Moscato, a delightful and aromatic wine made from the Muscat grape variety, is thought to have originated in the ancient Mediterranean region where the grapes thrived. The Muscat grape, one of the oldest known grape varieties in the world, has a history spanning over 2,000 years dating back to the former Persian empire (now modern-day Iran). It subsequently spread throughout the Mediterranean region, extending to countries like Greece and Italy, where its distinct fragrance and sweetness made it highly desirable, leading to its cultivation in various regions. One of the first historical mentions of Moscato can be found in ancient Greece, where the grape was known as "Anathelicon Moschaton."  The Greeks revered this grape variety for its aromatic qualities and often used it in winemaking as it continued to grow in popularity. This growth led to its introduction to the Roman Empire where Moscato gained significant recognition as a prized wine. It was beloved by emperors as well...

  The Argentine Bonarda has developed a firm footing in a land that is revered for its Malbec, and increasingly, is becoming renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon. The ever-growing popularity of the country’s dynamic red wine array can boast among its ranks the Bonarda : a bright red with few tannins that is usually dry, has hints of black fruit accompanied by high acidity. This red wine grape, originally from Italy, has become more popular in Argentina and is distinctly different from the Italian Bonarda as the Argentine Bonarda is known in Italy as the Douce Noir grape. Referred to in California as Charbono and in France as Corbeau, this grape is a red Savoyard wine grape variety that has historically been grown in the Savoy region, but today is more widely planted in Argentina .  Argentina’s Bonarda is, in terms of surface area, the second most-planted red variety after Malbec according to the National Institute of Viticulture. Believed to have arrived in the country a...

The Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is one of the most prestigious and globally recognized wine competitions, celebrating excellence and diversity in the world of wine. Each year, wine producers from around the world eagerly participate, enduring the rigorous tasting and assessment rounds administered by global experts, as they seek recognition for their exceptional wines. At the recently held 2023 event in London, on Wednesday June 23, 2023, Argentina's wineries amassed a plethora of medals in every colour, including the most coveted of them all: Best In Show. Last week in  Thursday Food , we introduced the first of two awardees in this sought after category, Terrazas De Los Andes, who won a total of 14 medals at the event. Today, we will feature the medal winners from Durigutti Family Winemakers, as we learn more about this outstanding Argentine wine producer from Mendoza. Argentina has undergone a remarkable wine renaissance in recent years, propelled by its favourable climate...

Argentina emerged as the best-performing South American country when the winners of the recently concluded Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) were published on Wednesday June 7, 2023. This followed an adjudication process which began in April earlier this year and saw a record 18,250 wine entries from 57 countries as the event, which was held in London, celebrated its 20th year. When the winners were announced, Argentine vintners were among the global top 50 wines of the year as Malbec ruled the roost with 2  Best In Show  placings each of which scored 97 points. In fact, Argentina matched its best-ever Gold performance from last year with 24 wines awarded medals in this category, in addition to achieving four Platinum medals.   Assuredly the largest global wine competition, Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is often referred to as the Olympics of the wine world. The competition’s collegiate three-stage judging process is recognised by leading wine experts internation...

  Considered the queen of the white grapes, Chardonnay produces wines with character and personality that are golden yellow, expressing aromas of fresh citrus fruit, green apple, pear and maybe white peach along with white flowers and honey. Commonly, high-end Chardonnays are barrel-aged, a process which adds spice, butter and smoky aromas. On the palate, these wines usually flow broadly and powerfully, delivering refreshing acidity along with good, fruity flavours. These grapes are also sensitive to terroir and winemaking methods, resulting in a variety of tasty, decadent options from vintners across the world. Additionally, it is widely accepted that the leading Chardonnay regions worldwide are without a doubt Burgundy and the Napa Valley, whose wines are both similar and yet, distinctly different. Generally, the French produce wines with complex, mineral characters that have an electric freshness. In contrast, their American counterparts produce wines of a more voluptuous charac...