June, 10, 2011 US: Maryland set to allow direct wine shipping

Campaigners for direct wine shipments in the US have had a mixed month, with Maryland poised to allow shipments, but Delaware refusing even to debate the issue. The signing of House Bill 1175 and Senate Bill 248 means that, subject to licensing regulations, consumers in Maryland will be able to rece...

June, 10, 2011 France: Champagne 2011 harvest could be earliest since 2003

August holidays have been cancelled in Champagne in anticipation of a very early harvest, possibly the earliest on record – especially if the warm weather of March to the end of May continues. August holidays have been cancelled in Champagne in anticipation of a very early harvest, possibly the ea...

June, 10, 2011 California: Still too early to make grape harvest predictions for 2011

Here in the Napa Valley, the growing season has just begun and already speculation abounds about the quality of the 2011 vintage. To me, that’s like a film critic judging a film, that hasn’t be shot yet, by reading the first few pages of a script. Not only it is important what happens in the res...

June, 10, 2011 US: Colorado Wines Become Delightful & Stately

The Colorado Wine Industry graduated to a new stage in it's life cycle this week. Situated in one of the most proactive "buy local" minded states, the industry has gone through growing pains in past years as its number of bonded winery licenses grew towards 100. Quality, consistency and insufficient...

June, 09, 2011 California: Pinot vines not weathering well

Across Sonoma County, Pinot Noir vines are suffering from a strange dieback that has long-time grapegrowers scratching their heads. “It’s like the top five leaves just kind of burn off. I can’t explain it,” said Mark Houser, long-time Pinot Noir grower and vineyard manager for Hoot Owl Cr...

June, 09, 2011 France: Chateau Margaux unveils Do-Chi-Nam as Bascaules replacement

Thomas Do-Chi-Nam, technical director of Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande since 1992, has been announced as the replacement for Philippe Bascaules at Chateau Margaux. Philippe Bascaules will be leaving in September, after 11 years at Chateau Margaux, to begin his new role with Francis Ford Coppola...

June, 09, 2011 The Master of Wine Exam

Is the reputed "hardest test of knowledge" in the wine world worth taking? This week, 75 highly motivated oenophiles are pursuing wine geekdom's ultimate gong: the right to be called a Master of Wine, or MW. It's not a drinking contest: It is a four-day test of wine knowledge administered by the Lon...

June, 09, 2011 US: Virginia Wine Makers Come on Strong

Wine is produced in all 50 U.S. states, with California, Oregon and Washington leading the way. However, with its abundance of rich farm land and plenty of sunshine and rain in the summer months, wine connoisseurs are keeping on eye on the East Coast state of Virginia. That's where master wine ma...