The Vine that Almost Vanished
Abraham Izak Perold was a dashing young Professor of Viniculture and Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He wore a stiff white shirt and perfect…
Dinner at a Little Paradise in Burgundy
Here's the dinner menu from an excellent restaurant named Le Petit Paradis in the town of Beaune in France's Burgundy region. Beaune is an ancient city - but filled with…
Hilltop Home to Slovenian Wine
A small winery named Kogl sits on a magnificent hillside in the alpine country of Slovenia. It is located about 20 kilometers east of the city of Ptuj (pronounced Pit-OO-eee). A great battle…
The Oldest Vine
The world’s oldest living grapevine thrives in the city of Maribor in Slovenia, against the walls of a brick building at Vojašniška 8 – or 8 Military Street. It's ironic that these…
Bales and Bottles in The Land of the Long White Cloud
It is December. Lenticular white clouds with dark gray undersides cross the sky, looking like whales. Nettie Barrow and Jane Craighead run the Straw Lodge in Marlborough, New Zealand. Nettie’s husband…
Serendipity in Bordeaux
Les Kellen is the owner of the Villa St. Simon Guest House in the town of Blaye, situated about 50 kilometers north of the city of Bordeaux, France. Both Blaye and…
The Elegant Barrel
To learn about the world of oak, I drive to a town named Castell’Alfero on the outskirts of the north Italian city of Asti. Inside, Eugenio Gamba stands wearing a…
A Book and a Bottle – The Middle East Meets Australia
It's time again to deviate from talking about the characters in my forthcoming book Vino Expressions - People, Wine, and Loving Work, and match a book with a bottle of wine. …
Chile’s Gravity Castle
I eat breakfast at an outdoor table. The view of the expansive Colchagua Valley below…
Pre-Thanksgiving Pairing: Pink Grapefruit, Avocado & Watercress Salad – with a Riesling
Summer has long drawn to a close and winter is circling in. It’s time to take a break from writing about people involved with the world of wine, and just enjoy…