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2022: a year in pictures, part 1

January 2, 2023January 2, 2023 jamiegoode 2838 Views

After three lockdown-affected years where travel was restricted, 2022 saw a return to a more normal pattern of work, exploring the world of wine. Here I’m using pictures to look back at the last 12 months.

JANUARY

The year began with the Some Mondays lunch focusing on English Chardonnay – an exciting category right now

The annual tasting of the new releases of Domaine de la Romanée Conti was quite a treat. This was a couple of days after I tore my calf playing football, and I was limping. Dan Keeling accused me of having gout.

More fine wine action: Yquem were in town pouring sweet goodness down our throats at the excellent Portland restaurant in London

And before January was out time for a wonderful lunch of older Australian wines at 67 Pall Mall

FEBRUARY

My first visit to Wine Paris, which was great fun

A trip to Champagne to visit Bollinger and Ayala in Aÿ, plus some fun at the Glue Pot in Reims

A famous plot of ungrafted vines, with the canes layered each year: Bollinger’s Vieilles Vignes Françaises (there were three plots, just two now – one succumbed to the louse)

Snow in March: a visit to the excellent Roebuck Estates, one of the UK’s leading fizz producers

Had a great trip to Charlotte and Charlestown in north and south Carolina, respectively, with Eric Solomon and his gang, plus three Spanish winemakers.

Lecturing in The Netherlands, for the Magister Vini students

Amsterdam at night

APRIL

April is dominated by the International Wine Challenge, the world’s best-judged wine competion, I reckon. But I’m biased.

To the Rhône! Had a great time at the Descouvertes event, taking in the south and north

MAY

The inauguration of the new winery at Bodega Tameran in Gran Canaria was a sensational event! So many good people there.

A visit to a remarkable English vineyard, planted in Oxfordshire by my friend and colleague Christina Rasmussen: Jura varieties, sur echalas!

A brilliant trip to Slovenia, visiting some top producers, and then a Blaufränkisch symposium

JUNE

My first of three trips to Canada involved a tour of the Niagara wine regjon, followed by judging the National Wine Awards of Canada, something I’ve been doing since 2014. It was a special time, once again

Off to Arles in the south of France for the Moët-Hennesy-sponsored living soils forum

In Stellenbosch for the Areni think tank on Fine Wine, gathering a lot of interesting people to discuss broad-ranging issues across the wine world and beyond

Back in the Douro. Always special.

JULY

Simplesmente Vinho was back, this time in July. Such a good event showcasing some of Portugal’s most interesting producers in a relaxed setting in Porto

Visiting Antonio Madeira in the Dão wine region: he’s making some impressive wines from really good vineyards

Back to Canada for the i4C, the cool climate chardonnay celebration. A really good event, held in the Niagara wine region

Friday night at the i4C

My first trip to St John’s Newfoundland. A special place. I spent time with restaurateur Jeremy Bonia who co-owns Portage, Merchant Tavern and the seasonal Crab Shack.

St John’s

And a visit to Tim Phillips in Hampshire, with his walled vineyard, and the Charlie Herring wines and ciders.