Almenkerk began when Joep van Almenkerk moved out to South Africa from Belgium in 2002 and bought a 32 hectare apple farm. He wanted to turn it into a wine…
Norman Hardie Niagara Chardonnay 2013
So, I’m back today in the UK from spending time at harvest with Norman Hardie in Canada’s Prince Edward County. My sister and brother-in-law ask me where I’ve been. Do…
In Nova Scotia, Canada, visiting the remarkable Benjamin Bridge sparkling winery
It was my first time in Nova Scotia. This is on the Atlantic coast of Canada, and it’s the youngest of Canada’s cool climate wine regions. I was here to…
In the Douro: Niepoort
Next stop on the Douro trip: Niepoort. It was a real pleasure to spend a few days at Quinta do Nápoles with one of my favourite people in the world…
In the Douro: Vallado
After visiting Vallado’s property in the Douro Superior earlier in the week, it was time to visit the original Quinta, which is on the border of the Baixo and Cima…
In the Douro: Quinta do Crasto
Quinta do Crasto is one of the most beautiful properties in the Douro, perched on a steeply sloped promontory sticking out from the right bank of the Douro, in the…
In the Douro: Quinta do Vale D. Maria
We arrived at Vale Dona Maria late afternoon in a torrential downpour. A rather sodden Cristiano Van Zeller walked over to us and greeted us warmly. It was nice to…
In the Douro: at Vallado’s Casa do Rio
I’m in the Douro. It’s 0720 and from where I’m sitting I have a view of the Douro river, looking out from my room at Quinta do Vallado’s new luxury…
Von Buhl: an estate reborn, with incredible Rieslings from the Pfalz
Today I visited Riechsrat von Buhl. This was once on the the great wine estates not just of Germany, but in the world. Over the years, bits of the estate…