Decanter October 2021

The US has always been great at building an image. From the golden beaches of California to hat-and-cattle Texas, and from the world-class rudeness of New Yorkers to the steamy swamps of the South, everybody knows a good old USA cliché. But it’s not the only America. The Americas is actually two conjoined continents, an enormous region that stretches nearly 9,000 miles from top to bottom, bordering both the Arctic and the Antarctic. So in this issue we’ve tried to showcase some of the less obvious parts of that vast landmass. In the world of wine we all know how good Argentina and Chile can be, but we’ve taken a sharp right turn into Uruguay too. In the North we’ve covered Napa and Sonoma, but how about Michigan, or Idaho?…

EDITOR’S LETTER America(s) the beautiful The US has always been great at building an image. From the golden beaches of California to hat-and-cattle Texas, and from the world-class rudeness of New Yorkers to the steamy swamps of the South, everybody knows a good old USA cliché. But it’s not the only America. The Americas is actually two conjoined continents, an enormous region that stretches nearly 9,000 miles from top to bottom, bordering both the Arctic and the Antarctic. So in this issue we’ve tried to showcase some of the less obvious parts of that vast landmass. In the world of wine we all know how good Argentina and Chile can be, but we’ve taken a sharp right turn into Uruguay too. In the North we’ve covered Napa and Sonoma, but…

Meet the Decanter experts AMANDA BARNES  is author of the recently published The South America Wine Guide print edition. Her website under the same name is an expert wine and travel guide to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru KATIE KELLY BELL  is a wine, food and travel writer and editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. As well as writing for Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes and USA Today, she coauthored The Everything Travel Guide to Ireland (Adams Media, 2010) ALISTAIR COOPER MW  is a wine consultant, writer and educator with a particular focus on South America. President of the Cata d’Or wine awards in Chile, he writes regularly for Jancis Robinson, Decanter and many other publications RANDALL GRAHM  founded Bonny Doon Vineyard in 1983 and was one of California's earliest…

AMANDA BARNES is author of the recently published The South America Wine Guide print edition. Her website under the same name is an expert wine and travel guide to Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru KATIE KELLY BELL is a wine, food and travel writer and editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. As well as writing for Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes and USA Today, she coauthored The Everything Travel Guide to Ireland (Adams Media, 2010) ALISTAIR COOPER MW is a wine consultant, writer and educator with a particular focus on South America. President of the Cata d’Or wine awards in Chile, he writes regularly for Jancis Robinson, Decanter and many other publications RANDALL GRAHM founded Bonny Doon Vineyard in 1983 and was one of California's earliest advocates for Rhône-style reds. He is currently breeding new grape varieties,…

Producers rally round to rebuild after Ahr flood damage Winemakers in Germany’s Ahr Valley have begun rebuilding alongside local communities after terrifying floods that led to deaths and also destroyed wine cellars and property. Floods led to more than 180 deaths in Germany and Belgium in July, and the Ahr Valley was one of the worst-hit areas, with flood waters also destroying property, bridges and roads. ‘It’s a disaster,’ said Marc Adeneuer, of JJ Adeneuer winery in Ahrweiler and head of the local branch of Germany’s VDP wine association. ‘You had to run for your life,’ he said of the sudden rise of the Ahr river. In some cases, flood waters were moving so fast they carried away wine barrels and equipment. Weingut Kreuzberg, which won a Best in Show medal for its…

Provence for the pool? Re your article on Provence rosé (September 2021 issue), I have an issue concerning the current love affair with Garrus (94 points). There is no doubt the wine has class, but it reminds me more of a Chablis in its steeliness. Quite honestly, I think it should be demoted to an IGP as it has lost the typicity of its region – something your judges are supposed to reward. And the price! The author looked for styles to enjoy in the sunshine. At £95-£148, is Garrus really a wine to be enjoyed – let alone glugged – by the pool? For the price of a couple of dozen cases, one could buy one’s own swimming pool! Michael McLean, St Margaret’s Bay, Kent, UK While we may not all want…