January 2024 Newsletter

After a wonderful holiday break in Italy spent reconnecting with family and friends, I'm back in full writing mode at my home office in Southampton.

I continue to collaborate with House of Rum, following a very successfull launch in London just before Christmas. I'm also dedicating significant time to an article scheduled for the April issue of Beverage Media, the print magazine of SevenFifty Daily, focusing on labour issues in the vineyard. It's a topic I'm always happy to tackle, and that I think is finally starting to get some of the attention it deserves from the industry.

Over the past couple of months, there have been several published pieces that I'm really excited to share with you. On the Wine Scholar Guild blog, I argue that Bordeaux's white wines may offer valuable insights into understanding the region's future. I also reported back from my trip to the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene in October of last year – this blog is complemented by my own photography. The latest WSG piece takes a different turn, delving into an exploration of Aligoté, the underdog white grape in Burgundy.

Manwhile, Harper's published my snapshot of the current state of the Armenian wine industry. As for my usual Canvas8 consumer reports, the latest focuses on the German wine market, examining the skyrocketing consumption of pink wine and delving into the reasons behind this trend.

In the realm of spirits, the latest issues of Whisky Magazine feature several of my pieces, too. Ceci n'est pas un Cognac looks at the fast-growing whisky scene in France's Cognac region, Judging a book by its cover delves into the intriguing collision between fine whisky and design, and Reuniting distant relatives explores the use of beer casks for whisky finishes, using some material from a masterclass I did just over a year ago at Whisky Live Beirut. Last but certainly not least, my profile and pictures of Eimverk distillery, stemming from my trip to Iceland before the summer last year.

Another piece (plus photos) based on a trip I made last year was just published by Distiller Magazine. This time, it's a profile of Seychelles' Takamaka rum distillery, with a specific focus on their commendable efforts to revive the country's sugarcane heritage. On the topic of Distiller Magazine (as mentioned in my previous update), I'm now overseeing the monthly European newsletter for the magazine's publisher, the American Distilling Institute. The inaugural newsletter has been sent out, and you can sign up to receive the next one here. This (free) newsletter provides access to articles from Distiller Magazine, ADI webinars, and video interviews, but it's also designed to keep readers informed about significant developments in the European craft distilling sector. If you have any relevant news, updates, product launches, or events to share, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can do so via email at europenews@distilling.com or through my usual channels (website, social media, and personal email).

As for my schedule over the coming weeks, it is set for some national travel, including a trip to York on my next assignment for Whisky Magazine, and to London as a judge for the London Beer Competition.

All of this while eagerly awaiting my next trip to Galicia later in the year!