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Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Time allows winemakers to further hone their craft
Rockburn winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis. Photo: supplied In my view, one of the strengths of the Central Otago wine scene has been the longevity of involvement of so many of its winemakers. Time has allowed them to hone their craft as they seek incremental improvements through a deeper understanding of the fruit that Central Otago produces, while also nurturing the bounty of ever-increasing vine age. A quick head count of winemakers that have completed 20 vintages easily surpassed double figures and I'm certain there are others who are either on the cusp or have already surpassed that mark. A small handful have gone past 25 vintages, while the redoubtable Alan Brady's involvement just goes on and on. The arrival of a group of wines from Rockburn recently reminded me that the 2025 vintage saw their winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis join that merry band in the 20+ club. Congratulations Malcolm on the achievement. New wine bars in Dunedin Having had Piccolo wine bar open in St Clair recently, a heads-up for wine enthusiasts that a new wine bar opened its doors over Matariki weekend. "The Cellar" is situated at 4 Hanover St and is opening Thursdays to Sundays from afternoon till late. Run by Colin and Jackie, this is a welcome addition to the Dunedin wine scene. Science festival wine events I spotted this late in the piece but the NZ International Science Festival (NZISF) has events for grown-ups too this week. Two that caught my eye are Sonic Sommellerie: A Multisensory Wine Odyssey — "a journey through the senses with Dr Jo Burzynska, discovering how different sounds and environments can change the taste of wine". Also: Getting the Measure of Alcohol — "what is alcohol and how and why do we measure it?" Held at Vault 21 and Dunedin Craft Distillers respectively, you'll find all the details on the NZISF website. Decanter World Wine Awards Results are just out and Central Otago secured gold medals for the 2024 McArthur Ridge Falls Dam Pinot Gris, the 2022 Te Kano Northburn Pinot Noir and the NV Mumm Blanc de Noirs. The 2023 McArthur Ridge Southern Tor Pinot Noir secured a Platinum award but is now sold out domestically. The NZ Best in Show Pinot Noir Award went to the 2024 Craggy Range Martinborough Pinot Noir. 2023 Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir RRP $49 Price Rating Excellent Sweetly perfumed, contrasted by a dusty/lead pencil quality, savoury notes join the mix, flecks of herb, a leafy/snow-pea-like aspect. Ripe, generous, fills the mouth, has central Otago classicism writ large on it. Bright acidity gives freshness, now dark cherry. There's crowd pleasing sheer drinkability yet complexity and depth for added interest. 2023 Rockburn Seven Barrels Dick Bunton Vineyard Gibbston Pinot Noir RRP $99 Price Rating Outstanding A sense of elegance and refinement, swelling in the glass. Cherry, cranberry, a gently savoury undercurrent backed by schist aspects. Lovely tension, not at all showy, but built on elegance and structure. A sense of ethereality, a lighter frame but far from underpowered, you have to come to this but it rewards you. The nose really grows with air, wonderful precision and linearity. 2023 Rockburn Eleven Barrels Parkburn Vineyard Gibbston Pinot Noir RRP $99 Price Rating Excellent to Outstanding Herbal influences, flashes of mint and eucalypt appear for a moment, subtlety, refinement, perfume grows, sweet fruit, toast/pencil shavings, biscuity aspects. Flavour depth clear to see, ripe yet dry, oak seasoning, it becomes clearer that this is a bigger boy than first thought, the tannins show their mettle, richly fruited, earthy humus, dusty characters, the power evident now.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
US Department of Justice sues Washington over ‘anti-Catholic' law
