https://www.scmp.com/rss/1112/feed Sarah Wong is a freelance wine writer and judge. Her wine knowledge and expertise have developed through extensive education, tasting and competition judging. She has been a long-standing wine judge for Cathay Pacific Wines and Spirits Challenge and Decanter Asia Wine Awards. Other than wine, Sarah's passion lies in adventure travel, and she can often be found in the mountains of Ethiopia, Pakistan, Kyrygstan and the Himalayas. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com A decade ago, China-based entrepreneur Allan Warburg was offered an opportunity to acquire a Californian winery in financial difficulties. By 2011, he and his wife, Mei, were the owners of Donum wine estate. Initially, Warburg thought it would be a short-term investment but he changed his mind once he saw the property. “Often, the good things in life come by coincidence,” Warburg says. “We had enjoyed the wines from Donum for many years before purchasing the estate. We have also been collecting... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3092088/three-best-wines-californias-donum-estate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3092088/three-best-wines-californias-donum-estate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2020 09:00:13 +0000 When it comes to wine and food pairing most of us adhere to the basic principle of white wine with white meat and red wine with red meat. Pairing expert Francois Chartier challenges this precept. He wants to “change the process because otherwise you always get the same result”. Inspired by new innovative culinary techniques, Chartier has met with food scientists to develop his ideas. “My work consists of first tracking aromatic molecules to gather foods of the same aromatic families to create... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3079129/white-wine-red-meat-sure-says-sommelier-whose?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3079129/white-wine-red-meat-sure-says-sommelier-whose?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2020 09:00:13 +0000 Cazes is one of the most renowned names in France’s Bordeaux, France, with a wine-business dynasty stretching back four generations. Originally from Ariège, in southwest France, the Cazes family moved to Médoc in 1875. Patriarch Jean-Charles Cazes acquired Château Lynch-Bages in 1939. The château is popular with both international wine lovers and the Bordelais. Although the family is best known for Lynch-Bages, its portfolio also includes Château Ormes de Pez, in St Estèphe; Château... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3017236/three-wines-bordeauxs-famous-cazes-family?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3017236/three-wines-bordeauxs-famous-cazes-family?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2019 09:15:17 +0000 Mont Blanc, Italy’s highest mountain, at 4,810 metres, is a popular spot for winter sports and mountaineering. It also produces high-quality wines. The Valle d’Aosta DOC, which lies in the vicinity of Mont Blanc, is Italy’s smallest wine region and home to Cave Mont Blanc, a coop­erative with 80 owners and a com­bined vineyard site of 18 hectares. The region’s vineyards, at an altitude of 1,200 metres, are the highest in Europe and, thanks to the unique terroir and climate, produce a number of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3002847/three-must-try-wines-europes-highest-vineyards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3002847/three-must-try-wines-europes-highest-vineyards?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Mar 2019 09:30:06 +0000 The 2015 Bordeaux has reached Hong Kong. It is a vintage worth taking a serious look at as the wines are of consistently high quality and are approachable young but with the capacity to age. The Wine Spectator magazine states that 2015 “should easily be the best vintage since 2010, with reds, dry whites and sweet wines all showing promise, backed by a near-normal crop size”. Growing conditions were fairly ideal in 2015. Summer brought record-high temperatures leading to an early harvest, with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3001488/three-wines-2015-bordeaux-vintage-are-worth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/3001488/three-wines-2015-bordeaux-vintage-are-worth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Mar 2019 09:30:03 +0000 When three wine-loving Hongkongers joined forces to turn their passion into a business, they took a pragmatic approach. Anthony Fung Kar-hey, one of the investors and managing director of the winery, says, “We looked at opportunities in Europe, such as Bordeaux, in France, and Spain. However, the vineyards that were available were either poorly run or maintained, or beyond our budget.” In the end, their work experience in the United States and knowledge of Napa Valley wines took them to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2188243/how-three-hongkongers-turned-their-passion-wine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2188243/how-three-hongkongers-turned-their-passion-wine?