What, you ask, is the big difference between Château d’Esclans’ two crown jewels—Garrus and Les Clans? Well, let’s start by tossing the word big out of the window. These two don’t compete; they coexist like elegant siblings who both went to top universities but chose different majors. In the glass, they’re nearly identical—pale, poised, and
We won’t whisper. Not today. Today we sing—loudly, joyfully, a little off‑key perhaps—because Whispering Angel turns twenty. I still remember that night as if Provence itself pressed it into my memory. It was 2 July 2016, and I was gliding through the warm, inky darkness in a borrowed car, heading toward Château d’Esclans. The occasion:
The annual overview tasting hosted by wine importer POOT from De Lier is an excellent opportunity to highlight exceptional wineries. This year, the prestigious Cos d'Estournel winery presented a series of wines. The 2019, 2020, and 2021 vintages were presented, as was their 2021 Pagodes de Cos rouge. We often overlook the fact that these
The Netherlands offers no shortage of exceptional dining experiences, yet First stands apart—a hidden gem where the moment you cross the threshold, the world outside seems to pause. Here, in this intimate space shaped by care and craft, your day gently recedes, giving way to something more personal, more timeless. At the heart of First
The Secrets of the Archangel: A New Mystery in the Judean Hills By Janna Rijpma-Meppelink In the late nineties of the last century I had the pleasure of meeting Eli Ben-Zaken for the first time during a dinner in Amsterdam. In that time his chardonnay made an indelible impression. Finally in 2011 I had the
A great article written by Britt Karlsson and printed in FORBES in 2021 How Texas Saved The French Wine Industry ByPer and Britt Karlsson, Contributor. Jan 18, 2021, 12:38pm ESTJan 18, 2021, 12:38pm EST A French botanist made an adventurous journey across the United States in the 1880s in search of an American grapevine suitable
Vinoloog & wijnschrijver Janna Rijpma Vrouwen kijken, proeven en ruiken beter dan mannen Ze herinnert zich nog levendig de eerste keer dat ze een bijzondere wijn dronk bij kennissen in Parijs. Een rode bourgogne uit Morey-Saint-Denis. Vanaf dat moment realiseerde ze zich dat wijn zo lekker maar vooral zo bijzonder kon zijn. Geboren in Winschoten
Like a film star on an international press tour, Yoram Avigad—newly appointed CEO of Israel’s flagship estate, Golan Heights Winery—has been making swift appearances across Europe. Avigad brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience in agribusiness, consumergoods, and the premium food and beverage sectors and an executive demeanour blending calm authority with sharp
Vrouewynmaker van die Jaar Deze column verscheen eerder in de Spits (2005) Op dit moment geniet ik van de verwennerij om te verblijven in het mekka van de Zuid-Afrikaanse wijnbouw, Stellenbosch, en wel op een van de mooiste en meest gerenomeerde wijnparadijzen, de "Warwick Wine Estate". Eigenaar en wijnmaker Norma Retcliffe maakt hier al decennia
Chateau Montus (Deze column verscheen eerder in 2001 in de Spits) 2001: De afgelopen weken reed ik samen met mijn familie door het Franse land. Via de Elzas, Bourgogne en de Provence, zijn we uiteindelijk weer op onze vertrouwde stek; de Gers. De wijnstokken en tientallen uithangborden waarmee de lekkernijen van deze streek worden aangeboden