Christopher Barnes
A frustrated wine drinker who couldn't figure out where to buy all the great wines written about in his favorite wine columns. Prior to Grape Collective Christopher served as President of The New York Observer Media Group where he oversaw the launch of multiple successful print and digital media properties. In addition, he was a co-founder and Publisher of amNewYork newspaper. His start-up experience also includes Boston Metro and co-founding The London Monthly Magazine.
July 10, 2026
Argentina: Wine, Football, and the Catena Family
In Argentina, wine and football (soccer) are not hobbies, they are close to national institutions. Between the 1880s and the 1930s, roughly six million immigrants landed in Argentina, most of them Italian, followed by Spaniards, and a smaller number of French and British. They brought the Mediterranean habit of treating wine as a daily staple, something that belonged on the…
June 5, 2026
Schiava: The Alpine Red You Should Be Drinking
Schiava, the ancient red grape of Alto Adige in northeastern Italy, has spent decades absorbing criticism. As recently as 2002, Joseph Bastianich and David Lynch wrote in Vino Italiano that American importers avoided Schiava-based reds, dismissing them as "a remnant of a bygone era." Many major wine reference book have piled on since, with "undistinguished" among the more charitable adjectives…
May 28, 2026
From Malbec Country to Pinot Noir: Inside Domaine Nico’s High-Altitude Revolution
Say "Mendoza" and wine and the first word that comes to mind is Malbec. The region built its modern reputation on that grape, after all Argentina produces roughly 75% of all Malbec in the world. Pinot Noir, if it enters the Argentine conversation at all, sends most people's minds south, far south to Patagonia. Patagonia's Pinot Noir credentials are genuine…
May 23, 2026
Kreso Petrekovic and the Resurrection of Babić at Vinas Mora
There is a stretch of coastal Croatia an hours drive north of the city of Split where the earth looks less like soil than the aftermath of a geological argument. In the UNESCO-protected area surrounding Primošten, limestone pushed skyward by colliding tectonic plates sits beneath a thin veneer of red clay the iron-rich crvenica, known elsewhere as terra rosa almost…
May 20, 2026
Roberto Henríquez: País and the Soul of Southern Chile
We met Chilean winemaker Roberto Henríquez at Nuyores restaurant in the West Village. The evening was a trade dinner where his wines from Bío-Bío in the far south of Chile were paired with Peruvian cuisine by Chef Oscar Lorenzzi. Sémillon and Chasselas (Corinto) accompanied ceviche and octopus, while an extremely bright and linear País was paired with crispy duck leg.…March 27, 2026
A Return to the Roots: Ruben Parera and the Natural Wine Revolution in Penedès
There is a quiet revolution taking place in the vineyards of Penedès, the sprawling wine region that stretches from the Mediterranean coast to the foothills of Montserrat, just southwest of Barcelona. It is a revolution that looks backward as much as it looks forward — a rejection of industrial logic in favor of ancestral instinct, a turn away from the…March 4, 2026
The Renaissance of the Maghreb: Guillaume Constant and the Modern Moroccan Frontier
Morocco is a land of contradictions and ancient echoes, a place where the ruins of the Roman city of Volubilis stand as witnesses to a wine history that stretches back millennia. While the world often looks to the Northern Hemisphere for the pillars of winemaking, a quiet but significant revolution is taking place in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.…
January 17, 2026
Luca Paschina on Barboursville and Virginia Wine
Nestled in Virginia’s winemaking center, Charlottesville, the story of Barboursville Vineyards is not merely a tale of winemaking, but a narrative woven through centuries of American history. The land itself was named for Thomas Barbour and once was home to a mansion designed for Governor James Barbour by his friend and neighbor, Thomas Jefferson. It was Jefferson who first envisioned…January 17, 2026
Thomas Jefferson: America’s Founding Father of Wine
How the author of the Declaration of Independence became America's first great oenophile and shaped our nation's wine culture “Good wine is a necessity of life for me.” Thomas Jefferson When we think of Thomas Jefferson's contributions to American history, we typically recall his authorship of the Declaration of Independence, his role as the third President of the United States,…December 7, 2025
BULGARIA’S WINE REVOLUTION: From Communist Giant to Indigenous Champion
