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Allow time for the food
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We all occasionally long for a break from the fast pace of daily life. One way of doing that is to spend time with your food. And I do not just mean eating and drinking, but also the preparations themselves. Shopping, cooking, choosing wine.
Half the fun with a good meal at home is shopping for food, especially if you get to shop at a food market. In Paris, we are spoiled for choice. It takes a little longer, but it’s worth it. If everyone preferred to buy everything in the same place, no small food shops would survive. Everything would be purchased at supermarkets. That would be a shame.
I would think that most of us are happy that specialised food retailers with different selections of products as well as food markets still exist. (Although when it comes to wine, strangely, many people in Scandinavia seem to have the ideal of the clinical supermarket, with everything in one place judging from the support the monopoly shops — Systembolaget, Alko, Vinmonopolet — still get…)
Choosing and buying food can be as much fun as cooking it. Of course, shopping at markets or in small shops can take a long time. I can already hear the argument; we don’t have time for that. But supermarkets also have queues, and I’d rather stand in line at the market where you can learn how to cut up a chicken, tie up roast beef, or fillet a sole while waiting. And get tips on cooking as well as being queried why it’s been several weeks since I last went there. They recognise you and know who you are…
I know that Paris has a big population, but I’m none the less surprised there are so many food markets still around when I see the many gigantic supermarkets on the city’s outskirts. We always prioritise our markets. How often don’t I hear people complaining that this or that small food shop that was so conveniently located has closed? But then it turns out that the person lamenting the disappearance never went there themselves. It was just nice that it existed. Go there while it’s still there! Support your local merchant.
Wine is the perfect mealtime drink if you want to have a leisurely pace during dinner. I think this point of view is not being addressed sufficiently in the current health debate about wine. Sitting down and having dinner with a good wine is relaxing and stress-relieving. Wine is a social and community-promoting drink, which is another fact that benefits health.
Dinner with wine always takes longer. You taste the wine; maybe before the food comes to the table, you talk about it. If it is a good quality wine, you drink slowly throughout the meal. Have you noticed the difference in the amount of wine people drink when you have a simple, anonymous wine compared to a better and more individualistic one?
With wine, you sit at the table longer and eat more slowly, which is good for digestion and weight. You have time to notice when you have eaten enough, are no longer hungry. And you have time to talk more.
The French think it is essential that food takes time (even if the dining habits of the younger generation have changed) and above all that you really take the time to smell and taste. You talk about the food during the meal, which shows that you really enjoy it. Not only that, people often talk over the dinner table about other good meals they have had – food is a conversation topic. “Do you remember that fantastic duck we had on our last vacation?”
It helps if you can put words to smells and tastes. It is an art that is about to be lost because, as it turned out recently, young French people cannot even recognise the smell of basil and thyme. Scandale!
Wine tasters are constantly trained in this art, so perhaps schools should ensure that young (French) people get to go on some wine tastings.
We have already completed the tour to Argentina and Chile, which always takes place in January, but we still have a lot to post in the tour’s Facebook group. The other two long tours in the winter season (in the summery southern hemisphere) remain. Join us virtually and (almost) live:
New Bordeaux Tour
Our Burgundy and Rhone Valley tour has had such a success so it is currently fully booked. So, we have decided to add a new tour this coming autumn season: a new five-day extravagant Bordeaux tour. All the final details are not quite settled, but contact us now if you are interested!
See more info on this tour below.
Join us virtually to South America, South Africa and New Zealand
We have already completed the tour to Argentina and Chile, which always takes place in January, but we still have a lot to post in the tour’s Facebook group. The other two long tours in the winter season (in the summery southern hemisphere) remain. Join us virtually and (almost) live:
- Chile and Argentina wine tour on Facebook.
- South Africa wine tour on Facebook.
- New Zealand wine tour Facebook.
Click Join and then choose how many notifications you want – everything, the most important, nothing.
They will all three be back on the programme in 2026.
More info on our wine tours here. “World’s Top Wine Tours“. Tours with the people who know wine and who have an unrivalled experience of wine and tours.
Travel in wine regions with someone you trust.
Enjoy the Brief!
