2023-03-19 11:17
With so much flavor combined with substance and simplicity, it’s no surprise that Italian food is a perennial winner in world-favorite cuisines. And the nation’s many and varied… Read More
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Travel Blog | Cellar Tours Blog Featuring Food, Wi Blog
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This is our weblog on interesting people, foods, wines, place we come across over the course of our travels. We hope you enjoy these highlights and tips as much as we do.
2023-03-15 14:07
The familiar images of Portugal – Mateus Rosé, Port, and Madeira – do no more than hint at the incredible diversity of this wine country. Portugal is now a key exporter of… Read More
2023-03-11 10:08
In the 20th century, it seemed as if the quality revolution had bypassed the vineyards of northeastern Portugal. Remote and mountainous, Trás-os-Montes was forgotten as international… Read More
2023-03-08 08:03
Even the most talented publicist would struggle to rebrand Madeira as a fashionable tipple. So we’ll save them the trouble: it isn’t! This venerable fortified wine, made on the i… Read More
2023-03-07 13:38
The best of authentic wine tourism: Alentejo
A warm climate, spectacular scenery, and pristine beaches have made Portugal one of Europe’s leading tourist destinations, attracting milli… Read More
2023-03-04 08:07
Many cultural differences polarize Spanish and Portuguese winegrowers, despite their close (at times, too close!) geographical proximity. For example, the Galicians have only recently starte… Read More
2023-02-28 08:10
Time and time again, winegrowers in the Douro manage to confound our expectations. This is the home of Port: Europe’s leading sweet fortified wine. Most consumers, therefore, don&rsquo&hell…Read More
2023-02-23 13:06
Of all Portugal’s great wine icons, the most underrated remains Vinho Verde. Produced on the hills that flank the Minho River, the province accounts for a seventh of the country’… Read More
2023-02-20 10:20
Even a category as famous as Port can keep a secret or two. Indeed, most people imagine every bottle of this iconic fortified wine is a sweetened concoction of red grapes, sometimes aged for… Read More
2023-02-17 11:13
Now, this is a conundrum. How can one of Europe’s most obscure grape varieties be a Portuguese legend? Cercial, also known as Cerceal, rarely appears on wine labels. Neither does the g… Read More
2023-02-15 14:39
In the 20th century, it took a lot of work to make a case for obscure grape varieties like Bical. As global demand coalesced around familiar wine styles (Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc remains a house… Read More
2023-02-15 12:27
Known as Italy’s Food Valley, with good reason, the western part of the Emilia Romagna region is home to some of the nation’s – and the world’s – favorite foods… Read More
2023-02-10 13:41
Portugal has been a late entrant to the world of saline and aromatic white wines. For decades, poor viticulture and outmoded equipment held the nation back – its reputation was solely… Read More
2023-02-08 08:42
Don’t listen to the naysayers who proclaim that wine is predictable – it is anything but! In the arid, dusty plains of Portugal’s Alentejo region, it should be virtually im… Read More
2023-02-04 08:42
One of the most enduring Italian stereotypes is the ‘mammone’: spoilt, live-in mummy’s boys who expect their parents to pay the rent, cook their food, and iron their shirts… Read More
2023-01-29 11:13
In the hills of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, tradition has always counted for a great deal. True, the region planted great swathes of international varieties like Sauvignon Blanc in the 20th centu… Read More
2023-01-25 18:04
Every wine lover, critic, sommelier, and buyer has an opinion on Tuscany. Each of them will have a set idea of what this corner of Italy offers – the majority coalesce around an archet… Read More
2023-01-23 08:35
The destinies of Vermentino and Sardinia have long chartered a parallel course. Until recently, this beautiful island (widely adored for its spectacular landscape and pristine beaches) had l… Read More
2023-01-20 10:00
Italy used to have zero cachet in the white wine market. The small volume exported in the mid-1900s seldom elicited a positive response from critics or consumers: it wasn’t so much a h… Read More
