Set up at the Kimpton Vintage Hotel in downtown Portland, I spent two days tasting the final bottled samples from nearly every lot on offer at the upcoming Willamette Valley Wine Auction (13-14 May, 2026). I was there in my capacity as Decanter‘s Acting North America Regional Editor and Napa Valley Correspondent, assigning ratings and […]
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The Modern Art of Gifting: Why Wine and Champagne Have Become a Popular Gift Choice People have been changing how they buy and gift wine in several ways. These are largely popular due to the increase in curated product lines. People select the wine based on the occasion/event, based on what they believe the recipient […]
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NEWARK, Del., USA | May 6, 2026 – According to Future Market Insights (FMI), the demand for single serve wine in Japan is witnessing steady growth, supported by shifting household structures, rising preference for portion-controlled consumption, and increasing demand for convenient, on-the-go alcoholic beverages. The growing number of single-person households, along with evolving consumption habits […]
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Tears and Terroir (Lágrimas y Suelo) A Modern Wine Inspired Composition featuread at Tasteful Art Exhibition in New York. Huntington, New York – May 1st, 2026 By Martha Cisneros Paja The Intersection of Love and Logic The transition from being an observer of art to a creator is a journey of defining one’s own root, […]
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A Study in Terroir Gavi is by no means a one-note wine category. It is not defined by styles, but by soils. Here, the Cortese grape becomes a lens through which the land speaks—subtle, precise, and deeply expressive. White soils, pale marls of ancient marine origin, are characterized by alternating layers of marl and sandstone. […]
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Napa and Sonoma’s hospitality community marks the retirement of a beloved advocate April 21, 2026 (Healdsburg, CA) — After sixteen years of championing the hospitality professionals of Napa and Sonoma, Colby Smith has announced the official close of CANVAS — a community organization dedicated to connecting, celebrating, and showcasing the region’s concierge teams, winery hosts, […]
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Bari Vecchia: Like walking through a film set Bari, capital of southern Italy’s Puglia region, is a seamless blend of ancient and contemporary, with a vibrant buzz. The medieval old town, Bari Vecchia, is an astonishing maze of white stone alleys and arches, pristine and well lit. Strolling around Bari Vecchia is like walking through […]
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Written by Martha Cisneros Paja How Many Bottles are in a Barrel of Wine? A Guide to Yield, Oak, and Upcycling Wine-making is a delicate process that involves several factors, and the vessel chosen for aging is perhaps the most influential “silent ingredient” in a winemaker’s toolkit. While the type of barrel used —traditionally French […]
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March 2026 (Paso Robles, CA) — In a competition dominated by large-scale producers and nationally recognized brands, Pianetta, a small, family-owned winery has emerged at the very top. Pianetta Winery’s 2022 Syrah from the El Pomar District of Paso Robles was awarded the Red Wine Sweepstakes at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, earning […]
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As a matter of wine policy in the U.S., one important question is constantly at the forefront and must be answered: Who Gets Screwed and Who Gets Favored? This question is again under consideration as the state of California decides whether to screw California grape growers and lift up multi-national wine conglomerates or to support […]
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