By Robert Giorgione on December 2, 2012
I’ve been a big fan of the wines from the Margaret River region in Western Australia for many years. For me, it’s a great spot for Chardonnay, producing some of the country’s most prestigious wines. In addition, Margaret River is making a name for itself with premium “Bordeaux Blends” red wines. The regional micro climate [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Restaurant Reviews, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Australia, Australian Wine, Book, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, eBook, Elizabeth Cook, Fifth Floor, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Justerini & Brooks, Margaret River, Merlot, Orrery, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, Steve James, Syrah, Tasting Notes, Videos, Vinoteca, Voyager Estate, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on November 13, 2012
Each year, from what seems like the second week of January and reminded at various strategic moments throughout, my older sister ritually continues to advise me that she has already done her Christmas shopping. In fact, she normally confirms this during the final week of August, when she has successfully wrapped up all of the [...]
Posted in Wine Reviews | Tagged Bacchus, Cabernet Sauvignon, Champagne, Chardonnay, English Sparkling Wine, English Wine, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Gruner Veltliner, Madeira, Marylebone, Marylebone High Street, Marylebone Journal, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Port, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc, sherry, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, Syrah, Tasting Notes, Vin Doux Naturel, Waitrose, Waitrose Wine, wine blogs, Wine Reviews |
By Robert Giorgione on September 16, 2012
Back in the day, we had Berni Inns and when you visited one of their many branches throughout the country, you were pretty much guaranteed a decent steak. In fact, top-quality steaks and a unique brand of friendly service were the bedrock on which the company’s reputation was founded. Nowadays, this much-loved British institution has [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Sommelier Stories, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Beef, Book, Butcher, Cabernet Sauvignon, eBook, Fillet, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Garnacha, Ginger Pig, Goodman, Grass-fed beef, Hawksmoor, L'Atelier des Chefs, Marylebone, Marylebone High Street, Marylebone Journal, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Rib-eye, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Rump, Shiraz, Sirloin, Sommelier Stories, Steak, Steakhouse, Syrah, Tempranillo, Waitrose, Waitrose Wine, wine blogs, Wine Reviews |
By Robert Giorgione on May 19, 2012
Jenny McKenzie of Early Bird Wine News is a freelance wine writer, blogger, consultant and educator. In March this year, she attended my Roving Sommelier Pop Up Blind Wine tasting “Savouring For Syrah“, which I hosted at the Adnams Cellar & Kitchen flagship store in Bloomsbury, London. Here’s a short video clip of her comments. I [...]
Posted in Interviews, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged Adnams, Early Bird Wine News, Interviews, Jenny McKenzie, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Savouring Syrah, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, Syrah, Tasting Notes, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on May 2, 2012
Last week I hosted another one of my Roving Sommelier Pop Ups. The wine style, which was topic of round table discussion was Syrah (a.k.a Shiraz). In addition, during the relaxed and informal tasting we came up with some food and wine matching ideas and which would be the best dish or ingredient to be most enjoyable with [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Recipes, Sommelier Stories, Wine Reviews | Tagged Adnams, Adnams Cellar & Kitchen, Australian Wine, Beef, Duck, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, L'Atelier des Chefs, New Zealand, recipe, Recipes, Rhone Valley, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Savouring Syrah, Shiraz, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Syrah, Venison, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on April 22, 2012
It was a great pleasure to host my third Roving Sommelier Pop Up Blind Tasting. Last year we had “Ravenous For Riesling” in January 2011. Then we had “Craving For Chenin” in June 2011. So, next up was the opportunity for the characterful Syrah grape to step up to the plate and be put under [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged Adnams, An Epicurean Odyssey, Argentina, Australia, California, Chile, Crozes Hermitage, De Bortoli, Dr John Forrest, Hawkes Bay, James Millton, Jim Barry, Laytons, Margaret River, New Zealand, Paritua, Rhone Valley, Richard Hemming, Robert Giorgione, Rosemary George MW, Roving Sommelier, Savouring Syrah, Shiraz, Shobbrook, Sommelier Stories, South African Wines, Syrah, Tasting Notes, Tinpot Hut, Videos, Walla Walla, Washington State, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, Yalumba, Yarra Valley, You Tube |
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 January 30, 2012
