Tag Archives: Wine

No Dessert, Please: Chenin Blanc is the Loire Valley’s Sweet Rock Star

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Published on Palate Press on 2nd September 2014:

vineyards in Quarts de Chaume

When it comes to sweet wines, those from the Loire Valley are something of an unsung hero.

You will note that the term “sweet wine” is being carefully used here instead of dessert wine because in France, the consumption of these sweet little numbers isn’t solely restricted to dessert. In fact, they could be drunk any time from aperitif to digestif. These chenin blanc-based sweet wines are highly prized throughout France but barely make it onto the export market. It’s an unfortunate fact, as the Loire is capable of creating a seriously eclectic portfolio of delicious wines.

vouvray vineyards

Read more at Palate Press

Chenin Blanc, the Loire Valley’s most versatile grape

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 14th July 2014:

vineyards by the Loire

Do you know about Chenin Blanc?

If not, then you should.

It’s a grape variety that’s planted in many wine regions around the world, such as South Africa, Australia and the USA. It’s revered for its great affinity for acidity, even in bulk wine production, and for the longevity of its fine wines.

In the Loire Valley, where Chenin Blanc originated, the grape really comes into its own.

Read more at Yahoo!

Wine travel, the best bits of Lake Constance

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 23rd June 2014:

Baden-Württemberg

If you’ve ever thought the Côte d’Azur seemed like paradise then you might be surprised by the allure of Lake Constance.

Situated in central Europe, the freshwater lake connects Germany, Austria and Switzerland. While the region is known for having a cooler climate, the moderating effects of the lake means that it can get positively balmy in the summer. This is perhaps why a surprising number of wine regions can be found along its shores.

Bodensee, as the area around the lake is known in Germany, is a region better known historically for its everyday drinking wines but with better winemaking over the years, it’s become a region where you can find real gems.

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Five summery port cocktails

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 15th June 2014:

Taylor's port

Port has a reputation for being the uncool granddaddy wine that gets poured out at Christmas with the puds but did you know that port can be made in a number of different styles, ranging from extra dry to very sweet?

Made in the demarcated region of Douro in Portugal, port is a fortified wine steeped with hundreds of years of history and was first created by British merchants.

There are many things which make port a traditional drink, not least because of the way that it’s made.

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Tuscany’s “emerging terroirs” – the new wine regions to look out for

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Published on Yahoo Lifestyle UK & Ireland on 28th February 2014:

Chianti Classico wines

When it comes to Tuscan wines, everyone has heard of Chianti. The big, bold and characterful Italian reds are known for their cherry and violet flavours as well as bags of acidity and tannins. What you probably didn’t know is that the region of Chianti is also split down into sub-regions such as Chianti Classico and Chianti Ruffina.

The latter is one of the regions that the Tuscan wine consortium is promoting as an emerging terroir.

Unveiled at Anteprima di Toscana recently, the emerging terroirs are intended to showcase what the region could achieve and help consumers look beyond the Super Tuscans that became infamous in the 70s and 80s.

Read more at Yahoo!