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Mar 2019 03:45:30 +0000 Alberto Cordero di Montezemolo is the face of a family-run winery in Piedmont, Italy, that traces its roots back to the 14th century. He says vineyard ownership in Italy can be highly frag­mented because, in the 19th century, couples often had eight or nine children and plots became increas­ingly subdivided by inheritance. The Cordero family, however, kept their vineyards intact. Their 51-hectare estate is located in La Morra and grape varieties planted include arneis, dolcetto, chardonnay,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2186342/italian-winemaker-tackles-climate-change-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2186342/italian-winemaker-tackles-climate-change-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Feb 2019 10:31:33 +0000 The quality of sparkling wines – be they from the French region of Champagne or elsewhere – has never been better. Grapes for sparkling wine are grown on cooler sites to retain acidity, while warmer, drier summers help with ripening and in mitigating vineyard diseases. Climate change has helped to improve the quality of English wines; California, in the United States, is experiencing a renaissance of sparkling wines, and Champagne has been producing more consistent and riper styles. With so many... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2183659/sparkling-wines-are-having-moment-here-are-some?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2183659/sparkling-wines-are-having-moment-here-are-some?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jan 2019 09:30:45 +0000 California is the largest wine-producing state in the United States, accounting for about 81 per cent of the national production. And although Napa Valley is probably the state’s best known wine region, it represents only 4 per cent of California’s wine production. The Golden State has more than 107 appellations, which are known as American viticultural areas (AVAs). Californian wines are typically powerful, opulent, concentrated and full-bodied. However, the diversity of terroir means that a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2181681/beyond-napa-three-light-californian-wines-defy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2181681/beyond-napa-three-light-californian-wines-defy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jan 2019 09:36:48 +0000 The addition of dosage or liqueur d’expedition (a blend of reserve wine and cane sugar) is the finishing touch to champagne just before the cork goes in. It helps soften the acidity and adds roundness to the palate structure. The amount of dosage varies among champagne houses and will depend on a variety of factors, including house style, vintage character and market preferences. Most champagne today is labelled “brut”, meaning that it can contain up to 12 grams of sugar per litre. The wine does... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2179654/champagne-dosage-not-how-much-you-drink-amount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2179654/champagne-dosage-not-how-much-you-drink-amount?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Dec 2018 05:00:30 +0000 The country’s cuisine is popular around the world but mention Thai wine and you will most likely be met with a blank look. Good Thai wine is hard to come by but one producer that has risen to the challenge is GranMonte. The family-owned winery is located in the Khao Yai National Park, in central Thailand, and its 15-hectare vineyard is planted with syrah, cabernet sauvignon, chenin blanc, viognier, semillon, verdelho, durif and grenache. Winemaker Nikki Lohitnavy, a second-generation family... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2175746/everyone-loves-thai-food-what-about-wines-central?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2175746/everyone-loves-thai-food-what-about-wines-central?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Nov 2018 05:31:51 +0000 A natural wine is a subcategory of wines made using specific methods. While there is no legal definition for natural wines yet, Decanter magazine has come up with a broad list of conditions that need to be met: the vineyards must be cultivated organically or biodynamically, and grapes hand-harvested; minimal intervention in the cellar; fermentation only with indi­genous yeast; no additives allowed except for a tiny amount of sulphur; the wines may undergo light filtration before... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2174527/georgias-natural-wines-making-splash-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2174527/georgias-natural-wines-making-splash-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Nov 2018 09:15:45 +0000 A popular dinner-party game among oenophiles is to blind taste wines and try to guess what they are. The best-known blind-tasting event was the 1976 Judgment of Paris, which pitted Californian chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon against burgundy and bordeaux, respectively. To everyone’s amazement, a Californian wine won first place in both categories, proving that the American state – despite its short wine history and culture – was capable of producing wines that could surpass those of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2172500/french-vs-californian-wines-blind-tasting-pitted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2172500/french-vs-californian-wines-blind-tasting-pitted?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Nov 2018 09:30:15 +0000 Located in the northeast of Italy, Veneto is the country’s largest wine-producing region. And the province of Verona, in Veneto, is home to the famed valpoli­cella and amarone wines. Historically, there has been a regional tradition of drying grapes, to concentrate the flavour and produce richer wines. The autumn months, with their low temper­atures and cool winds, create ideal drying conditions, while cold winters allow for slow maceration and fermentation over an extended period of time. With... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2170374/how-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet-inspired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2170374/how-shakespeares-romeo-and-juliet-inspired?