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
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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.
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
2021-08-14 09:31
Although the key ingredient in Sicily’s viticulture lacks the global renown of Merlot, every Sicilian will tell you that Nero d’Avola can make spectacular wine. Not even the pung… Read More
2021-08-11 10:10
Le Marche is often overlooked in favor of its more well-known neighboring regions like Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. As a result, Le Marche is somewhat of an undiscovered gem fo… Read More
2021-08-05 11:17
Known as the green heart of Italy, Umbria and its forest laden landscape are nestled in the center of the country. As the only Italian region lacking a coastline, Umbrian cuisine encompasses… Read More
2021-07-29 11:46
Spain’s viticultural landscape is anchored in both tradition and modernity. Vines have been cultivated since Roman times, and the nation has more vineyards than any global wine produce… Read More
2021-07-25 13:58
Home to the picturesque Amalfi Coast and mainland Europe’s only active volcano, Campania boasts a vibrant food scene as swoon-worthy as its breathtaking landscapes. The region rests be… Read More
2021-07-20 10:28
Located in southeast Italy, Puglia is an ideal destination for travelers and foodies alike. The region encompasses the heel of Italy’s boot and is one of the country’s least moun… Read More
2021-07-12 20:25
Every year travelers flock to the Veneto to visit the region’s world-famous capital, Venice. A city built on the Venetian Lagoon, Venice is a worthwhile destination full of ancient his… Read More
2021-07-01 09:51
Over the past 15 years, Spain has been re-evaluating its viticultural priorities. At the turn of the Millennium, the Iberian Peninsula was overwhelmingly associated with one red grape variet… Read More
2021-06-29 11:27
As the second-largest island in the Mediterranean behind Sicily, Sardinia is a top destination for intrepid travelers. The island beckons beachgoers from around the world with its cryst… Read More
2021-06-23 13:34
Sicily is a desirable destination for adventurous travelers, home to sun-soaked beaches, Europe’s largest active volcano, and internationally acclaimed wines. For the gastronomically i… Read More
2021-06-17 14:41
Must-Try Foods of Emilia Romagna
Nestled between Italy’s Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, just south of the Veneto and Lombardy, sits Emilia-Romagna. This region has it all, fr… Read More
2021-06-01 13:27
Nestled amongst the foothills of the Alps in northwestern Italy sits Piedmont. This Italian region is famous worldwide for its highly sought-after Nebbiolo wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. Wi… Read More
2021-05-31 13:08
“Garnacha is possibly Spain’s greatest red grape variety. Like Pinot Noir, it acts as a powerful conduit between the terroir and the winery. There is no other grape in Spain that… Read More
2021-05-22 19:52
What is typical Tuscan food?
As a world-renowned travel destination, Tuscany has stolen the hearts of many. Located in Central Italy, idyllic landscapes of verdant hills and valleys encompa… Read More
2021-04-26 12:48
Spain’s Top Gourmet Paradores
The “Paradores de Turismo de España” brand was founded in the early 20th century by Spanish King Alfonso XIII to save historical patrim… Read More
2021-04-25 09:25
What kind of wine is Vin Santo?
There is an abundance of diverse wines waiting to be discovered in Italy. Over 350 grape varieties are authorized for commercial wine production; this include… Read More
2021-04-20 12:35
Guide to Amarone Wine
Amarone della Valpolicella is one of Italy’s true classics. In English, Amarone [pronunciation – aa·muh·row·nei] roughly translates as… Read More
2021-03-27 09:38
An Introduction to Sangiovese Grape and its Wine
Italy’s most-planted red grape variety comes in a multitude of guises. Sangiovese [pronunciation: san·jow·vei·zuh]… Read More
2021-03-24 12:43
Burgundy Cheese and Pairings by Nikki Dickerson
As the world’s second-largest wine producer, France is home to several prestigious wine regions. Yet, there is one region renowned above… Read More
2021-03-01 16:02
Wandering through cobblestone streets, lined with royal palazzos and Renaissance palaces, you’d never imagine that many Italian towns artfully disguise vineyards right in the middle of… Read More
2021-02-24 11:14
What type of wine is viognier?
Of all the remarkable white grapes of France, Viognier enjoys the greatest anonymity. Tasted blind, you’d instantly recognize its signature scent and fla… Read More
2021-02-08 16:08
Beautiful, dynamic, exciting, and buzzy, Lyon is France’s third-largest city and home to some of the country’s best restaurants and famous chefs. Straddling the great Saône… Read More
2021-01-27 12:44
What is Marsala Wine and Where Does to Come From?
