Learning about wine
Off to the Jura: What is Vin Jaune?
Vin jaune , or 'yellow wine' if you translate it literally, comes from the Jura , the area in eastern France bordering Switzerland. The region no one talks about . The same goes for the wine. Or maybe not? For a long...
Marsala: more than a cooking wine
Marsala is a fortified wine from Sicily, often used in cooking. In tiramisu, for example, or in rich, caramelized sauces. But hey, I now know that Marsala is much more than just a cooking wine. Is Marsala the Italian sherry?...
What is Crémant: the French bubbly that isn't called Champagne
What is crémant ? Champagne, the queen of bubbles, we all know it. But we also all know you can't drink champagne all the time. Unless you live in a Bitcoin bubble. In that case, I'd crack open a nice...
A look inside Henri Giraud Champagne
Henri Giraud Champagne was founded in 1625—back when champagne was still a still wine and Dom Pérignon was furious about bubbles. Oh well, things change. I'm embarrassed to admit I hadn't heard of this winery before. It turned out to...
The best winter sport ever: Wine Ski Safari in Sud-Tirol!
Would I like to join you on a Wine Ski Safari to the Alto-Adige? Absolutely! My heart leaped just reading the email. Yes, of course I want to! When I was asked about my skiing level, I didn't quite know...
Wine and food pairing: Beef Wellington and Pomerol
Beef Wellington. It's been on my list to make for a while. It looks extra festive on the table; like cutting open a present. I just hope it turns out well and the meat comes out nice and pink. Follow...
I can't call myself a huge sushi fan, but I do appreciate it from time to time. A good California roll. or crispy spicy tuna I wouldn't turn it down. As for the wine and food pairing, you can go with anything, as...
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...
Inside Billecart-Salmon - the traditional method up close
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...
None other than Jean Trimbach came to Rotterdam for a masterclass at Wijnhandel Peeters. Together with his brother Pierre, he runs Domaine FE Trimbach, one of Alsace's most famous wineries. The family is passionate about Riesling. A whopping 45% of...
Governo, the Ripasso of Tuscany (but better)
If you're a regular reader of this wine blog, you know I officially became a fan of Sangiovese last summer. So you might understand why I'm completely unstoppable when this grape is particularly concentrated. That's what the Governo method does....
What is sulfite and what does it do in wine?
Sulfites in wine are a topic of conversation. At first glance, I thought it sounded quite similar to the gluten debate, which thankfully seems to have died down a bit. The sulfite hype began when the EU mandated labeling sulfite...