The Winery Virgil's Vineyard of California

I’d visited Kakheti, Kartli and Imereti before – Georgia’s dominant central wine-producing zones; but never the wild exterior. From the ice-crisped cemetery grass of the 11th-century church of St George, dominating the mountaintop village of Mravaldzali, we looked north across the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, Europe’s highest. The silence, and the vista, was daunting. Hundreds of dry, drab valleys lost themselves in as many snowy peaks. Russia lay beyond. There was, apparently, a way over: ...

To Kalon, regarded as California’s crown jewel with its enduring reputation for producing world-class, top-scoring Cabernet Sauvignon, secures its celebrity status in Napa Valley. Superstars like Robert Mondavi, Schrader Cellars, To Kalon Vineyard Company and Cliff Lede have all built stellar international reputations firmly on To Kalon fruit. Iconic and historic, yet always open to improvement. The last three years have seen rigorous overhauls within To Kalon – utilising dynamic organic farming ...

Fans of California wine and board games can now pour a glass and spend an afternoon playing the new Monopoly Napa Valley edition, released this week by Top Trumps USA, under licence from brand owner Hasbro. Top vineyard areas St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville are among the properties and places featured, alongside local landmarks and some wineries. Wine lovers who have visited the region may recognise Bounty Hunter, a merchant with a wine bar in downtown Napa. It occupies the high-value ‘Park ...