May is Swiss Wine Marathon month as the country’s wine producers throw open their doors in unison to welcome you for the annual season of Caves Ouvertes. You may already have been enjoying the wines and the hospitality in the Valais, Neuchâtel and the German-speaking cantons where the Caves Ouvertes have already taken place. This […]
A wee dram to stir the spirits – a guide to fine whisky
In the month of January there is no escaping Robert Burns, the favourite son of Scotland where he is simply known as The Bard. Auld Lang Syne, which heralds the New Year all over the world, ranks as his most well-known poem. On January 25th the life and works of this Scottish cultural icon are […]
Fine festive wines. Cheers!
The seasonal festivities are the perfect way to ring out the old year and ring in the new with family and friends. For many they also represent an opportunity to hit the pause button and take a well-deserved time-out. Good food and wine assume greater importance at this traditional time of year and add a […]
Piemonte: Probably the best wine region in Italy
Switzerland lies at a wine-making crossroads in Europe. Not only is it home to a diversity of wonderful wines and stunning vineyards, but it also borders some of the richest and most varied wine regions in the world. In this third of a series on our wine-producing neighbours, we head to the Piemonte region of […]
On the hunt for local wines to enjoy with game
The onset of autumn announces a highlight of the gastronomic year. Game season is here once more which means that restaurants and food stores are tempting us with tastes and ingredients traditionally reserved for this time of year. When it comes to pairing wines with game we are blessed with a wonderful variety of local […]
Rosé wines – 50 shades of pink
Rosé wines are becoming increasingly popular all year round and that was even before Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt put their money in Château Miraval, their summer home in Provence where rosé dominates the wine scene. Fruity cool refreshment, a desire to conjur up long sunny days and growing wine consumption amongst women may be […]
The Golden Slopes of Burgundy Part 2
The simplest way to make sense of the Burgundy appellations is to imagine a pyramid divided into four levels with increasing quality but ever decreasing quantity of wine the higher you go. At the bottom are the so-called regional wines, which feature the word Bourgogne in the name of the appellation, for example Bourgogne Rouge. […]
The Golden Slopes of Burgundy part 1
Switzerland lies at a wine-making crossroads in Europe. Not only is it home to a diversity of wonderful wines and stunning vineyards, but it also borders some of the richest and most varied wine regions in the world. In this second of a series of articles to learn more about our wine-producing neighbours we head […]
Caves ouvertes – the Swiss wine marathon
Just in case you have nothing planned for four out of the next six weekends, the majority of wine producers throughout Switzerland are throwing open their doors for the annual ‘Caves Ouvertes’ season. If you have enough stamina, inclination and spare time, you can embark on a wine tour round Switzerland and visit literally hundreds […]
Wines in full bloom
The colourful burst of flowers heralding spring is a natural invitation to discover wines that boast enticing blossom aromas. Here is a seasonal selection of dry white and red wines made from grape varieties with a definite floral character. Sauvignon Blanc is one grape variety that established New Zealand’s reputation for quality wine. Not only […]