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Oct 2018 09:30:15 +0000 Hongkongers have an insatiable appetite for all things Japanese, be it food or culture. According to a recent article in The Japan Times newspaper, Hong Kong is the largest market for Japanese produce, accounting for about 25 per cent of exports. And it is the second largest importer of sake by value (the United States holds top spot). So how about Japanese wines? Imports are still a fledgling market, but with so many Japanese restaurants in the city, the wines are becoming a popular food... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2168039/famous-japanese-whisky-maker-suntory-goes-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2168039/famous-japanese-whisky-maker-suntory-goes-back?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Oct 2018 09:03:58 +0000 More than any other drink, champagne is evocative of romance, celebration and luxury. Last year, the Champagne region of France produced 295 million bottles of wine, with the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan together accounting for 4.3 million bottles. Tête de cuvée, the best of the best champagne One house that embodies the Champenois entre­preneurial spirit is Salon, which was founded in 1911. Eugène-Aimé Salon was the son of a cartmaker in the Champagne village of Pocancy. In his youth, he went... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2166219/why-only-exceptional-vintages-are-released?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2166219/why-only-exceptional-vintages-are-released?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000 A recent news story claims that “the secret weapon in the $63 billion wine market is often an eye-catching label”, adding that in a saturated marketplace, producers need to grab any opportunity to catch people’s attention. Here in Hong Kong, one local wine importer says that, with the ubiquity of social media, “Instagrammable labels”, coupled with tasting notes, can help fuel sales. In short, while an attractive or intriguing label will not make a wine better, it can make people more interested... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2164012/sicilian-winery-donnafugata-shows-you-can-judge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2164012/sicilian-winery-donnafugata-shows-you-can-judge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Sep 2018 09:03:55 +0000 Pinot grigio, a grape that originated in Burgundy, France, may be the basis of the most popular white wine in Italy these days, but the country has a deep repository of indigenous white varieties, which are packed with flavour and pair well with food. Verdicchio, whose name is derived from the Italian word verde (“green”) and references the grape’s skin colour, can be used to make a broad range of wines, from dry to sparkling to sweet. The variety, which originated in Marche, central Italy,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2162207/three-italian-whites-wines-are-not-pinot-grigio?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2162207/three-italian-whites-wines-are-not-pinot-grigio?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Aug 2018 09:00:15 +0000 Purity, freshness and elegance – those are the three words Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt, co-owner of Laurent-Perrier, uses to describe her house’s style. To achieve those qualities, she says, it is necessary to “have respect for the purest, natural aromas of the grape variety. This means we never use oak barrels. Chardonnay from the chalky soils gives acidity and freshness.” Elegance is attained from “blending the perfect balance from each village”. The Champagne region of northeast France... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2160043/why-champagne-house-laurent-perrier-prefers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2160043/why-champagne-house-laurent-perrier-prefers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Aug 2018 10:00:45 +0000 Olivier Sublett’s family has been producing wines in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, since 1822. When he reached retirement, he looked for a new hobby, choosing to make his own version of rice wine. Sublett did this by substituting a combination of red, black and white rice for grapes. He admits that the initial results were “very terrible”. Sublett is reluctant to give away his secrets, but says his technique is more like European winemaking than brewing sake. The rice is crushed and boiled to break... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2158103/how-bordeaux-winemaker-adds-french-twist-rice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2158103/how-bordeaux-winemaker-adds-french-twist-rice?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Aug 2018 09:00:15 +0000 Sicily is one of Italy’s largest wine regions by volume. Unfortunately, its reputation for high-quality wine has been over­shadowed by its cheap bulk wines. In 1983, Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo established the Donnafugata winery and set out to change the negative perception of Sicilian wines. Donnafugata is the name of the town featured in The Leopard (1958), a classic novel by Italian writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa that was the inspiration behind the winery. Donnafugata (“woman in flight”)... