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Planet Wine Blog
The Cape Wine that’s Been Sweetening the Lips of Royalty for Centuries
We were delighted to learn from our friends at Klein Constantia in South Africa that their Vin de Constance 2008 had been served with dessert at the glittering state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II for President Xi Jinxing of China at Buckingham Palace last month – one of just five wines specially selected to [...]
The Original Rebel Redefines Image of Italian White Wines
We’ve been introducing you to various up and coming industry mavericks from South Africa and Spain, but the 21st century’s original wine rebel must surely be charismatic Italian, Roberto Anselmi. And we’re not talking about the fact that he flies his own helicopter, had a Porsche made to his specifications and has a passion for fast [...]
Cape Wine Dynasty Heralds in a New Era
Whenever I turn off Bottelary Road in Stellenbosch to head up the long, dusty dirt track shaded by tall trees, past the unpretentious signs, towards Kaapzicht Wine Estate, I am reminded of a time past – when families and their workers focused on care of the land and the people, producing wines to the best [...]
Ponsonby Road Bistro a trademark in sophisticated informality
The central location of 165 Ponsonby Road has seen numerous restaurants come and go, but ever since the award-winning Ponsonby Road Bistro launched on the site, it’s as if nothing else ever existed there. Lauded by Metro magazine as “not just one of the leading signature restaurants of the Ponsonby strip, but a restaurant that showcases [...]
Kereru takes home gold … and silver … and bronze
The annual Brewers Guild awards are a really big deal in the local beer world, and Kereru Brewing Company (who we represent in the upper North Island) proved their prime place in the industry at this year’s event, taking home a total tally of nine medals, including a gold for their At-At Imperial Pilsner. There was [...]
Ron Mulata – the best of Cuba in a bottle
Just as the ‘Cuban Thaw’ sees the welcome signs go up for the anticipated flood of American first-time visitors into the Caribbean nation, so a very Cuban export is heading the other way in growing numbers. Rum, or ron as it’s known to Cubanos, conjures up the island every bit as much as cigars and [...]
An intimate Auckland bistro serving world class wines
Acclaimed for its wine list as much as it is for its great food, O’Connell Street Bistro in the heart of Auckland city is one of Planet Wine’s longest standing customers. In the first of a regular column, we talk restaurants, wine lists and the joys of travel with owner Chris Upton. When British-trained Chris arrived [...]
Young Bloods resurrect ancient vines at Mas Candi
Age-old traditions and fresh ideas mix seamlessly at Penedès winery Mas Candi. I have just visited the three young Catalans who are breaking new ground by resurrecting ancient vines on their family vineyards 45 minutes SW of Barcelona. It’s an easy drive out of the city but as the famous Sagrada Familia’s spires and the hordes [...]
South Africa’s best are gathered at Planet Wine
UK Master of Wine Tim Atkin’s latest South Africa Special Report and his hotly debated 2015 Cape Classification have shone the spotlight on that thriving industry yet again. It seems like our ‘jaapie’ winemaker friends can do little wrong at present. Reading through the list of first, second, third, fourth and fifth growth producers (Atkin’s attempt [...]
Reyneke’s biodynamic syrah voted Robinson’s wine of the week
Jancis Robinson rates her visit to Reyneke as one of the most memorable of her 2014 South African trip. It must have left a good impression, because she’s just announced their 2013 Biodynamic Syrah as her wine of the week, a real benchmark for punters around the world. Reyneke was the first producer in South Africa to get their biodynamic [...]