Carmenere is the signature grape of Chile. Given that, one would think that it is an easy grape to grow all over Chile. But that is not the case. It is a grape that can
Wine can be a cut-throat low margin business. There are also many “trophy wineries” launched by rich people who made their money in something else and then buys or creates a winery just for fun
Just a few years ago, or perhaps mainly in the mid 90s and early 00s, corked wines were a big discussion subject. Some people reported 4-5% cork defects in wine, sometimes even 10%. We started
It is not often you meet someone who has voluntarily given up on having three Michelin stars, even if recently we have seen a handful of great chefs do it, or claim they did it.
Over the last couple of decades German wines have changed dramatically. Here are some of the NEW keywords: The semi-dry / semi-sweet whites are on the retreat. (Thankfully!) Bone-dry whites with plenty of elegance and
There is a wine revolution quietly going on in South Africa. Or more correctly, a second revolution. The first one was when apartheid ended and the KVW iron grip on the wine sector also came
There are crazy wine projects. Actually, a lot of projects in the wine industry are more or less crazy. It is a business that it is very hard to survive in and it is even
There is a lot going on in South Africa on the wine scene. Although they have been making wine for more than 350 years here the wine industry was under-developed during the apartheid era. A
Chateauneuf-du-Pape is one of France’s most exclusive appellations. It covers only 3200 hectares (less than e.g. Chablis in Burgundy). It is famous for its rich and powerful red wines. Only 7% of the production is
Most people think of powerful, intense red wines when thinking of wines from Chile. Think again! Today Chile also makes outstanding white wines that are elegant, fresh, mineral and aromatic, and even very good pinot
Few wines can truly be called legendary. But if the history goes back to 1191 with King Richard Lionheart on crusade then it must be in one of the better positions to claim that title.
What is your typical Christmas and New Year food specialities? Many countries have something special for this season. Sweden has the Julskinka and Julbord. The United States have the turkey. In Britain they feast on
Bordeaux is perhaps the most traditional and aristocratic of all wine regions. But it is not immune to trends and to concerns about the environment. The latest big-name chateau to convert to organic wine growing
It takes a lot of capital to assemble a collection of several world leading properties in just a few decades. Insurance companies have a lot of capital but usually they do not invest in wine.
While the world’s top athletes are fighting it out in the Brazilian metropoles the best wines are made in the very southernmost remote parts of the country, in the Vale dos Vinhedos on the border
Brazil is on the front page of every media these days. The Olympic Games does give a lot of attention. But it is rare that Brazilian wines are given much coverage. That is a pity.
The Rhone Valley in southern France is a fantastic source of good wines. Most of the wines are full-bodied and spicy. On a warm summer day you should drink them slightly chilled (16C) to underline
Portugal has a treasure trove of outstanding wines but few – far too few – find their way outside of Portugal. One of the few that is known all over the world is Periquita from
2015 is a year that did not present any great surprises in the overall picture of the global wine production and trade. Vineyard area is stable, production is stable, consumption is stable, and world trade
Wine consumers love Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Sauvignon Blanc. Or don’t they? There is a lot of talk nowadays about grapes that are forgotten, local, unusual, indigenous, you name it. Suddenly wine geeks are
Natural wines are still a hot subject of debate. Some like them some loath them. In fact, natural wines can be both good or bad, just like any other wine. But it is true that
I hope your appetite for champagne has not waned now that New Year has passed. Champagne is much more than just bubbly for celebrations. It is a very interesting wine. It is also a wine
A few years back China became Bordeaux’s biggest export market. Over a few years the Chinese market grew from almost nothing to become the market that Bordeaux could not live without. How this happened is
Co-operatives sometimes suffer from a less than great reputation in wine. Sometimes it is well-deserved, for cooperatives that focus more on quantity and volume production than on quality. Sometimes is it unfair. There is an
It is not enough to be talented in making wine to succeed in wine. You also have to be a good business person. Hubert de Boüard at Chateau Angélus is certainly both. He is a
Anyone else has the feeling that Rioja has been lingering in the background for quite a few years? But that today it is time for a renaissance? That is at least the feeling we have
