Hidden Bench is one of Niagara’s leading boutique wineries. Owner Harald Thiel bought the Locust Lane vineyard, where the winery is located, in 2003 after selling a successful audiovisual business…
Deliciousness at Bar Raval, Toronto
Had a lovely lunch yesterday at Bar Raval, Toronto. This is a beautiful tapas bar on College St, with a design that’s channelling Gaudi. We ate very well, including tinned…
Champagne Salon 1985
A real treat to drink this tonight after a lovely boat ride and swim in Muskoka cottage country. It’s mature and delicious. Thank you Steven Campbell for opening this. Champagne…
A mini tasting of five Gamays from Beaujolais
I’m hanging with a group on the lake in Muskoka, Ontario for a few days. Celebrated Canadian winemaker Thomas Bachelder is one of the party and he brought some Beaujolais…
Eating and drinking in Hong Kong: Mott32, Ho Lee Fook, Divino, Luk Yu
Continuing my reviews of the Hong Kong dining and boozing scene (I started with fab wine bars Le Cabane and Le Quinze Vins), here are a few mentions. First of…
The cork harvest in Portugal
We drive out of the centre of Lisbon over the 11 km long Vasco de Gama bridge, crossing the Tejo esturary, and head for the Alentejo. We are off to…
Brian Croser on natural (or ‘accidental’) wines
[I recently contacted celebrated Australian winemaker and consultant Brian Croser to get a few quotes on the topic of natural wine in Australia, and its sometimes uneasy relationship with the…
Exploring Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a great place for a long weekend! I really enjoyed my three nights/four days there, and I’m itching to get back. It’s very accessible and easy to…
Wine in Hong Kong: Le Quinze Vins, with Ganevat, Bereche and Clotaire Michal
Le Quinze Vins was a lovely surprise. It is Sunday afternoon, and Nat and I are looking for somewhere to get a glass of wine after some Hong Kong tourism….