Nov 27, 2012

Reprinted from the WSJ – Asia Edition, November 22, 2012 By Joshua Hall This summer was the hottest in 104 years in South Korea, which sent a lot of locals reaching for a cold one. Beer accounted for 60% of the alcohol market by volume last year, with some 1.95 billion liters consumed. Overheated Koreans have particular reason to rue the fact that their...

Sep 9, 2012

Reprinted by kind permission of yonhapnews agency Printed in Korea Times, september 5, 2012 By Joshua Hall Contributing writer SEOUL, Sept. 5 (Yonhap) — The neighborhood of Hongdae, home to Hongik University in western Seoul, isn’t quite the place one would normally think of for innovative cuisine or fine wine. Yet, there is a growing number of...

Aug 12, 2012

There are plenty of great red wines that work well with meat on the barbecue. Here are five of my favorites this summer. 2008 Dinastia Vivianco Crianza (Rioja, Spain) Fresh vibrant bouquet of violets, plums, vanilla cream, subtle cinnamon and and plump wild raspberries. Broad soft tannins and velvety texture with sweet fruit and good balance. Modern elegance...

Jul 23, 2012

Reprinted by kind permission of Yonhapnews Agency. Originally printed on July 18th, 2012 By Joshua Hall Contributing writer SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) — Last month, the Fair Trade Commission appeared to have won over the National Tax Service (NTS). Just weeks later, both sides are back to the drawing board after months of wrangling — over Internet wine...

Jul 3, 2012

It’s hot, really hot. Seoul is hitting 32 degrees daily and we have the driest summer on record for the last 103 years. The cure? Nothing beats the heat and refreshes the body like a good wine. Here are some of my favorites this summer. 2010 Ronco dei Tassi Collio Bianco Fosarin (Friuli-Venezia-Giulia DOC, Italy) Seductive bouquet of grapefruit, citrus...

May 24, 2012

This years Seoul Wine and Spirits Expo was held on May 3-5th, was an improvement on last years event which failed to gather much interest from the trade. It was the 10th year for the event with plenty of consumer attendees on Friday and Saturday though the organisers have yet to release actual attendee figures. There was a good representation of wines from...