We’ve been following Alvina Pernot – granddaughter of Paul Pernot – since she first struck out on her own. On the eve of the release of the fifth vintage, Sophie Thorpe sat down with Alvina and her husband Philippe Abadie to talk about the wines, their philosophy and the future I vividly remember the first…
Founded by the original “Champagne Charlie”, Champagne Charles Heidsieck is one of the region’s smaller Houses but also one of its most quality-focused. From its Brut Réserve to its prestige cuvée, Blanc des Millénaires, the wines are rich, vinous and complex. There are three Champagne Houses that bear the Heidsieck name: Piper-Heidsieck, Heidsieck & Co…
Earlier this year, Champagne Charles Heidsieck announced that Elise Losfelt would be replacing Cyril Brun as Chef de Cave. We sat down with her to talk about her journey and why patience is most certainly a virtue when it comes to crafting fine Champagne Making Champagne is different. More than any other wine, it’s a…
At first glance, Clos Manou might seem run-of-the-mill. But this small estate in the Médoc is far from it. We sat down with Stéphane Dief to talk about how a hobby became his life, the freedom of a fresh start, and why his family’s wines are worth seeking out “It’s difficult when you don’t have…
Loved by Dickens, Austen and Napoleon, the sweet wines of Constantia were legendary in the 18th and 19th century. But Klein Constantia – the estate revived in the 1980s – is done with looking back. Ahead of the release of the 2019 vintage, Sophie Thorpe caught up with winemaker Matthew Day to find out what…
We caught up with Ch. Belle-Brise’s owner and winemaker Henri-Bruno de Coincy to find out the secret behind this idiosyncratic Pomerol estate Ch. Belle-Brise is a rather inconspicuous Bordeaux property with a “garden” vineyard of just two hectares and an annual production of just 800 cases. With such small quantities produced and a legion of…
When it comes to wine, little has changed in Bordeaux for centuries – but in the 1990s a group of outsiders shook things up: the garagistes. Vinfolio’s Sophie Thorpe talks to three of the movement’s leading figures about its legacy – and what it means for Bordeaux today In 1991, Jean-Luc Thunevin made the first…
Ad Vivum is a boutique Napa project from Chris Phelps. Vinfolio’s Sophie Thorpe spoke to him about how twists of fate saw him go from aspiring doctor to star winemaker at the likes of Dominus, Caymus – and now his own label Chris Phelps never really meant to start his own winery. But fate had…
While the Grands Crus and top villages steal the headlines, often with eye-watering pricing to match, there is so much more to discover in the Côte d’Or. We explore a few of the lesser-known appellations being exploited by some of Burgundy’s grandest producers Montrachet, Chambertin, Richebourg: these names will send chills down the spine of…
One of the leading estates in Bordeaux, Château Léoville-Las Cases is one of the largest and oldest Classed Growths in the Médoc. Along with Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, it is widely considered one of the best estates in Saint-Julien. The Léoville property’s history stretches back to the 17th century, but the vast estate was divided into three parts…
Ten years after The New California Wine was published, Jon Bonné has published a new book – an epic tale of France’s revolution. Vinfolio’s Sophie Thorpe caught up with the author to talk about his ambitious project to capture The New French Wine “I can die happy now,” Jon Bonné chuckles to me. The writer…
Age-worthy yet terroir transparent, Barolo is a fascinating region. Its complex, varied terroir often draws comparisons with Burgundy. Here we delve into “the king of wines and wine of kings” – from its aristocratic beginnings to the villages, vineyards and producers to look out for Barolo remains the most important region in the world for…
