Quench Magazine

1 month ago | quench.me | Michaela Morris

Climatically, there wasn’t a specific incident or marked extreme to define the vintage – no frost, hailstorms, severe drought or untimely deluge. In the vineyard, growers found tranquility amidst the global mayhem. Consistent with current trends, the winter was dry – with little rain or snow to build water reserves. Spring began under the same unseasonably dry conditions.

2 months ago | quench.me | Michaela Morris

The winter was long and much drier than usual, but April’s generous rains replenished reserves. By mid-May, the cool wet conditions resulted in the growing season being two weeks behind current norms – but consistent with patterns in the past. When temperatures finally shot up in June, the well-watered soil yielded rapid growth. Summer continued with heat spikes at the end of June and again end of July.

Nov 30, 2024 | quench.me | Michaela Morris

While Barolo isn’t being flooded by investors (thankfully), there have been a couple of significant takeovers in recent years. The sale of Vietti spawned yet unfounded fears that the floodgates would open. One very positive acquisition has been that of the historic Borgogno estate by the Farinetti family (Eataly fame). Since completing winemaking studies in 2010, the young Andrea Farinetti has been at the helm.

Oct 21, 2024 | quench.me | Michaela Morris

It has taken over two decades to establish all 18 DACs that exist today. Over time, several have adopted a three-tier structure to hone in on more specific designations of origin. Villages (900 in total) and single vineyards or Ried (a whopping 4300) progressively represent more precise provenance. Sound like Burgundy? Read on. “It’s not perfect,” declares Michael Moosbrugger. But rather than criticize, he focuses on his longstanding ambition to fine tune the DAC.

Sep 8, 2024 | quench.me | Michelle Bouffard

This article originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2023-2024 print issue of Quench Magazine. Rajat Parr is one of the world’s most celebrated wine personalities. Every time he undertakes something, he is crowned with success. There is something magnetic about Parr that goes beyond his realizations. You feel his presence when he walks into a room. He is calm, grounded and naturally commands respect. It is as if he possesses the wisdom we all strive for.