Bodegas Muga is one of the leading wineries in Spain’s elite wine region of Rioja. We not only got to tour and taste at Muga, but the winery hosted us at a very special private lunch at their winery. Ten of us were a part of the very exclusive Bordeaux to Rioja wine tour put on by Iberian Wines Tours and it was Iberian’s connection with the winery that got us this special invitation. One of the great things about going on these tours is that you get into places that you simply cannot on your own.
Deutz is one of Champagne’sGrande Marques , the name the Champenoise give to the big houses in the region such as MoëtChandon, Taitinger, Bollinger, Veuve Cliquot, Pol Roger and the like. Founded in 1838 it was originally known as Deutz Geldermann, taking its name from founders William Deutz and Pierre-Hubert Geldermann, both involved in the wine trade by profession. Deutz is located in the village of Ay, one of the 17 villages in Champagne to be awarded the very prestigious Grande Cru status.
Just one of the amazing wine views in South Africa.
Tucked in South Africa’s Langeberg Mountain range in the Robertson Wine Valley is small family owned winery that is making a big impression. Kleinhoekkloof Wines is the very definition of a handcrafted boutique winery. At just under 12 Hectares under vine, they grow 6 grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Shiraz, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir. 80% of the farm is registered under the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) and they use the power of gravity in the vineyards and cellar. For example, they use drip irrigation via the fountain and dam they have up in the mountain and use forklifts to raise the tanks to drain off the juice. The first time the wine goes through a pump or is filtered is when it is bottled.
Bodegas Amaren, the sister winery to Luis Cañas, is a tribute to winemaker Juan Luis Cañas’ mother Maria Ángeles. Located in Samaniego, a town in the Province of Álava in Basque country, it lies within the Rioja Alavesa wine region, the smallest sub region of Rioja in Spain. Ángeles was a woman known for her dedication to the family vineyards as well as a passionate appreciation for the earth. It is that same commitment to quality and respect for the environment that the winery aims to bring to every bottle.
¿CóMO? Taperia opened in Vancouver, BC on November 26 to a buzz rarely seen in a city known to be especially demanding—and notoriously ruthless—on restaurants. ‘Como’ holds several meanings in Spanish including “come again” and “to eat”. It is an authentically Spanish phrase that is the perfect name for a concept that until now had been sorely missing in a place known for its world-class dining scene.
Canadians aren’t generally known to boast, but we’re lucky enough to have an airline that has been named North America’s Best Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 7 of the last 9 years (including the past 2 consecutive years), so we’re going to make an exception. On a long-haul trip from Vancouver to Sydney, we had the opportunity to see firsthand that the accolades are truly deserved.
Recent Comments