Britt & Per
Wine editors to the national encyclopaedia, Forbes.com contributors, award-winning wine book authors, wine tour advisors to the UN and national wine organisations, wine judges … and, above all, passionate wine travellers.
If you appreciate what we do, you can help us:
Tell your friends about the Brief or send it to them.
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What’s on at BKWine Tours
BKWine is also one of the world’s leading wine tour operators. Here’s what we currently have on our scheduled wine tour program:
- Chile-Argentina, 13-26 January 2025
- South Africa, 14-24 February 2025
- New Zealand, 11-26 March 2025
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- Burgundy and the Rhone Valley, 17-25 September 2025 (program coming soon)
- Bordeaux, wine, gastronomy, chateaux, early October, dates TBC
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- Chile-Argentina, January 2026
- South Africa, February 2026
- New Zealand, March 2026
We also make custom designed wine tours.
We’re different than most other wine tour operators. We are people who know wine inside out, who travel constantly in wine regions, who write award winning books about wine. Who do this out of passion.
Our wine tours are different from others.
A typical year we organise more than 30 wine tours to destinations across the world. In Europe: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and more. World-wide: South Africa, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand. Thanks to our Scandinavian background we have a separate offer for the Scandinavian market. These are sometimes offered in English and also available as custom made tours. For example, these destinations:
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Read our books
We have written eleven wine books. They have won awards from the Gourmand Awards, The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and others.
Unfortunately, only one of them has been translated to English; the others are (so far) only available in Swedish. This is the one that is available in English:
Here’s the full list of our books:
- The Wonderful World of Wine
- Languedoc-Roussillon, the Wines of Southern France
- Champagne, the Wine and the Growers
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News from the World of Wine
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Short briefs on what’s been happening in the world of wine recently and other interesting things.
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Prosecco continues to dominate the sparkling wine world
Prosecco continues to increase its production and sales. In 2024, 660 million bottles of Prosecco DOC were produced, an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. Prosecco is made in northeastern Italy, in Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions. The vineyard area is around 30,000 hectares, almost the same surface as Champagne, but Champagne only produces around 300 million bottles annually, less than half of Prosecco. Spanish cava production also lags far behind prosecco.
Exports account for almost 80% of the prosecco production. The United States is the primary export market for Prosecco DOC and accounts for 23% of total exports in value. It is impossible to say how much of all the prosecco ends up in an Aperol Spritz, but the drink has clearly contributed to prosecco’s great success. A prosecco is rarely completely dry. More than half of prosecco wines are extra dry, which in bubble language means between 12 and 17 grams of sugar, in other words, fairly sweet. One wonders for how long this deluge and expansion of prosecco can continue. Read more: prosecco
White Burgundy has a boom in (Sweden)
Swedes have long been fond of Chablis, and Chablis belongs to Burgundy. Now, Sweden has overtaken Belgium in the statistics and is the fifth-largest importer (by volume) of Burgundy wine in the world. Quite incredible. The Burgundian wines that dominate in Sweden are Chablis and other white regional wines such as AOC Bourgogne and AOC Mâcon. Over the past twenty years, the development of Swedish Burgundy imports has mainly focused on white wines. Statistics also say that Burgundy is Sweden’s largest exporter of French appellation wine (24% of the total and 38% of white French AOC wines). At the same time, the sparkling crémant de bourgogne has had exceptional success. Sweden is the second-largest export market regarding volume and turnover for AOC Crémant de Bourgogne.
Travel: Come on a wine tour to Burgundy with BKWine. (PS: We’ve written a prize-winning book on Burgundy.)
Even more resistant grape varieties in France – have you tried kersus?
The resistant grape varieties are becoming more and more numerous in France. Or, at least, more and more varieties are being permitted. Recently, four new grapes have been given the green light: the white kersus and pinot iskra and the red pinot kors and volturnis. These varieties have already been planted since 2020 in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Just like for other resistant grapes, the permit is valid for ten years. Then, an evaluation follows. Like all resistant grapes, these four are hybrids that have been crossed to obtain good or very good resistance to fungal diseases, especially downy mildew, powdery oidium and black rot. But no resistant grape can resist diseases 100%. A couple of sprayings are always required and with very heavy disease pressure, increased vigilance and supplementary spraying are required.
