Spain - deborahparkerwong

Old Vines Have New Meaning

May 1, 2026 deborahparkerwong winegrowing, sensory, sensory science, SOMM Journal, Spain, Wine Tasting, Winemaking

Wines made from old vines have a more powerful phenolic structure, greater aromatic complexity, and more intensity with respect to expressing the characteristics of the vineyards they were sourced from.

Makers of historic sweet wines rejoice. Gen Z adores you.

December 17, 2025 deborahparkerwong Wine, Bordeaux, France, Gen Z, Germany, Italy, Loire Valley, Piedmont, Portugal, Rhone Valley, Roussillon, Sicily, Spain, Sweet, Veneto

The message my students are sending to the makers of the world’s historic sweet wines amounts to a love letter. My passion for these historic wines can only be described as a love affair.

Cava – a Spanish Wine Category in Transition

January 15, 2021 deborahparkerwong Spain, Sparkling wine

The Cava wine category is evolving from its origins as a Denominación de Origen (DO) to the inception of five sparkling wine designations that are in use today: Conca del Riu Anoia, Clàssic Penedès, Corpinnat, Cava de Paraje Calificado, and Espumoso de Calidad de Rioja. These designations seek to improve the overall quality and global image of Spanish sparkling wine by focusing more on terroir and establishing higher standards—for aging, for production, for winegrowing, and more—than the original Cava DO traditionally has.

Bobal: Past, Present and Future (Chinese translation)

December 7, 2020 deborahparkerwong Bobal, Chinese, SOMM Journal, Spain, Wine, Wine Reviews, winegrowing, Winemaking

Chinese translation by Rex Ting-chia Ting, DipWSET Rex Ting-chia Ting, DipWSET has translated Bobal: Past, Present and Future for those[…]

Five Reasons to Love Grenache, Garnacha Blanc and Gris (Chinese translation)

November 18, 2020 deborahparkerwong Chinese, France, Roussillon, Spain, Terra Alta

A hearty welcome to the site for Rex Ting-chia Ting, DipWSET who has translated Five Reasons to Love Grenache Garnacha Blanc and Gris for those who read Chinese.

Bobal: Past, Present and Future

April 12, 2020 deborahparkerwong Bobal, SOMM Journal, Spain, Unique Varieties, Utiel-Requena, Wine, winegrowing, Winemaking

Iron Age wineries tamed the ancestor of the indigenous Bobal vines of Utiel-Requena.

Five reasons to love Grenache /Garnacha Blanc and Gris

March 3, 2020 deborahparkerwong Spain, Wine

In northeastern Spain, Garnacha Blanca can predominately be found in the regions of Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Cariñena and Somontano but the Terra Alta PDO has the treasure trove with 1400 hectares of old vine Garnacha Blanca under vine. That amounts to one-third of the vines grown worldwide and growing as new plantings are on the rise.

Twelve months of bubbles

December 27, 2017 deborahparkerwong California, Cava, Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Italy, minerality, Pinot Noir, Prosecco, Rosé, Sonoma, Spain, Sparkling wine, Terroir, Veneto, Winemaking

From Asti to Champagne, bubbles were a bright spot in 2017. While sparkling wine is no longer confined to special[…]

The dark matter of dirt

December 15, 2017 deborahparkerwong SOMM Journal, Spain, Sustainability, Terroir, Wine, winegrowing

With millions of unknown species existing in a ton of soil, biologist Edward Osborne Wilson has called bacteria “the dark[…]

Incredible bulk: The changing nature of the international bulk wine market is creating opportunities

December 4, 2017 deborahparkerwong Bulk wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, France, Italy, Spain, Spirited, Spirits, Wine

It’s estimated that roughly 25 percent of the world’s wine production is sold as bulk wine, a segment that’s described[…]

Red blends: Greater than the sum of their parts

October 11, 2017 deborahparkerwong Argentina, Bordeaux, Bulk wine, California, Featured, Italy, Languedoc, Portugal, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, SOMM Journal, Spain, Trends, Winemaking

While researching the current popularity of blended wines in preparation for a talk at the 2017 International Bulk Wine and Spirits[…]

Edetària: Benchmark wines of Catalonia’s Terra Alta DO

September 18, 2017 deborahparkerwong Spain, Terra Alta, Terroir, Wine

Terra Alta is the most westerly of Catalonia’s DOs which are clustered around Barcelona and include Alella, Conca de Barberá, Costers del Segre, Empordà (on the border of France), Montsant, Penedés, Plà de Bagés, Priorat (DOPQ) and Tarragona. Both Cataluña and Cava are broader designations that also apply to the Catalonia region.

Rioja’s Enotourism Ready

August 23, 2017 deborahparkerwong Enotourism, Rioja, Spain, Wine

Interested in exploring the Spanish wine region of Rioja? I’ve got some firsthand, no-fail recommendations for tasting, dining, accommodations and[…]

Q & A with CEO Sid Patel, The International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show

June 26, 2017 deborahparkerwong Bulk wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Carneros, Central Valley, Chardonnay, Languedoc, Lodi, Partnerships, Portugal, Provence, Restaurants, Rosé, San Francisco, Sauvignon Blanc, Sommeliers, Sonoma, Spain, Sparkling wine, Spirits, Trends, Veneto, Wine

San Francisco continues to be one of the world’s most important destinations for leading players in the wine industry, so it’s no surprise that a major conference dedicated to the private label and bulk trade is making its way to the city on July 26-27.