Whether you drink Chardonnay, Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon – the country’s top three varietals – or rarer grapes like Riesling or Grenache, it is key to understand the value and character of Australian wine. It is now two centuries since the first vineyards were established, and the country’s winemakers – even the big brands that have become household names – have a history all of their own. THE STORY BEHIND THE LABELS Arguably the most famous winemaker in Australia Read More »

If France is a human body, then its heart is Burgundy. Located between Paris and Lyon, Burgundy – or Bourgogne in French – is the pulse of today’s wine world. Unlike Bordeaux or Champagne, Bourgogne is the French wine region to have an English name. The first scripts about Burgundy wine appeared in the fourth century in a letter to Emperor Constantine to defend the precious vineyards of Beaune from taxation. As Burgundy was attracting the attention of British, German and Dutch royals… Read More »

There is no wine quite like Champagne. Adored by people as diverse as Napoleon and Marilyn Monroe, the “sauté-bouchon” (jumping cork in French) as it was once called, has been the dedicated potion of magical nights since the 1600s. The epitome of the French art-de-vivre, the wine was born still, like those of Burgundy or Bordeaux, but wasn’t destined to remain so. A series of mistakes including early bottling led to fermentation to continue inside the bottle – and the effect of sun and heat during transportation would turn the wine into a fizzy beverage by the time it reached the ... Read More »