Kersus has a profile reminiscent of chardonnay with some notes of pinot gris. Pinot iskra gives high yields and is suitable for sparkling wines. Both pinot iskra and pinot kors are considered excellent grape varieties thanks to their good resistance, flavour profile, and productivity. Read more: vitisphere
Champagne sales shrinking – because of too much world conflicts?
Does the state of the world discourage people from opening a bottle of champagne? That is what Maxime Toubart, one of the two presidents of the Comité Champagne, thinks when he comments on the decline in Champagne sales in 2024. A total of 271 million bottles were sold in 2024, a decrease of 9.2% compared to 2023. However, the decrease reflects a general decline in wine consumption in France. As for champagne, the French market fell by 7.2%. 118 million bottles remained in the country. Exports, at 153 million bottles, fell by 10.8% compared to 2023. However, the share of exports (56.4% of the total) is still significantly higher than sales in France, confirming the trend seen in recent years. If Maxime Toubart is right champagne is likely to face four difficult years (with Trump in power). Read more: champagne
Travel: Come on a wine tour to Champagne with BKWine. (PS: We’ve written a prize-winning book on Champagne.)
Algae in the star kitchens, yes, but even better to use them in the vineyards
Integrating algae into cooking is popular with some star chefs. Algae are nutritious, albeit with a slightly peculiar taste. They can be used for many things, which is good because there is a lot of algae to pick up along the beaches. For example, they can help wine producers work more sustainably by being used as plant stimulants (Fr. biostimulants) in the vineyard. According to marine biologist Valentin Le Ny, algae are distinguished by their incredible genetic and functional diversity.
Historically, macroalgae (microalgae are so tiny that we cannot see them) have been used as fertiliser not least along the coasts of Brittany. Farmers quickly noticed that the algae stimulated the plant’s growth, and scientific studies in the 1950s confirmed this. From time to time, we come across wine producers who use algae precisely as a kind of fertiliser. Champagne RC Lemaire, for example, imports algae powder from Norway to strengthen their vines naturally. Now, the French company UPL France believes that the many positive aspects of algae should be given more attention. Algae extract, they believe, is a natural and sustainable alternative to conventional products, perhaps not always as a replacement but as a complement. Algae, the company believes, also has a fascinating ability to adapt and can withstand extreme conditions, such as variations in temperature or salinity. We have only seen the beginning of what algae can contribute to agriculture. Read more: vitisphere
Why does the wine have aromas of pepper?
The fact that wine is a lot about chemistry has probably not escaped anyone. (After all, everything is chemistry.) However, you don’t need to know anything about chemistry to enjoy a wine. But sometimes you want to know where a particular aroma you feel on the nose comes from. What smells like raspberry, strawberry or tobacco does not, of course, come from these bushes but from an aromatic molecule in the wine.
An aroma that many people like in a wine is pepper and the molecule responsible is called rotundone (a terpene, a big family of aromatic chemical compounds) which is mainly found in the skins of the grapes. Rotundone is easy to detect in the smell; the detection threshold is very low. However, studies have shown that between 20-25% of the population is incapable of smelling it. The rest of us, we mainly smell black pepper and white pepper. Syrah is the grape that you might primarily associate with pepper, but there are a whole range of other grapes such as grenache, gamay, mondeuse, negrette and not least grüner veltliner in Austria. Weather can affect the concentration of rotundone in the grape. A cool and humid growing season favours the concentration and high temperatures reduce the concentration (but UV rays can compensate). Source: La Vigne. (It may be worth pointing out that these chemicals compounds are naturally occurring and not something added to the wine. Virtually the only real flavouring used in wine is oak, usually in the form of oak casks for barrel ageing.)
Chile, a country of contrasts, wine from the Atacama Desert in the north to Patagonia in the south
Chile is a very long country, 4000 km from north to south. It is also narrow and borders the cold Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes Mountain range to the east. All this gives it a variety of climatic conditions. On our wine tour to Chile in January, we thought about this in particular when we drank two very special wines, one from the north and one from the south. The distance between them are 1400 kilometres (like from Seattle from to the Mexican border or New York to Miami).
