This is a wonderful book that gathers up several scientific threads from several fields and makes them accessible to a lay public. The subject: how geology has formed the landscape that gave birth to Swiss vineyards and thus Swiss wines and the impact of all of this on contemporary wines.
Garden & nature
Winespeak: vine body parts
It’s high season for pruning vines in Switzerland, the job grape growers say determines whether or not they will have the best possible grapes. I spent a chilly afternoon learning to prune vines.
Snowfall on the Rhone Valley
Vineyards the length of the upper Rhone in Valais were treated to a gentle snowfall Monday.
Fried winter sage, Fendant
Quickly stir-fried, sage leaves make a fun snack with a glass of well-chilled Valais Fendant, or you might try a Muscat, Païen or powerful Petite Arvine for stronger aromas.
Biodynamic wines and the lunar eclipse
The impact of the lunar eclipse on my glass of wine was zero because I was wisely sipping hot lemon and ginger tea at 4:30 this morning, a chilly wind rustling the nearby palm trees loudly. I had slept for 4 hours, then woke up to see if the moon show was worth my time. […]