The coastal region of Toscana, called Maremma, is beautiful but not as well known for its wines as Chianti or Montalcino. But there are, in fact, a number of famous wines. In Bolgheri, Sassicaia started
A lot of champagnes are drunk at occasions when all that matters are the bubbles. But if you open a high quality champagne with a strong character it deserves more attention. It should actually be
It will hardly surprise anyone that Chardonnay and Cabernet are (still) the most popular grape varieties in the USA. The exiting newcomer on the podium is Pinot Noir that is now solidly in third place.
Mexico is well on its way to become a very interesting fine wine country. It is true that much of the country is too warm and dry for wine growing, but if you know where
Some wine consultants are world famous mega stars. Most work quietly behind the scenes and you rarely hear their name. Has the advent of oenologist wine consultant led to a stream-lining and more and more
Chardonnay? Cabernet? Syrah? Or if you have done your homework (some while ago), airen? No, no, no, and no. But one might say that it is (to some extent) a trick question. The world’s most
The Loire Valley is short on “locomotives”, producers with an international reputation for quality. There are many, many top-quality small producers and also a few big houses and co-operatives, but none with a significant international
Many countries have special food traditions for Christmas. In Sweden, as an example, you have the “julbord”, with a specially prepared ham, special herring, special cabbage, and many other things. In France, curiously, they don’t
One of the most ambitious and fast growing wine regions in China today is Ningxia, at the foot of the Helan Mountains. But few people have heard about Ningxia which is not strange since it
Some of the most exciting wines in Bordeaux are made by the smaller chateaux, not so well-known internationally. It can be worth a small effort to seek them out and taste their wines. One such
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
The coastal region of Toscana, called Maremma, is beautiful but not as well known for its wines as Chianti or Montalcino. But there are, in
A lot of champagnes are drunk at occasions when all that matters are the bubbles. But if you open a high quality champagne with a
It will hardly surprise anyone that Chardonnay and Cabernet are (still) the most popular grape varieties in the USA. The exiting newcomer on the podium
Mexico is well on its way to become a very interesting fine wine country. It is true that much of the country is too warm
Some wine consultants are world famous mega stars. Most work quietly behind the scenes and you rarely hear their name. Has the advent of oenologist
Chardonnay? Cabernet? Syrah? Or if you have done your homework (some while ago), airen? No, no, no, and no. But one might say that it
The Loire Valley is short on “locomotives”, producers with an international reputation for quality. There are many, many top-quality small producers and also a few
Many countries have special food traditions for Christmas. In Sweden, as an example, you have the “julbord”, with a specially prepared ham, special herring, special
One of the most ambitious and fast growing wine regions in China today is Ningxia, at the foot of the Helan Mountains. But few people
Some of the most exciting wines in Bordeaux are made by the smaller chateaux, not so well-known internationally. It can be worth a small effort
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,
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