2023-01-17 08:59
Regular visitors to our blog may have detected a certain sniffiness toward this ubiquitous variety. You might construe this as a simple case of jumping on the bandwagon: wine critic and auth… Read More
2023-01-14 09:39
You can level many legitimate criticisms at Italian wine producers. Or, indeed, at Italian wine. Their labels can be overly complicated due to the myriad of designations and separate appella… Read More
2023-01-12 14:54
In 2021, British retailer Marks & Spencer welcomed a new brand of Ribolla Gialla into its wine range. It represented a historic milestone for the growers of Friuli-Venezia; the Italians… Read More
2023-01-08 11:43
The Italians, for all their virtues, have damaged the reputation of this noble variety. Pinot Grigio: the name sends a shudder down the spine of any self-respecting wine snob. For decades, b… Read More
2023-01-05 16:02
Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc to the French) is the most misunderstood grape variety cultivated in Italy today. A lighter-skinned mutation of Pinot Noir, the grape was historically confused with… Read More
2023-01-04 14:49
The genius of Italy is its ability to cater to everyone: there are as many autochthonous grapes as varieties of pasta in the Italian peninsula! So, if you seek comfort and familiarity, immer… Read More
2023-01-01 10:00
Wine lovers can overlook the spectacular vineyards of Trentino-Alto Adige. It may be because they lack the global fame of Tuscany or the collector cachet of Piedmont. Perhaps it is because t… Read More
2022-12-23 10:33
Learning about Malvasia can be a recipe for confusion. It is a very well-traveled variety, cultivated in Italy, Spain, Croatia, Greece, Australia, South America, and the US. That would be ba… Read More
2022-12-21 09:02
Inzolia is a grape with two distinct identities. One of them stretches back over a century – Inzolia is one of the key white varieties used to make Sicilian Marsala. This fortified win… Read More
2022-12-19 12:39
The Italians have a knack for reinvention, motivated by pride and commercial pragmatism. Take, for instance, the esoteric white grape known as Grillo. For centuries, Grillo has been used to… Read More
2022-12-17 11:09
Is there a region as dynamic and exciting as Campania? Or less easy to pigeonhole? Described as Oenotria (land of wine) by the colonizing Greeks, the majestic terrain of southern Italy holds… Read More
2022-12-15 08:04
In the patchwork of Italy’s regions, Emilia Romagna takes a large portion of the northeast, stretching from the Adriatic coast to the whole width of the country. Geographically, it&rsq&hell…Read More
2022-12-13 14:09
Italy’s wine industry is often viewed as slightly chaotic and rule-adverse by Europe’s more conventional producers. But this isn’t simply a lazy stereotype – the Ital… Read More
2022-12-09 15:12
From one perspective, Glera is the most important white grape cultivated in Italy today. The backbone of all-white Prosecco, it is responsible for a global phenomenon that has no equal; few… Read More
2022-12-07 10:40
The Veneto region is a mass of contradictions. Several of Italy’s most iconic appellations and wine styles are nestled in its hills, including Valpolicella Classico, Amarone della Valp… Read More
2022-12-05 09:41
The wines of Friuli-Venezia Giulia bear little resemblance to the Tuscan stereotype: full-bodied reds of savory potency and charm. No, this corner of northeast Italy has long been in the whi… Read More
2022-12-02 08:11
The world of wine is not a democracy: certain varieties produce heavenly nectar, while others can only deliver a mouthful of acidic dross. Fiano lies in the former category – this piec… Read More
2022-11-28 08:47
If you enjoy drinking Loire Valley Chenin Blanc, you’ll love Falanghina. Once described as ‘the wine of Emperors,’ it is a glorious white variety, capable of producing very… Read More
2022-11-25 14:58
There are two sides to Piedmont. One is Barolo and Barbaresco’s fashionable and increasingly expensive wines. Produced in relatively small volumes, these superlative reds tend to come… Read More
2022-11-24 12:59
Italy is highly adept at creating regional brands with a global cachet. Do you want proof? There is scarcely a wine lover today who has not sipped a glass of Amarone, Brunello di Montalcino… Read More
2022-11-23 15:04