The northern wine was a delicious Pedro Jiménez from Viña Choapa with a fresh, juicy and long mouthfeel. The wine comes from the narrowest part of Chile, Valle de Choapa, about 400 kilometres north of Santiago. Until recently, the grapes here were used to produce pisco, a brandy (which is often drunk as a pisco sour). But this has changed and enthusiastic winemakers are now using the same grapes to make characterful wines. The grapes are so-called criolla grapes, descendants of the grapes that the Spanish brought here when they conquered Chile and Argentina in the 16th century, such as país, pedro jiménez and muscat d’alexandrie.
The second wine was Fénix by Czischke 2022, a fresh and tight chardonnay from Valle de Osorno. Now we are in Chilean Patagonia. It is cool and rainy and a big contrast to the growing conditions in Valle Central, where most Chilean wines come from. Down here in the very south of Chile, a stone’s throw from the icebergs, there are a handful of adventurous producers and around 30 hectares of vineyards. Two wines that gave us a fascinating perspective on wine production in Chile.
Travel: Come on a wine tour to Chile and Argentina with BKWine.
See: See pictures and videos from Chile and Argentina in the latest wine tour’s Facebook group.
Strong exports for South Africa’s wine in 2024 show the way forward
The South African wine industry fared well compared to many others in 2024. According to the trade association Wines of South Africa (WoSA), wine exports grew by 4.3% in value in 2024, reaching USD 562 million. Export volumes were almost unchanged at 306 million litres (-0.1%). The bottled wine market proved particularly resilient. In this segment, total value increased by 4% and volume by 5%. In contrast, bulk wine sales decreased by 3% in volume but increased by 6% in value. These are encouraging figures that show that the country’s wine industry is on the right track and that South African wines are on the way to receiving the recognition they deserve, moving away from bulk and towards quality wine in bottle. WoSA has long struggled to raise the prices of the country’s wines as many grape growers and producers in South Africa suffer from poor (or no) profitability.
United Kingdom remains the strongest export market, with an export value of USD 145 million. However, the value decreased by 5%. Germany maintained its second place. The Netherlands is in third place, ahead of the USA, with a 20% increase in imports. The USA decreased its imports by 5%. The UK also leads the export league in volume, while the Netherlands (+18%) and Sweden (+18%) have the largest increases. (In 2023, Sweden was the 7th biggest export market.) Read more: wine-South-Africa
Travel: Come on a wine tour to South Africa with BKWine. 2025 tour soon to be launched.
See: See pictures and videos from South Africa 2024 in the wine tours Facebook group.
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Features of the Month
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Articles and features published on BKWine Magazine and on our wine travel blog and (occasionally) photography blog in the last month.
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How the OIV has contributed to the world wine industry over 100 years and the importance of China joining
The international Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is possibly the world’s most important wine organisation. But it is very little known to most wine consumer. It has multiple roles, promoting and enabling scientific and commercial collaboration between wine producing countries, collecting and collating world wine statistics, enabling global rules and regulations for the sector, to mention a few of its roles. It is, one could say, a United Nations of Wine. In 2024 China joined the OIV as its 51st member country, an important step in incorporating China in the global web of wine producing countries. With this article, BKWine Magazine introduces a new contributor, Jeanne Peixian Qiao, who goes into details of the achievements of the OIV and the importance of China joining it.
Read more in Jeanne Peixian Qiao’s article on BKWine Magazine: How the OIV has contributed to the world wine industry over 100 years and the importance of China joining.
What power plug adapter do you need for travel in South Africa?
South Africa has a quite unusual standard power plug. It looks a bit like the British (UK) power plugs but the sockets are, in fact, different. A UK power plug does not work in South Africa. The South African version is called a “type M”, with three round prongs, one that is bigger than the other two. This socket is not compatible with any other type of plugs. Sometimes, a similar plug, called Type D, is mentioned but I have not seen it used.
Read more in Per’s article on BKWine’s Travel Blog: What power plug adapter do you need for travel in South Africa?
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Wine Tours
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Details on our current and future wine tours. Book a wine tour with the “World’s Top Wine Tour Operator” today (or when you feel like travelling to wine country).