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The United States Department of Justice is suing the State of Washington over a new law some have deemed 'anti-Catholic.' The lawsuit stems from , which requires clergy members to report child abuse and neglect, even if the information is shared with a priest during confession. The bill was signed into law by Washington Governor Bob Ferguson in May and takes effect July 27. On Monday, The DOJ filed a motion to intervene — or a motion to join — an existing lawsuit against the state that was filed by the Archdiocese of Seattle. These are the Pacific Northwest wines that won big at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards The DOJ argues that the Washington state law violates the free exercise of religion for all Catholics because it requires priests to break the confidentiality seal of confession, which could lead priests to be excommunicated from the Catholic Church. The DOJ claims this violates the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. 'Laws that explicitly target religious practices such as the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church have no place in our society,' said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Oregon appeals court finds gun forensics method is not 'scientifically valid' 'Senate Bill 5375 unconstitutionally forces Catholic priests in Washington to choose between their obligations to the Catholic Church and their penitents or face criminal consequences, while treating the priest-penitent privilege differently than other well-settled privileges. The Justice Department will not sit idly by when States mount attacks on the free exercise of religion,' Dhillon added. The Justice Department's motion to intervene is pending before the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma. In a statement to KOIN 6 News in response to the DOJ's suit, Governor Ferguson said, 'It is disappointing, but not surprising, to see the DOJ seek to shield and protect child abusers.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now A spokesperson for Washington Attorney General Nick Brown told KOIN 6 News that Brown's office does not comment on most pending litigation, noting they are reviewing the complaint and will respond in court. Washington State Senator Noel Frame (D-Seattle), who is the prime sponsor of SB 5375, added, 'We must take every step possible to make sure kids are safe. That's why I championed this bill and that's why it passed with bipartisan support. This law brings us in line with the majority of other states that require clergy to be mandatory reporters of abuse and neglect. We also join six other states – including Texas and Oklahoma – that require the reporting of abuse learned during penitential communication, including confession.' 'Whether you're from a red state or a blue state, keeping kids safe from abuse should be a non-partisan issue,' Frame continued. Portland bar hosts 'In Bed By 10' happy hour DJ parties The DOJ's filing comes after the Archdiocese of Seattle filed a lawsuit against Washington over the law, with Archbishop Paul D. Etienne releasing a statement in May threatening to excommunicate Catholic clergy who follow the law. Archbishop Etienne cited Acts 5:29, 'We must obey God rather than men,' saying, 'this is our stance now in the face of this new law. Catholic clergy may not violate the seal of confession – or they will be excommunicated from the Church. All Catholics must know and be assured that their confessions remain sacred, secure, confidential and protected by the law of the Church.' The Archbishop added that the church agrees with protecting children and preventing child abuse, noting the Archdiocese of Seattle already has mandatory reporter policies for priests. However, those rules don't apply to information received during confession. 'Transformational partnership': Pac-12 reaches deal with CBS for football, men's basketball games 'During Confession, penitent Catholics confess aloud their sins to a Catholic priest, asking God for forgiveness,' the lawsuit argues. 'The seal of confidentiality is, therefore, the lifeblood of Confession. Without it, the free exercise of the Catholic religion, i.e. the apostolic duties performed by the Catholic priest to the benefit of Catholic parishioners, cannot take place.' Meanwhile, others argue that the law is not 'anti-Catholic,' rather, the law is focused on protecting children and getting abusers off the streets. In a phone call with KOIN 6 News, Mary Dispenza — representing the Pacific Northwest branch of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests — said it is 'absurd that they would file a suit' because SB 5375 is advocating to protect children. 'It's hard for me to believe that a bishop would file a suit,' Dispenza said, adding that the bill 'is not anti-Catholic. It's the best of Catholicism.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ECHOLANDS WINERY WINS HIGHEST WASHINGTON TROPHY AT THE 2025 DECANTER MAGAZINE WORLD WINE AWARDS!