While the delicious specialty foods of Emilia Romagna are famous worldwide, the region’s wines tend to get overlooked. Yet the area known with good reason as Italy’s Food Valley… Read More
2022-11-21 13:12
In Roman times, Italy’s most prized vinous treasures were produced in the hills of Campania, flanking the beautiful city of Naples. Bathed in endless sunshine, indigenous grape varieti… Read More
2022-11-18 12:43
When critics are tired of “the same old varieties and wine styles,” they head to Sicily. The island is alive with the twin sounds of innovation and viticultural excitement as gro… Read More
2022-11-16 08:36
Sicilian white wines can be astonishing. With average summer temperatures hovering around 37°C in July, logic dictates that this Mediterranean island should struggle to produce fresh and… Read More
2022-11-14 08:57
The Italian wine scene is a rich melting pot of world-class grape varieties, esoteric gems, and generally maligned styles. Until very recently, Bombino was in the last category. A victim of… Read More
2022-11-11 09:00
Certain wine regions require little or no introduction. Piedmont is such a destination – the home of seductively-scented Nebbiolo is loved and admired by sommeliers, collectors, and wi… Read More
2022-11-08 09:49
Boasting an unparalleled collection of indigenous grape varieties and unique terroirs, Italy is never short of a surprise or two. Albana is a pertinent example: the grape is one of the last… Read More
2022-11-07 15:18
Where to stay in La Rioja
La Rioja is, without a doubt, Spain’s most evocative and beautiful wine region, sprinkled with medieval villages, world-class wine estates, and some of the be… Read More
2022-10-20 15:42
In the great pantheon of European wine nations, France stands alone. For centuries, L’Hexagone has pulled off a remarkable feat: viticultural diversity. Unlike Spain, Germany, and Ital… Read More
2022-10-18 13:48
Critics, buyers, and journalists have been scratching their heads over Riesling. It is universally regarded as one of the world’s finest white grapes – the antithesis of Chardonn… Read More
2022-10-17 07:51
For centuries, winemakers in Bordeaux have blended Semillon with Sauvignon Blanc to produce whites of impeccable balance and finesse. However, until very recently, it was only the Australian… Read More
2022-10-16 09:15
Gewürztraminer presents a conundrum. From one perspective, the grape has all the necessary credentials for global fame: one of the world’s most pungent white varieties is both att… Read More
2022-10-13 18:58
The French Basque Country holds many secrets, not least a smattering of indigenous varieties that seldom make international headlines. Chief among these is Courbu, known as Hondarrabi Zuri o… Read More
2022-10-10 11:11
You can smell a glass of New World Sauvignon Blanc a mile off: a pungent concoction of tropical fruit, blackcurrant leaf, and freshly cut grass. This modern-day exemplar was established by t… Read More
2022-10-04 13:52
Burgundy myopia is a long-established trait amongst the world’s collectors and connoisseurs. Indeed, a wealth of superlative white wine is being made across France today, yet the secon… Read More
2022-10-03 11:58
Pinot Gris has been unfairly typecast as quaffable weekend drinking: bland, inoffensive, and unfailingly polite. Its reputation was made as the second-cheapest option on the wine list &ndash&hell…Read More
2022-09-30 11:36
Known for a good reason as the King of Cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano is a major protagonist at dinner tables worldwide. Although little has changed since it was first produced over a thousand… Read More
2022-09-29 14:15
Jancis Robinson MW describes Pinot Blanc as “useful rather than exciting.” This is hardly a controversial view: the grape has never been treated with any particular reverence in… Read More
2022-09-27 10:25
Picpoul could give Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc a run for its money if there is a new fashionable white grape variety. It has excellent credentials: the grape produces an aromatic style full of char… Read More
2022-09-22 10:36
French wine covers the whole gamut, from varieties exported worldwide to obscure grapes that almost no one has heard of; you can probably imagine which category Picardan falls into! However… Read More
2022-09-20 10:25
This year, more than ever, consumers will seek relative value and excitement when choosing wine. Trend-conscious understand what we’re talking about; comfort zones and ‘old favor… Read More
