Join us for a quick guide on How to Taste Cheese. Tasting cheese and tasting wine share many similar actions. Wine tasters will swirl their wine and observe the color against a white background whilst cheese tasters will note the color of the cheese, although for different reasons. Wine tasters will sniff their sample wine…
The best advice I ever got when I asked the question; “How do I learn how to taste wine” was from a sommelier in France in the early ’90s when he said; “you learn how to taste wine at home!” Step one; Looking at the colour of the wine The first step in tasting a…
Malbec is a fantastic red wine with no “mal bouche”. The word “malbec” originates from the French word “mal bouche,” meaning “bad mouth,” because ancient French winemakers referred to the wine’s dark color and bitter tannins as a “bad mouth (feel)”. Warm-climate Malbecs, such as those produced in Argentina, South Africa, or Australia, exhibit dark…
Why is Shiraz sometimes called Syrah? In New World wine countries (Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Peru, Chile and United States of America and New Zealand) the very popular Shiraz red wine is sometimes called Syrah. This confusing state of affairs had its origin in Australia. James Bushby, the father of the Australian wine industry, traveled…
Sipping wine is a wonderful thing but we’ve all been there before; we’re at the end of a long evening, having consumed a lot of wine, and an intense headache begins to form. “Why me? Why now? Why?!” Why does wine give you a headache? Are sulfites to blame? The short answer is no, sulfites…
Wine production in the United Kingdom has experienced a significant resurgence in recent years, thanks in part to changing climate conditions that have made it increasingly viable to grow grapes and produce wine in regions that were previously considered unsuitable. The Midlands, including Staffordshire, has been a part of this revival, with several vineyards contributing…
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…
A September Escape to Marrakesh: Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone and Into the Heart of Morocco In September, we ditched the familiar and headed straight for the vibrant, chaotic charm of Marrakesh, Morocco. This wasn’t your typical vacation filled with predictable schedules or creature comforts; instead, we wanted to embrace something raw, real, and…
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 winter sleep. All winter long, grapevines…
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…