WALLA WALLA, Wash., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Echolands Winery, a Walla Walla AVA mainstay, has won a Platinum Award from the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards. Out of nearly 17,000 entries, only one Washington wine was granted a Platinum Award – Echolands Winery Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard 2022 Walla Walla Valley. Only three other U.S. wineries won Platinum Awards, one in Oregon and two in California. The 97-point score was bestowed by an august group of judges, comprising mostly Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine. "Winning a Gold or Platinum award at DWWA can literally change a producer's life," said DWWA judge and Master of Wine Tim Marson. The judges noted that Echolands' Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc has, "an unrivalled purity of fruit: black cherry, berry and plum with a distinctive earthy, herbaceous tone. Mouth-filling and appetising with lustrous tannins and a beam of juicy acidity which undulates towards the long, smoky finish." Celebrating its 22nd edition, the Decanter World Wine Awards remain the world's largest and most influential wine competition. This year, wines from 57 countries were evaluated by 248 top international experts, including 22 Master Sommeliers and 72 Masters of Wine – the most in the competition's history. Though Frost and the Echolands team rely primarily upon their own vines for their fruit, there are special places in Walla Walla Valley that offer distinct expressions with certain grapes. "Blue Mountain Vineyard is a beautiful vineyard that is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains and that is cooler than vineyards on the valley floor," Frost says. "That alone accounts for the lovely tension that we taste in the Cabernet Franc we buy from them. But it's an impeccably managed vineyard as well." Echolands buys a select amount of fruit from a few neighboring vineyards, like the esteemed Blue Mountain Vineyard. "The Cabernet Franc that we pick at Blue Mountain Vineyard is really special," says winemaker Brian Rudin. "It's a complex and more aromatic version of the grape than you get from other, particularly warmer, sites," he says. Walla Walla's famous Seven Hills Vineyard was the source for Echolands' Silver Medal-winning Seven Hills Vineyard Red 2020. Echolands' own Taggart Vineyard provided the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes for their Silver Medal-winning Albus Taggart Vineyard 2023. Echolands Winery was founded in 2018 by renowned Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Doug Frost, in partnership with investor and conservationist Brad Bergman. Winemaker Brian Rudin manages the winery's 24-acre Taggart Vineyard on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley, as well as the Echolands Estate Vineyard's 28 acres of vines on the Washington side of the valley. This is the first proprietary winery project for wine consultant and writer Doug Frost, one of only four people in the world to hold both the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier titles. "We chose the name Echolands to reflect our fundamental reliance on the landscape, the vines and the very special sites where our wines are grown," says Doug Frost, CEO and Owner of Echolands Winery. "In truth, all wine is an echo of the landscape, of the vines planted there and the sound that they make in the form of their fruits. Winemaking cannot create qualities that are not there in the grapes. Like the creature of mythology known as Echo, we can only express what is given to us." View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Echolands Winery
Perth Now
22-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Margaret River winery scores top honours at wine awards
WA's Xanadu Wines is one of four Australian wineries to score a best-in-show trophy at this year's Decanter World Wine Awards, held in London on June 18. Established by Dr John Lagan in 1977 and owned by the Rathbone family since 2005, the Margaret River mainstay earned the honour with its 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Made using grapes sourced from Timber Creek in Wilyabrup and Victory Point in Treeton, as well as a small amount of malbec from Xanadu's Stevens Road vineyard in Wallcliffe, the winning drop sells from the winery's website for $140 per bottle. Xanadu's big win capped a successful awards night for Margaret River, with the standout Australian subregion asserting its global reputation for premium cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. Decanter judges commended the WA wine region, saying: 'We've known it since back in the 1960s, when (revered agricultural scientist) Dr John Gladstones first suggested that cabernet sauvignon and Margaret River might make a fruitful partnership'. Deep Woods Estate chief winemaker Julian Langworthy. Credit: Tim Campbell / RegionalHUB Xanadu's best-in-show win is the fifth by a Margaret River cabernet in the 22-year history of the wine gongs. The region also snared four platinum medals, including wins for Deep Woods Estate's 2023 Reserve Chardonnay and Gralyn Estate's Museum Rare Muscat NV, plus 18 golds. Australia boasts 80 top-scoring wines in its overall haul of 643 medals, including four best-in-show, 11 platinum and 65 gold medals. Scott and Annette Baxter owners and winemakers Gralyn Estate. Credit: Supplied / RegionalHUB The four best-in-shows is down on recent results. Australia claimed eight in 2024, and 10 in 2023 — the most for any country. The Decanter World Wine Awards are regarded as one of the world's largest and most influential wine competitions, renowned for its rigorous judging process. At this year's awards, 248 international wine experts from 35 countries judged wines from 57 countries. South Australia was the best performing region, claiming 309 medals in total, including best-in-show awards for Wirra Wirra's The 12th Man Chardonnay 2024 from the Adelaide Hills and Barossa Old Vine Company's 2022 Shiraz. Australia's other best-in-show recipient was Heathcote winery Trentham Estate's 2023 Reserve Shiraz.