2022-09-17 15:30
Wine critics are notoriously averse to consensus. Yet almost everyone agrees that Muscat Blanc – or Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains – is the finest grape among this… Read More
2022-09-15 09:25
Underrated and underestimated, Muscadelle has long been damned with faint praise as the ‘third’ variety of white Bordeaux. With the notable exception of Monbazillac, Muscadelle r… Read More
2022-09-13 07:22
If Californian Chardonnay represents one end of the white variety spectrum – structured, opulent, and very ripe – Melon de Bourgogne is the polar opposite. Saline, fragrant, and… Read More
2022-09-08 13:42
It is generally agreed that the best sparkling wines come from cool climates. All over the world, producers seek out the chilliest spots that offer a facsimile of the climate – and soi… Read More
2022-09-07 07:19
The principal white grape of the northern Rhône continues to divide opinion. One school of thought argues that Marsanne is incomplete without its traditional blending partner Roussanne… Read More
2022-01-20 15:19
La Riojan Food Guide
La Rioja is one of Spain’s most esteemed wine regions famous for velvety, robust red wines made predominantly with Tempranillo. The region has captivated the palat… Read More
2022-01-14 13:05
Merlot, the resplendent red grape variety of Bordeaux, achieved massive notoriety in 2004. The impetus was the Oscar-winning film Sideways. During a brilliant scene, the lead character Miles… Read More
2021-12-31 12:36
Recently, a leading university in California made a remarkable discovery. After conducting several experiments, scientists at the UC Davis in California found that grape pomace (the grape sk… Read More
2021-12-29 13:47
French cuisine is often recognized as the best gastronomy throughout the international culinary landscape. French food is beloved worldwide, from fresh baguettes and buttery croissants to ar… Read More
2021-12-23 10:59
What is Méthode Champenoise?
Sparkling wine can be made almost anywhere if you have the correct equipment. It is an expanding global enterprise (despite what the Champenoise would hav… Read More
2021-12-22 11:34
Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and a prime vacation getaway for French mainlanders. The island is a French territory, though it lies just 90km off the coast of… Read More
2021-12-16 13:31
Italian Aperitif
Italians of all stripes owe the Piedmontese a debt of gratitude. Not only is this spectacular region responsible for the creation of the Slow Food Movement, but it is also t… Read More
2021-12-14 17:36
Known as the Gastronomic Capital of the World, Lyon is the ultimate destination for the culinarily inclined traveler. The hilly city lies in the southeast of France, surrounded by the venera… Read More
2021-12-08 15:54
The length and breadth of Italian red wine
Italy wrote the book on viticultural diversity. A nation of just over 59 million people boasts a treasure trove of indigenous grape varieties and e… Read More
2021-12-06 12:32
Paris is one of the world’s most enchanting cities. Brimming with history and culture, the city of lights has long been a haven for fine artists, fashion designers, literary geniuses… Read More
2021-12-01 08:16
If you’re worried about the globalization and standardization of wine – head to Italy! This glorious nation has the widest variety of indigenous grape varieties, terroirs, and wi… Read More
2021-11-29 12:43
The great wines and crus classés chateaux of Bordeaux have made this French wine region famous worldwide. Between Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux, Pomerol, Saint-Émilion, and S… Read More
2021-11-22 11:31
Brittany is the ultimate travel destination for lovers of the great outdoors, the sea, and diverse cuisine. The historic French region lies on France’s west coast encompassing the peni… Read More
2021-11-19 09:03
In the rolling hills between Florence and Siena, there is a grape variety with ancient origins. It has been part of this timeless landscape for centuries, providing color, acidity, and verve… Read More
2021-11-17 12:33
Champagne is one of France’s most remarkable regions boasting an illustrious past in the world of wine and French history alike. Synonymous with luxury and celebratory occasions, Champ… Read More
2021-11-12 12:01
