Though Germany would seem like the last country to give its vineyards whimsical names, there are dozens of them. Here are the names of a few well-known vineyards. -Eselshaut: Donkey hide -Himmelreich: Kingdom of Heaven -Kalb: Veal -Schneckenhof: Home of the snails -Katzenbeisser: The biter of cats -Lump: Dope; idiot -Nonnengarten: Nun’s garden -Saumagen: pig’s [...]

The theory behind investing in wine is that its value increases as it matures. Experts within the wine industry reckon the best investors can see returns of up to 30% a year from some bottles. Between 2000 and 2010, some of the famous Bordeux vintages even quadrupled in value. In practice, wine as an investment [...]

In lieu of recent château tour to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, I wanted tell about a fantastic vineyard that has a history of excellence in this region. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. A blend from this winery received the #3 spot in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2009. Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2007 95 points [...]

Oregon has several different growing regions within the state’s borders which are well-suited to the cultivation of grapes, yet the most predominant regions are the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, and Columbia Gorge. Oregon’s specialty is Pinot Noir, a delicate and temperamental grape considered by many to make the most sensual red wine in the world. [...]

I recently read a shocking article concerning one of France’s most famous vineyards. Romanée-Conti, located in the prestigious Burgundy region, was given a threat saying that their vine stocks would be poisoned if they did not pay a ransom of 1 million euros! The managers of the estate received a letter in January from the [...]

Last week, Brian and I had a “Gourmet Cooking Class” with an unexpected twist. As always, we started off by exploring the lively, Provencal market for our fresh produce to make a delicious lunch. On this day, however, our friendly French chef, Caroline, led us to a local olive oil shop, Oliviers & Co. on [...]

At a recent “Signature French Wine Tasting,” Hilary and I met up with a delightful young woman from Australia who was saying some very strange things. She would say Shir-AZ when referring to Syrah wine. I wish you could have heard her pronunciation, because the written word does not do it justice. Despite her unique, [...]