Learning about wine

Reset filters

February 7, 2025

One of my favorite holiday destinations is and remains the Champagne region. Even if you only have two days, it's still easily accessible by car. From Rotterdam, you can drive to Reims in 4.5 hours, including a short coffee break...

champagne henri giraud restaurant de kas wijnproeverij

March 1, 2024

Henri Giraud at De Kas in Amsterdam

In the heart of Champagne, amidst the chalk soils of Aÿ, you'll find the Henri Giraud Champagne House. This historic family home, rooted in four centuries of craftsmanship, I I visited for the first time a few years ago . In...

December 27, 2023

The best books about bubbles

Below you'll find a list of my favorite books about champagne. In no particular order, as they cater to different audiences. What they all have in common, of course, is a love of champagne. You might read one book because...

Le Club & Sommeljj’s Grote Champagne Test (<40 euro)

October 28, 2021

Le Club & Sommeljj's Grand Champagne Test (<40 euros)

For all my Christmas ballers, champagne poppers All those snowmen, oh pine tree lallers Let it snow white flakes, do your best It's Christmas guys, make me crazy Fortunately, we didn't have to answer this question alone. Besides Jan Jaap...

champagne jacques selosse frankrijk champagnestreek champagnehuis grand cru

July 5, 2021

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...

champagne epernay le club des vins frankrijk wijn restaurants

June 21, 2021

A wine fan in Epernay (and Champagne)

A few weeks ago, when I was sitting on a terrace in Bloemendaal, I got a call from @sommeljj. “Shall we go to Champagne?” I didn't need to be asked twice. Let's go! I mean: on y va! With a PCR test...

August 4, 2020

The Four Fermentations of Bollinger

Once you've visited a few Champagne houses, you think you're starting to understand the process. Forget it. In early March, I visited Bollinger and had to start all over again. I was given a tour of the Champagne house's cellars...

champagne frankrijk jacquesson champagnehuis

December 8, 2019

Now I know for sure: Jacquesson is my favorite

It's 11:00 a.m. and I'm at Wijncafé Lefebvre for a Jacquesson tasting led by importer Roel (owner of Ovino) and Bram (Lefebvre's sommelier). I was already enthusiastic about Jacquesson, but after this tasting, I know for sure: Jacquesson is my...

Sussex Champagne Engeland Fleury Pommery Ridgeview

October 29, 2018

Sussex vs. Champagne: Two Sides of the Parisian Basin

Last Thursday, the tasting "Two Sides of the Paris Basin" was on the agenda. Paris, two sides? What? It has to do with sparkling wine. From England and Champagne. We have the Paris Basin to thank for them. But what...

Frankrijk wijngaard champagne champagnereis bollinger wijnhuis

August 20, 2018

Inside Bollinger

Friday, March 1, 2018. It's Friday, and just after noon, I drive into the town of Ay. If you didn't know better, you'd probably drive right past it. It's not exactly bustling, but excitement courses through me. It started on...