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2156149/three-quality-sicilian-whites-dispel-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2156149/three-quality-sicilian-whites-dispel-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jul 2018 05:00:15 +0000 Burgundy’s 29,067 hectares under vine represents a mere 3.7 per cent of all the vineyards in France. Despite its relatively small size, the market is highly fragmented. Of the region’s 3,901 wineries only 1,089 sell more than 10,000 bottles a year. The remaining estates are made up of 16 coop­erative cellars and 288 wine merchants. Burgundies can be breathtakingly expen­sive but here are three that offer value for money. Château de la Maltroye, Chassagne-Montrachet (Rouge) 1er Cru, Clos du... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2155130/three-red-burgundies-prove-wines-french-region?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2155130/three-red-burgundies-prove-wines-french-region?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:01:24 +0000 With two meanings, the name “montepulci­ano” causes confusion in the wine world. On the one hand, Montepulciano is the name of a town in southern Tuscany whose wine, vino nobile di Montepulciano, is made from sangiovese grapes. On the other, montepulciano is a grape variety that is grown in the central and eastern regions of Italy. In Marche, it produces wines labelled as Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno. Further down the coast in Abruzzo, the grapes are used to produce wines known as montepulciano... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2152563/making-great-vintages-montepulciano-grape-known?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2152563/making-great-vintages-montepulciano-grape-known?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Jun 2018 09:00:30 +0000 Founded in 1974, Querciabella has extensive vineyard holdings in the Chianti Classico and Maremma regions of Tuscany, Italy, along the Etruscan coast. Owner Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni is a wine lover who works in the financial industry. He is an advocate of sustainability in agriculture and an investor in vegan-related businesses. Export director Giorgio Fragiacomo says Querciabella is now looking towards Burgundy for inspiration. He believes that sangiovese, Tuscany’s indigenous grape... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2149844/why-tuscan-winery-looking-burgundy-inspiration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2149844/why-tuscan-winery-looking-burgundy-inspiration?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Jun 2018 09:00:52 +0000 Certain wines suffer from stereotyping. Cava, Spain’s best known sparkling wine, is being tarnished with an inferior reputation as consumers flock to Italian prosecco, which, thanks to clever marketing, has become trendy among young drinkers. Likewise, there is more to Californian wines than them being the rich, opulent fruit bombs many oenophiles expect. California winemaker on standing out in a male-dominated industry Some intrepid winemakers are trying to break these stereotypes. For those... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2146694/california-spain-three-wines-defy-stereotypes-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2146694/california-spain-three-wines-defy-stereotypes-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 May 2018 09:00:15 +0000 Based in California’s Napa Valley, in the United States, Rosemary Cakebread was winemaker at Spottswoode Winery for more than 15 years before launching her own label, Gallica, in 2007. “My goal has always been to make balanced and elegant wines which, although they can be enjoyed upon release, become more inter­esting and nuanced with further ageing,” Cakebread says. The men were terrible: Zacapa’s master rum blender, woman in a male-dominated industry Wine, for her, is a lifelong journey and,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2144509/california-winemaker-standing-out-male-dominated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2144509/california-winemaker-standing-out-male-dominated?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 May 2018 09:04:30 +0000 Hong Kong’s position as awine hub was cemented in 2008, when duty on imported tipples was cut to zero. Since then, boutique importers have expanded the local drinking experience by bringing in esoteric, hard-to-find wines. Alan Kwok, of Deco Wines, is one such innovator. When you tire of well-known, large-volume brands, Kwok recommends trying a new grape variety, an unusual region or wines made using ancient techniques. Jean Vesselle, Oeil de Perdrix, Brut NV, Bouzy, Champagne, HK$380 Located in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2142599/try-these-hard-find-wines-new-grapes-or-unusual?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2142599/try-these-hard-find-wines-new-grapes-or-unusual?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Apr 2018 10:15:45 +0000 Fans of white Burgundy in search of great value should look to France’s Chablis region, with its more than 5,000 hectares under vine and no fewer than 40 premier cru vineyards and seven grand cru. This being a cool climate, wine styles are elegant, with a lean structure, restrained fruit and racy acidity. Climate change and warmer growing conditions have, however, brought about fruitier wines, with higher sugar levels and softer acidity. Understanding Chablis, home to some of Burgundy’s best... