Old vines in Amador County. (Source: Amador County Wine)

In Club Oenologique, David Kermode reflects on the role of mature vines and the environmental reasons for protecting these aged plantings. “Though the argument is admittedly more subjective, I believe that the case for these vinous veterans also extends to the glass. Some say that old vines result in a greater sense of refinement, yet that’s arguably attained from any grape grown in the right place, nurtured with the requisite care. Others argue that such grapes deliver greater concentration as a result of their lower yields, but – again – that can be achieved from plants still considered relatively youthful, through skilled winemaking.”

In Decanter, Clive Pursehouse checks in with members of California’s wine industry to discuss the impact of the state’s recent storms and their impact on the coming vintage.

Aleks Zecevic looks at the impact of nature and winemaking (nurture) on terroir in Wine Enthusiast.

Elsewhere in Wine Enthusiast, Nils Bernstein highlights some of the best wine bars in New York City.

In the World of Fine Wine, Adam Lechmere reports from Steven Spurrier’s Memorial Service, which took place in London on January 19. “It was reverent and raucous, intimate and rather grand, both timeless and very old-fashioned—in short, it was just the sort of send-off Steven Spurrier, who died on March 9, 2021, might have expected.”

In Vogue, Nicole Kleist pens a guide to traveling through the Vinho Verde wine region.

In Wine & Spirits Magazine, Stephanie Johnson remembers Luciano Sandrone.