Refosco has spent over a century shrouded in anonymity. Cultivated in discrete corners of northeastern Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia, the name ‘Refosco’ is only occasionally menti… Read More
2021-11-08 15:12
Languedoc-Roussillon is a region brimming with diversity in the southwestern corner of France. Situated along the sun-soaked Mediterranean, the Languedoc plain extends inland from the coast… Read More
2021-11-06 13:23
Frappato Grape Varietal
Sicily represents the last frontier of Italian viticulture. When pioneers like Piero Antinori and the Marquis Mario della Rocchetta were busy reinventing Tuscany&rsqu&hell…Read More
2021-11-02 08:53
Périgord Cuisine
Home to some of France’s most stunning landscapes, Périgord boasts a diverse countryside with a storied past. Also known as the Dordogne or the Dordogne… Read More
2021-10-29 06:40
Sommeliers often remark that certain wine styles and regions sell themselves. After all, most collectors are (self-certified) experts when it comes to the Cru Classé estates of B… Read More
2021-10-25 11:59
The Rhône-Alpes region of France provides an exceptional destination for a variety of travelers. During winter, skiers, snowboarders, and snow lovers flock to the east of the region do… Read More
2021-10-20 07:28
First-time visitors often believe that the Tuscan cliché defines Italy’s entire landscape. This is perfectly understandable: the rolling hills, olive groves, and sweeping vistas… Read More
2021-10-18 10:54
Considering the sheer diversity of high-quality wines produced throughout the region, the Loire Valley should be at the top of every wine lover’s bucket list. There is elegant Sauvigno… Read More
2021-10-15 11:50
Collectors love Italian wine, but they do tend to quibble about one thing. “It is so difficult to understand Italy’s wine culture, with its multitude of regions, grapes, and vine… Read More
2021-10-11 12:18
Perched along the Atlantic coast in northwestern France, Normandy boasts a storied history, stunning landscapes, and novel culinary traditions. Though World War II buffs flock here annually… Read More
2021-10-04 11:08
Nestled next to Germany in northeastern France, Alsace is a French region that both countries have fought wars over and have ruled at different times over the centuries. The multicultural in… Read More
2021-09-27 13:20
Located in northeastern France, Burgundy is home to some of the world’s most exquisite, costly, and sought-after wines. The region stretches from Dijon to Lyon, encompassing the wine c… Read More
2021-09-24 14:51
The wine trade is unanimous: Nerello Mascalese is the most exciting grape variety cultivated in Sicily today. One might even believe that it was created in a lab, custom-built to receive hig… Read More
2021-09-21 09:59
Located in central Italy, Lazio is nestled between Tuscany, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, and the Tyrrhenian Sea. This Italian region is home to Rome, the Eternal City, where thousands of trave… Read More
2021-09-17 07:09
Montepulciano grape is something of an outlier among Italy’s eclectic palette of red grape varieties. It lacks the international renown of Sangiovese (although it is Italy’s seco… Read More
2021-09-14 10:58
Italian cuisine is renowned the world over for its fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors. While classic Italian dishes like pizza, pasta, and lasagne are often thought of as traditional Ital… Read More
2021-09-06 08:44
The Essence of Lombardian Cuisine
Lombardy is a geographically and culinarily diverse landlocked region in northern Italy. Switzerland borders Lombardy to the north, followed by the Ven… Read More
2021-08-27 14:10
What is Aglianico Wine?
Italy has a thousand distinct grape varieties, each adapted to a niche in the country’s incredibly diverse landscape. Sadly, many of these wonders remained loca… Read More
2021-08-24 13:51
Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies on the northeastern edge of Italy bordered by Austria to the north, Slovenia to the east, the Adriatic Sea to the south, and the Veneto to the west. Throughout his… Read More
2021-08-17 14:29
The Cuisine of Trentino Alto-Adige
Tucked away in mountainous northeastern Italy, Trentino Alto-Adige is a unique Italian region in culture and cuisine. The alpine region is made up of two s… Read More
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