Australia

7 Bottles That Explain Australian Wine Right Now

For the New Wine Review, Jon Fine waxes poetic about Luke Lambert and Ochota Barrels, two influential producers from Australia, “this fascinating, ever-changing, and widely misunderstood region.” About the 2019 Luke Lambert Yarra Valley Syrah, he writes, “Every goddamned component and aspect of this wine is shrouded in beauty… A new and classic expression of […]
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South Africa

Stephanie Wiid of Thistle & Weed on the use of “climate smart cultivars” in South Africa

For Wine Enthusiast, Kathleen Willcox reports on the proliferation of Portuguese varieties around the world as growers adapt to climate change. Stephanie Wiid, South African winemaker and co-founder of Thistle & Weed, calls these varieties “climate smart cultivars” thanks to their ability to “coax bright flavors out of grapes grown in punishing heat,” as Willcox […]
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Australia

Joshua Cooper named Best New Winery by the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards

Every year, Halliday Wine Companion rounds up the best of the best in several categories of the wine industry. This year, Joshua Cooper won Best New Winery across the entire country of Australia. “We have Josh Cooper here in the Best New Winery category, but he could easily have been placed in the open Winery […]
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Australia

‘When the Climate Doesn’t Cooperate, Winemakers Innovate’

For Liquor.com, Kathleen Wilcox examines how producers are combating soaring temperatures (and ABVs) to create fresh flavors. She highlights the climate-appropriate plantings taking place at SC Pannell in McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. To achieve a fresher profile in a warming climate, Wilcox writes that Pannell uses “less of an emphasis on oak aging, […]
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Podcast

South Africa

Episode 25 – Catching up with Mick Craven

Mick Craven from Craven Wines was our very first guest on this little podcast when we launched last year. He was back in town, so we sat down for a quick catch up. In this episode, we talk about the Cravens’ infamous Pinot Gris, which (surprise, surprise) was rejected yet again by the South African Wine & […]
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New Zealand

‘The 30 Best Sauvignon Blancs for 2023’

VinePair recently published a list of the 30 best Sauvignon Blancs on the US market in 2023. Among them, Auntsfield Estate’s 90-point Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc was featured. “What is refreshing about this Savvy B is that it has all the trappings of the popular style in the region while maintaining balance and subtleness,” writes […]
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South Africa

‘The Promise of South Africa’ featuring Thorne & Daughters

For Wine Spectator, Alison Napjus underscores the promise of South African wine. “It remains puzzling that South African wine has been slow to gain momentum and recognition in the United States. By any measure, Cape vintners are turning out both reds and whites that should entice any wine fan,” she writes. After tasting over 200 […]
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South Africa

‘Malu Lambert: South Africa’s black-owned wine labels on the rise’

For South Africa’s WineMag, wine writer Malu Lambert follows the rise of Banele Vakele, the winemaker for Tembela, and comments on the uptick in the country’s black-owned wine projects. Lambert reached out to our very own Aaron Meeker for comment. “Inclusiveness of producers and diversity of wines has done more for the perception – and […]
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Podcast

South Africa

Episode 24 – Franco Lourens (Part 2)

This episode is part 2 of our conversation with Franco Lourens of Lourens Family Wines based in Paarl, South Africa. Go back and check out part 1 if you haven’t already, as this episode is a continuation of our conversation. In this episode, we talk about how Franco launched his own project, as well as the stories […]
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