Tenuta Stella – a Bright Star in the Collio Heavens Tenuta Stella is a young, certified organic Italian winery. It’s in the far northeast of Italy, in the crescent-shaped Collio DOC at Dolegna. Dolegna is one of the five unofficial subzones in the Collio DOC, being closest to the Alps and featuring some of the highest elevations. It also has …
Biodynamic Bibliography – A Written Resource
Biodynamic Bibliography – A Written Resource During my wine career, I have collected (and read!) many publications about Biodynamics, some good, some not. In this Centenary Year, several readers have been in touch asking how to discover more about Biodynamics. Hence, this Biodynamic Bibliography should act as a helpful introductory resource. Biodynamics was first postulated by Rudolph Steiner in 1924. …
Joško Gravner, Part 1: Back To The Future
Joško Gravner, Part 1: Back To The Future As we approach the 100th Anniversary of Biodynamics in June 2024, I couldn’t help but wonder how best to celebrate this Centenary. But then came an invitation to visit Joško Gravner in the Collio Goriziano region of Italy, which borders Goriska Brda in Slovenia. This visit was a long-held wish from when …
Pie and Mash – an authentic taste of London
Pie and Mash – an authentic taste of London While I live ever more distant from my London birthplace, that doesn’t wholly quell its siren call. There are many things I don’t miss, but one thing I crave is Pie and Mash, proper authentic London food. There is, sadly, an ever-dwindling collection of emporia in London in which to eat …
Serving Temperature – What’s Ideal For My Wine?
Serving Temperature – What’s Ideal For My Wine? I’m often asked, “What’s the ideal serving temperature for my wine?” That’s usually followed up with, “And how best to achieve it?” Both questions are important because the serving temperature affects a wine’s smell and taste. Getting that right heightens drinking pleasure immensely. Every wine has its Goldilocks zone. A common suggestion …
Tenuta Argentiera – You Got The Silver
Tenuta Argentiera – You Got The Silver Tenuta Argentiera is in Bolgheri DOC, a winery in Tuscany at the top of the fine wine podium. From seemingly nowhere, Bolgheri enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame. That was during this century, though now-fêted pioneers sowed the seeds some decades before. Bolgheri is one of several places in Italy where Bordeaux grape …
The Isle of Eigg
The Isle of Eigg The Isle of Eigg (Eilean Eige) is one of the Small Isles of Scotland and part of the Hebrides. It lies about 15 km off the west coast of Scotland, to the south of the Isle of Skye. It may only be about eight km long and five km wide, but it’s a singular place. This …
The world’s your Oyster
The world’s your Oyster In Victorian times, Oysters were food for those who could not afford meat. They were harvested in abundance from around British shores and were cheap. Oysters are a good source of protein, especially valuable when meat is an expensive treat. The situation is very different nowadays—oysters are a costly delicacy, thanks to overfishing and marine pollution. …
Morellino di Scansano and Cantina Vignaioli
Morellino di Scansano and Cantina Vignaioli What’s in a name? Morellino di Scansano is in Tuscany’s deep southwest, occupying the central Maremma close to the coast. Much of this area was once wild malarial marshland before humans drained it. So, it was more suitable for horses, cattle, and sheep than vines. This was a poor area with relatively few inhabitants. …
I Was A Marmite Baby – Spreading The Love
I Was A Marmite Baby – Spreading The Love. Love it or hate it. Either way, in the UK, we take Marmite for granted. Like generations before me, I was brought up on the stuff. Seemingly indestructible, an open jar might last for years. However, it survives only a few days in our house. It’s a food that tastes like …