Food, Wine and Travel Blog

There probably isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc – two noble white varieties that have been grown, with great success, the world over. But what about Chenin Blanc, the great hero of the Loire Valley? You would hear a pin drop in the room for the embarrassed silence. Perhaps it’s good […]

Both Spain and Italy boast a long history of curing ham for personal consumption – the best Jamon Iberico and Prosciutto are simply divine and the ideal foil for various wine styles. Indeed, even just a meager slice of Jamon de Bellota or Italy’s celebrated Culatello di Zibello is the pinnacle of gastronomic heaven, as any […]

What does the name Champagne mean to you? – is it simply a glamorous product, a must-have accessory at celebrations, or a famous icon? Of course, the answer is all of the above, but crucially for the savvy globetrotter; the Champagne region is a fascinating region to visit, full of historic towns and villages, gastronomic […]

Today’s Burgundy is undoubtedly the most captivating and idyllic wine region in France. The tiny vineyards in each of Burgundy’s wine-producing regions, from Chablis in the north to Beaujolais in the south, are producing wines that, at their best, are unequaled anywhere on earth. Gourmets and wine lovers flock to these vineyards each year, village […]

As one of the undisputed food capitals of the world, Paris rarely disappoints gastronomes in search of a memorable dining experience. Of course, it pays to have a recommendation; Paris, like all international cities, has more than its fair share of rip-off dives, only frequented by unsuspecting tourists. But at its best, Paris is unrivaled […]

French Sparkling Wine There probably isn’t anyone who hasn’t at least heard of Champagne, the motherland of all sparkling wine, home to glamour, prestige, and such iconic names as Dom Perignon. But Cremant, an often excellent quality (and value) sparkling wine that can be found across many of France’s most prestigious regions? You would hear […]

What could be more romantic than waking up in luxury splendor with views of majestic vineyards or historic wine villages like St-Emilion? Wine lovers searching for a special weekend break this Valentine’s Day are spoilt for choice in France. Will you spend the afternoon sipping Dom Perignon in the beautiful Champagne capital of Reims, or […]

Is wine a good investment? Who initially coined the idea of buying wine for profit as well as pleasure? Well, the British were some of the first off the starting line in wine investments, purchasing excess cases of Bordeaux classics like Chateau Palmer to sell at a later date. This provided welcome funds for younger […]

Best Pinot Noir in the World Wine connoisseurs and collectors have long adored red Burgundy and its legendary vineyards, the wines of Chambertin, Corton, and Musigny often selling for crown jewel prices. For many, Pinot Noir grown in the Cote de Nuits represents the very pinnacle of fine wine – complex, velvety and elegant. Indeed, […]

Discover Bordeaux White Wines To most people, Bordeaux is probably the most well-known and celebrated of France’s great wine regions. This fame has chiefly spread because of Bordeaux’s red wines – few connoisseurs aren’t familiar with Lafite, Latour, and Petrus. And with good reason, some of the world’s finest and noblest red wines are made […]

The Ten Best Pizzerias in Naples, by Simona Piccinelli, our Italy Specialist This year, I decided to celebrate the New Year with some amici in Naples, and I bet them that we would discover the best pizzeria in Naples by eating nothing but pizza for our entire five-day stay. I won the bet (thanks to […]

The revolution that has taken place in South African winemaking is one of the most dramatic changes to have occurred in recent times. Once derided as a nation of “sunshine in a bottle wine,” South Africa is now proving its ability to make characterful, terroir-driven wines at competitive price points. Indeed, today’s oenophile who goes […]