I’m not much of a traditionalist when it comes to wine and food pairings. I love to cook, I love to cook simply and I love a wine that can pair with the food – but that can also be drunk on its own. White wines with good acidity and some structure are, I think,…Continue reading Pecorino – Welcome to the Fold
Peter Jakob Kühn – 2000 Vintage Eiswein from the Rheingau
Oh, what a treat…but not without a bit of risk. I’m talking about buying a bottle – a half-bottle, in fact – of Eiswein (better know as Ice Wine to the English-speaking crowd). A bottle of Riesling Eiswein, in itself, would not be such a big deal, but this particular bottle is from the 2000…Continue reading Peter Jakob Kühn – 2000 Vintage Eiswein from the Rheingau
Great Sweet Wines of the World Part 1: Eiswein, Germany’s Cold Gold
I’m Canadian, and if there is one style of wine that Canada is well known for, it is Ice Wine. In a country like Canada, where winter is a given, temperatures will almost certainly drop well below freezing, allowing Ice Wine to be made regularly. Not so in Germany, although most of the country is…Continue reading Great Sweet Wines of the World Part 1: Eiswein, Germany’s Cold Gold
Making a Discovery at a Wine Fair – It isn’t as Difficult as you Think
Boy, do I get tired of Wine Fair Whinging™. There was a time when I felt that most people enjoyed a good wine fair. After all, what wine lover wouldn’t enjoy being in the exuberant company of like-minded individuals at an event where dozens – or even hundreds – of winemakers are pouring their wares…Continue reading Making a Discovery at a Wine Fair – It isn’t as Difficult as you Think
Anteprima Amarone 2015
Talk about high expectations. After the very difficult 2014 vintage in Europe, 2015 has been universally acclaimed on the continent as being one of the best vintages of the century. Possibly one of the best vintages ever. Wonderfully healthy fruit on the vines – and plenty of it. Great weather with oft-ideal ripening conditions. In…Continue reading Anteprima Amarone 2015
Your Best Mulled Wine
Mulled Wine Winter has officially begun. With winter come winter drinks, and what better way to combat winter’s chill than with a beautiful, hot cup of mulled wine? Started by the Romans, mulled wine remains a tradition throughout Europe, and has made its way across the world. I live in Germany, and Germany is as…Continue reading Your Best Mulled Wine
Make Zibibbo Your Holiday Dessert Wine
Sweet wines – that is, wines that are generally intended as dessert wines – get far too little attention and respect. This is tragic, because many of the world’s finest, most eloquent wines are, in fact, sweet wines. They can command astronomic prices, too, when coming from the right place and producer. Any grape can…Continue reading Make Zibibbo Your Holiday Dessert Wine
Finding Good Value in Wine – Part II
Good Value Wine Part II: Better Options As far as finding that “good deal” is concerned, once you move away from sales and discounters, things start to get a lot more interesting, a bit more complicated – and much more fun. Buy Local – Direct is Best This is, obviously, an easier option if you…Continue reading Finding Good Value in Wine – Part II
Rethinking Primitivo
Oh, Primitivo, I’m sorry! I should never have doubted you and your potential. Continuing on the theme of “breaking stereotypes”, allow me to share what I discovered in Apulia recently: there is Primitivo being made there that can easily compete with the great Zinfandel wines of California. Wines with freshness (!) and elegance (!!), fruit…Continue reading Rethinking Primitivo
Apulia Sparkles
It is a long-standing stereotype that “the south” cannot make sparkling wines of any real interest because the climate is too hot and sunny, meaning the grapes that thrive there lack the necessary acidity for great sparkling wine the grapes that are generally acknowledged as making the best sparkling wines (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, even Riesling)…Continue reading Apulia Sparkles