cover art for Slow Wine Guide 2022: Italy and US

“In the name of productivity, the ‘fast life’ has changed our lifestyle and now threatens our environment and our land (and city) scapes.” Carlo Petrini, SLOW FOOD MANIFESTO

Inspired by the Slow Food Movement which began in 1986 after a “demonstration on the intended site of a McDonald’s at the Spanish Steps in Rome,” and which advocates “a comprehensive approach to food that recognizes the strong connections between plate, planet, people, politics and culture,” The Slow Wine Guide and the Slow Wine Tour highlight those wineries that epitomize the “slow” approach which avoids chemical herbicides and instead promotes regenerative agriculture.

With a reliance on in-person winery visits and winemaker interviews, The Slow Wine Guide today evaluates over 400 different wineries in Italy and almost 300 in the US Continue reading →

Clink different with sparkling wine secrets from around the world

Did you know Germany is the largest producer of sparkling wine in the world?  And that they drink more sparkling wine per capita than any other country in the world? In 2014, Germans consumed five bottles of sparkling wine per person — FIVE times the rate in the US! With about  two billion bottles of sparkling wine produced each year worldwide, one fifth are consumed in Germany which translated in 2017 to 400 million bottles of sparkling wine including Champagne, Cava, and Prosecco. In 2017, Germany produced 368.8 million bottles of Sekt– most of which the Germans enjoyed themselves. Austria comes in right behind, drinking four bottles of sparkling wine per person each year. The two countries represent the largest sparkling wine markets in the world, even though in 2020 they place fifth and 24th when it comes to exporting the bubbly: Continue reading →

When you think of Provence, what comes to mind? Coastal breezes? Fields of lavender? Herbs of Provence? A fresh crisp rosé wine made from Grenache, possibly with some Syrah or Mourvedre or CInsault? So at first when you think of a different perspective in Provence, you’d think red wine, which are rare and lovely: of the 176 million bottles produced each year, 89% of the region’s production is rosé; only 7% is red and the remaining 4% is white. Read about biodynamic practicing and organic certified 2013 Chateau Guilheim Tournier “Cuvee la Malissonne” AOC Bandol, France, a red wine made with 95% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache. 

But the different perspective we’re talking about today is that of Continue reading →

Clink different with sparkling wine secrets from around the world

Whether it’s called Cremant, Cava, Prosecco, Col Fondo, Champagne or Metodo Classico, sparkling wine is made in wine regions around the world from regional or international grapes and using various production methods. While we typically think about this bubbly beverage when we’re in a celebratory mood, it’s a great wine to pair well with many different dishes. During 2020, here on Wine Predator we explored sparkling wine pairings in a series of twelve articles which featured sparkling wines from around the world, which is also the theme for this month’s Wine Pairing Weekend.

What should you pair sparkling wine with? Check out these ideas: Continue reading →

Happy New Year 2022

Just a week ago, I wrote a post that began with: Veni, Vidi, Vici: I came, I saw, I conquered. And: Veni, vidi, vixi — I came, I saw, I lived. I was so feeling that energy that I almost bought this planner:

I Came. I Saw. I…

Instead, I bought this one because I am launching into 2022 with a new direction and purpose in life (scroll down for more details!)

planner with a purpose

I wonder if my life might have gone differently if I’d chosen the other planner because a few days later, it’s been an unintentionally dry and unproductive January. And here’s why: Continue reading →

cheers!

Veni, Vidi, Vici: I came, I saw, I conquered. Well maybe not exactly CONQUERED. Perhaps a better phrase would be Veni, vidi, vixi — I came, I saw, I lived.  (As we head into our third year of the COVID pandemic, that’s saying something!) For three years now, since January of 2019, I have been coming out to the vineyards of Ventura County to do hands-on learning about how wine grapes are grown and made into wine: viti (viticulture) and vini (vinification). Here’s the year 2021 in review, plus a few other highlights of 2021– Veni Vidi Vixi Viti Vini! I came, I saw, I lived, I grew grapes, I made wine!

Continue reading →