Welcome to the second chapter of Vineyards and Villages, where we wander into places less travelled but overflowing with heart, heritage, vineyards, and sunshine. This week’s destination is Bragança, Portugal, a remarkable medieval town tucked away in the Trás-os-Montes region, just a whisper from Spain. If you’re dreaming of stone-walled castles, golden olive groves, hand-pressed…
Hello, fellow Vineyard and Village travellers! If you’ve ever dreamed of sipping rich, velvety Port while watching the sun set over terracotta rooftops, then Porto, Portugal is a destination you simply must experience. Having visited this charming city several times (and taken the scenic train along the Douro Valley to its wine estates), I can…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Portugal is a country with a rich history of winemaking that dates back to ancient times. The country is home to a diverse range of wine regions, each with its unique terroir, grape varieties, and winemaking traditions. Duoro Valley One of the most well-known wine regions in Portugal is the Douro Valley, which is located…
Strandveld Vineyards is the southernmost winery in Africa. Located between Elim and Cape Agulhas, the winery derives its name from the belt of land that spans the tempestuous tip of Africa’s southernmost coastline. Inspired by early explorers, it was in 2001 that a group of wine lovers turned to the original navigation maps to seek…