CNN
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
This country has the best wines in the world for 2025
How's your tuxedo looking? Our travel news roundup this week is an award show spectacular. Read on to find out the winners of the world's most liveable city, the best airline for 2025, the world's best restaurant and the country with the finest wines. Knives out, everybody, it's foodie award season and only the very best will get their just deserts. First, an aperitif before dinner. The winners of the Decanter World Wine Awards 2025 were revealed Wednesday and one country triumphed as the grape GOAT. France took home 3,200 medals in total (1,000 more than its closest competitor) and 14 Best in Shows, which is surely worth celebrating with a glass of Champagne. (The famous sparkling wine won 27 honors alone.) Italy won 2,204 awards and six Best in Shows, improving its position with 31 more top-tier honors than in 2024. Spain fortuitously won 2,025 medals in 2025, including five Best in Shows. International wine-lovers should consider a trip to the Rioja region: Not only did it win three platinum medals and 21 gold, it's the least visited area of Spain. It's a great way to avoid the high-season crowds in Andalusia and Catalonia. The rest of the top 10 medal-winning countries were (in descending order): Australia, Portugal, South Africa, Argentina, Croatia, Canada and Chile. Canadian wine, you say? Yes, their ice wine can go for up to $250,000 a bottle. Prev Next The pisco sours will be flowing in Lima this weekend as the Peruvian capital celebrates two of its restaurants being named among the world's top 10 on Thursday. Maido, owned and run by chef Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumura, was crowned the best on the planet on the 2025 list of the 'World's 50 Best Restaurants.' It serves Japanese-Peruvian fusion food known as Nikkei cuisine. US restaurants were honored Monday night at the 2025 James Beard Awards, with a Boulder eatery being named Outstanding Restaurant and a Minneapolis spot making waves as Best New Restaurant. To round things off, June 21 is World Martini Day (let's hope you've recovered by now from National Martini Day on June 19). Espresso martinis — vodka, espresso, coffee liqueur and sugar — aren't technically true martinis, but they are, however, a lip-smacking delight. Our partners at CNN Underscored, a product reviews and recommendations guide owned by CNN, have this guide to everything you need to make espresso martinis at home, according to top bartenders. The upcoming nuptials of billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez are proving to be the final straw for many Venetians who are tired of their city being a tourist playground. Protesters against the wedding this month have threatened that they'll 'block the canals,' but others in the city welcome the 'cash influx' that the event will bring. Rising waters and overtourism are killing Venice, critics say, a city where the 30 million tourists annually dwarf the local population of fewer than 50,000. 'There's not going to be another Venice,' said one local businessman. 'Once you have helped change this place forever, it's not coming back.' There were anti-tourism protests across southern Europe last weekend, with Barcelona being the epicenter of the unrest, where water pistols are the weapon of choice for spraying unwelcome visitors. Cities are being 'turned into theme parks,' complained a Spanish government minister last month, addressing the housing deficit exacerbated by the rise of Airbnb and vacation rentals. Time to book that Rioja trip instead. Northern border-hugging US states such as Vermont and New York have long enjoyed an annual surge of Canadian tourists, but travel has dipped amid international tensions. Now US businesses are trying to woo their northern neighbors with 'Canadians only' deals, with perks ranging from cheaper stays to free activities. 'We wanted to make a meaningful gesture that says, 'We see you, we value you and we want you here,'' said one Vermonter. With many Canadians boycotting the States, some American travelers are worried about the reception they might face in the land of the maple leaf. Canadian tourism boards have launched campaigns to reassure Americans of a warm welcome, but how do everyday Canadians feel? CNN Travel investigated. North America is by no means the only place where escalating disputes are harming international travel. The air map of the world is currently filling up with no-fly zones and airlines are scrambling to reroute amid increasing global conflict. Nonstop flights between Hong Kong and London are now two hours longer, for example, and short-haul flights between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf are particularly affected. Three-year-old Australian girl Kinga might not speak Japanese, but she's loving her time in southern Japan's Wakayama Prefecture. Her family joined a preschool exchange that's giving them a kid-first window into Japanese culture. A viral video has prompted a mass cleanup of caves near China's famed 'Avatar' mountains. The astounding footage shows a decade of garbage buildup. An 80-year-old man drove down Rome's Spanish Steps and got stuck. He told police he'd taken a wrong turn. And there are more international awards that people have been going crazy for. The world's best airline for 2025 was named by Skytrax. Lastly, a European capital stole Vienna's crown as the world's most liveable city for 2025.
