STYLE, FLAIR & JOIE DE VIVRE!
Why Bergerac should be your next wine travel destination It wasn’t the lure of fine bottles that first brought me to Dordogne almost two decades ago. This corner of southwest France promises mediaeval bastides, honey-coloured plus beaux villages, culinary delicacies such as truffle and foie gras and even vineyards, but as I mapped out my wine stops weeks before my first trip to the region, it was…
Rosé, toute l’année! The success story of Domaine des DiablesNothing ushers in spring better than a delightful glass of rosé. But rosé—which has seen a huge surge in popularity over the past three decades—can be so much more than just a light, easygoing terrace wine or aperitif; it also makes an excellent gastronomic companion. For those seeking true quality, there’s no getting around Provence. We…
Roero: Less Famous, but No Less Beloved North of the famous vineyards of Barolo and Barbaresco, on the left bank of the Tanaro River, lies Roero, where refined Nebbiolos are also produced. Due to the sandy soils of the region, these wines are less tannic and therefore more approachable. In addition, wonderfully fresh white wines are made from the Arneis grape.In recent years, interest in Roero has…
The renaissance of Sicilian wines Located in the heart of the Mediterranean, Sicily has always held a strategic position as a crossroads of cultures, influences, and traditions. Today, Sicilian wine is as diverse as the island’s turbulent history, but not so long ago, quantity was favored over quality, and production was largely focused on bulk wine. Since the turn of the century, however, we have…
Holland Herald (November 2024)Happy Places: World’s Top Pâtisseries PRADA CAFFÈ IN HARRODSMerge high-fashion with culinary cachet and the result is the pop-up Prada Caffè at Harrods in London. Inside, everything is an ode to the renowned Italian label – from their signature mint-green colour adorning the café’s walls, ceilings and furniture, to the black-and-white chequered floors inspired by…
Crozes-Hermitage: Dynamics in the Heart of the Northern Rhône In the Drôme, a land of lavender fields and olive trees, lie the vineyards of Crozes-Hermitage. This is the largest appellation of the northern Rhône Valley, the kingdom of Syrah. Unlike the famous terraced vineyards of Hermitage that surround the appellation, the grape here primarily produces accessible quality wines that are ready to…
Gastronomic Wines Reflecting the Terroir of Entre-Deux-Mers In the picturesque yet often overlooked Entre-Deux-Mers region lies Vignobles Despagne. For over two centuries, family history and innovation have flowed together, much like the Garonne and Dordogne rivers that embrace the area. Since 2003, Thibault and Basaline have been at the helm, driven by a shared passion for creating wines that not…
Berticot: A model for modern winegrowing cooperatives Berticot was founded in 1965 by three visionary winemakers who wanted to join forces with the aim of optimizing regional viticultural production and sustainability, maintaining quality control and offering a wide range of wine profiles that closely match consumer desires. After almost 60 years, this collaboration has not only grown closer and…
Holland Herald (December 2024)Happy Places: On the Wall DON’T FEAR THE OTHER SIDEWhen Kirsten Sandlin, from Memphis, Tennessee, United States, created Don’t Fear the Other Side as part of a mural festival in 2021, she drew inspiration not only from her children, but also from her life challenges: “I wanted to remind people that you can’t fear change; often, something exciting and unexpected is…
My food and drinks column for the May issue of Reader’s Digest If there’s one thing I look forward to come Friday evening, it’s ringing in the weekend with a well-prepared meal and the celebratory ‘pop’ of uncorking a fine bottle of wine. Everything, from thinking about what I’m going to make, to buying the wine and that moment when I swirl, sniff and delight in that much-anticipated first sip,…