Columns — Winemaking

A deep dive into the unexpected excellence of Japanese winemaking, beginning in Hokkaido. This sommelier report features tasting notes from the insider-favorite French Panda wine bar in Sapporo, highlighting unique expressions of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Zweigelt from cutting-edge producers like Kamisato Vineyard, Domaine Mont, Takahiko Soga, and Domaine Bless.

A sommelier’s essential guide to defining the "best" in winemaking: evaluating the influence of price, critical study, and expert opinion. The article features insights on master producers like Olivier Collin (Champagne), Jean-Yves Bizot (Burgundy), and Louis-Michel Liger-Belair (Pinot Noir aristocracy).

An explosive sommelier investigation into the character of winemakers and the quality of their wine, focusing on the highly-hyped German producer Tino Kuban. We blind-tasted his Pinot Noir L’Ouverture 2020 and Gamay La Leux 2021, comparing them to classics and asking: is his fame driven by PR and hype or true terroir? Featuring a tasting with the team from Gresca Bar in Barcelona.

One of the most important questions for winemaker for me has always been why he makes the wine the way he does, and what he ultimately focuses on. I think this is the foundation of foundations in any direction of art, and wine in this case is certainly no exception.