There are a few grape varieties that are more or less unique to a country or that has for some reason become emblematic. Chile has its Carmenere, Argentina has Malbec, and Uruguay has Tannat. Portugal
We travel to Champagne quite often for our wine tours. Usually we spend most of the time out in the vineyards and at the wineries visiting wine producers. But last time I was there I
There are many more exciting high-quality wine districts than the handfull of world famous names. One wine to discover is certainly Sagrantino di Montefalco. Montefalco is in Umbria, just south of Tuscany. In some ways
It was some ten years ago since we were in Hungary. And then we went back recently. There has been a revolution in wine production in the mean time. We were thoroughly impressed by almost
Carmenere is the signature grape of Chile. Given that, one would think that it is an easy grape to grow all over Chile. But that
Wine can be a cut-throat low margin business. There are also many “trophy wineries” launched by rich people who made their money in something else
Just a few years ago, or perhaps mainly in the mid 90s and early 00s, corked wines were a big discussion subject. Some people reported
It is not often you meet someone who has voluntarily given up on having three Michelin stars, even if recently we have seen a handful
Over the last couple of decades German wines have changed dramatically. Here are some of the NEW keywords: The semi-dry / semi-sweet whites are on
There is a wine revolution quietly going on in South Africa. Or more correctly, a second revolution. The first one was when apartheid ended and
There are crazy wine projects. Actually, a lot of projects in the wine industry are more or less crazy. It is a business that it
There is a lot going on in South Africa on the wine scene. Although they have been making wine for more than 350 years here
Chateauneuf-du-Pape is one of France’s most exclusive appellations. It covers only 3200 hectares (less than e.g. Chablis in Burgundy). It is famous for its rich
Most people think of powerful, intense red wines when thinking of wines from Chile. Think again! Today Chile also makes outstanding white wines that are
Few wines can truly be called legendary. But if the history goes back to 1191 with King Richard Lionheart on crusade then it must be
What is your typical Christmas and New Year food specialities? Many countries have something special for this season. Sweden has the Julskinka and Julbord. The
Bordeaux is perhaps the most traditional and aristocratic of all wine regions. But it is not immune to trends and to concerns about the environment.
It takes a lot of capital to assemble a collection of several world leading properties in just a few decades. Insurance companies have a lot
While the world’s top athletes are fighting it out in the Brazilian metropoles the best wines are made in the very southernmost remote parts of
Brazil is on the front page of every media these days. The Olympic Games does give a lot of attention. But it is rare that
The Rhone Valley in southern France is a fantastic source of good wines. Most of the wines are full-bodied and spicy. On a warm summer
Portugal has a treasure trove of outstanding wines but few – far too few – find their way outside of Portugal. One of the few
2015 is a year that did not present any great surprises in the overall picture of the global wine production and trade. Vineyard area is
Wine consumers love Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Sauvignon Blanc. Or don’t they? There is a lot of talk nowadays about grapes that are forgotten,
Natural wines are still a hot subject of debate. Some like them some loath them. In fact, natural wines can be both good or bad,
I hope your appetite for champagne has not waned now that New Year has passed. Champagne is much more than just bubbly for celebrations. It
A few years back China became Bordeaux’s biggest export market. Over a few years the Chinese market grew from almost nothing to become the market
Co-operatives sometimes suffer from a less than great reputation in wine. Sometimes it is well-deserved, for cooperatives that focus more on quantity and volume production
It is not enough to be talented in making wine to succeed in wine. You also have to be a good business person. Hubert de
Anyone else has the feeling that Rioja has been lingering in the background for quite a few years? But that today it is time for
There are a few grape varieties that are more or less unique to a country or that has for some reason become emblematic. Chile has
We travel to Champagne quite often for our wine tours. Usually we spend most of the time out in the vineyards and at the wineries
There are many more exciting high-quality wine districts than the handfull of world famous names. One wine to discover is certainly Sagrantino di Montefalco. Montefalco
It was some ten years ago since we were in Hungary. And then we went back recently. There has been a revolution in wine production
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