As you can see, in New Zealand, they prefer to call Shiraz by its European ‘moniker’ of Syrah. In fact, the winemakers prefer to produce a wine, which tends to be more akin to the European style than the Shiraz of their Aussie neighbours. Hence, they aspire to the Rhone Valley in France and look [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, Dreadnought, eBook, Enotria, Gimblett Gravels, Hallowed Ground, Hawkes Bay, Man O'War Vineyards, Marlborough, New Generation Wines, New Zealand, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Savouring Syrah, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, Syrah, Tasting Notes, Te Whare Ra, Trinity Hill, Waiheke Island, wine blogs, Wine Reviews |
By Robert Giorgione on January 8, 2012
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Great Dividing Range in the Grampians region of Victoria, the Mount Langi Ghiran (Aboriginal for the home of the yellow-tailed black cockatoo) vineyard is one of the most isolated and unique sites in Australian viticulture. The vineyard, with its towering granite cliffs and loamy red soils, encapsulates an [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged Australia, Australian Wine, Dan Buckle, Enotria, Mount Langi Ghiran, Rathbone Wine Group, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on November 26, 2010
Few names excite Aussie wine enthusiasts as much as Wendouree an ‘old fashioned’ producer whose association with long lived reds is unmatched. Wendouree’s focus is squarely set on grape growing and winemaking, opposing both assertive marketing and self promotion. This point is personified by their traditional bottles, which still display no back label, no contact [...]
Posted in Interviews, Sommelier Stories, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Australia, Australian Wine, Book, Cabernet Sauvignon, eBook, Find Wine, Interviews, Jamie Goode, Malbec, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wendouree, Wine Anorak, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on November 6, 2010
Winemaking patriarch Colin Glaetzer established his own label to create wines he’s passionate about – limited quantities of benchmark Barossa Valley reds. It is the pinnacle of Colin’s 30 year career with achievements such as his creation of the revered Barossa Valley Estates E & E Black Pepper Shiraz. Today, his son, Ben Glaetzer carries [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged Alexis Gauthier, An Epicurean Odyssey, Australia, Australian Wine, Ben Glaetzer, Book, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Gauthier Soho, Restaurant Reviews, Robert Giorgione, Roberto della Pietra, Roving Sommelier, Shiraz, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on February 27, 2010
This year the Annual Wine Australia tasting “World Class Australia” was held at the swanky Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. Obviously the previous location of the Emirates Stadium (home of the Arsenal football club) had been given the boot. At least this one was easier to get to. However, even though the venue is an important [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Australia, Australian Wine, Bibendum, Book, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Clark Foyster Wines, eBook, Fraser Gallop, Giant Steps, Jeffrey Grosset, Kooyong, Liberty Wines, Mac Forbes, Margaret River, Mornington Peninsula, Pinot Noir, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sandro Mosele, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Walter Speller, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, Yalumba |
By Robert Giorgione on February 12, 2010
It was back in the day during the mid-1990′s, that I first made the acquaintance with the Australian wines from Petaluma and St Hallett. In fact, I used to list them whilst I was at Oxo Tower between 1996 and 2000. Over the years, both wineries have become firm personal favourites and have become veritable Aussie vinous icons. [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Andrew Hardy, Australia, Australian Wine, Barossa Valley, Bibendum, Book, eBook, Eden Valley, Fifth Floor, Hanlin Hill, Old Block, Oxo Tower, Petaluma, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Shiraz, Sommelier Stories, South Australia, St Hallet, Tasting Notes, Toby Barlow, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on December 8, 2009
Hmmm…I thought, award-winning Aussie wines and classic French food. This is going to be interesting. As with both countries’ immense national pride and competitive fondness for sport, and, indeed their genuine passion for their respective wine and food, I compared these almost combative elements to a rugby match. Surely, these two things are poles apart? [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Restaurant Reviews, Sommelier Stories, Wine Reviews | Tagged Alexis Gauthier, An Epicurean Odyssey, Australia, Australian Wine, Book, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cube Communications, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, French cuisine, McGuigan Wines, Neil McGuigan, Pimlico, Restaurant Reviews, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roberto della Pietra, Roussillon, Roving Sommelier, Semillon, Shiraz, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
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