Christmas is when many people treat themselves to something a little special in terms of wine. Possibly splashing out (yes, a pun, totally intended) on something a bit more expensive than usual for Christmas dinner, along with some treats for before and after.
Mulled wine, or spiced wine, or gluhwein, or glögg, gløgg and glögi (Nordic names, not the sound of drinking it) is a popular festive hot drink made from wine, sugar and a pile of spices. Maybe also some citrus rind, but that seems to be a recent thing. It is often served at Christmas markets in Europe.
Ask most people what Portugal’s biggest export is and they’ll say, “Cristiano Ronaldo. ” Ask them to guess again and they might say, “Port. ” Both are wrong.
Not the most common wine to be found in a kitchen cupboard or home wine rack, Australian Sparkling Shiraz is something we are shouting about from the rooftops this Christmas.
Writing about wines in Spain is a bit like writing about the stars. If Spain were the night sky, then nearly every direction you look in wine is being made, either in clusters together or more isolated. And it's made in a dazzling array of styles from a vast number of grape varieties.
Mother nature’s sweet, sweet nectar. So sweet, in fact, it can have almost double the amount of sugar as Coca-Cola. Eiswein has its origins in the Rheingau Valley in Germany, where research suggests that it was the mishap of a particularly cold winter in 1794.
You may have heard whispers of organic or biodynamic wines. Or perhaps your nephew only drinks vegan unfiltered wines? You may be wondering, “What’s going on?” All these terms that seem to have only appeared in the past few years. Well, stress no more, we are here to educate and to influen.
Diez Siglos was established when 65 wine growers based in the Rueda region in the northwest of Spain got together and expressed their desire for the Verdejo grape to be celebrated and nurtured like other Spanish varieties.
The Aragón wine region is a tough, arid place in the northeast of Spain, sandwiched between two significant mountain ranges: the Pyrenees in the north and the Iberian System to the south. The massive basin between the two is home to four wine making regions.
The Tempranillo grape is a treasure from Spanish soil. Drought-resistant, thick-skinned and resilient—all reasons why it is one of the top five most grown grape varieties in the world. Tempranillo boasts dominant flavours of red fruits, cherry, fig and earthy cedar.
Australian wine has come a long way. That may sound obvious given how distant the country is from most of its wine markets, but that’s not what we mean. We’re talking about the quality, reputation and, above all, the impact and influence Australian wine has had on the wine industry globally.
Originally discovered by French scientist Michel Flanzy, and later perfected by Beaujolais négociant, taster and chemist Jules Chauvet, carbonic maceration is a winemaking process used to create a style of red wine that is lively, fresh and fruity on the nose; and soft and light on the palate.
Steeped in history, the Duval-Leroy Champagne house is one of a kind. Founded in 1859, it remains an independent, family business, even after six generations. In fact, of the top ten Champagne houses, only Duval-Leroy remains family owned.
Ah, Champagne, the Rolls Royce of the wine world. This radiant prestigious wine was developed from sparkling wine said to have been first discovered by Benedictine monks in 1531. The monks bottled some wine before the fermentation process had finished—a lucky mistake that resulted in a bubbly.
Welcome to International Wine Region Ping-pong. Alsace has been bounced back and forth between France and Germany numerous times, and currently lives in France.
Picture the scene. It’s the early 1990s. Ireland has made it to the World Cup football finals, the Soviet Union has collapsed and it seems like Britpop might take over the world.
Racking is part of the production process in wine, but maybe isn’t what you think it is. The word racking itself originated from the Old English term ‘rakken’, which means skins, pips and stalks of the grape.
Château Moulin de Peyronin is a refreshing take on the many, MANY Bordeaux wineries. Aged only 25, Franck and Véronique Terral bought the winery in 2006 with the desire to farm organically, while using their combined backgrounds in viticulture, oenology and commercial wine studies to create a business.
Remember that über-popular, good-looking kid at school who was really good at everything, and we mean e-ve-ry-thing? Well, that’s Chardonnay. Chardonnay probably originated in France as a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc.
Sauvignon Blanc is the original wild child of wine. It makes for herbaceous, green, citrusy and minerally wines that are instantly recognisable on the nose and grab hold of your tongue in an acidic embrace that literally leaves you salivating for more.
The Douro Valley is the world’s largest mountainous vineyard. Carving through the north of Portugal, the Douro River, also known as ‘The River of Gold’, has been a winemaking hub since the 3rd century AD, rising in prominence as a exporter of wine in the late 17th century.
Poor Merlot. Imagine being one of the greats of the winemaking industry, but nearly always being talked about in the context of either a) another grape or b) worse still, a movie.
Known for its distinctive Sauvignon Blanc wines that practically shout “Kia ora!" (Hello!) from the glass, New Zealand’s Marlborough region is tucked up on the northeast corner of the country’s South Island.
Ask nearly anyone in France where the best wines in the world are made and they will say, “France. ” Except for two groups of people who will give you a different answer. 1.
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