Treat yourself to an unforgettable experience in the beautiful wine-lands together with some of the most knowledgeable wine people around. Book now!
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The stunningly beautiful Cape Winelands | wine tour South Africa
South Africa has a long history of wine growing. The first thing the European settlers did when they arrived in the 1600s was to plant vineyards. The modern history of South African wines started after the end of apartheid. Europe and countries around the world fell in love with the wines in the 1990s. And the success story continues. We want to make you discover not only the wines but also the land where the grapes are grown, the stunningly beautiful Cape Winelands (and not just from a pool’s edge).
This is in the southernmost part of the country. We will meet in Cape Town, considered by many the most beautiful city in the world, and from there we continue down to the South Coast, Walker Bay, where some of the best pinot noir and chardonnay wines in the country are made. From there we drive over the Franschhoek Pass to the small but very famous town of Franschhoek. We continue north to Swartland and Tulbagh and then south again to Stellenbosch and finish in Constantia. All regions have their own characteristics and winemakers that specialise in specific styles of wines. We will meet some of these winemakers and to hear them talk about the work and their wines is the best way of learning more about the South African wines. The local cuisine is always important on our tours, we will have some delicious meals together with local specialities. And we’ll do some sightseeing in Cape Town, of course. A tour that will give you an insight into the South African winelands and wines like no other wine tour here.
Come on this fabulous wine tour to South Africa with Britt and Per of BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
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- The South Africa wine tour will be back in 2026. Contact us for info.
Book now!
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
More inspiration: You can get an even better feeling for what you will experience on this tour if you visit the latest tour’s own Facebook group. Lots of pictures and videos from the tour (join the group and you’ll get an update when we post new contents): The wine tour to South Africa 2024.
New Zealand, the wines, the landscape, the culture | wine tour
New Zealand is a country that is influenced almost everywhere by the sea and mountains. You always dress for unexpected changes in the weather. In March, the weather is often beautiful and sunny with pleasant temperatures. Harvest has started and will usually continue into April and sometimes until the beginning of May. Although this is a relatively small country, the growing conditions between the South and the North Island vary, and that is why we find several grape varieties grown here, both cool climate ones such as pinot noir and riesling, and more warm climate grapes like cabernet sauvignon. Sauvignon blanc is the most planted grape, but we will taste many other grape varieties on the tour.
You will see a great deal of New Zealand on this tour. We travel by comfortable bus (and ferry) from Auckland, the biggest city in the country, down to Queenstown, where the tour ends. We visit the main wine regions: Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Marlborough
and Central Otago. And in between the wine visits and wine tastings, we watch geysers and other geothermal phenomena, learn about the Maori culture, take a boat on a glacial lace and taste gastronomic specialities such as green-lipped mussels and local “crayfish” (New Zealand lobster). We will stay in Auckland, Taupo, Napier, Martinborough, Blenheim, Christchurch, Mount Cook and Queenstown during the tour.
Come on this stunning wine tour to New Zealand with Britt and Per of BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
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- The New Zealand wine tour will be back in 2026. Contact us for info.
Book now!
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
More inspiration: You can get an even better feeling for what you will experience on this tour if you visit the latest tour’s own Facebook group. Lots of pictures and videos from the tour (join the group and you’ll get an update when we post new contents): The wine tour to New Zealand 2024.
From Burgundy to the Rhone Valley, from utter elegance to southern depth and charm | wine tour
This combination wine tour shows you two of France’s top wine regions in an alluring contrast. A red Burgundy is light in colour and often finely grained in character. Pinot noir has a thin skin but you shouldn’t let the colour fool you. The aromas can be very intense and concentrated. But in a red Burgundy there is always more elegance than power. They are not “powerful” wines but always overwhelmingly impressive with their depth. The white wines, on the other hand, can be real little powerhouses. Chardonnay itself gives both “fat” (body) and mouthfeel. The oak aging then gives the wine additional power. A good white Burgundy has both vitality, depth, balance and freshness. The ultimate role-model for chardonnays around the world. We start this journey of discovery in the vineyards of the Côte d’Or, the central and most famous part of Burgundy. It is a beautiful landscape dotted with famous wine villages and even more famous vineyards. We taste world-famous wines and talk about production, sustainability and inspect the vineyards up close.
