Food, Wine and Travel Blog

Cellar Tours selection of the best Spanish cava brands There probably isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of Cava, Spain’s ‘cheap and cheerful’ bubbly, predominately produced in the Penedes region south of Barcelona and mainstay of supermarket aisles worldwide. But what about deluxe Cava – hand-made, artisan sparkling wines of superlative quality with prices to match? […]

Spain’s most diverse and fascinating region, Catalunya, is chiefly familiar to millions of visitors by virtue of its proud capital, Barcelona. Indeed, there probably isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of Spain’s bustling Mediterranean metropolis, home to Gaudi, Las Ramblas, and an excellent range of hotels, restaurants, and wine bars. Its charms continue to seduce many, […]

Once derided as a gastronomic desert, Spain’s culinary credentials are currently unquestionable, particularly as the Catalan restaurant, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, was awarded the title of “Best Restaurant in the World” by Restaurant Magazine in June this year. Indeed, no other European nation has witnessed such a massive gastronomic shake-up as Spain; […]

Best Wine and Pintxos Bars in San Sebastian The Basques, with their famous gastronomical clubs and New Basque cuisine, are rightly considered the most sophisticated and dynamic chefs in Spain. Nowhere is this more plainly evident than in the chic resort of San-Sebastian, where numerous Michelin-starred restaurants have won global acclaim and attract discerning visitors […]

Sparkling Wines of Portugal There probably isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of Cava, Spain’s famous bubbly, predominately produced in the Penedes region south of Barcelona. But what about fizz produced in Spain’s neighbor Portugal – hand-made, artisan sparkling wines of superlative quality that match exceptionally well with Portugal’s varied cuisine? You would hear a pin […]

By Simona Piccinelli As in the past years, we couldn’t miss one of the most important, pleasant, enjoyable and relaxed wine events in Italy: SUMMA, 2018 In Alto Adige, immersed in the vineyards and the verdant landscape of the Alois Lageder estate, this 21st edition of Summa gathered more than 80 top notch food and […]

Brunello di Montalcino, despite some stiff competition from the newer firmament of self-styled “Super Tuscans,” has comfortably retained its title as Tuscany’s finest and most lauded wine. At its best, it is a wine like no other in the region: dense, elegant, and extremely long-lived. Its signature scent and flavor have made it a darling […]

Best Restaurants in Naples & the Amalfi Coast Naples and the Amalfi Coast have drawn people searching for culinary excellence for centuries; few places can compete with their classical origins and the freshness and vibrancy of local ingredients. Moreover, despite their marked differences – Naples is chaotic and sprawling while the Amalfi Coast is simply […]

There can be no greater symbol of Valencian gastronomy than paella. Indeed, the phrase “Andar de paella,” or “to go for a paella” is heard frequently at every type of social occasion throughout the region. And why not? – Saint’s days, birthdays, weddings, every occasion justifies bringing out the famously oversized rice pan that gives […]

What makes a wine region like Bordeaux genuinely exceptional? It takes an ensemble of elements- outstanding terroir, winemaking, and historical pedigree – bound together in perfection to forge something far greater than the sum of their parts. However, for all that, regions such as Bordeaux would be nothing, or indeed taste very different, without their […]

Fifty years ago, your wine selection was generally limited to perhaps Burgundy, famous Bordeaux names, German Riesling and a few bottles from Rioja or Tuscany – if you were lucky! Fast forward to 2017 and there have never been as many choices for the oenophile; more wines from more countries, better wines, and wines made […]

The Alsace region is one of France’s great unsung wine heroes. Lost in the excitement over Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne, the Alsace region just quietly gets on with the business of making piercingly aromatic, unique, and simply exquisite wines. It is also one of France’s most spectacular places to visit, with the Voges mountains’ splendor […]