WORDS ON WINE.
And other stuff.
The Unpretentious Guide to Portuguese Wine
“The ultimate concise and portable guidebook for travelers, casual wine enthusiasts, aficionados, and professionals.”
NOW AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE!
2023 Content.
The Ronan Kennedy Podcast: Writing and Singing the Praise of Portuguese Wine
As Published on SPOTIFY
…John shares his experience and insights into the fascinating world of Portuguese wine, from the unique indigenous varieties to the regions that are often overlooked. He breaks down the common barriers and makes wine relatable and accessible. He also talks about the highs and lows of his earlier career as an opera singer and performer, the challenges within the industry, and why he decided to change his career path…
November 27, 2023
Dry Douro Wines Are Challenging Port’s Status as King of the Valley
As Published by VINEPAIR
…Major changes are disrupting the established hierarchy in the world’s largest area of mountain vineyards. Portugal’s Douro Valley has long been famous for the iconic and inimitable sweet Port wine it produces…But a modernist usurper lurks within the ranks of the valley’s steeply terraced slopes. Growing ever stronger in Port’s shadow, dry Douro DOC table wine is finally ready to make its claim and challenge for Douro’s crown…
November 13, 2023
For Sommeliers Around the World, Wines in Tall Skinny Bottles Are an Industry Obsession
As Published by VINEPAIR
…while so much of the preening consumer-to-consumer social media universe is busy posting paparazzi shots of that strutting Opus One or regal Richebourg some maligned expense account had to absorb, the pros often have their eyes fixed on an equally great — yet infinitely more affordable — quarry…tall skinny bottles are the underappreciated, unconventional geniuses that deliver those sizzling performances that are impossible to forget…
October 9, 2023
Fortified Wines Are ‘Cool’ Again — So Why Are Their Regions in Crisis?
As Published by VINEPAIR
…despite the hype surrounding these fortified styles within circles of the wine and cocktail cognoscenti — and a hopeful bump in off-premise sales over the pandemic years — all three regions find themselves in precarious situations. Douro, Madeira, and the Sherry Triangle are all facing down profound change — each one presented with a different twist on the challenge, and each attempting a unique strategy to forge a durable future…
September 25, 2023
Wine Enthusiast Podcast: An Exploration of Portugal’s Under-the-Radar Wines
As Published by WINE ENTHUSIAST
What offerings are you familiar with beyond Port, the fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley? If your answer is not too many, you’re not alone. In this episode, Mike DeSimone — Wine Enthusiast writer at large and Spanish wine reviewer — sits down with John Sumners — drinks journalist, Portugal specialist, and author of There’s More Than Port In Portugal: The Unpretentious Guide to Portuguese Wine — to discuss one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world…
August 23, 2023
Can Tito’s Vodka Repeat Its American Domination in Europe?
As Published by VINEPAIR
…In Europe, the brand has started to establish footholds in major cities and tourist zones — gleaming duty-free outposts and freshly inked distribution deals serving notice to European vodkas that the American corn-fed champ is in town and looking to steal their lunch. But the European stalwarts can’t be expected to take this turf intrusion lying down. A heavyweight brawl is taking shape, and at stake are the hearts and minds of Europe’s vodka drinkers…
August 14, 2023
How Lisbon’s Multicultural Hospitality Workers Are Coping With the Expat Wave
As Published by VINEPAIR
Lisbon has been an international city for millennia. And while it has experienced a substantial increase in foreign residents over the past several years, this global appeal is not a new phenomenon…But in this latest surge of immigration, there’s something different…As sidewalks swell and rents vault ever higher, the hospitality industry and its diverse collection of skilled international and local workers watch on with both fear and hope over the fate of their beloved city — and their future in it…
May 17, 2023
A Wine Lover’s Guide to the Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal’s Best-Kept Secret
As Published by VINEPAIR
…of course there’s Lisbon, the current darling of European capitals and epicenter of Portugal’s tourism surge. Yes, there’s so much for visitors to adore within its sun-splashed embrace, and the stunning views south across the Tejo Estuary are dreamy all by themselves. Ironically though, most folks — industry pros included — often don’t realize that they’re literally staring out at one of Portugal’s cherished local wine destinations…
April 7, 2023
Why Are You Ignoring Portuguese Bubbly?
As Published by GLASS OF BUBBLY
The country’s traditional-method sparkling wines are an open secret to the locals. Here’s what you need to know to join the party…
The fun, fresh, lightly effervescent and highly gulpable Vinho Verde style with which most are familiar is all fine and good. We’ll briefly address it here—and I expect we’ve all shamelessly sloshed back our fair share at the beach or poolside—but Portugal also produces…
January 31, 2023