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2140429/value-money-white-burgundy-look-chablis-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2140429/value-money-white-burgundy-look-chablis-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Apr 2018 11:00:30 +0000 Domaine Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet, in the Côte-d’Or department of France, produces one of the finest white burgundies, which is highly sought after by connoisseurs. Currently heading up the winery, Brice de la Morandière is the great-grandson of Joseph Leflaive, who established the family-run domaine in 1910. De la Morandière’s late aunt, Anne-Claude Leflaive, left an indelible mark on the winery from 1990 to 2015, taking its wines to new heights in quality and elegance. De la Morandière’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2138631/three-affordable-white-burgundies-biodynamic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2138631/three-affordable-white-burgundies-biodynamic?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Mar 2018 09:33:55 +0000 Weingut Schätzel winery has been quietly attracting the attention of critics. Specialising in riesling, the Schätzel familyhas been making wines for 650 years in the Rheinhessen, Germany’s largest wine region. Its wine styles are pure expressions of restraint and elegance, with each bottle encapsulating the origins of its making. According to winemaker Kai Schätzel, the Rheinhessen is far from being an homo­genous region, with diverse subregions and terroirs. Schätzel takes a Burgundian... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2136149/centuries-old-german-winery-nuance-and-elegance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2136149/centuries-old-german-winery-nuance-and-elegance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Mar 2018 09:00:46 +0000 Australia has built a solid reputation for producing high-quality, technically well-made wines. “Consumers have learned they can trust wines from Australia,” says Andrew Hardy, senior winemaker at Petaluma Winery, in Woodside, South Australia. “It’s becoming more important to highlight the differences of regions and brands and the amazing diversity of wines from around Australia. “We are still a young country in terms of wine, and the exploration of sites and wine styles is really exciting and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2134241/three-high-quality-and-elegant-wines-australia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2134241/three-high-quality-and-elegant-wines-australia?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Feb 2018 09:00:15 +0000 As a child in Argentina, Laura Catena was always on the move, so much so that her grandfather called her “little mouse”. Her passion for science and desire to help people led her to a career in medicine, and she envisioned “working as a doctor and mostly drinking our family’s wonderful wines”, she says. However, there was a dilemma of duty to loved ones and homeland. “I realised that my father and my country needed my help,” she says, “because Argentine wine was virtually unknown outside... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2130330/how-scion-top-argentina-wine-family-helped?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2130330/how-scion-top-argentina-wine-family-helped?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Jan 2018 11:16:46 +0000 Even after almost 300 years in Bordeaux, the Barton family of winemakers is renowned for its international outlook. Lilian Barton-Sartorius, the current and seventh generation owner of the business, was born in Denmark to a Danish mother, who had been in Bordeaux to learn French, and an Irish father, who had moved to the French region to join the family firm, and was educated in Britain. She also lived and worked in Hong Kong in the late 1970s. Even further back – in 1722, to be precise –... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2127747/barton-family-winemakers-keep-fans-loyal-quality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2127747/barton-family-winemakers-keep-fans-loyal-quality?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jan 2018 07:16:37 +0000 Sparkling wine – champagne or otherwise – will help ring in the New Year. Here are three easy-drinking options, at various price points, that some of you may be quaffing this evening. Badet Clément Vin Mousseux Blanc de Blancs Fleuraison NV Based in Burgundy, Badet Clément was founded in 1995 by Catherine and Laurent Delaunay, New World-trained winemakers whose styles are modern, clean and technically well-made. French label “Vin Mousseux” indicates a sparkling wine made by non-traditional... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2125834/affordable-last-minute-sparkling-wine-buys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2125834/affordable-last-minute-sparkling-wine-buys?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Dec 2017 12:04:48 +0000 Although only an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula is under the radar for most wine lovers. The region is home to more than 200 vineyards and 60 wineries, however, and renowned for elegant, cool-climate-style chardonnay and pinot noir. Although these two varieties make up most of the production, pinot gris is increasing in popularity. The region is fairly fragmented, with a large number of small vineyards. A study initiated by Government of Victoria concluded that the cost of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2123285/underrated-australian-wine-region-produces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2123285/underrated-australian-wine-region-produces?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Dec 2017 22:03:22 +0000 Hélène Garcin and her husband, Patrice Lévêque, the owners of the Clos L’Église winery in Pomerol, on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, have the perfect working relationship. The Garcin family acquired the property in 1997, dramatically improved the quality of its wines and transformed the winery’s reputation. While Garcin is Clos L’Église’s ambassador, working tirelessly to promote its wines, Lévêque rarely leaves their 5.9-hectare vineyard, which is planted with merlot and cabernet franc. The vineyard is... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2121240/husband-and-wife-run-winery-tops-illustrious?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2121240/husband-and-wife-run-winery-tops-illustrious?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Nov 2017 11:15:15 +0000 The Italian words “unico zelo” mean “unique passion”, and that’s what Australian husband-and-wife team Brendan and Laura Carter hope they bring to their winemaking operation in the Adelaide Hills, in South Australia. The modern, fresh and unadulterated wines the Carters produce under their Unico Zelo label are a pure expression of fruit and soil, with no oak influence. As well as the Adelaide Hills, fruit is sourced from Clare Valley and Riverina. The latter is one of Australia’s largest... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2119134/couples-quest-most-australian-wines-begins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2119134/couples-quest-most-australian-wines-begins?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Nov 2017 10:32:08 +0000 Salvatore Ferragamo, a third-generation member of the celebrated Italian fashion family, was recently in Hong Kong to promote Il Borro wines. His father, Ferruccio, acquired the dilapidated Tuscan wine estate – containing its own medieval village – in 1993, and the family turned the 700-hectare property into a functioning wine business and five-star hotel. Somebody was needed to manage the new businesses, and Ferragamo was chosen. He is involved in all aspects of the winery. Fine wine eclipses... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2117120/salvatore-ferragamo-fashion-familys-tuscan-wine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2117120/salvatore-ferragamo-fashion-familys-tuscan-wine?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Oct 2017 10:30:15 +0000 Stellenbosch is a town in South Africa’s Western Cape province. Boasting a Mediterranean climate, its winemaking history dates back to the 17th century, and the area is currently home to about 170 producers. Two of the best family-owned wineries are Kanonkop and Stellenrust and both produce high-quality wines that are good value and worth seeking out. Kanonkop Pinotage 2014, Stellenbosch With more than 40 years of family history, Kanonkop Wine Estate is now run by Paul and Johann Krige. An... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2114827/three-wines-stellenbosch-south-africa-worth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2114827/three-wines-stellenbosch-south-africa-worth?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Oct 2017 11:48:37 +0000 In 1999, British rock star Sting met Duke Simone Vincenzo Velluti Zati di San Clemente and fell in love with his crumbling Tuscan estate, Il Palagio. Then, having bought the 350-hectare property, the singer set about restoring it to its original grandeur. At a tasting at The Upper House, in Admiralty, earlier this year, the singer reminisced that, at the time, he “loved the house first and the vineyard was secondary”, adding that he had bought the estate “for two to three songs”. What Sting, the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2113181/every-sip-you-take-three-wines-stings-tuscan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2113181/every-sip-you-take-three-wines-stings-tuscan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Sep 2017 11:00:30 +0000 With a filmmaking career spanning five decades, Francis Ford Coppola is best known as the six-time Oscar-winning director, writer and producer behind such films as The Godfather (1972). Less well known is that he has been in the wine business for 40 years. Coppola’s wine journey began in 1975, when he acquired a segment of the Inglenook estate in California’s Napa Valley. Founded in the 19th century by Gustave Niebaum, Coppola spent the next four decades restoring the estate to its former... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2111119/three-wines-francis-ford-coppolas-napa-valley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2111119/three-wines-francis-ford-coppolas-napa-valley?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:02:05 +0000 California is at the cutting edge of the entertainment and technology industries. The state is just as innovative when it comes to winemaking. Unhampered by the regulatory restrictions of the Old World, Californian producers enjoy freedom to experiment. “California is always trying to do something different,” says Yvonne Cheung, director of wine for Swire Hotels. Nature also plays a crucial role: the enviable climate for which California is renowned means almost all grape varieties can be grown... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2107085/three-californian-wines-exemplify-new-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2107085/three-californian-wines-exemplify-new-world?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Aug 2017 09:02:04 +0000 Widely known as Mr Chenin Blanc, Ken Forrester is a charis­matic and tireless ambassador for South Africa’s unofficial national grape, and his drive and determination have increased international exposure for this underrated variety. Forrester’s foray into the industry began in 1993, when he purchased the Scholtzenhof winery, which, having been estab­lish­ed in 1689, is one of the oldest Cape wineries. Producing wines under his own Ken Forrester label, he has built a reputation for outstanding... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2105221/mr-chenin-blanc-and-three-his-must-try-south?