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Markus Molitor, “Mr. 300 Points”
Markus Molitor is not a man who likes to steal the limelight, despite his rather Herculean achievements. My first visit to his estate – in late autumn 2014 – was conducted entirely by his Export Director, Daniel Kiowski, including the meeting, greeting, tour, and tasting. I didn’t meet Markus himself until four or five years…
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Château Beauportail
Jerzy Niedojadlo knew he had a rough diamond on his hands after his first vineyard survey. But this was Pécharmant. Pécharmant for goodness’ sake, fully 80 km east of Libourne, slumbering somewhere on the coattails of Bergerac, a city better known for corpulent duellists than for handsome wines. And yet, there was something unique at Beauportail. …
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Bordeaux and Beyond
With all the talk of climate change and slowing global wine sales, Bordeaux remains the best-selling wine region in the world. The same holds true for Opimian Members like you. It’s here again! Your Bordeaux, Bergerac, and Beaujolais offering for your ordering pleasure. Bordeaux is anchored by your perennial favourite, Clos Cantenac, Bergerac by…
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Bordeaux and Beaujolais: A Tale of Two Vineyards
In many ways, Beaujolais and Bordeaux are as disparate as two French wine regions can be. Each has its entrenched stereotypes. Beaujolais is light and fruity. Bordeaux is powerful and tannic. With this frame of reference, it seems unlikely that a “serious” Bordeaux aficionado could ever embrace Beaujolais. And yet… The Singular Song of…
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Hens’ Teeth, Cuckoo’s Nest and French Whisk
One can be forgiven for thinking that we are talking about mythical, phantasmagorical things here. Yet one of these actually exist, if just – French whisky. Probably the shortest Wikipedia article I’ve ever seen – there is really not a lot on the subject out there – informs us that the first French whisky was…
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Q&A Series with Opimian’s Masters of Wine
Can you tell us a bit about your journey in the world of wine and how you became a Master of Wine? What inspired you to pursue a career in the wine industry? Michael: As strange as it sounds, I knew from the age of four that I loved wine. Just one of those…
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Up-to-the-Minute – News, Events & Travel
Member Benefits We are always looking for ways to make your Opimian Membership more valuable than having exclusive access to world-class, magnificent wines. Here are just a few of the benefits of Membership. Opimian Events Producer Tastings Coming to a City Near You in 2024! These events are a chance to taste last year’s vintage…
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A Toast to New Horizons
It may surprise you that when we compare the volume of Member wine orders by country, Spain is right up there in the top 5. While rightly known for its saturated and mouth-watering reds, we are presenting you with a well-rounded Cellar of wine styles for every palate. You may also notice…
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Meet Mauricio Lorca – Spain’s Self-Made Trailblazer
Opimian is proud to have esteemed Mauricio Lorca as a wine partner. He is an acclaimed wine producer, famed for his Argentinian wine. Mauricio personally oversees every stage of wine production to ensure top quality vinification, ranging from pruning, pressing, fermenting, bottling and storage. With his intense passion for his craft, it may seem as…
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Up-to-the-Minute – News, Events & Travel
To help you achieve your 2024 goals, IWEG is offering a special rate for Opimian members for 2024 Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and Wine Scholar Guild (WSG) courses! Use the code opimian24 at checkout on IWEG’s website https://iweg.org to receive 10 per cent off eligible courses! This special offer is effective January 1st 2024 and…
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In Conversation with Gómez de Segura
In a conversation with Opimian, the family unveils the intricacies of their winemaking practices and the distinctive elements that set them apart in the world of wine. How would you describe the overall winemaking philosophy, and what sets your approach apart from other wineries? We start from the premise that “wine is made on…
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The Distinctive Wines of Chablis
Along both banks of the Serein River in northern Bourgogne, there lies an illustrious wine region surrounding an unassuming village of the same name. Its vineyards are dedicated to just one grape: Chardonnay. While this popular white variety is planted around the globe, most experts agree that there is Chardonnay… and then there is Chablis.…
Markus Molitor, “Mr. 300 Points”
Markus Molitor is not a man who likes to steal the limelight, despite his rather Herculean achievements. My first visit to his estate – in late autumn 2014 – was conducted entirely by his Export Director, Daniel Kiowski, including the meeting, greeting, tour, and tasting. I didn’t meet Markus himself until four or five years […]