Sicily represents Italy’s most exciting winemaking frontier. After a long period of stagnation and over-production, this gorgeous Medi… Read More
2020-12-18 11:41
What is Primitivo wine?
There is no mistaking a glass of ripe, powerfully scented Primitivo. How would we describe its signature aroma and flavor? Well, the best analogy would be jumping hea… Read More
2020-12-05 13:40
Great terroir may influence a regional wine style’s nuances, but it is the raw materials that enable the magic to happen. Fortunately, Spain has both. The Iberian Peninsula boasts some… Read More
2020-12-05 13:40
Great terroir may influence a regional wine style’s nuances, but it is the raw materials that enable the magic to happen. Fortunately, Spain has both. The Iberian Peninsula boasts some… Read More
2020-11-25 13:16
French Sancerre White Wine
If one change has dominated the last 40 years, it is undoubtedly shifting emphasis from place to grape. In Europe, the name of a wine, with few exceptions, was its… Read More
2020-11-07 11:19
Madrid, Spain’s exciting and beautiful capital city, offers a smörgåsbord of world-famous art museums and historical landmarks, but for us, the biggest attraction is the foo… Read More
2020-11-03 14:54
Porto is one of Europe’s most vibrant and fascinating cities. While very much “on the radar” for food and wine lovers and culture vultures, Porto is thankfully not saturate… Read More
2020-11-01 22:00
After more than 45 years of reinvention and revolution, it is tempting to conclude that Tuscany’s wine renaissance has ended. Spearheaded by pioneering winemakers such as Piero Antinor… Read More
2020-10-26 14:45
“Super Tuscan” is a wine term that you may have come across before but not known what it means, are we right? So what is the definition of “Super Tuscan” exactly? Sup… Read More
2020-10-01 22:00
Spain’s cuisine is fascinating, varied, and influenced by many diverse cultures, from the Moors, Sephardic Jews, and Latin America. Dishes so ubiquitous in Spanish cooking now (Spanish… Read More
2020-09-28 07:28
For any visitor to Reims, the sight is instantly recognizable; row upon row of bottles being stored horizontally in the ancient and majestic chalk cellars of Champagne. Hidden underground, t… Read More
2020-09-15 10:35
Piedmont’s wine country in Northwest Italy is spectacularly beautiful and varied from the dramatic valleys overshadowed by the Alps to the sparkling lakes, and of course to the fairyta… Read More
2020-08-30 22:00
Which Champagne houses to visit?
Champagne is perhaps the most famous and simultaneously misunderstood of all the great wine regions of France. These hallowed vineyards – found east o… Read More
2020-08-23 22:00
Seville is considered by many to be the “Tapas Capital of Spain,” and hence of the world! There are thought to be more than 3000 tapas bars, the highest concentration anywhere. W… Read More
2020-08-16 22:00
The Microbrewery Revolution
Ireland has enjoyed a prosperous brewing culture for over 200 years. In the late 18th century, there was an explosion in the brewing industry – by the begin… Read More
2020-08-13 10:15
Tuscany Vineyard Hotels
Wine lovers in Tuscany are spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful vineyards, charming restaurants, and quaint family-run wine estates; however, luxurious and s… Read More
2020-08-09 22:00
Barolo can genuinely claim to be the King of Italian wines; produced in the Northern Italian region of Piedmont from that most individual of grapes – Nebbiolo. The wine offers a unique… Read More
2020-08-05 12:07
Sardinian Wine
It takes a stony disposition not to be captivated by Sardinia. Even if you cannot surrender yourself to the pristine beaches, hilltop villages, and benign climate, then the in… Read More
2020-08-01 09:26
India is a country with an ancient wine-making tradition and a new and emerging wine-producing industry. Vineyards are multiplying, quality is rising, and urban Indians are slowly but surely… Read More
2020-07-28 16:55
10 Grape Types You Probably Never Heard of
Grape Varieties continue to play an essential role in the wine’s language, which is why ‘varietal labeling’ has become so common… Read More
2020-07-13 14:26
Staying in a castle in Italy is one of the most romantic and unforgettable experiences you could imagine. Having the whole castle to yourself is happiness at an entirely higher level! We hav… Read More
2020-06-21 11:06
Pinot Noir was put on this earth to frustrate winemakers and excite oenophiles. In the best years and from the best sites, aficionados of the grape expect (but don’t always get) an exq… Read More
