Domaine du Paradis in Satigny just outside of Geneva After years of ongoing discussions and lengthy research, it is now known without a doubt that Zin (huge in California) and Prim (home in Italy) are the same grape varieties, but in fact its origins are in Croatia. Some of Zin’s other homes are South America, South […]
Film reviews: Youth, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, LE CHALLAT DE TUNIS, BOY CHOIR
YOUTH *** A clever parody of getting old, this tongue-in-cheek study of various clients in a posh Swiss spa features a superb Michael Caine and a mellowed Harvey Keitel. It is by Paolo Sorrentino, who last made La Grande Bellezza, with its multiple awards including an Oscar and BAFTA for best foreign film. With its […]
Pinot blanc, the white wine grape born from a red one
Pinot Blanc 2014 La Griffe, Caves du Château, Montmagny This white grape variety Pinot Blanc has been around for quite a while and is a derivative of Pinot Noir. In medieval times it was extensively planted in Burgundy and some of its other names are: Pinot Bianco, Weisser Burgunder, Clevner and Klävner. It is well […]
Neptune’s film picks this week. Plus one to avoid.
LE TOUT NOUVEAU TESTAMENT **** (vo French) Delightfully irreverent, this Belgium film from one of the country’s best directors, Jaco van Dormael, tells it as it feels for a lot of people. The title and the poster say it all – The Brand New Testament, and “Dieu existe, il habite à Bruxelles”! Played by the […]
Where do the Swiss like to travel?
20 Minutes. In summer many start thinking about beach holidays however none of the top three destinations preferred by Swiss travellers have beaches. Instead they are big global cities. New York took the top spot, followed by London with Paris in third position. For many Swiss, travelling to New York is a dream. The rankings […]
Are international trains terrorists’ new target?
24 Heures. International trains have become the latest security concern after last week’s terrorist attack on a high speed Thaly’s train travelling between Amsterdam and Paris. Last Friday a man armed with a machine gun opened fire before being immobilised by some of the train’s passengers. Now that airports have been well secured, terrorists appear […]
Comme un avion; Amy; Mad Max – Fury Road; Une seconde mère; Love and Mercy; While We’re Young
Love and Mercy – one and a half stars So Brian Wilson, the musician, is a genius? And the Beach Boys?? This minor biopic, produced by Mr. Wilson himself, makes them sound terribly important, using two completely different-looking actors – Paul Dano and John Cusack – to portray the troubled Wilson’s early and later years. […]
Swiss hikes its airfares
20 Minuten. For quite some time Swiss has been promoting affordable airfares that compare favourably with airlines such as easyjet, which have lured customers away from established airlines by promising low cost air travel. Now according to an article in 20 Minuten, Swiss is increasing its airfares. Tickets issued for long haul flights from 6 […]
The wine voted the world’s best Chasselas
La Grand’Rue, Chasselas Réserve 2013, Domaine de la ville, Morges. Imagine strolling through a farm orchid on a crisp sunny day, the breeze carrying scents of apples, oranges, lemons, mandarins and lime drift past. A small cottage comes into sight and the smell of homemade biscuits wafts out of the open front door. On the […]
Swiss wine review: Marsanne, Robert Gilliard, 2012 AOC Valais
Marsanne, also know as Ermitage, Hermitage, Grosse Roussette, Marzanne, white Hermitage and Zrmitazh. In Switzerland it mainly grows in the Valais region. It is thought to have originally come from the northern part of the Rhone valley in France, although it also grows in Spain and Australia where it was first planted in the 1860s. […]
