Are you interested in sustainable wine? Or maybe even organic or biodynamic wine? In this handy glossary, we list all the terms you should know!  A Additives Additional ingredients used during winemaking. While it’s not mandatory to list ingredients on wine bottles, there are plenty of additives that winemakers have at their disposal – from cultured yeast to sulphur, but also “mega purple,” a grape concentrate to “colour correct” red wine. Agroecosystem An agroecosystem is a cultivated ecosystem – usually a farm – a co-production between nature and humans. It strives to achieve a harmonio ..read more

Juicy meatballs in a slightly spicy tomato sauce, with a nice glass of slightly chilled red wine. What’s not to love? Make these albóndigas part of your tapas spread, but make plenty because they’ll go first!  Albóndigas is the Spanish word for meatballs. You’ll typically only find them in Spain as tapas, not on the dinner table. They’re much smaller than their international counterparts, usually comparable to a ping pong ball or even smaller. This size, they form the perfect, one-bite snack.  We suggest you use a mix of pork and beef for the meatballs. By browning them before simmer ..read more

Tempranillo (pronounced temp-rah-nee-oh) is a red wine grape most commonly grown in Spain. You’ve probably heard of Rioja, where some of the best examples of Tempranillo have made the Spanish wine region famous. This is one of our favourite grape varieties  (who are we kidding? So is every other variety!), and we are never one to miss an opportunity to share some information about our favourite things! Here’s what you’ll find in this article: What is Tempranillo? Where is Tempranillo Grown? What does Tempranillo Taste Like? What to Pair with Tempranillo? How is Rioja Tempranillo Classifie ..read more

We hear you thinking: why make hot dogs so fancy? The answer is easy: using gourmet franks makes something already simple and delicious even better. Trust us on this one, and also on the pairing: hot dogs and rosé all the way!  What Are Wagyu Hot Dogs? Wagyu hot dogs are made from Wagyu beef. Wagyu are originally a Japanese cattle breed (“Wa” means Japanese and “Gyu” means cow). The animals have a higher proportion of intramuscular fat cells, or “marbling”. This gives the meat its “melt in the mouth” effect – lending the meat tenderness and flavour when cooked.  Wagyu cattle were fi ..read more

You might’ve tried Rioja or Cava, or even sipped on a glass of Sherry once, but what more do you know about vino de España? Let’s explore the fascinating world of the wines of Spain. Even though Spain’s history of winemaking dates back to the Roman empire, it’s only in the past few decades that Spain has come into its own as a quality wine-producing country. The country had a brief stint as the world’s largest wine producer by volume in 2013 and received recognition as a leader in the industry. Spain has since fallen to third place, but remains a top producer in the world today.  Are Spa ..read more

What is New World Wine? New World wines are those that are produced outside of the traditional winemaking areas in Europe. So if you’re drinking a wine from Italy or France, that’s an Old World wine. If instead, you’re indulging in a glass of wine from New Zealand, South Africa, the US, or even Argentina, you’re enjoying a New World wine.  What is the Difference between Old World and New World Wines? The differences between Old World and New World wines have been discussed and debated. Many people will pick Old World wines over New World wines and vice versa, but what is it that mak ..read more

You might have heard the term “native grapes,” but what do we mean by it? And what about “international grapes” – what are those? In this blog post we’ll give you the lowdown. According to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV): There are around 10,000 known wine grape varieties 6,000 belong to fine wine species Vitis vinifera 13 of those grape varieties cover more than a third of the global vineyard surface Just 33 grape varieties cover 50% of the global vineyard surface What are Native Grape Varieties? “Native” or “indigenous” varieties refer to grapes that thrive in th ..read more

Traditionally, lasagne is made layering ragù, a rich tomato-based meat sauce, fresh pasta, and creamy Béchamel sauce. This vegetable lasagne recipe substitutes the traditional meat for tons of veggies. Make sure to cook the vegetables slowly and thoroughly – they’ll become nicely caramelized and very flavourful. Together with the creamy Béchamel and cheese, the result is ultra satisfying. Lasagne, the Italian classic that we all know and love was invented during the Middle Ages – without tomatoes, of course, because those didn’t show up until centuries later. It’s believed that tomatoes found ..read more

A “sformato” is the Italian word for a savoury flan. It’s easy to make, but has a sophisticated look to it. You’ll find sformati all over Italy, often incorporating seasonal vegetables with ricotta and a type of local cheese. This sformato di spinaci has spinach and Parmigiano Reggiano. The ramekins with the spinach filling are placed in a roasting tray with hot water (au bain marie). This ensures even cooking and prevents the sformati from drying out. Served with a rich cheese cream, a sformato di spinaci is great as an easy, festive starter. Pair with an unoaked Italian white, such as the Va ..read more

Looking for a wine-derous eggplant parmigiana recipe? This one will delight your taste buds and accompany that amazing bottle that you’ve been waiting to crack open. If you aren’t sure what wine to pair your eggplant parmigiana with, we suggest a southern Italian red wine. This recipe is inspired by tradition, and is part of a series of recipes that we have put together this month celebrating the theme: “what grows together, goes together”. When we think of a wine region where food and wine both grow together and pair amazingly well with one another, Italy comes to mind instantly. A land of vi ..read more