Now that our Rioja is coming to a close, with only a few remaining articles in queue to be published, it’s time to give you the skinny on whether or not it’s worth your time to pick up the all knowing Spanish wine expert, John Radford’s, book on La Rioja. Published in 2004 by Mitchell Beazley, now Octopus Publishing, this a great book for anyone with deep passion for Rioja wine or who simply enjoy a good reference book for their library.

Having already read several of Mitchell Beazley’s books, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Would it be a bone dry read that could be used a sedative before bed, or would it actually be engaging, adding a little depth and spice to a rich cultural tradition? To be honest, it was a bit of both. The majority of the book is used as a directly of over 400 wineries in La Rioja, containing everything from the name of the winemaker to how many hectoliters are produced annually. However, as a result of John’s wit and curiosity, you’ve also got a great story on John’s visit to the wineries, an in depth looks at the history of the region, as well as several cultural tidbits of information that give you more than simply a directory.

Over the past two months, I’ve used this book to aid in my research on the etymology of Rioja, the different classifications of Rioja wine and general information about specific wineries that we couldn’t visit but tasted their wines, such as :Martinez Laorden, La …

How often have we raved about Portugal’s wine diversity to an eager and attentive audience craving more availability in their own local wine shops? How many times have we made you lick your lips, while we reminisced over the various Portuguese meals we’ve savored ranging in both style and in flavor? And how frequently have we urged you to buy that ticket and come to Portugal to experience the awe inspiring beauty of a landscape that is as varied and beautiful as the people themselves? The number of times we’ve beseeched you, inspired you and taunted you are too numerous to count, but never have we heard of you taking the plunge and accepting an invitation to adventure. But now, we have the ultimate wine lover’s traveling guide to not only give you that final nudge for you to set your dates of travel, but the resources to ensure that you will have an absolutely fabulous time!

On our recent trip to Portugal, we unexpectedly ran into Charles Metcalfe and his wife Kathryn McWhirter, both internationally respected UK wine journalists, during Essencia do Vinho’s Grand Tasting in Porto. Unbeknownst to me, Charles was even more witty and charming than one of his dearest friends, Oz Clark, known to be as smooth and silky as a 1994 Niepoort Colheita. With a never ending twinkle in his eye and an open and loving disposition, you can’t help but like him. While Kathryn, his long haired and big blue eyed wife, although equal in heart, had a stare that was equivalent to a truth serum, enticing you to share your innermost secrets. Intense and curious, she appeared as the perfect compliment to Charles’ jovial ways. Therefore, between them both, this perfectly matched dynamic duo …