The Barossa Valley in South Australia is well-known for its red wine and in particular its Shiraz, also known as Syrah. Other main grape varieties grown in the region include Riesling, Semillon, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. Fortified wines have been traditionally produced in the region as well. Join us to explore the awesome and best…
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…
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…
Tasting wine in 4 easy steps Wine is the gift of gods, Bacchus in particular. The ancient Greeks argued that wine reflects the peculiarities of the national flavor of the country where it is produced. One can only enjoy wine if one knows how to taste wine by following these 4 easy steps. Each individual…
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…
Join me on a wine and cheese journey or should I say a cheese and wine journey? We will be exploring the wine and cheese regions of 7 countries ranging from “New World” destinations like Napa Valley (California, USA), Barossa Valley (South Australia), Cape Winelands (Western Cape, South Africa) to Old World countries like Tuscany…
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…
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…
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…
