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South Africa On The Rise
By Jacky Blisson MW If you want to befriend a South African winemaker, do not refer to their wines as “New World”. The country’s first vineyards were planted in 1655. This may not seem old in comparison with the Etruscan or Roman origins of many European vineyards. However, when you consider how quickly South African…
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North vs South
By Michael Palij MW Most wine scholars who care to remember will recall with a wry smile the Kiwi wine industry in the 1980s. It was nigh on impossible to find any bottle of note and consumption was generally associated with White Cloud – one enterprising producer’s response to a surfeit of Müller-Thurgau. If…
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Alto-Adige: Cool as “cool” gets
By Igor Ryjenkov MW Alto Adige is a cool spot, in all the senses of the word. Landlocked in the north of Italy, the province sits atop of the country and nearly atop the world, thanks to its proximity to and its share of the Dolomite Alps. All this makes its climate one of…
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Squash Velouté with Hazelnut Crumble Topping
This recipe was provided by Sally Evans from Château George 7, tailored to pair beautifully with the Château 7 AOC Fronsac, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, 2019. Squash velouté, a staple of French cuisine, elevates humble squash into a luxuriously smooth and creamy soup. This velvety dish begins with a base of roux—butter and flour—…
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Modern California meets Classic Bordeaux
By Jacky Blisson MW Robert Mondavi was a man on a mission. He wanted to show the world that California could make world class wines to rival the greatest terroirs in Europe. Stories abound of him travelling the wine world, pouring classified growth Bordeaux against top Napa Cabernet Sauvignons to prove their worth. Mondavi,…
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South-Western France: Land of Opportunities
By Igor Ryjenkov MW While not quite the “Wild West” or “terra incognita” of the country, there’s still a lot to explore and discover in South-Western France, a large expanse of land between where Bordeaux ends and Languedoc-Roussillon begins, from the Spanish border to Massif Central. It is the least populated area of France…
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Pink Wine for Everyone
By Elizabeth Gabay MW The world of French rosé is vast, with Provence the tip of the iceberg. Although often thought of as a singular category; rosé is a colour with multiple styles from all around France: dark or pale, easy-drinking or complex, dry or fortified styles, plus many regional varieties. Modern winemaking…
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Loire Valley
The Loire is the longest river in France, dotted with numerous historic castles and picturesque landscapes. Its region is dubbed the Garden of France and draws millions of visits by Parisians and tourists alike every year.
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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 Whisky
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…
South Africa On The Rise
By Jacky Blisson MW If you want to befriend a South African winemaker, do not refer to their wines as “New World”. The country’s first vineyards were planted in 1655. This may not seem old in comparison with the Etruscan or Roman origins of many European vineyards. However, when you consider how quickly South African […]