Learning about wine
Wine FAQ: How much does a vineyard cost?
The #wijnvraagbaak section answers your burning wine questions. Have a question? Let me know via email or Instagram. This time it's about purchasing a vineyard. Have you always dreamed of becoming a winegrower, packing your bags and moving to, say,...
How is Amarone della Valpolicella made?
It's one of Italy's most famous wines, but how is Amarone della Valpolicella actually made? Le Club investigates and reports. The hills of Valpolicella lie north of the charming city of Verona, near the hills of Soave – Italy's famous...
Jacques Selosse, different from the rest
In 2020, during a trip to the Loire Valley, one bottle after another was opened during lunch at a winery (Domaine Guiberteau). The bottles were placed in a sock and served blind. One of the socks contained Jacques Selosse's rosé...
The Road to Weinakademiker, Part 7 (Sparkling & Fortified Exam)
It's time for a new article in the series "The Road to Weinakademiker." My current score is that I've completed 5 of the 7 exams. That was almost one less, because I was this close to cancel the Fortified exam, but I'm...
Mats wants to become a Master of Wine (part 3)
Mats wants to become a Master of Wine. I'm a sociologist, and after graduating in the Netherlands, I immediately moved to Switzerland to work successively at a winery, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and now a wine importer. Since September, I've embarked on...
Are you familiar with the abbreviation SSP? I'd never heard of it either until recently, when I came across it in the book "The Sommelier's Atlas to Taste." SSP stands for Sommelier Sangiovese Problem. It turns out it's a thing....
Tokaj, the liquid gold from Hungary
When you think of wine, Hungary might not immediately spring to mind. Yet, the country has been producing wine for centuries, with Tokaji being the most famous. Louis XIV – you know, the French king who lived in Versailles –...
It's Monday, time for a new article. Since I'm going to spend all day in Bordeaux at the Beurs van Berlage, I thought it would be a good opportunity to take a closer look at the main villages of the...
Mats wants to become a Master of Wine (part 2)
I'm a sociologist, and after graduating in the Netherlands, I immediately moved to Switzerland to work successively at a winery, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and now a wine importer. Since September, I've embarked on the biggest challenge of my life: becoming...
Mats wants to become a Master of Wine (part 1)
I'm a sociologist, and after graduating in the Netherlands, I immediately moved to Switzerland to work successively at a winery, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and now a wine importer. Since September, I've embarked on the biggest challenge of my life: becoming...
The Road to Weinakademiker - Part 10 (Passed?)
Think big. I want to become a Weinakademiker. On September 3, 2018, I started the WSET Diploma Course, which ultimately—if you add a thesis afterward—results in the title of Weinakademiker. In part 10, I look back on the past year....
The Road to Weinakademiker - Part 9 (Exam Tips)
The final exam of the Diploma Course was scheduled for the end of October. And I can tell you: it went well. I think. Now, a few weeks later, doubts are creeping in again. Did I actually write down enough?...