Visiting a vineyard
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Domaine Vincent Dancer 2016
I haven’t been so excited about Chassagne Montrachet for a long time since discovering the brilliant quality of Domaine Bernard Moreau a few years ago. Vincent Dancer is one of my favourite producers in Burgundy. He grew up in Alsace and picked up photography as well as a love of wine from his father. Vincent came to Burgundy after completing his engineering degree and fell in love with the region. Vincent’s family had some vineyards rented out to relatives and Vincent gradually took in control of the vineyards and started making wines in Chassagne Montrachet. 1996 was Vincent Dancer’s first vintage. He started with 3.50 ha of vineyards in 1996…
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Domaine Fourrier 2017
Domaine Fourrier is one of the finest addresses in Gevrey Chambertin. We cannot talk about Gevrey Chambertin without mentioning Domaine Fourrier. Jean-Marie Fourrier completed a 6 months internship for Henri Jayer and also Domaine Drouhin in Oregon for some time, though Jean-Marie has a clear sense style of wine he wishes to produce (which is stylistically not similar to Henri Jayer’s), Jean-Marie has picked up the attention to detail from the legendary Henri Jayer. Jean-Marie Fourrier took over the 8.68 hectare estate from his father in 1994 at the age of 23. Jean-Marie is blessed with very old vines around Gevrey Chambertin, most of his vineyards were planted before World War 2.…
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Domaine Duroché 2017
Domaine Duroché is one of the rising stars in Gevrey Chambertin. Since Pierre Duroché completely took over the estate from his father in 2008, the winery has gained lots of attention inside and outside of Burgundy. The estate is located in the centre of Gevrey Chambertin village with a total of 8.5 ha vineyard holding. Pierre is blessed with a selection of prime vineyards in Gevrey Chambertin, a lot of old vines from village lieu-dits to Grand Cru parcels. Vineyard Portfolio Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 0.25 ha, Latricières-Chambertin Grand Cru 0.27 ha, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru 0.41 ha, Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru 0.01 ha, Lavaut St Jacques Premier Cru 1.20 ha, Estournelles-St-Jacques…
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Ken Forrester Wines, the king of Chenin Blanc in South Africa
If I were to pick a bottle of South African Chenin Blanc to drink, it would probably be the Ken Forrester Dirty Little Secret… Ken Forrester (an ex-restaurateur) started the winery in 1994 with the hope to make Chenin Blanc in Stellenbosch that can rival Loire Valley Chenin Blanc. Impressively, Ken Forrester (also known as Mr Chenin Blanc) sold 400 cases of his wine in the first year, now he is selling more than 80,000 cases. Ken is hoping to increase the production to more than 200,000 cases in the next 4 years. Located south of Stellenbosch (approximately 6 km from the coast) near the Helderberg Mountain, most of Ken Forrester…
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Vondeling Wines, South Africa
Vondeling Wines is one of the exciting recent projects in South Africa. Vondeling Wines was bought by Julian Johnsen, Anthony Ward, and Richard Gower in 2002. Since 2002, the farm has expanded and huge reconstruction program took place including extensive replanting and winery renovation. The farm spreads across 467 hectares of land, including 100 hectares of vineyard, as well as a few hectares of olive trees and woodland on the foothill of Paardeberg mountain. In 2013, a tasting room and chapel was constructed for service and wedding events. Vondeling traces its origin back to 1704 when this piece of land was first granted to Oloff Bergh, a Swedish immigrant. Vondeling Wines…
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Miloš Vineyard, a pioneer in Dalmatia (Croatia)
Croatia may not be the most famous country when it comes to wine production, but it actually has a long history of winemaking, some of their vineyards dates back to 2,500 years ago. Sadly many of the Croatian vineyards and winemaking culture was destroyed by phylloxera then the ruling of the communism system of Yugoslavia and the Croatian war of independence. The number of quality, independent growers are gradually increasing, and Croatian wines are gaining more attention in the wine trade. Peljesca Peninsula is a wine region on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, majority of the vineyards in Peljesca is Plavac Mali. Plavac Mali is an indigenous grape varietal in…
