Learning about wine

June 8, 2020

Below you'll find a list of my favorite wine tasting books. They're in random order, as they cater to different audiences. Choose the one you think best suits your level. Can't figure it out? Feel free to leave a comment,...

frankrijk beaujolais wijnmakers wijngaard wijn terroir

May 4, 2020

Beaujolais is more, 10 favorites from the Bojo

In "Wine Simple," the book by top sommelier Aldo Sohm, published last year, there's a list of wines with a bad reputation. At number five: Beaujolais. The accompanying caption reads: " Great makers are rewriting the reputation ." Hit the...

De bubbel volgens de oermethode: methode ancestrale

April 4, 2020

The bubble according to the primal method: method ancestrale

No Champagne today, but another special sparkling wine in the spotlight. During my search for the unknown, I stumbled upon the French town of Gaillac, near Toulouse. Here, the bubbles aren't produced in the same way as in Champagne. A...

Wijnspijs: Lasagne met chorizo, peer en blauwe kaas

March 28, 2020

Wine and food pairing: Lasagne with chorizo, pear and blue cheese

I first tasted this lasagna in the South of France, at my parents' house, years ago. Just hearing the combination of ingredients made my teenage vegetarian hairs stand on end. And until a few years ago, I would have run...

March 27, 2020

Time for German wines

Germany is a top white wine region. Everyone knows Riesling, of course. It's fun to see how Riesling is slowly winning over wine enthusiasts. The exact same thing happened to me. At first, you're not interested in it, because "those...

Read moreabout Time for German wines

Whole bunch fermentation: de vergisting van hele trossen

March 25, 2020

Whole bunch fermentation: the fermentation of whole bunches

Sometimes I really can't figure out how to translate an English term into Dutch. Whole bunch fermentation sounds good, whole cluster fermentation a little less so, right? It's certainly a popular technique among winemakers and wine enthusiasts. "Decanter even had...

De tien wijnen die me bijgebleven zijn uit 2019

January 31, 2020

The ten wines that stuck with me from 2019

2019 was the year I started working with wine full-time, became self-employed, taught nine wine courses, collaborated with Hanna Leentvaart to rebrand Le Club, launched De Fanshop, started a podcast with Sommeljj, and tasted a ton of fantastic wines. Wines...

bordeaux chateau d'angludet sichel chateau palmer biodynamisch wijn wijngaard

December 13, 2019

Inside the Chateau d'Angludet

For an affordable and enjoyable Bordeaux, I highly recommend Château d'Angludet. It's the second estate of the Sichel family, who made their name with Château Palmer. Upon arrival we are warmly welcomed by Daisy Sichel, the niece of the current...

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...

December 4, 2019

The first time Prowein

This year, the time had finally come: I'm off to Prowein! Europe's largest wine extravaganza, where every wine lover can be found. To give you an idea of the event's size: there are eighteen halls full of wine! Think of...