LIVE, DISPATCHES FROM THE VINEYARDS AND WINE REGIONS: Follow our wine travels in real time with short text updates and plenty of photos in dispatches sent straight from the road, live or almost live from the vineyards and wine regions, direct field reports. Explore wine regions and meet winemakers around the world from your couch and get inspired for your next wine tour.
Château de Font du Loup in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a very pretty château with vineyards on extremely sandy soil which, we noticed, gives light coloured wines with elegans and beautiful flavours. Still a lot of activities in
If you are in Beaune, Burgundy on a Saturday, as we usually are on our wine tours, it is almost a must to go to the market on Saturday morning before the morning winery visit
Chablis and côte de bœuf go perfectly together, amply illustrated at our lunch stop in the small town of Chablis on the way up to Champagne from Burgundy. Three Chablis wines from small but exciting
A visit to the ancient cellars of Joseph Drouhin in Beaune, Burgundy. Thousands of invaluable old (and not so old) bottles of Burgundy, a maze of corridors ond stacks of bottles and barrels. Touching the
Contemplating one of the world’s most expensive agricultural land patches, Montrachet, Le Montrachet, Batard-Montrachet, Bienvenue Batard Montrachet, etc. in Puligny Montrachet. Try and remember all that… Any way, a hallowed grand cru in Burgundy below
You can have small wine cellar and still make big wines. Like Hanna Schaps at Domain Schaps. Out in the vineyards in Pommard we make a big cheer!
We had a thoroughly enjoyable time at Maison Drouhin-Laroze in Gevrey Chambertin, Burgundy. First à visit to their super-elegant winery. Then a traditional Burgundian lunch accompanied by some amazing Burgundies, exceptional wines, with a view
In March, it is time for harvest in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Here are some beautifully ripe chardonnay, syrah, cabernet, gewurtztraminer… Join us on the New Zealand tour next March.
Maison Ambroise, a family vineyard in Premeaux-Prissey which is not one of the famous villages in the pearl band of the Cote d’Or in Burgundy. But they have vineyards in several locations and maxe excellent
Unusual but no less great wines at Frederic Magnien / Domaine Michel Magnien in Morey St Denis, Burgundy. Not much oak barrels but plenty of amphora. Lots of concentration in the wines.
Visiting some of the world’s most famous vineyards. Land that costs as much as an apartment per m2. Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, Clos de Vougeot, La Grand Rue… in Burgundy. Sadly, no tasting :-)
We had some beautiful views over the Corton vineyards, standing at the Clod des Meix monopole. Followed by a delicious lunch with I don’t know how many grand crus… at Comte Senard, Aloxe Corton, Burgundy.
Château Olivier in Pessac-Léognan is an old and very pretty chateau, like something out of a fairytale. We tasted the 2025 vintage straight from the barrels. The grape varieties are aged separately so we tasted
Olivier Leflaive – here with Per – is a legend and a master of white Burgundy, such as Puligny- Montrachet and Meursault.
Joseph Drouhin has impressive cellars in the middle of Beaune, the oldest in Burgundy. There is even a Roman wall. Some nice wines as well…
Walking around the city, some views from Bordeaux. It is one of the most elegant cities in France. With its opera, Pont de Pierre, riverside walk, Miroir d’eaux (water mirror)…
A sunny afternoon is perfect for a walk in Saint Emilion. A Medieval town full of cafés, restaurants and wine shops.
On the whole – amazing. We had a stunning series of wines on the Bordeaux tour. We had almost all vintages from 2000 to 2025. And all major appellations. Good job!
What a grande finale with Chateau Franc-Mayne and Jacques. The impressive oak, the underground 2 ha cellar, and an amazing lunch at Grand Barrail with an outstanding selection of wines. Encore! Encore!
When we were there earlier in the year, the grapes were not yet harvested at Askerne Vineyards, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Gewurztraminer (or is it pinot gris?) semillon and several others.
Jenny Dobson was a pioneer in New Zealand. She makes the wine at Unison Vineyards, as well as some of her own.
After a few drops of early morning rain we went to visit Chateau Bernateau, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux. Grapes were just arriving, cabernet franc. We got an excellent demo of grape reception, including the liquid-base sorter.
In the afternoon at Chateau Beychevelle, Saint Julien, Bordeaux we visited their impressive new cellar, a glass box with a sea theme. Harvest still going on, in its last days. All looking very good, mostly
A fabulous and very instructive tasting at Domaine de Cebene in the beautiful region of Faugères, famous for its amazing schist soil. With owners and wine makers Brigitte Chevalier and Pierre Roque. Among the wines
Lunch at Chateau Beychevelle, Saint Julien, Bordeaux. I certainly would not mind to come back. What an extraordinary place, what extraordinary wines, such a memorable meal.
