World’s best Chasselas is from La Côte in Vaud – winery’s second time Cave de la Côte, a Swiss cooperative winery on the western edge of Lake Geneva, has won the top honour at the Mondial du Chasselas competition, which was held in early June: its La Montoise Esprit Terroir, Mont-sur-Rolle 2017 was named the […]
France
European wine imports: “European importance diminishing”
It’s just one more industry report, but a fairly influential one, and the International Wine & Spirits Report (IWSR, subscription) March issue says that Europe’s importance to wine exporters is waning. The main reason is the continuing fall, now several years old, of wine consumption in Europe, even though it appears the decline is bottoming […]
Vermouth: 10 things I learned in Barcelona
When was the last time someone told you they love vermouth? I’ve just spent 4 days tasting vermouth and when I tell people this I get odd looks and grimaces. There’s a vague idea that it is old-fashioned, too sweet, not trendy, and besides, what exactly do you do with it or like about it? […]
Gressac: A holiday break from the urban life
I headed for the Gard region to learn more about French organic wines; during my stay I was hosted by Domaine de Gressac. The owners, who are Swiss, and who previously worked in Geneva, were keen to introduce me to their natural wines but also to their five gîtes spread around the large property, beautiful purebred […]
The organic orgy
We’re all going to the organic ball Imagine giving a party where you invite everyone you know and tell them to bring their friends. “Be prepared to strip down to the bare essentials, or less.” A lot of them find a good excuse to stay away, right? But those who show up can’t stop crowing […]