By Robert Giorgione on May 20, 2013
As per usual, each month I like to post an article called “An interview with…”. This may be in the form of a Q & A or a video interview, where my monthly focus can share his/her knowledge and experiences to a wider audience. However, first I must apologise for the delay with this latest [...]
Posted in Featured, Interviews, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, Bruno Colomer Marti, Cava, Codorniu, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Interviews, Penedes, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Spain, Spanish produce, Spanish Wine, Tasting Notes, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, Wines from Spain, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on May 17, 2013
This is a press release sent to me by Chris Stroud (London-based Marketing Manager – New Zealand Wine Growers Europe). “There’s no doubt about it, Sauvignon Blanc is special. It is the varietal that awoke the world to New Zealand wine and continues to dazzle wine critics across the world. Accounting for 84% of wine exported from [...]
Posted in Featured, Wine Reviews | Tagged #SauvBlanc, An Epicurean Odyssey, Bob Campbell MW, Book, eBook, Marlborough, New Zealand, New Zealand Wine Growers, Press Release, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on May 15, 2013
Seeing as today’s #WineWednesday on Twitter, I thought I would treat you to a little question. Do you prefer to drink Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio? By the way, this is not supposed to be a trick question, but essentially the two wines are produced from the same grape variety. Yes, Pinot Gris (French) is [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged Alsace, An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, eBook, Italian Wine, Italy, Marlborough, New Zealand, New Zealand Wine Growers, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Tinpot Hut, Villa Maria, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on May 11, 2013
Yes, that’s right! You did read that correctly – a Danish artisan chocolatier! Mikkel Friis-Holm is quickly grabbing the attention of chocolate lovers and connoisseurs around the world with his exquisite, pure dark chocolate bars. Helen Heslop (General Manager of Alexeeva & Jones in London’s trendy Notting Hill) gave me one of his 70% cacao “pure dark [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Product Reviews, Sommelier Stories, Wine Reviews | Tagged Alexeeva & Jones, An Epicurean Odyssey, Artisan chocolatiers, Book, Chocolate, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Friis Holm, Helen Heslop, Mikkel Friis-Holm, Product Reviews, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Waitrose, Waitrose Wine, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on March 22, 2013
CALLING ALL SOMMELIERS – SAVE THE DATE: Please save Tuesday 4th June late morning/lunch (if you can!) for a ‘South African Stars versus French Classics’ comparative blind tasting competition at the Antique Wine Company in Marylebone, being hosted by Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa (PIWOSA). Fifteen quality South African producers will be presenting a [...]
Posted in Competitions, Wine Reviews | Tagged Academy of Food and Wine Service, AFWS, An Epicurean Odyssey, Antique Wine Company, Competitions, Court of Master Sommeliers, Marylebone, Nicky Ladwiniec, PIWOSA, Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa, R&R Teamwork, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, Wines of South Africa, WOSA |
By Robert Giorgione on March 9, 2013
This article features all the wines, comments and tasting notes from my fourth roving sommelier ‘pop up’ blind wine tasting. Passionate for Palomino was an event that I hosted a couple of months ago in central London following on from my varietal themed, blind tastings for people from within the wine trade, sommeliers, press and [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Wine Reviews | Tagged 28-50, Amontillado, An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, Court of Master Sommeliers, eBook, Equipo Navazos, Fernando de Castilla, Fino, flor, Jade Koch, Laura Rhys MS, Manzanilla, Oloroso, Palo Cortado, Palomino, Passionate For Palomino, Paul Shinnie, Puerto di Santa Maria, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Stephen Nisbet, Tasting Notes, Tio Pepe, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, Xavier Rousset MS |
By Robert Giorgione on March 6, 2013
Bedales is one of the ‘originals’ at Borough Market. Essentially, it is a wine bar with old-fashioned values and genuine hospitality with a quirky, contemporary twist. Recently, I had a quick chinwag with Bedales’ wine guru, Arnaud Compas, in order to fully understand their ethos and for him to introduce to me their recent re-vamp. [...]
Posted in Interviews, Restaurant Reviews, Sommelier Stories, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Arnaud Compas, Bedales, Book, Borough Market, BYO, corkage, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Interviews, Restaurant Reviews, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, wine bar, wine blogs, wine retail, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
By Robert Giorgione on February 25, 2013
We could safely agree that New Zealand, especially the wine region of Marlborough has become synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, initially inspired by a small handful of winemakers, including the now-iconic Cloudy Bay, Marlborough pushes on to break new boundaries in the pursuit of creating a distinctive wine style of its own. Over the [...]
