Decanter: South America’s winemakers take flight
Winemakers in South America are embarking on a new era – one of quiet self-confidence and curious self-discovery, bringing forth some of the most exciting and individual wines yet. Distinctive regional personality is at the core of this new movement and it highlights a strong departure from the varietal – and style-driven wines that dominated […]
World of Fine Wine: The emerging Grand Crus of South America
There has never been a greater focus on the idiosyncrasies and individual identities of South American terroir. The top wines of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay reflect a growing movement towards showing regionality over variety, and their winemakers are championing the top sub-regions through ever-more focused expressions. With this riveting explosion of terroir-driven wines, there are […]
Decanter: Cabernet Franc Panel Tasting
September 2023 Edition. Cabernet Franc is undoubtedly a rising star of the Americas. Although still niche, it has been steadily rising in theranks and playing a greater role in each of the major wine countries. Its leafy, peppery, fresh, fragrant style can offer the ideal counterpart to the richer styles of heavyweight champion varieties such […]
Club Oenologique: Rising stars of South America
Summer 2023 Edition, Club Oenologique A new generation of winemakers are pushing the boundaries in South American wine. Pioneering new — and ever more extreme — viticultural regions, delving into unusual grape varieties, and diving deep into a kaleidoscope of orange, pink and sparkling wines. There has never been a more innovative time in South […]
Decanter: South American Chardonnay Tasting
The wine-producing countries of Chile, Argentina and Uruguay are making some seriously exciting wines, so we asked regional expert Amanda Barnes to blind taste a line-up of premium Chardonnays. Quality is higher than ever, she says, with balanced wines in myriad styles waiting to be discovered. Only in the last decade has South American Chardonnay […]
Decanter: Explore Patagonia wine routes
Published in Decanter, December 2020 If you’re planning your next great wine holiday, here’s somewhere for your list. Go bold, go big: a week-long tour in the wilds of southern Chile and Argentina will reward adventure seekers and wine lovers alike. Amanda Barnes shares her itinerary for the ultimate road trip through a land of […]
Decanter: Brazil’s best wine routes
Published in Decanter, October 2020 As the Brazilian wine scene gathers momentum, wine tourism across this huge country is flourishing. Amanda Barnes recommends three fascinatingly diverse regions to explore, with tips on wineries to visit, where to stay and where to eat. Serra Gaucha: The mecca of Brazilian wine The heartland of Brazilian wine, with […]
Decanter: Focus on Luján de Cuyo
Published in Decanter June 2020 Producers in this heartland of Argentinian Malbec credit the identity and diversity of their wines to the old vines they nurture. It’s a region where tradition is preserved and protected, even as tastes evolve and new styles emerge, discovers Amanda Barnes. The headquarters of Malbec and Argentina’s wine industry, Luján […]
SevenFifty: Exploring the wines of Uruguay
Published in SevenFifty.Daily in January 2020 With Tannat and Albariño as lead stars, the country is making some of the most distinctive wines in South America. Nestled between Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay is the fourth-largest wine producer in South America—its output in 2018 was 18 million liters. Although the bonds of tango and carnival link […]
The Telegraph: Travel feature on Sonoma
Published in The Telegraph, September 2019 With its Mediterranean climate and more than 200 days of sunshine each year, California is the greenhouse of the US, where fruits and vegetables grow to sumptuous perfection – including wine grapes. Home to more than 80 per cent of the United States’ wine production, California’s contribution is bigger […]
