Cabernet Shiraz

Die berg geloofden we wel, al zoveel gezien en beklommen. Maar van wijn hebben we nooit genoeg! We hebben 2 verschillende tastings gedaan, eentje in de stad waar we verschillende Malbec's uit de regio hebben geproeft (ja echt met neusje in glas en draaien maar!).

De andere dag hebben we een fiets gehuurd en zijn we langs verschillende wijngaarden gefietst, hier hebben we verschillende soorten wijnen geproeft zoals Merlot, Cabernet, Shiraz etc. Maar goed dat we op de fiets waren, hik! Vanuit Mendoza gaan we met de bus de grens over naar Chili. Wegens tijdgebrek gaan we meteen naar de kustplaats Valparaiso en slaan we de hoofdstad Santiago over.

Deze stad is een Unesco erfgoed vanwege zijn aparte bouwstijl. Alles gebouwd op steile heuvels waar je met liftjes naar boven en beneden moet. Hier hebben we een paar dagen rondgeslenterd tot de ochtend dat we ons gordijn opendeden. Vanuit ons raam hadden we een mooi uitzicht over de haven waar ons volgende thuis voor de komende 2 weken lag: The Norwegian Sun Cruiseboot.

Full Story: Mendoza - Mendoza San Juan La Rioja, Argentinië - Columbusmagazine

Spier is releasing a range of premium wines to the UK after pulling out of supermarkets in favour of a push in the on-trade and independent merchants.

Wines being shipped over include the Creative Block wines, including Creative Block 2, 2009 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon (rrp: £11.99), which has a very vegetal nose of green pepper and freshly mown lawn, with a weighty and well-balanced mouthfeel.

Creative Block 3, 2007 (rrp: £14.99), is a Shiraz/Mourvèdre/Viognier blend with a perfumed, violent and plums on the nose and zingy, juicy red fruits in the mouth and velvety texture.

Full Story: Written by Claire Hu - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade Review

-- Deccan Plateau Wines have launched completely natural, sophisticated, classic, regional Indian wines with delicate and complicated flavors. The wines will not only compliment food, but also bring in a statement of traditional values, a sense of style, and refinement, enhancing the wine experience.

The range of wines launched by Deccan Plateau include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz , Zinfandel, Cabernet-Shiraz , Shiraz-Cabernet-Merlot .

Speaking on the launch of the new range of products, wine makers and promoters of Deccan Plateau wines Nitin Shinde and Girish Kamble said the brand of wines will raise the quality bar very high and believe it will be finally India's turn to capture the international wine markets.

Full Story: Deccan Plateau Wines Launches exquisite range of wines - India PRwire (press release)

When he offloaded his pride and joy - the super-premium Adelaide Hills winery Petaluma, which he founded in 1976 - to Lion Nathan seven years ago, he immediately moved on to his next challenge in partnership with a couple of heavyweight partners.

From his bulging global contact book, Croser was able to entice the Champagne region's esteemed House of Bollinger and the Cazes family of Bordeaux's Ch aciteau Lynch-Bages fame as investors in his Tapanappa Wines project.

  Before long, he had three prime viticultural regions from which to draw fruit: the Tiers chardonnay vineyard in the Adelaide Hills (his old stamping ground), the Froggy Hill pinot noir vineyard on the Fleurieu Peninsula and Whalebone vineyard at Wrattonbully, which delivers cabernet sauvignon, merlot and shiraz.

Full Story: Croser's march to perfection - Daily Telegraph

There is so much choice on the shelves and a varied menu in every home so celebrating the Yuletide spirit with the right bottle can be ‘a lucky dip with every sip.’ As most hosts will agree, there is no perfect wine to serve with Christmas lunch and dinner or on Boxing Day – after all, it’s a matter of style and taste.

So to guide you through the foodie fest, here’s a selection of wines that I think stand up to the occasion.

A champagne breakfast is a lovely way to herald in the most important meal of the year and own label Harvey Nichols Brut NV (£24.50, Harvey Nichols nationwide) is a golden glass of fine bubbles with notes of orchard fruit, toasted brioche and a full, rich finish. Enjoy before going to church or as an aperitif with lunch.

Full Story: Drink: Time for a lucky dip - Huddersfield Examiner