Posted in Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Barracks Vineyard, Book, Brancott Valley, Cloudy Bay, eBook, Interviews, Marlborough, Mustang Vineyard, New Zealand, New Zealand Wine Growers, Nick Lane, Omaka, Pelorus, Pinot Noir, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Sparkling Wine, Tasting Notes, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, winemaker, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on December 22, 2012
So, it’s taken me around six years, but finally it gives me great pleasure to announce the title of my second book – “An Epicurean Odyssey: Sommelier Stories”. Rest assured this ground-breaking book will really titilate your taste buds and quench your thirst for knowledge of the goings-on in the restaurant world! Essentially, “An Epicurean Odyssey” is [...]
Posted in Book Reviews, Food and Wine Matching, Interviews, Recipes, Restaurant Reviews, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, Books For Cooks, Borough Market, Chef, Court of Master Sommeliers, eBook, Fifth Floor, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Interviews, Kitchen Confidential, La Tante Claire, Les Caves de Pyrene, Lulu.com, Marylebone, Orrery, recipe, Recipes, Restaurant Reviews, Robert Giorgione, Roberto della Pietra, Roving Sommelier, social media, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Thierry Tomasin, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on December 18, 2012
For me, the Martinborough region produces New Zealand’s ‘benchmark’ style for that wonderful grape variety – Pinot Noir. Here, since the late 1970s, the most established and perhaps most iconic Pinot Noir vineyards are located. During Autumn 2012, a small, elite team of Martinborough winemakers, headed by “The Sean Fitzpatrick of Pinot Noir winemakers” – [...]
Posted in Interviews, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Interviews, Judy Kendrick, Larry McKenna, Martinborough, Martinborough Vineyards, New Zealand, New Zealand Wine Growers, Paul Mason, Pinot Noir, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Syrah, Tasting Notes, Videos, Vinoteca, Viognier, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, Wines of Martinborough, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on December 3, 2012
As it’s the first Monday of the month, it’s time for my regular blog post – an article entitled “An Interview with…”. This may be a fellow sommelier, a chef, restaurateur, winemaker, blogger or person from within the wine and hospitality industry. My aim is for you to catch a glimpse from ‘behind the scenes’ into someone’s [...]
Posted in Interviews, Sommelier Stories, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Book, eBook, Finger Lakes, Fox Run, Interviews, Long Island, McCall Vineyard, New York State, Oxo Tower, Pinot Noir, Ravenous For Riesling, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Sue Chambers, Tasting Notes, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Equals Friends, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, WSET Diploma, You Tube |
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 December 1, 2012
Today, England are playing New Zealand. I’m not talking wine, but rugby. It should be a good game and I’m looking forward to it. The legendary All Blacks are the current World Champions, having won the Web Ellis Trophy last year in their own back yard. Rugby fans from all over the world flocked to New [...]
Posted in Interviews, Sommelier Stories, Tasting Notes, Videos, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, biodynamic, Book, Cambridge Road, Dovetail, eBook, Lance Redgwell, Les Caves de Pyrene, Martinborough, New Zealand, New Zealand Earthquake Appeal Fund, New Zealand Wine Growers, Pinot Noir, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, Syrah, Tasting Notes, Videos, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting, Wines of Martinborough, You Tube |
By Robert Giorgione on November 29, 2012
As promised, here is the FIRST EVER blog post from my roving sommelier guest wine blogger, Nastajia Bourke. We’ve spilt her story “Coconuts to vines” into two parts. So, continuing on from part one and without further ado, here’s the second part. “Personally I was discovering that everything was matching. From the Colonel’s spices of [...]
Posted in Food and Wine Matching, Guest Blogger, Wine Reviews | Tagged An Epicurean Odyssey, Auckland, Book, Celia Hay, Chablis, eBook, Food and wine matching, food blogs, Guest Blogger, Marlborough, Mollies Boutique Hotel, Nastajia Bourke, New Zealand, New Zealand School of Food and Wine, Polynesian Cuisine, riesling, Robert Giorgione, Roving Sommelier, Sauvignon Blanc, Sommelier, Sommelier Stories, wine blogs, Wine Reviews, Wine tasting |
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