Kim and I first visited South Africa back in 1991 on our honeymoon. In just over three weeks we drove well over 3,000 kilometres from Johannesburg out to the Kruger National Park, then down to Durban, across to Port Elisabeth, the garden route and Cape Town. Finally, we took the ‘Blue Train’ back up to Johannesburg. It was an incredible trip and whilst the country was going through significant change. A change that is still a part of the life in South Africa. The people we met and places we visited left a strong tie between us and South Africa....

When I first thought of 60 wine tastings for my 60 years, the idea was that they were not just tastings for the sake of it, but designed to further my knowledge in some areas and to create some knowledge where little or none previously existed for me in other areas. Riesling is a fine example of the latter. I know very little about Riesling. Shocking though that is. It is the most planted grape variety in Germany. It has various styles and levels of quality and sweetness and it is accepted as being a far more nuanced and interesting...

The Southern American wine industry is dominated by Argentina with 45% of production and Chile with 36%. Brazil manages 13% and Uruguay whilst being the fourth largest wine producer in South America contributes just 4%, hence it is largely unknown by most people. Whilst geographically between Argentina and Brazil and linked to those cultural giants by both tango and carnival. The wines of Uruguay owe more to a European style shaped by its mild Atlantic climate. The other South American wine countries, however, find their influences in the subtropical, pacific and continental climates they enjoy. Uruguay has therefore been described...

This tasting is focusing on two red grape varieties that Chile is making its own. Carmenere is well known as a Chile centric grape, what is less well known is their love of Carignan. Both grapes have their history in Europe. Carmenere originates from the Bordeaux region although it is now rarely found there. Carignan is of Spanish origin, most commonly planted in France, but spread throughout the Mediterranean. It was back in early 2015 that Kim and I (with a couple of good friends) visited some vineyards in Chile. It was a wonderful trip and we tasted many truly...

It was spring 1991 when Kim and I travelled with friends on our first wine trip to France. Overnight we headed down south and arrived tired but enthusiastic in Vaucluse, Provence. We stayed in a lovely little 3* Auberge called Les Geraniums which had a beautiful terrace serving relaxed regional cuisine and local wines from both the Cote du Ventoux and the Cote du Rhone. Over the next few days we tasted many wines from many local villages, Gigondas, Vacqueryas, Beaumes-de-Venise etc. The reds wowed us and we feel permanently in love with their style and power and discovered the...