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2105221/mr-chenin-blanc-and-three-his-must-try-south?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Aug 2017 11:00:29 +0000 Master of wine Tim Atkin has exuberantly described South Africa as “the most exciting wine producing country on the planet”. He says an essential factor behind the country’s success is “youthful talent, coupled with enthusiasm and the desire to work together to promote South Africa”. Asked who the country’s hottest winemakers are, Atkin highlights three of special note. Johan Meyer, better known as “Stompie”, is among the most accomplished of the new wave of Swartland-based producers, and has... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2103318/three-outstanding-wines-south-africa-most?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2103318/three-outstanding-wines-south-africa-most?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Jul 2017 05:15:49 +0000 When it comes to Mosel riesling, third-generation winemaker Nik Weis, of German winery St Urbans-Hof, says the grape variety plays second fiddle. “I do not make riesling,” he says. “I am making Mosel. Riesling is but the vehicle.” Weis’ vineyards cling precariously to the steep slopes of the Mosel Valley, in the west of Germany. The region’s slate soils are rich in calcium and potassium, which, he says, add a savoury element to the wine. Viticulture in the valley extends back to the Romans, who... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2100556/grapes-meet-slate-powerful-rich-complex-mosel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2100556/grapes-meet-slate-powerful-rich-complex-mosel?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jun 2017 05:31:41 +0000 In ancient Greek mythology, the Three Graces were goddesses who symbolised charm, grace and beauty. The wine world also has three Graces: Grace Family Vineyards, in Napa Valley, California; Grace Vineyard, in Shanxi province; and Grace Winery, in Yamanashi prefecture, Japan. At the helm of Asia’s Graces are two talented young women whose wines personify the attributes of the Greek goddesses. The Japanese Grace is a family-owned winery established in 1923 and run by Shigekazu Misawa. His... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2099412/three-best-wines-graces-china-and-japan-wineries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2099412/three-best-wines-graces-china-and-japan-wineries?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jun 2017 05:15:54 +0000 With his imposing stature, ponytail and cigarette in hand, David Powell stands out in a crowded room. Asked about the impact of smoking on his tasting abilities, the Australian winemaker, not one for political correctness, replies: “My palate has adjusted to the tobacco.” And the quality of his wines supports this assertion. Powell started in the wine business in 1992. Two years later, he established his own winery, Torbreck, named after a Scottish forest where he worked as a lumberjack. His... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2097335/three-top-bottles-australian-winemaker-david?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2097335/three-top-bottles-australian-winemaker-david?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jun 2017 06:02:06 +0000 Greece has an illustrious wine­making tradition that goes back 6,500 years. The Greeks used to dilute wine with sea water (it was called thalassitis, from thalassa, the Greek word for sea) and season it with honey and resin. And Ancient Greece created the role of the sommelier. Mihalis Boutaris, winemaker for Kir-Yianni, says, “The oinochooi [literally ‘those who pour wine’] in modern Greece is still the term for the sommelier.” Wine was consumed at the symposium (from the Greek word for... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2094773/greek-wines-rich-history-and-recent-rebirth-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2094773/greek-wines-rich-history-and-recent-rebirth-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 May 2017 10:32:49 +0000 Swiss cuisine is hard to describe, being partially influenced by its neighbours – Germany, France and northern Italy. The Swiss dishes that come immediately to mind are cheese fondue, rösti and raclette. These are hearty dishes appropriate for the country’s alpine conditions. When it comes to wine, it would be reasonable to assume that Swiss varieties accompanying the rich, cheesy and meat-based fare would be heavy and robust. The opposite, in fact, is true. Modern Swiss wines have evolved in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2090747/three-fine-swiss-wines-lavaux-vaud-domaine-du?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2090747/three-fine-swiss-wines-lavaux-vaud-domaine-du?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Apr 2017 07:01:27 +0000 Chasselas is a white grape variety most closely associated with Switzerland. The grape, which is also cultivated in Romania, France, Hungary and New Zealand, is named after a village in the Saône-et-Loire department. Despite its French name, it was long believed that chasselas originated in Egypt. DNA testing, however, shows that the grape’s birthplace is the Vaud canton, in southwest Switzerland. Today, chasselas is the most important white variety in Vaud, accounting for about 66 per cent of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2087395/channelling-chasselas-three-swiss-wines-luc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2087395/channelling-chasselas-three-swiss-wines-luc?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Apr 2017 06:31:48 +0000