We drive south to the Rhône Valley, a gigantic wine region, with every wine style and price range you can imagine. Initially , we explore the northern part with it’s world-famous syrah (shiraz) wines, Côte Rôtie, Hermitage, Saint Joseph, Cornas, with their unique expression of this grape. The tour continues to the final destination, Avignon in the south, in Provence, a charming town known for the magnificent papal palace built in the 15th century (!), and the Pont d’Avignon, the bridge that strangely only goes halfway across the Rhône River. Most famous here are the spicy Châteauneuf-du-Papes, made around the ruins of the Pope’s summer palace. Some of these villages in the region have been given their own appellation, such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Cairanne and several others. You will come out of this trip with many intense experiences and knowing more about French wines than most people.
This tour is currently fully booked. Why not join us on our new five-day Bordeaux tour that we have just added due to the high demand?
Come and discover French wine and food in Burgundy and the Rhone Valley on this luxurious wine tour with BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
- The Grand French Wine tour to Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, 17-25 September, 2025
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
Bordeaux: historic, sought-after, and now also innovative | wine tour
Being one of the world’s most famous wine regions have both advantages and challenges. To avoid being left behind, Bordeaux is today investing in many exciting initiatives, not least in the environment and sustainability. We visit both large, prestigious châteaux and smaller producers, and enjoy magnificent star-chef-quality chateau lunches. We get to know the grapes in Bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet and more. These are often called “international” grape varieties today because they have spread to wine regions all over the world although they should really be called Bordeaux grapes instead. In admiration for Bordeaux, “everyone” wants to plant the same grapes as Bordeaux. One good reason for their international travel is, of course, that these grapes thrive in many different places and, not least, that they produce very good wines! Which you will get ample illustrations of in the many wines we taste during the trip.
Bordeaux is a fantastic region to visit with some fairytale chateaux and a long and glorious history. We will visit traditional family estates and famous chateaux and we will get a good idea of what is happening in the wine region of Bordeaux today. We will stay in the city of Bordeaux, one of the most beautiful and splendorous cities in all of France.
Come and discover French wine and food in Bordeaux on this luxurious wine tour with BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
Book now!
- Bordeaux wine tour, preliminary dates: 29 September – 5 October (to be confirmed soon)
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
Amazing wines and unexpected experiences in Chile and Argentina | wine tour
Recently returned from this year’s tour to Argentina and Chile, we can’t help but think back on all the experiences during the two weeks. We have tried what many consider to be Chile’s best carmenère and best cabernet franc. Brilliant wines, as well as some wines from almost in the of the Atacama Desert in the north and almost from the of Tierra del Fuego in the south, 1400 km distance between the two wines. We have travelled over all America’s highest mountain range and were almost able to touch its peak (it felt like) while we were admiring the most extraordinary natural phenomena at a few thousand meters altitude (including lunch and good wines at 3000 m). We have indulged in delicious lunches – yes, the rumour about the excellent meat is true – combined with an almost countless number of wines (no doubt well over 100). We have visited one of Mendoza’s most remarkable wine cellars, filled with gigantic old oak barrels and inspected the special soil of the Uco Valley, where we also enjoyed a lovely lunch with the family we visited, a young couple with two small boys, very well behaved, under their walnut tree. And much more. There is so much to tell but the best thing is probably that you come along in January next year!
Come on this exciting wine tour to Argentina and Chile with Britt and Per of BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
- Chile-Argentina,
13-26 January 2025<- now past
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- The Chile-Argentina wine tour will be back in 2026. Contact us for info. <- details coming soon; program will be similar to the 2025 tour
Book now!
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
More inspiration: You can get an even better feeling for what you will experience on this tour if you visit the latest tour’s own Facebook group. Lots of pictures and videos from the tour (join the group and you’ll get an update when we post new contents): The wine tour to Chile and Argentina 2023.