In the 1980s, Bulgaria was a wine superpower. The fourth-largest producer on the planet, its state-run wineries churned out rivers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that flowed primarily to the Soviet Union and beyond. Then, almost overnight, it all disappeared. "From number four globally, Bulgaria is now number 30 or 31," says Nikola Zikatanov, founder of Villa Melnik, one of…November 7, 2025
Raventós Created Cava—Then Walked Away. Here’s Why That Matters for Spanish Wine
In the hills of Catalonia, just 40 miles west of Barcelona, lies one of Spain's most storied winemaking estates. The Raventós family has been cultivating vines and crafting wines since 1497, making them one of the oldest continuous winemaking families in the world. At the helm of this historic estate today stands Pepe Raventós, who honors his family's 21 generations…October 24, 2025
Interview with Xavier Peñas, General Manager Gran Clos Priorat
Two hours south of Barcelona, Priorat stands as one of Spain's most spectacular wine regions. This small denominación de origen—covering just 1,800 hectares of vineyards—produces wines of great character and intensity, celebrated by critics and collectors worldwide. Yet for much of the 20th century, this dramatic landscape of steep slopes and slate-strewn terraces lay forgotten, its viticultural heritage nearly lost…
August 20, 2025
Mylonas Winery: Where Plato and Aristotle Drank Wine—And Why This Family is Betting Everything on Greece’s Most Misunderstood Grape
Just outside Athens, where the marble columns of the Parthenon catch the Mediterranean sun, lies a wine region that has been quietly and steadily gaining recognition, and can be counted amongst the great values in European wine. Attica, protected by UNESCO for its mineral-rich soils and archaeological significance, is emerging as one of Europe's most compelling wine destinations—a place where…August 2, 2025
From Spanish Origins to High Altitude Excellence: The Evolution of Winemaking in Mendoza and the Rise of the Uco Valley
Spanish Foundations: The Birth of Mendoza's Wine Industry The story of Mendoza's wine industry begins in 1562, when Spanish troops marched from Chile over the Andes Mountains to establish what would become the province of Mendoza. These early colonizers brought with them not only military ambitions but also viticultural traditions from the Old World. Upon arrival, they enslaved the indigenous…July 22, 2025
People Are Aging Wine Underwater Now And The Results Are Fascinating
Bottom line: Winemakers around the world are discovering that the ocean's depths provide a unique aging environment that can transform wine in remarkable ways – though the practice comes with both scientific intrigue and regulatory hurdles. Forget dusty cellars and temperature-controlled caves. The wine world's newest frontier lies beneath the waves, where bottles rest in the ocean's embrace, accumulating barnacles…July 4, 2025
Time and Terroir: Klocke Estate Brings Old-World Brandy Traditions to New York’s Hudson Valley
The History of Brandy Brandy, derived from the Dutch word "brandewijn" meaning "burnt wine," represents one of humanity's oldest distilled spirits. The commercial development began in medieval Europe, where Dutch traders discovered that distilling wine into concentrated spirit solved preservation problems during long voyages while dramatically reducing shipping volume. The Dutch were instrumental in establishing brandy as a commercial enterprise,…June 24, 2025
The Judgment of New York: A Historic Evening That Earned Finger Lakes Riesling a Place at the Table
On a warm June evening in 2025, something meaningful happened in the intimate dining room of Noreetuh, a celebrated Hawaiian restaurant in New York City that is a favorite with wine industry insiders. What began as a carefully curated dinner for wine enthusiasts, media professionals, and industry insiders became a significant milestone for American Riesling—specifically, for the wines of New…May 23, 2025
From Ruin to Revival: The Wines of the Venetian Lagoon
Venice is a city built on water, where canals serve as streets and boats as transportation. But there's another liquid that has been just as important to the city's story: wine. For over a thousand years, wine has shaped Venice's history, culture, and identity. Like the city itself, Venice's wine story is one of great success, devastating loss, and remarkable…
April 25, 2025
Bubbling Tensions: The Cultural Politics Behind Spain’s Cava Industry
Beneath the harmonious façade of Spain's wine industry lies a complex interplay between Catalan regional identity and Spanish national interests, with historical tensions occasionally surfacing through cultural expressions, marketing choices, and even export strategies.
