Arts
The Decanter Wine Awards is an annual event where thousands (maybe 10s of thousands) of wines are evaluated, scored, and awarded medals: "Now in its 16th year, the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is the world's largest and most influential wine competition. Judged by the top wine experts from around the globe, the DWWA is trusted internationally for its rigorous judging process." Andrew Jefford is a judge. He lives in the south of France and writes for a wide spectrum of news platforms (he also writes and contributes to books) on topics from spirits to port. Here is what Robert Parker said of Andrew Jefford: “One of my favorite wine journalists, and a guy who is up in the top echelon with Matt Kramer and Jancis Robinson….Andrew Jefford, has an exceptionally fair and balanced piece on the free Decanter magazine website called….”Wither Tasting Notes”….most people would think this goes to the heart and soul of many wine magazines, blogs, etc. but he ,as he usually does, analyzes it in a rational way, something often missing in winespeak. BTW, his books, which I have consistently recommended, are another of his strengths. So heads-up.” This episode is a phone conversation I had with Andrew in early August 2020. He shares his impressions of the impacts of COVID on wine judging, wine trends (the explosion of PINK wine), and the effects of climate change. Apologies for the sound quality and the transmission breaks. I have stitched it together so to minimize interruptions.