Category Archives: People

Spanish Steps dinner at Bunker, May 7-9th, 2017

We are extremely pleased to work with Arnie Marcella, Chef and Andreas Pergher, Beverage Director, on this menu and wine pairing, which traces back Arnie’s history and stories. The above 4-course menu is thb 2,250++ with optional wine pairing  at thb 1,500++. Recently, the dining front of our City of Angels seems to progress faster thanContinue reading “Spanish Steps dinner at Bunker, May 7-9th, 2017”

Vasco Croft, winemaker Aphros, Portugal

Vinho Verde is the most northern wine region of Portugal, bordering with Spain’s Galicia. For this reason, the Albarinho grape is also prevalent here. Typically the light-bodied Vinho Verdes will be a blend Loureiro, Avesso and Alvarinho, each contributing a fair share to acidity, aroma and body. While thank god, the fizz in the wine hasContinue reading “Vasco Croft, winemaker Aphros, Portugal”

The Naturalists from Antipodes

The last 10 years have seen many independent growers and winemakers emerge in many of today’s “cool” wine regions including Yarra, Adelaide Hills (Australia) or Canterbury (New Zealand). Most likely, these individuals traveled extensively, worked and tasted with the best winemakers, and scraped their pennies together to either buy or rent vineyards to grow healthyContinue reading “The Naturalists from Antipodes”

Wine Enthusiast’s Winemaker of the Year 2016

The lucky couple met in the Rhone Valley, and took their impressions back to Chris’ home in the Western Cape, South Africa. Working sustainable, or naturally as one can say, they intend to make old guard Cape wines, mainly from blends of Rhone or Mediterranean varietals. Their wines get a balanced feel from the 3Continue reading “Wine Enthusiast’s Winemaker of the Year 2016”

Alpamanta, not just another Malbec

Half Dane-Half Austrian Andrej Razumovsky and his partners planted a new vineyard in Mendoza’s prime area of Luyan de Cuyo around 2005. They selected a patch of land that never was worked on before, with the aim to establish the first biodynamic vineyard in Argentina. The reds from these high altitude vineyards – 1,000 meters andContinue reading “Alpamanta, not just another Malbec”

Gary Mills at Freebird, Bangkok

Step into the latest sanctuary off busy Sukhumvit Road and take in a little Melbourne. Dallas and Marcus have created this pairing menu using elements of British heritage joined by a range of flavor and cooking techniques from around the world. The menu is priced thb 2,700++ and includes 5 wines from Gary’s latest vintage showcasing his skillsContinue reading “Gary Mills at Freebird, Bangkok”

Belondrade Y Lurton, a Grand Cru for 20+ years

Rueda has a fine-wine making tradition dating back centuries, especially the local white grape variety, Verdejo, has been regarded the best of Spain. From the 1994 vintage onwards, the French husband and wife team, lead by Jean Belondrade, set out to create a great barrel-fermented dry white wine with Burgundian philosophy and values, resulting in a limited production Verdejo cherished byContinue reading “Belondrade Y Lurton, a Grand Cru for 20+ years”

Domaine de la Cadette, Vezelay, Burgundy

In 1989 I was lucky enough to have traveled to Marc Meneau’s Esperance in Vezelay – then one of France’s top dining destinations with 3 Michelin stars. I suppose everyone visiting this part of Burgundy will have remembered the restaurant, and quickly forget the name of the town. Not because it’s insignificant, but the restaurant was located several kilometers belowContinue reading “Domaine de la Cadette, Vezelay, Burgundy”

Red wines to cellar

While a good one-to-three-hour aeration will help lift hidden flavors and aromas in a great young wine, it still cannot compete with a wine that has spent more time in a dark, cool place. Wines that get a chance to shed their “baby fat” will produce a subtler, more complex set of flavors—the result ofContinue reading “Red wines to cellar”