveniently passes through some of northern Spain's best wine- and food-producing regions
Pink gins for Valentine's Day
Turn on the romance with a pre-dinner cocktail concocted from one of these rosy spirits
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS
Why a range of Italian grape varieties are flourishing in Australia's soils, and what the future holds for them
Rhône 2023
In a year that was respectively 'challenging' and 'troublesome' in south and north, it will be vital to follow expert advice when it comes to finding the wines that you'll enjoy. The effects of some extreme swings in the weather were quite localised, however, so there are plenty of good wines to be found. Our Rhône expert Contributing Editor tasted 1,250 wines in all - here's a selection of 45 of his top picks
Plaimont
Preserving the wisdom of the past - to shape the wines of the future