2020-06-16 13:03
Safe Private Travel in Portugal, post-Corona Virus
Alentejo
Algarve
Azores
Douro Valley
When the current Covid-19 crisis finally recedes, there is one thing we are all going to want… Read More
2020-05-21 12:41
Top Quality Alternative Sparkling Wines
The sparkling wine world is infinitely more complex, diverse, and exciting than the Champenoise would like you to believe. Benefiting from an extraord… Read More
2020-04-23 14:22
The very best Chilean wines:
It is incredibly easy to fall in love with Chile – the landscape, its gregarious people, and, of course, the excellent wines. Nothing can prepare you for y… Read More
2020-03-26 12:44
Simona Piccinelli’s interview with Marco Antonucci, the renowned extra virgin olive oil communicator
Olive Oil has been used for over 6,000 years! In the Copper Age, farmers who occupi… Read More
2020-03-20 07:50
Burgundy’s legendary blackcurrant liqueur
Every gastronome, sybarite, and bon viveur owes Burgundy a monumental debt of gratitude. No other region has given so much in return for so l… Read More
2020-03-12 22:00
The unsung diversity of Italian sparkling wine
A leading winemaker once proclaimed to Cellar Tours that “Italy is one of the great unsung heroes of the sparkling wine world.” Suc… Read More
2020-03-07 11:04
What’s the difference between Burgundy and Bordeaux?
In 2015, esteemed wine writers Jancis Robinson MW and Hugh Johnson hosted a landmark event in London: Bordeaux Vs Burgundy. The deb… Read More
2020-02-28 07:33
The 1855 Bordeaux classification: the creation of an elite
In 1855, the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce took an unprecedented step which would transform the fortunes of the Medoc region. After… Read More
2020-02-21 19:29
Best Irish whiskey brands
Twenty years ago, proselytizing about Irish whiskey was an endeavor fraught with problems. Any list of top Irish whiskeys would be depressingly easy to compile &nda&hell…Read More
2020-02-13 11:02
What is the most famous grape of Piedmont?
Piedmont and Nebbiolo. The two are as inseparable as Burgundy and Pinot Noir; a noble and longstanding marriage between grape variety and terroir… Read More
2020-02-06 11:30
Top 10 French desserts paired with wine
Is France Europe’s ultimate culinary Mecca, a land of superlative gastronomy that has no equal? The answer is not so clear-cut as the French wou… Read More
2020-01-22 11:16
Once dismissed as a passing fad, today there is no doubting the massive relevance of rose to the global wine category. There have been numerous articles, blogs and opinion pieces dedicated t… Read More
2020-01-20 19:49
Difference between Scotch and Irish Whiskey
Like a match between two prize-winning boxers, the subject of Irish versus Scotch whiskey arouses and inflames the passions. The quickest way to c… Read More
2019-12-24 17:08
Piedmonts Delicious Aromatized Wine
Barolo. It’s a word that elicits instant excitement from sybarites and collectors – Nebbiolo finds its most dazzling expression in the Langhe… Read More
2019-12-23 12:29
The Best of Spanish Dessert Wine
Most wine regions, and indeed wine nations, have their surprises and unexpected turns. Even seasoned Bordeaux aficionados are often surprised to learn that S… Read More
2019-12-13 17:51
The Wonderful Versatility of Dijon Mustard
What is the sacred trinity of the Burgundian culinary tradition? Many would argue that it is beef, red wine, and cheese – the red wines of Ch… Read More
2019-12-11 18:46
The complexities of cheese and wine pairing
No foodie topic is more open to debate, disagreement, and subjectivity than cheese and wine pairing. Local cuisine, different cultures, and person… Read More
2019-12-02 22:00
Cassis White Wines
At first glance, there are few surprises left in French viticulture. The wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy and indeed Provence are globally renowned – Pauillac, Blanc de B… Read More
2019-11-30 09:05
White Burgundy Wine
The status and reverence given to the superlative white wines of Burgundy are arguably under threat. California, Australia, New Zealand, and other European regions have p… Read More
2019-11-23 13:34
Top Cognac Brands
Cognac is as much a cultural icon as it is a luxurious brandy. Even before you have sampled any of the local firewater, there is a gorgeous, historic town to get to grips w… Read More
2019-11-19 18:41
Provence Cuisine
What is Provence’s inimitable quality which lures back the same discerning travelers year after year? Many would argue that it is the gorgeous natural setting –… Read More
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