Cahors Malbec Days 2014 Rocks

Curious about Malbec from Cahors?

Seven steps to successful sales

I had one of those surreal dreams the other night that wouldn't be out of place in a Douglas Adams novel, where the whole world was inhabited only by a large population of Life Coaches. Everyone was really well organised, at peace with themselves and with each other, and all living a stress free life in sheer bliss.

Four key factors that impact retail sales

I've tried many different sales techniques over the years. In fact I've tried almost everything from dressing up as an oversized pink flamingo, to standing outside the shop with a large machete in a sadistic pose threatening passersby to "buy my friggin wine or else!" Plus a whole host of other methods in between.

Is being a Wine Critic the most pointless profession in the world?

The answer is NO, of course it isn't, and to suggest so is frankly preposterous, outrageous, and totally insulting...

Off to Cahors for Malbec days

The traditional basic style was ... well, black! And tannic. I am curious to see what, if anything, is being done to soften the tannins apart from cellaring the top quality wines.

HALL raises over $180,000 for Napa Valley Charity at #ANV14

Bulgari jewelry and dinner with Craig and Kathryn Hall make for exciting biding.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellar Raises Over $60,000 For Napa Valley Charaties

It's such a small world -- just a few weeks ago at the Master of Wine Symposium in Florence I was invited for this fabulous dinner at the new 26,000 square meter winery in the heart of the Antinori empire, which contains a cellar for five million bottles, the new offices, a wine shop, a museum, a conference hall, and a restaurant. There, Albiera Antinori and Marco Casamonti, the winery's architect, spoke about the creative and practical journey that culminated in the opening of this incredible building in October 2012.

RAYMOND VINEYARDS' LIVE LOT AT 2014 AUCTION NAPA VALLEY RAISES $840,000 FOR THE NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY

Add a summaryHollywood Glamour, including a private, VIP table at the Weinstein Company's Oscars weekend parties, private jet transportation, a red carpet premiere of new Weinstein Company film, evening gown and tuxedo appropriate for the festivities, and a collection of rare Raymond wines, including a 9L bottle of Raymond Generations signed by the cast of a Weinstein Company film.

Wine and tapas anyone?

This weekend I'm off to Rioja Tapas Fantasticas in London, an annual event to promote Rioja wine and food. I seldom get the chance to go out these days, but I have been granted rite of passage by my dear wife as long as I am on my best behaviour and as long as she gets a ticket too.

St. Supery Estate Vineyards Raises $120,000 for Napa Valley Charity during #ANV14

Napa Valley has a Mediterranean climate that generally provides warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. It's an ideal environment for growing wine grapes. The warmer weather allows our grapes a longer hang time in the Napa Valley sunshine, which leads to riper grapes and higher alcohol. Our goal is to always make a beautifully balanced wine. If the wine is balanced, the alcohol should be irrelevant.

Fruit wines: Gateway Drug or Back Exit shove?

Victoria Hayes | Sales Manager for Cruise

Why has it taken so long to solve the cork taint problem?

You know you're slowly turning into a sad old buffer when you start getting excited about advancements in Cork Technology.

#ANV14: Private Dinner at Vineyard 7 & 8

We were guests at this very intimate dinner party for just 20 guests in honor of the 34th annual Napa Valley wine auction. It was a great opportunity to meet the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Steffens of New York, as well as Wesley who lives here in Napa with his wife Jessica and oversees operations. The curious name of the winery is associated with the birthdays of Wesley and his father.

#ANV14: Napa Valley Auction Kicks Off: Wines of Pritchard Hill

Bob Long, proprietor of Montagna, was hosting the Thursday June 5th #ANV14 event auction event titled "An Evening on Pritchard Hill at Montagna Napa Valley" which featured the proprietors and/or winemakers of other Pritchard Hill regions wineries including BRAND Napa Valley, Chappellet, Continuum, and David Arthur Vineyards.

Wine Investors, how about some fishing?

I had some fun this week baiting the wine investment community, an activity that always seems to brighten up my otherwise dull week -- in fact, I am hoping one day it becomes an Olympic sport! Another poor unsuspecting sole with undeclared vested interests in selling wine investment took the bait -- hook, line and sinker!

Montecucco: The New Face of Italy

So right now I have a secret to reveal - Montecucco is one of the newest DOCG regions in Tuscany, valued for the excellence of its Sangiovese (any wine carrying the DOCG designation must be at least 90% Sangiovese and also aged in oak one year and six months in bottle).

Meeting Simone Toninelli of Amiata winery in Montecucco

First off, it was so much fun to meet Simone Toninelli - a really energetic guy who started off in life as a lawyer, and with his father bought a gorgeous piece of mountainside land right under an extinct volcano!

Visiting Casale Pozzuolo in Montecucco

Casale Pozzuolo, a stunning castle that has been lovingly refurbished by its winemaker owners, was the designated "dinner spot" where I would meet many of the winemakers of the area, each with its own story to tell.

Meeting the Pieri family of Podere Stenti

Though Eleonora never went to wine school, she learned how to make wine from her father and grandfather, and now makes wine for the family's range of wines with the help of some workers who also care for the animals on the farm.