8 Affordable European Wine Destinations
Discover affordable european wine destinations with village charm, cellar doors, scenic roads and generous local pours that keep the trip budget-friendly.
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Strandveld Winery, the Southernmost Winery in Africa: Winter Wanderings in Stanford and Napier
Strandveld Winery, the southernmost winery in Africa, had been calling my name for years, and Episode 9 of my Vineyards and Villages journey finally gave me the perfect excuse to answer. Winter in the Western Cape has its own special magic: soft rain, sweeping landscapes wearing their cold-season colours, mist drifting low over distant hills,…
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Discover Elands Bay and Doorn Bay: Surf, Diamonds and Red Gold
Vineyards and Villages – Episode 4 Welcome to another episode of Vineyards and Villages — a journey through places shaped by people, history, weather and wonder. Today, I’m taking you along the West Coast of South Africa, to discover the villages of Elands Bay (fondly known as E-Bay) and Doorn Bay. These communities may be…
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Blue veined cheese; the facts and the fiction
To really enjoy blue strong cheese, we need to differentiate between the facts and the fiction. What all blue cheeses have in common is the presence of a strain of penicillin mold which is introduced directly into the cheese curd before it is shaped. The cheese is then pierced with metallic spikes to allow air…
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5 Good Reasons to enjoy a Chenin blanc wine
There are many good reasons to drink Chenin Blanc. Sipping my favourite Chenin Blanc, I have come up with 5 good reasons to enjoy Chenin Blanc wines. Versatility: Chenin Blanc is an incredibly versatile grape variety that can produce a wide range of wine styles. It can be crafted into dry, off-dry, sparkling, or sweet…
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The difference between Champagne, Prosecco and Cava?
Sparkling wines come in a wide variety, with huge price differences, sweet or bone-dry, yeasty or fresh and the difference in production method is of utmost importance. So, what is the difference between Champagne, Prosecco and Cava, aka sparkling wines? I am using the world’s friendliest online business engine…it’s free…forever! Sparkling wine is an umbrella…
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Discover Cesanese Comune, the ancient red wine grape from Italy
Driving to the town of Olevano Romano, Lazio region of Italy in the pouring rain did not dampen our enthusiasm to discover Cesanese Comune, the ancient red wine grape from Italy. Cesanese Comune is an old and elusive vine of the Roman Empire dating back to the first century BC. The Romans were great consumers…
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Chenin Blanc; Ask for it by name!
Chenin Blanc is a white wine grape variety from the Loire Valley of France. Its high acidity means it can be used to make varieties from sparkling wines to well-balanced dessert wines. Chenin Blanc makes lithe, dry summer whites and sparkling wines. It also offers oak-aged styles with similar flavors to Chardonnay. Thus, there really…
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The Awakening: A tale of budburst, shoots, vines, and wine
Book your flights and accommodation here! Early spring marks the awakening of sleepy vines in leafless vineyards. Join me as we are reminded of the annual tale of budburst, shoots, vines, and wine. Budburst or bud break is that momentous moment that happens in the vineyard each spring as the vines wake up from their…
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The best of Florence, Italy: Wine and cheese tasting in Tuscany
Florence, Italy, must be one of the best destinations to explore wine and cheese tasting in Tuscany. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia…
