By Robert Giorgione on March 29, 2012
During the past couple of years or so, much has been written in the wine press and also there have been various mumblings about the ‘hot topic’ of New Zealand Gruner Veltliner. Essentially, this is not a new phenomenon because this indigenous Austrian grape variety has been planted in New Zealand since 2006. It’s still [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Austrian Wine, Book, Central Otago, Coopers Creek, Dr John Forrest, eBook, Forrest Wines, Gruner Veltliner, Hans Herzog, Jules Taylor, Marlborough, Matt Thomson, Nautilus, Nelson, New Zealand, Noel Young, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Saint Clair, Seifried, Sommelier Stories, Tamra Washington, Tasting Notes, Tinpot Hut, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, Yealands Estate, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on March 29, 2012
Before we proceed any further, I know exactly what you’re thinking right now. Who or what the hell is Waitaki? More to the point – where is Waitaki, more like? To put it plainly and simply, the Waitaki Valley (a.k.a Waitaki) is a very small wine region out in the middle of nowhere in New [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Bell Hill, biodynamic, Book, Canterbury, Chardonnay, Craggy Range, Dr John Forrest, eBook, James Millton, Jancis Robinson, Jeff Sinnott, Michelle Richardson, New Zealand, Oamaru, Otago, Pasquale, Peter Gordon, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Pyramid Valley, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, The Ostler, Waitaki, Waitaki Braids, Waitaki Valley, Warren Adamson, wine blogs, Wine Reviews |
By Robert Giorgione on March 28, 2012
I like to regard the chef/sommelier team (Peter Gordon, Cristian Hossack and Melanie Ellis) at The Providores as the Kiwi culinary version of The Bee Gees. By that, I mean that they have the ability to create some beautiful and magical combinations that have stood the test of time. Over the past year (2011) I have [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Sommelier Stories, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Astrolabe, Book, Chardonnay, Chef, Cristian Hossack, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Forrest Wines, Framingham, Marylebone, Melanie Ellis, New Zealand, Peter Gordon, Pinot Noir, Providores Restaurant, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc, Seresin, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Syrah, Tasting Notes, wine blogs, Wine Reviews |
By Robert Giorgione on March 27, 2012
Food and wine matching by Roving Sommelier One of the chefs, for whom I have much admiration and have got to know over the years is Anna Hansen of “The Modern Pantry” in Clerkenwell, London. She has very kindly given me a recipe from her extensive repertoire. It pretty much sums up her culinary style [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Recipes, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, biodynamic, Book, Chef, Clive Dougall, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Marlborough, Modern Pantry, New Zealand, recipe, Recipes, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sea Trout, Seresin, The Modern Pantry, Viognier, wine blogs, Wine Reviews |
By Robert Giorgione on March 27, 2012
Have you ever been in one of those situations, whereby you really wanted to ask an important question, but were too afraid to? The wonderful topic of wine clones was being discussed at a wine tasting and I was itching to ask a question. We were at the point of the masterclass going through a line [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged apluswines, Australia, Australian Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Fraser Gallop, Howard Park, Leeuwin Estate, London International Wine Fair, London International Wine Trade Fair, Margaret River, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sarah Ahmed, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Voyager Estate, Western Australia, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Woodlands Estate |
By Robert Giorgione on March 23, 2012
John Avery MW was a true wine legend. Sadly, today I heard the news via Twitter that he had passed away. He was a genuine stalwart of the UK wine trade and his eponymous family wine business, which he took over from his father, Ronald, during the mid-1970s, was integral to the city of Bristol’s [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories | Tagged Avery's of Bristol, Bristol, DWWA, eBook, Jancis Robinson MW, John Avery, John Avery MW, Master of Wine, Obituary, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, wine blogs |
By Robert Giorgione on March 23, 2012
In the words of the esteemed organisers: “SITT (Specialist Importers Trade Tastings) is designed specifically for independent on and off-trade buyers who are looking to select wines for their customers that are as interesting as they are diverse. This year we have another fine line-up of specialist importers who are passionate about the winemakers they [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged biodynamic, Boutique wines, Champagne, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Dirty Dozen Tasting, Independent wine merchants, Natural Wines, Pinot Noir, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc, SITT, Sommelier Stories, Specialist Importers Trade Tastings, Syrah, Tasting Notes, The Dirty Dozen, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on March 22, 2012
