The Wine Diplomats

Despite Merlot’s decline due to the film Sideways, it’s still the second most planted grape variety around the world, and it’s still coveted by wine collectors when it comes from Bordeaux. However, there is also some Merlo...

Carignan has been making a comeback as a varietal wine, but it also deserves to be part of Rhone blends as well. 

Carignan’s History in Blends

I just reviewed some Chilean VIGNO, which is old-vine varietal Carignan. It’s my

Is this Piedmont’s top white wine? Is it White Barolo?

Piedmont Whites & Timorasso

Nebbiolo reigns as the top red in Piedmont with Barbera and Dolcetto providing more weeknight appeal. As far as white varieties, it depends on who you ask which is king.  There are some well-known whites like Moscato d’Asti, Arneis...

This grape variety in Chile is not to be confused with Pedro Ximenez found in Montilla-Moriles and Jerez, Spain.

Pedro Jiménez

Pedro Ximenez, or often just PX, is normally a thick, sweet, fortified wine from Andalucia, Spain made with sun-dried grapes. They can age forever and last months even after opening. Some are vintage ve...

Syrah is not the first variety you think of when looking for wines from Tuscany or Italy in general. Are they worth seeking out? 

Syrah in Tuscany

Despite some legends of Syrah coming from the Middle East during the Renaissance, documented evidence traces Syrah coming to Tuscany back to the late 19th century. In the 60’s, Syrah started to expand in what i...