Champagne, diversity and awareness | wine tour
To give you a complete picture of the Champagne region, we visit both large champagne houses and small, independent growers. We taste both pinot meunier, blanc de blanc, blanc de noir, zéro dosage (the driest version of champagne) and more. And, perhaps most importantly of all, we give you the background on why different production methods, different grapes, different ageing times, etc. are chosen. We also talk about sustainability, something that is close to the hearts of many producers here. We discuss what can be done to adapt to a changing climate and weather patterns. Will the acidity – so important for champagne – decrease if it gets warmer? How can they reduce spraying? We gain insight into how people think today in Champagne and how they strive to preserve the unique champagne character. A deep dive into champagne!
Come on this luxurious wine tour to Champagne with BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
- This tour is currently available as a bespoke tour for small groups.
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
Tuscany, gentle hills with beautiful vineyards and olive trees | wine tour
Vineyards are part of the Tuscan landscape. Grapevines thrive on the hills where the soil is poor but the sun exposure is excellent. The landscape is quite mountainous in places. The vines are grown between 200 and 600 meters above sea level. How the wine tastes depends on many factors: the grapes, the altitude, the soil and not least the philosophy of the wine producer. There are great variations in Tuscany and the producers like to emphasise these differences that the various districts within Tuscany have. Everyone is proud of their special part of Tuscany. Chianti conquered the world in the 70s with its straw-covered bottle. At that time it was known as an easy-drinking and unpretentious wine. Today we get Chianti in all versions, from top quality prestige wine to uncomplicated fruity lunch wines. The occasion will decide. We will of course visit both Chianti and Chianti Classico (two different geographical areas) and also Montalcino a little further south, known for its fantastic Brunello di Montalcino. Discover the enchanting Tuscany with us; not only the wines but also the landscape, the people and the gastronomy.
Come on this wonderful wine tour to Tuscany with BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
- This tour is currently available as a bespoke tour for small groups.
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
Piedmont, the land of truffles and fog; and Barolo, Barbaresco | wine tour
It is a beautiful landscape that meets us in Piedmont. The region certainly merits its name, “at the foot of the mountain”; the Alps tower at the horizon. The signature grape Nebbiolo also has good reason for its name; it is often foggy (nebbia) in the mornings in the hills. The Alps to the north are not far away. Around us lie medieval villages such as Barolo, La Morra, Serralunga, Gavi with their impressive defensive castles, often real fortresses. The autumn landscape is magnificent. Nebbiolo and the other grapes often grow on slopes, sometimes really steep. We taste our way through many fantastic wines, Barolo, Barbaresco and other nebbiolos, as well as slightly lesser-known but equally outstanding wines with arneis, barbera, dolcetto, etc. We enjoy the local cuisine. We visit the truffle market in Alba with its overwhelming scent experience (can you over-dose in truffles?) and we eat a delicious closing lunch with the famous white truffle.
Come and discover all the good things that Piedmont has to offer on this wonderful wine tour with BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
- This tour is currently available as a bespoke tour for small groups.
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
Douro Valley: The unique landscape that cannot be described but must be seen | wine tour
The Douro Valley impresses like few other wine regions. There is probably no other wine region that has so many steep slopes in such a large area. The Douro Valley must be seen with your own eyes. No pictures can really do it justice. When it comes to the Douro Valley, the word unique can be used without hesitation. On these difficult-to-work slopes, port wine has been made for many centuries. The “regular” (not fortified) red and white wines, called simply “Douro wines”, have not been known for as long. This combination of Douro wines and port wines makes this tour particularly interesting. We taste all types of wines. The red and also the white Douro wines (non-fortified wines) are fantastic. For many, port wines are an exciting (re-)discovery. You don’t always realise that port wine comes in so many different types and, for instance, what the differences are between an old tawny and a vintage. Completely new dimensions open up. We stay two nights in Porto, an exciting city to explore. On the other side of the river lies Vila Nova de Gaia and this is where the big port wine houses age their wines. We stay two nights at the luxurious Vintage House in the valley, close to the vineyards.
Come and discover the spectacular landscapes and wines of the Douro on this wine tour with BKWine, one of the world’s leading wine tour operators (*).
- This tour is currently available as a bespoke tour for small groups.
(*) And the only one who has authored 13 award-winning wine books.