Before we get started, I would just like to make a couple of important points. To quote a famous ‘celebrity masterchef’ – “Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this!” So, I think we may know to whom I am referring? To paraphrase that same ‘celebrity masterchef’ – “Food and restaurant critics can make or break any [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Restaurant Reviews, Sommelier Stories, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, Chef, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Gal Zohar, Gemma Bell, Honami Matsumoto, Nopi, Ottolenghi, Restaurant Reviews, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Yotam Ottolenghi, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on March 21, 2012
Food and wine matching by Roving Sommelier Here is a straight-forward recipe, which makes for a tasty main course or supper dish. It is also a wonderful way to use fresh, seasonal ingredients and some store cupboard items, especially if you’re a fan of duck. Alternatively, you could amend the recipe and use another type of poultry or [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Recipes, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Bannockburn, Book, C J Pask, Central Otago, Duck, eBook, Felton Road, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Forrest Wines, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, Pinot Noir, recipe, Recipes, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Syrah, Szechuan pepper, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wooing Tree |
By Robert Giorgione on March 21, 2012
When I think of spring, the first things that come into my mind are freshness, verdant pastures, blossom and positive energy. When March and April arrive, it is the time to seize the day, a time for get up and go and hopefully move forwards and discover new things. We have enjoyed the warm and [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Wine Reviews | Tagged Bedales, Borough Market, Borough Wines, Cartwright Brothers, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Laithwaites, London Bridge, Magazine articles, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Utobeer, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wines for Spring season |
By Robert Giorgione on March 20, 2012
Rest assured my dear readers and followers, this blog article doesn’t contain any liquorice. However, like a kid in a sweet shop you will be spoilt for choice for some amazing wines from my favourite state in Australia. I attended an interesting masterclass and tasting hosted by Kate McIntyre MW (Moorooduc Wines) and Steve Webber [...]
Posted in Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged apluswines, Australia, Australian Wine, Kate McIntyre MW, London International Wine Fair, London International Wine Trade Fair, Masterclass, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Steve Webber, Tasting Notes, Victoria, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on March 16, 2012
I would just like to make it clear that this blog article is a little different and much longer than my usual scribblings. Hence, I have split it up into nice, easy to digest, bite-sized chunks. Essentially, it is a ‘snapshot’ of a day in the life of a sommelier. This is the fifth and [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Sommelier Stories | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Anthony Bourdain, Book, Chef, Court of Master Sommeliers, Customer Service, Danny Meyer, eBook, Fifth Floor, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Gary Vaynerchuk, Hospitality, Kitchen Confidential, Orrery, Oxo Tower, Pierre Koffmann, Restaurant Reviews, Robert Giorgione, Ronan Sayburn, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Tom Cannavan, Union Square Cafe, Waiter Rant, wine blogs |
By Robert Giorgione on March 15, 2012
Recently, I managed to meet up with an old friend and sommelier colleague, Ronan Sayburn MS. We spent a short amount of time going over his last two trips to New Zealand and visits to various vineyards around the country. He was very fortunate to be hosted by New Zealand Wine Growers and the Family [...]
Posted in Interviews, Sommelier Stories, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, Central Otago, Chardonnay, Court of Master Sommeliers, eBook, Family of Twelve, Hawkes Bay, Interviews, Marlborough, Martinborough, New Zealand, New Zealand Wine Growers, Pinot Noir, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Syrah, Videos, Waipara, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on March 13, 2012
Food and wine matching by Roving Sommelier Here is a straight-forward recipe, which makes for a tasty lunch or supper dish. It is also a wonderful way to use fresh, seasonal ingredients and some store cupboard items, especially if you’re a fan of mussels. Alternatively, you could amend the recipe and use another type of seafood – for instance, [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Recipes, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, Boundary Farm, Brian Bicknell, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Gewurztraminer, Huia, Mahi, Marlborough, Mussels, New Generation Wines, New Zealand, recipe, Recipes, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Satay Sauce, Sauvignon Blanc, wine blogs, Wine Reviews |
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