April 5, 2025
Catalonia’s Cava and Wine Legacy: Ramon Parera of Celler Pardas in Penedès, Spain
Nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and the dramatic Montserrat Mountains, Penedès has quietly shaped Spain's viticultural landscape for millennia. While vineyards have adorned these limestone and clay soils since antiquity, Penedès' modern identity emerged relatively recently. For much of its history, the region followed the common Spanish pattern of producing bulk wines, primarily for local consumption. It wasn't until the…
March 25, 2025
Living with the Volcano: Benedetto Alessandro Brings Family Legacy to Mount Etna
Grape Collective speaks to winemaker Benedetto Alessandro about his experiences on Etna. In addition to his involvement with Generazione Alessandro, he co-owns a winery, Monteleone, on Etna with his wife Giulia Monteleone.March 19, 2025
Sparta vs. Athens: The Cultural Divide Over Wine and Its Impact on Greek History
The contrasting approaches to wine in Athens and Sparta offer a metaphor for their broader cultural differences and ultimate historical trajectories. Athens' balanced approach to wine consumption - enjoying its pleasures while tempering them with moderation and using them as a catalyst for intellectual exchange - created a legacy that transcended its political decline. Sparta's rigid control of wine consumption…
March 15, 2025
Exploring the Peloponnesian Landscape: How Edanos Winery is Reviving Ancient Greek Winemaking Traditions
We sat down with Vasso Ligdopoulos and winemaker Panayiotis Papagiannopoulos to explore their family's wine journey.March 1, 2025
Islam, Colonization, and Renewal: The Reawakening of Moroccan Winemaking
“Welcome back to the fight. This time I know our side will win.” Victor Laszlo, Casablanca 1942 The story of Moroccan wine is steeped in a rich tapestry of history, culture, and contradiction. Its vineyards, sprawling under the hot North African sun, tell a tale that intertwines ancient viticultural traditions with the complexities of colonial legacy. Nowhere is this duality…February 26, 2025
Napoleon, Islam, and Wine: Jacques Poulain’s Moroccan Journey
La Ferme Rouge has emerged as one of Morocco's most innovative and respected wineries. At the helm of this viticultural renaissance stands Jacques Poulain, one of the key figures behind the modern wine revival in Morocco. While Morocco might not be the first country that comes to mind when thinking of fine wine, Poulain has spent the last decade challenging…February 26, 2025
Interview with Diego Tamburini of Cellers de Scala Dei in Priorat Spain
In the slate covered hills of Catalonia's Priorat region, where ancient slate soils meet Mediterranean sunshine, stands Cellers de Scala Dei—a winery whose name translates poetically to "Stairway to God." Founded in 1163 by Carthusian monks who recognized the divine potential of this harsh terrain, Scala Dei holds the distinction of being the oldest winery in Priorat, establishing viticultural…February 12, 2025
Domaine de Baccari: A New Chapter in Moroccan Winemaking
Grape Collective talks with winemaker Saïd Ouhmad and agronomist Yassine Dahouri of Domaine de Baccari about winemaking in Morocco.January 4, 2025
Exploring Mount Etna’s Wine Renaissance: A Conversation with Salvino Benanti
Salvino Benanti talks to Grape Collective about the challenges and rewards of winemaking on an active volcano. He shares the stories behind Benanti Winery’s origins, discusses the region’s unique winemaking history, and reflects on the emotional connection between the winemaker and the volcano.November 23, 2024
Villa Volubilia: Reviving Morocco’s Wine Legacy in Meknès
Villa Volubilia owner and winemaker Christophe Gribelin shares insights into the challenges and rewards of winemaking in Morocco, a land of striking contrasts where the Mediterranean climate and mineral-rich soils create ideal conditions for vineyards to thrive.November 10, 2024
Benjamin Spencer and The New Wines of Mount Etna
Benjamin Spencer, author of The New Wines of Mount Etna and Director of the Etna Wine School, is a celebrated voice in the world of wine, with a deep-rooted passion for the volcanic terroir of Sicily’s Mount Etna. As a sommelier, wine educator, and winemaker himself, Spencer brings both a scholar’s insight and a craftsman’s perspective to his exploration of Etna’s…
