Category: Uncategorized


  • Long term cover cropping improves soil water holding capacity in semiarid vineyards (Spain)

    In a 2026 study by María José Marqués and colleagues, conducted across semiarid vineyards and olive groves in central Spain, decade-long cover cropping significantly improved soil water-holding capacity and overall soil health resilience under Mediterranean dryland farming conditions. Headline Findings: Higher soil water holding capacity after long-term cover cropping. Increased soil organic carbon and better…

  • Soil Health Field Tests: Video Guides

    Vinescapes has produced four short videos demonstrating some simple field tests that can be used to assess soil health in the vineyard. No specialist equipment needed! These are practical, repeatable, and free to carry out. These are the four visual soil health assessments that are used globally by participants in the One Block Challenge. The…

  • Kir-Yianni Xinomavro Rosé 2025 (Greece) – Wine Review

    Tonight’s rosé wine review is the latest vintage of a terrific, dry, and vegan-friendly rosé from Greece that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend in the June 6 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. It is produced by the well-respected Kir-Yianni, a family-run winery that was established by the late Yiannis Boutaris in 1997. Yiannis…

  • The ABCs of Champagne

    From chalk-rich soils and Grand Cru villages to prestige cuvées and grower-produced gems, here’s everything you need to know about Champagne—and six exceptional bottles that bring its story to life Champagne is often associated with life’s biggest moments, yet its true greatness lies far beyond the pop of a cork. It is a region shaped…

  • Flat Rock Cellars’ top 2025 wines are ‘powerful without heaviness’

    By Lidija Biro Flat Rock Cellars’ “Capstone Release” for media and trade has quickly become both well received and eagerly anticipated. The third annual event recently featured a vertical tasting that previewed barrel samples of the 2025 vintage wines alongside the 2023 and 2017 vintages of the three single‐vineyard Capstone wines: Gravity Pinot Noir, The…

  • LEARNING ABOUT WINE: Albariño Across Rías Baixas

    Albariño Across Rías Baixas Albariño is often introduced as a single Galician white wine: crisp, aromatic, coastal, and useful at the table. That description leaves out the local differences that shape the grape. Rías Baixas is divided into five subzones, and those subzones do not behave alike. Val do Salnés, O Rosal, Condado do Tea,…

  • Bartier Bros. hails the 2025 vintage

    Photo: Michael Bartier (photo by Shari Saysosmack) The latest releases from Bartier Bros. Vineyard & Winery reinforce what a spectacular vintage 2025 is turning out to be. “These wines mark our first vintage back following the winter freezes,” the winery’s marketing manager, Lindsey White, writes. “We couldn’t be happier with how the vineyards responded. The…

  • A Wine Lover’s Diary, part 1022: Salmon, Oysters and Crocodiles

    Monday, June 1st: Opened a bottle of Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2024 from New Zealand – the first from a case. What a great wine. Happy I bought a dozen. Tuesday, June 2nd: Dinner: roast chicken with Peller Estates JEP Red. Wednesday, June 3rd: At A Cappella Niagara chorus rehearsal this evening we had a…

  • June 6, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES Release Wine Picks: Glou Glou

    Hello Summer! Here’s my top wine picks from the June 6, 2026 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection (digital edition here), where “Glou Glou” is the title of the release. In all, there are 104 products offered in this release, with the ongoing theme throughout being wines for summer drinking, which includes over a dozen rosés.…

  • Monte Schiavo Marzaiola Lacrima di Morro d’Alba 2024 (Marche) – Wine Review

    Tonight’s red wine review is a lovely, vegan-friendly wine crafted using Lacrima grapes that made its debut at the LCBO in today’s June 6th LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection. Monte Schiavo is one of three ranges of wines produced by the Pieralisi family of Tenute Pieralisi. Monte Schiavo represents the family’s 60 years of experience…