Tessa Laroche stands in the fermentation room, surrounded by stainless steel tanks and pours us a glass of the 2015 Domaine aux Moines. The pneumatic press behinds us makes some peculiar sounds. She raises her arms, like a conductor, moves her hands in time with the noise and with a slight bow emphasises the last…
From Donostia (Basque for San Sebastián) to Iruña (Basque for Pamplona), in every posh bar or local tavern, they’re lined up in the bar. Some more lavishly decorated than others, but all with the same purpose: to satisfy the small or big appetite. Maybe even in a happy marriage with some local wine. Pintxos! Related to…
The sun shone mercilessly upon us, as we walked towards the end of our guided “Vignes Vins Randos” wine tour and the temperature was climbing towards 30 ℃. Our trips down the troglodyte caves had lost its cooling effect and everyone in the group walked silently as they concentrated on walking in a straight line.…
A secret cellar at a castle in Germany revealed a number of rare champagnes and cognac. The secret cellar was discovered while renovating the Castle Moritzburg, around 150 km from Berlin. It was restaurant-owner Silvio Stelzer who found the basement in the castle’s park. He took over the castle in Saxony in 2007, but didn’t find…
The Moselle region is a world-class hiking area, with excellent signposting, stunning views, steep vineyards to climbs, varied thematic trails, culinary encounters and hiking-friendly lodgings. Those who seek a sporty challenge and likes to climb, will feel right at home in this region together with the leisurely hiker and families with children. And it doesn’t…
Many experts agree upon, that some of the most exciting wines in the world come from Burgundy, a region that begins a hundred kilometres south from Paris and reaches down to Lyon. A 360 kilometre (225 mile) long wine superhighway. The area Burgundy is an area with various soils, divided in numerous districts: Chablis, Côte d’Or (divided…
The Zinfandel grape was not always a super sexy wine from the sunny hills of California. Before this American sweetheart became everybody’s favourite, it lived a harsh life on the Dalmatian hillsides. And it’s name was Crljenak Kaštelanski. A team of enthusiasts led by Croatian born Californian winemaker Mike Grgich challenged the Zinfandel viticultural community…