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Stellenbosch: Explore South Africa’s Most Loved Wine Region

Peter Wearing Featured, Stellenbosch October 20, 2021June 3, 2021

An image of a grape vineyard surrounded by rolling hills and mountains

South Africa’s most well-known wine region, Stellenbosch is home to some excellent South African wines. Located east of Cape Town, this wine region is one of the oldest and most important wine-producing regions in the country. Below, we will delve deeper into the history of Stellenbosch, its prominent grape varietals, culture, and more. Stellenbosch: South Africa’s Best-Known Secret Stellenbosch is the centre of wine tourism for South Africa. With vineyards on gently rolling hills set amongst the background of granite …

Food and Wine Pairing: Iconic Dishes to Serve with White Wine

Peter Wearing Featured, Wine Pairings May 31, 2021

A glass of white wine served with a crisp, fresh salad

Many wine enthusiasts will agree that a glass of crisp, fresh, zippy white wine can be divine with a large selection of dishes. However, there are some nuances that must be considered when pairing various white wines such as a cool climate Sauvignon Blanc or an oaked Chardonnay. Pairing wine with the right dish can truly elevate your dining experience. Not all foods pair well with all wines. Whether you are at a restaurant or looking to cook something special …

The Ultimate Malbec Wine Pairing Ideas

Peter Wearing Featured, Wine Pairings May 26, 2021

The Malbec grape variety is a favourite among many sommeliers, industry professionals, and wine aficionados because a good Malbec can offer bang for your buck. This dry red wine appeals to many for various reasons including its approachable dark fruity aromas. Indigenous to France, Malbec is typically used both as a blending grape and as a single varietal. Although, nowadays many would be more familiar with a Malbec from Argentina. Another popular reason this red wine is a fan favourite …

Wine Tasting Skills: Tips for Developing Your Palate

Peter Wearing Featured, Tasting Tips April 20, 2021

A woman sipping red wine as part of a wine tasting

Training your wine palate requires consistency, dedication, and a lot of practice. It is a skill that must be honed through hours of tasting and through noting and memorizing the smaller nuances that make different vintages and grape varietals distinct. While there are those who have a naturally attuned wine palate, wine tasting skills should and can be developed. In this article, we will provide simple techniques and tips that you can use to help strengthen your ability to discern …

Riesling Wine: How Well Does It Age?

Peter Wearing Featured, Grape Profiles March 19, 2021

A sommelier prepares a glass of Riesling wine for tasting

As a white grape varietal, Riesling is well-known by professionals and consumers in the food and wine industry. While still a fan favourite amongst sommeliers, its limited retail presence has caused this wine to slip under the radar of some. However, the question many ask about Riesling is: Does it age well? Riesling can in fact be enjoyed both young or aged, depending on the style and structure of the wine. However, there are many considerations that must be kept …

The Importance of Understanding Wine Aroma

Peter Wearing Featured, Tasting Tips March 19, 2021March 16, 2021

A man sniffing a glass of white wine as part of wine tasting.

We’ve spoken previously about the importance of mastering wine tasting skills in order to truly appreciate every glass of wine. One of the core basics of wine tasting is identifying the nose of a wine – its condition, intensity, and aroma characteristics. As you may already know, determining a wine’s aromatic profile is just as important as being able to decipher whether a wine is bitter, salty, or sweet. After all, our first initial impression of a wine is based …

Chianti: A Guide to Tasting Notes & Food Pairing Ideas

Peter Wearing Featured, Grape Profiles March 11, 2021

An image depicting a rolling hillside covered in vineyards.

As an export, Chianti is as famous and respected as pasta, pizza, and espresso. Many wine enthusiasts will be able to cast their minds back to a particularly fond memory of tasting this renowned Italian wine. Many have asked the question: Is Chianti a grape or a region? Similar to Bordeaux or Champagne, Chianti derives its name from its place of origin rather than its grape varietal. Made primarily with the classic Tuscan grape, Sangiovese, this wine is more than …

Riesling: The World’s Most Versatile White Wine Grape?

Peter Wearing Grape Profiles August 13, 2021February 9, 2021

Riesling is an aromatic white wine known for producing a wide array of wine styles, from bone dry to very sweet. Native to Germany, this white wine varietal is now present in many cool and warm climate regions around the world, where it is often praised as a favourite for many wine enthusiasts. In this article, we will quickly review the history of this wine, characteristics common to this varietal and core wine regions responsible for the production of …

5 of the Most Popular Italian Wine Grape Varietals

Peter Wearing Uncategorized January 13, 2023February 9, 2021

Understanding Italian Wine: A Guide to the Most Planted Grape Varietals Italy is home to some of the world’s most delicious and breathtaking food, wines and landscapes. With over 20 different wine regions ranging from Lombardy and Valle d’Aosta in the north of the country to Puglia and Calabria in the south, it is no wonder that this renowned wine-producing country has plenty of grape varietals on offer – just under 400 native varietals are used to make wine commercially …

High Praise for Montepeloso’s 2018s

Peter Wearing Uncategorized April 20, 2021February 9, 2021

High Praise for Montepeloso’s 2018s Under the direction of owner Fabio Chiarelotto, Montepeloso has established itself as one of Tuscany’s most exciting estates. For the last 20 years, Fabio has strived to produce wines with elegance and finesse, qualities difficult to achieve in the hot climate of Suvereto on the Tuscan coast. Slowly, Chiarelotto is receiving the rewards of his passion. The buzz that has been spreading through Europe over the past few years has leapt the Atlantic. A …