Madeira Island Feasting
OVERVIEW. Madeira Island—off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean—is a small and beautiful autonomous region of Portugal (which is almost two hours away to the northeast, by airline).…
Two Dinners: For 1,000 in Italy, and at a Woodland Mill In France
OVERVIEW. This is a double issue. The first story is based in Italy. This was a special dinner for a thousand people at one long row of tables in Bolgheri,…
Home Cooked Romanian Feast—In Geneva
Lake Geneva OVERVIEW. Why the silence, and why a Sunday release? Traditionally, Vino Voices is released every other Tuesday. However, I recently began a new consulting assignment for a U.S.…
Indian Food Paired with French and South African Wines
Cathédrale Saint-André, Bordeaux city OVERVIEW. I recently drove to Bordeaux and stayed at a wonderfully spacious hotel with an inner courtyard and never expected that the day and evening and…
2020 Bordeaux Vintage—En Primeurs Tastings
Song, by Bông, from Château Songes This is a special edition post—in which I include tasting notes for hundreds of wines from Bordeaux's 2020 vintage. This post expands on information…
En Primeurs Amalgamation
UPDATES. Spring is in full gear, although there is still not too much in the way of travel. We are expecting that restaurants may be open for terrace service as…
A Hyped Up Picnic Season In France
UPDATES. The brutal frost that hit France last April 6th and 7th (more to the north, in Burgundy, than to the south in Bordeaux) hit again last night. The consequences…
Oysters, Cremant, Veal Stew & Barolo
UPDATES. Laetitia Ouspointour of LO Wine interviewed me about our own Etalon Rouge wine recently on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CMP1Y4EFGxi/ Also, last Friday, I did a tasting of four Pinot Noir wines—three…
France Meets Italy & South Africa
UPDATES. I've added a new category to this site—'Winds of Wine—News about Vintages, Travel and Lifestyle.' Frequently I receive updates from others and cannot write about them all, so am…
Flemish Stew & German Pinot Noir
Whispers that spring may be coming UPDATES. Yesterday I published three Forbes articles with reviews of 83 Bordeaux vintage 2018 wines (69 reds and 14 whites), and included recommended food…