Alder on America

On my recent trip to Austria, I stopped in at one of the city’s more well-regarded chain wine stores, Wein & Co, and took a browse around. I always try to visit wine stores whenever I travel abroad, not only to do a little shopping, but also to get an impression of what the locals are faced. More...

Clumsy. Overripe. High alcohol. Over oaked. Fruit driven. Massive. Sweet. Made for Mr Parker's Palate. The historical stereotype of California wine, like all stereotypes, has a basis in truth. Especially for many Europeans, whose exposure to these wines consist of a lot of industry. More...

We are publishing Alder's February contribution a little early this month, in time for the controversial wine auction scheduled for tomorrow* night (Wed 8 Feb) in London by Spectrum Wine Auctions of California and Vanquish Wine of London. See details of these two companies here , and some. More...

'It will cost the economy thousands of jobs.' 'It will reduce tax revenues and destroy retailers.' 'It will result in an epidemic of teen drunk driving.' These were but a few of the vociferous arguments made on 5 January against a bill introduced to the New Jersey state legislature that. More...

'Mildew, botrytis (pictured, by Koolbe), blue mould, green mould, you name it, it was everywhere. This is the most difficult vintage I've ever been a part of', said winemaker Sam Spencer, summing up his point of view on the 2011 vintage in Napa and Sonoma. Spencer's role at one of California's. More...

At a certain point in my childhood, Christmas faced a stiff challenge as my favourite holiday. Never mind that I am technically Jewish. For whatever reason, we ended up with a Christmas tree and presents instead of a menorah and the eight nights of chocolate coins for Hanukkah. But at a certain. More...

Here is Alder Yarrow' s first monthly despatch from the US on what is currently preoccupying American wine lovers. To mark the beginning of this new chapter, we are making this first column free for all to view but subsequent  articles will be for Purple pagers only. Napa Valley has been. More...