Learning about wine

In early March, I hopped in my speedy Fiesta en route de Champagne. It's a mere five-hour drive from Rotterdam, but with the right podcasts blaring, it feels like fifteen minutes. It truly is the perfect weekend getaway for wine...

Billecart-Salmon, Mareuil-sur-Ay – March 2, 2018 Today I'm taking you—pour yourself a nice glass—to Billecart-Salmon. Loyal fans know Billecart-Salmon from their striking Champagne Rosé, which incidentally contains a surprisingly high percentage (50%) of Chardonnay. Others may know Billecart-Salmon from The...

How is Champagne made? What is the traditional method, or "methode traditionnelle"? How do bubbles get into wine? So many questions, so many answers. Sparkling wines like Champagne, Cava, and Franciacorta are made using the traditional method. In short, this...

For two years running, I've been attending Le Tour de Champagne. I still remember the first time vividly. Dressed in our finest dresses—my fan Hanneke came along—we walked the red carpet at the Amstel Hotel. We immersed ourselves in the...

Let me briefly outline the situation of this – undoubtedly epic – tasting, although the word 'tasting' is not enough, it is a Fine Wine Experience . A big yes, that's definitely what it was. It was raining that evening. Really...

The members of Club des Vins are now trained to recite the three Champagne grapes at any given moment: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Until one of them gently but firmly points out to me that many more grapes...

I still can't believe it. Yesterday I tasted a Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises for the first time. Champagne, that is. Okay—you might be thinking—you were drinking champagne again? True, but this was so much more than that. It was a...