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...
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...
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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...
Wine101: wine words that come up during tasting
"dancing acids provide a great balance" Uhm.... Describing wine isn't easy. It can be so diverse that it becomes difficult to capture your taste in words. And when we talk about taste, are we talking about your personal taste or...
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Wine101: What is phylloxera? What is phylloxera? Every now and then it comes up in a conversation with a winemaker or wine seller: phylloxera. "Yes, that was then and there, and all the vines died, and it was a huge...
Methode traditionelle: how is champagne made?
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...
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Besides the many classifications, rules, and exceptions to the rules, the region is extremely fragmented. It consists of many small plots of vineyards. This is a relic of the French Revolution. Before that time, most vineyards were owned by the...
Deep down everyone loves gourmet cooking
Now, I have to admit I'm not always enthusiastic about the whole gourmet thing. That's why I had to laugh out loud at this sharp article . There are a lot of gourmet haters, which I understand to some extent,...
Podere Forte: the pearl of Tuscany
When I arrive, the other guests are already at the table. One moment I'm cycling like a madman along the Meuse River, the next I'm sitting at the table with the high society of the wine world (including Harold Hamersma,...
New Year's Eve. Wow, I would have written this blog sooner, but the stomach flu hit me too. I've slept about 30 hours in three days, so I feel great again. Time for action! 2017 was a good year. For...