Marelise Niemann is a champion of Grenache. Her label, Momento, began officially in 2013, when she was still working at Beaumont in the Bot River region of South Africa. Beaumont…
A world without mirrors, and the importance of receiving criticism well
Imagine living in a world without mirrors (and, of course, cameras and smart phones sort of count here, too). How would you see yourself? To catch a reflection of yourself…
Crystallum: some of South Africa’s most compelling Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Crystallum is the wine label of Peter-Allan Finlayson (above), who set up in partnership with his brother (Andrew, a Hermanus-based architect) and his Dad (Peter, who was the first winemaker…
Video: Simplesmente Vinho, an artisanal wine fair in Porto
I’m in Porto for the sixth edition of Simplesmente Vinho, a fair showcasing the best authentic and natural wines from Portugal and Spain. There are 101 producers here, covering…
A lovely meal at DOP Porto with some nice wines
Had a great meal last night at DOP restaurant in Porto, with some really creative riffing on a Portuguese theme from Rui Paula. We began with a fruity scallop carpaccio,…
Making wine at Gabrielskloof: the final instalment
This is the final instalment of my series of reports from 10 days of vintage experience at Gabrielskloof, in Bot River, South Africa. I really enjoyed my time here, came…
How are you?
How are you? This is a question most of us are asked frequently, but it’s a difficult one to answer. Of course, when we’re normally asked this question, there’s an…
Video: the Marlborough wine region, the grower’s story
Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest wine region, relies heavily on growers. Wine arrived here relatively lately (first vineyard plantings of the modern era were 1973, but things didn’t really get…
The wines of Gabrielskloof, Bot River, South Africa
Gabrielskloof, where I’ve spent the last 10 days working vintage, is a winery on the up. It’s owned by Bernhard Heyns. In his previous life, Bernhard’s family owned a brick-manufacturing…