When the Bousquet family sold its vineyards in the picturesque town of Carcassone in southern France to relocate on uncultivated virgin land high in Argentina’s Andes Mountains foothills, an observer touring the new site asked, “Are you buying a beach? No one’s even grown potatoes here.” Anne Bousquet’s story is charming and true. “The soil […]
Month: October 2017
Not a fan of the high seas? Try a riverboat (wine helps)
I’ve never been comfortable about being on the high seas, so when my wife suggested we take the first ship cruise of our 26-year marriage, I balked. Then our friends suggested a wine riverboat cruise to Bordeaux — an idea that seemed enticing. The rivers, they said, are mostly shallow. There are no waves, no […]
'Evita' aside, Malbec is Argentina's claim to fame
“What’s the first thing that pops into your head when I mention Argentina?” That’s the question I asked the Wine Goddess, my wife Mary Lee, and she replied, “Eva Peron, the Broadway musical, and the song ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina!’” It’s a good answer, but not the one I was expecting. So I refined […]
Mellasat Vineyards' white Pinotage is turning reds
The Pinotage red grape and wine are unique to South Africa. Pinotage is also one of the least understood — and appreciated — wines in the world, and for good reason. Early vintages of Pinotage, created in 1925 as a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, were not very good. Critics complained of its poor […]
