Champagne enjoys an unmatched reputation as the go-to celebration wine, built on centuries of festive associations. Adam Holden shines a light on the best-known historical moments which have helped to shape an iconic legacy.   Wine of kings For as long as it’s existed as a sparkling wine, Champagne has been inextricably linked to festivity, celebration and the grandest of occasions. Nothing ushers in a joyeux noël like hearing the unmistakable pop of that mushroom cork.  Perhaps the link is as old […]

“For me, there’s no better red wine on the planet than Pinot Noir. And there’s no better place for Pinot Noir than Burgundy.” – Dominique Lafon  The differences between Burgundy’s two grape varieties go beyond mere physiology. It’s a question of personality, really. Chardonnay is easy-going and adaptable, happy to make its home where it lays its […]

Across the world, Chardonnay may be considered a divisive “Marmite” grape, but in Burgundy, it reigns supreme. For anyone starting their Burgundy adventure, the region’s sheer complexity can be daunting. Thankfully, there’s at least one aspect which is really quite simple: the grape varieties. All the great wines of Burgundy are produced from either Chardonnay or Pinot […]

Fine wine specialist Adam Holden catches up with Constantia Glen’s Alexander Waibel to get a taste for their wines, and their winemaking philosophy.  It’s nine years since I made my first visit to Constantia Glen in South Africa’s Western Cape. They were quite new at the time. They made their first white in 2005, with […]