For centuries, Spain has been in the shadow of its world-renowned winemaking neighbor, France. However, the land of Don Quixote is the third-largest wine producer in the world, with over one million acres dedicated to vineyards, more than any other wine-producing country on the planet. While I have been enjoying great Spanish wines for…
Spaniards live for pleasure: lazy afternoons by the seashore, big lunches with abundant wine and sherry, siestas and nightlife. I love that about Spain. If a Spaniard has one penny, he will spend it enjoying life. Wine is a big part of enjoying life in Spain, and the country has no lack of wineries.…
MENTIONED IN THIS POST: Screaming Eagle Of the many excellent, highly-acclaimed wines of Napa Valley, why does Screaming Eagle soar above the rest? Not only does this winery enjoy a reputation as one of the finest producers in the United States (if not the world), it’s also one of the most exclusive. These wines, cultivated…
An old man I once spoke to in the beautiful, ancient village of Margaux told me that the Greek owner of Chateau Margaux, André Mentzelopoulos, had been captivated by the Ionic columns of the building at the Chateau because they reminded him of his homeland. Whatever the cause of his fascination, the Greek entrepreneur…
I was on a cruise passing near the Arctic circle when I first tried Australian Shiraz, and I have to say it has remained one of my favorite reds; it made a perfect pairing with the midnight sun. I particularly enjoy blends of Shiraz with a touch of Viognier, something Australians do as well…
Once upon a time, snapping up Bordeaux futures and cases of esteemed Burgundies like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was all the strategy a wine collector needed. But times have changed. For the past few seasons, buying Bordeaux en primeur hasn’t paid off for many investors. Great Burgundies with impeccable pedigree — like DRC —…
The elite NY restaurant Eleven Madison Park only opened in 1998, but its accolades include four stars from the New York Times, three stars from Michelin Guide, five stars from Forbes Travel Guide, and a Five Diamond Review from AAA. S. Pellegrino also ranked the restaurant one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, Wine…
Collecting Bordeaux will complete your fine wine portfolio; the classic wines make an excellent investment. In the world of wine, some things never change. The critics’ collective opinion of the best Bordeaux wines, which was established over 150 years ago, remains largely unchanged today. In 1855, during an international exhibition in Paris, the best Bordeaux…
MENTIONED IN THIS POST: Chateau d’Yquem Domaine Henri Jayer Chateau Petrus Domaine de la Romanee Conti Chateau Lafite-Rothschild Chateau Cheval Blanc Sometimes wines of the same vintage and varietal can vary significantly in price. This leads even collectors to ask: what determines a wine’s price? What is the difference between a $30 Pinot Noir from…
MENTIONED IN THIS POST: Domaine de la Romanee Conti Domaine Leroy Domaine Armand Rousseau Jacques-Frederic Mugnier Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Bouchard Pere & Fils The French countryside has that je ne sais quoi. The romanticism of Flaubert novels and Eric Rohmer films is still very much alive in the sunny meadows, flowery gardens, rolling hills,…
MENTIONED IN THIS POST: Biondi Santi Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino has the longest aging requirement of all Italian wines. With a spectacular performance at international auctions and some excellent recent vintages, it has become one of the most coveted wines for collectors. Auctions have lately seen a lot of interesting Brunello action; a…
Growing wine is a long and subtle process. Soil conditions improve, vines tendril around a trellis as grapes bloom over the course of a year and are cultivated into vintages. The reputations of wineries develop over decades. Fittingly, in the wine world history changes in sips, not dramatic gulps — most of the time, anyway.…
