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The New Book by the Author of This Site,

Exploring Chilean Wines. A handy tasting guide to well over 150 wines tasted at wineries, restaurants and purchased at retail. This is the most comprehensive book ever written in English on these fabulous wines and you can download it now for only $9.99. For more Information or to Purchase.

The Wine Quality Crusade is still in full swing. After more than two months in Chile we have now headed for Argentina, where we will be bringing you updates and more insights on the South American wine scene.

Recent Press Releases:
Exploring the high quality wines of Chile and Argentina
The Surprising Wines of Thailand

Press Clippings From Chile and Argentina

Recent and Popular Articles

Argentina: Wrapping it Up
Argentina is coming to a close, as is for that matter our entire year long adventure. It has been an epic journey of wines around the world, and it is fitting that we finish with what to my great surprise is the best. I knew the wines of Argentina were decent, after all I had tasted a few before coming here, but I was not expecting what we found.

It turns out that Mendoza is a veritable oasis for wine making. At least for the varieties that do well here. There is well drained soil at high altitudes with enough difference from one region to another to add complexity to the wines. Malbec is the undisputed champ here, and while I have enjoyed other varietals, it is the Malbec that Argentina is rightfully known for. read more

Argentina: Restaurant / Store Review - The Winery
Buenos Aires sports some 10 of the modern wine shops called simply the Winery, but there is only one in Mendoza, It is located in a historic house in downtown, just a few blocks from the Hyatt. The building is beautiful and is a fitting location for this homey style wine destination.

Each varietal has its own room, with the wines prominently displayed, albeit with most a tad more vertical than I like to see. Be sure to push on the cork to ensure it doesn't budge from having dried out before selecting a bottle. read more

Argentina: Earth and Altitude
Terroir is a word that is often used and almost as often, overused in the world of wine. It refers to the combination of soil and climate that makes one wine region different from any other. I cut my teeth in wine on a little part of France called Burgundy. There the tiny vineyards each have characteristics that vary from minute to extraordinary. The primary catalyst for this change is the soil, although other factors such as a well placed wall or even a tree can make a difference.

It is because of my study and love of Burgundy that I became a true believer in the effect of soil on the vine. Living in the New World I also noticed a huge difference in climate. The wines of Sonoma are decidedly different than those of Napa, and Santa Barbara's cooler weather often makes its wines fruitier than either of its northern neighbors. read more

Argentina: Restaurant Review - Azafran
Everything we read, and everything we heard said we had to try Azafran restaurant in Mendoza. Frommer's calls it "charming" and the service "convivial." Trip advisor places it #1 out of 28 restaurants reviewed in Mendoza and rates it 4.5 out of 5. Viva travel guides raves "it’s hard not to enjoy Azafran."

The premise can best be described as an upscale deli with an emphasis on wine. There is a wine room where you go to pick your own bottles, in lieu of a wine list. They specialize in cheese and meat plates as a starter, and the place is certainly very busy. read more

Argentina: A Pair of Characters
The sheer variety of wine is one of its greatest attractions for me. There are many possible styles, although too many wines seem to pick a safe middle road that is sure to get high marks from the most influential wine writers. I prefer wines that are an expression of the winemaker, the culture and of course the terroir, that ever elusive sense of place.

Here in Argentina I have tasted many wines and visited many wineries, with that many more yet to come. Two approaches come to mind as I think about wine makers expressing their styles. Both of these are exciting wineries to me because of their willingness to move from the mainstream to express their vision of wine. read more

Argentina: LVMH is Memorable in Mendoza
Moet et Chandon, makers of Dom Perignon Champagne are one of the best known luxury brands in the world. While I enjoy their wines, my preference in Champagne has always edged towards Veuve Cliquot. Fortunately for Moet's parent company, LVMH, they own both labels, as well as my favorite wine of all, Chateau d'Yquem.

The Chandon brand has a wide appeal around the world, and so it is the moniker that LVMH (Luis Vitton, Moet Hennessy) has chosen for its overseas sparkling wine producers. Domaine Chandon of California and Australia and Bodegas Chandon here in Argentina. read more

Argentina: Tailored to Taste
Like the three bears these three wineries are small, medium and large, unlike what goldilocks found there is no perfect size. Each has its advantage and each has their part to play.

Familla Cassone is a small family owned operation where all of the wines are handcrafted and made according to the vision of a single winemaker. The whole family is on on the operation from production to sales. The result is a small run of high quality wines that reflect the vision of the Cassone family, and the terroir of the area.
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Chile: A Final Look
Our time in Chile has drawn to an end. These 10 weeks have been a great eye opener. I have discovered the Chile I was hoping to find. Not only are the well known value wines here, but so too are an increasing number of higher end quality wines that the world needs to know more about.

By far and away two things struck me the most about Chile. The first is the size of the vineyards and wineries, and the second is the fact that in this country they are looking forward towards the future, instead of relying on their past. The first may be changing, and the second is why.
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Asia, the 800 Pound Gorilla
Almost 30% of the World's landmass resides within the continent of Asia. The rich culture often predates that of the West, and so it is even with wine. Granted that wine here took a different path, as I have written about so often in the past, but wine there was.

As the promise of the Global Marketplace becomes a reality it should come as no surprise that many of the billions of people that occupy Asia have come to love wine. Wine from Europe, the Americas, Australasia, and yes, even wine from Asia.
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Diabetes and Wine
A few years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes. For a food and wine lover this was the last thing I ever wanted to hear. I was sure my life was about to change, and that I would never have a decent meal or any fun, ever. My life did change, but I still get to eat pretty well.

What follows is an anecdotal tale of my personal experiences. I can not begin to stress enough that I am not giving advice, and that you should check with your doctor and nutritionist before changing your diet in any way. That said, here is what life is like for a diabetic ex-chef with a serious love for wine.
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