Thursday 15th December 2022 was a bleak day in Vosne-Romanée, the village that can comfortably claim to be the heart and soul of Burgundy, with no fear of a challenge from the likes of Gevrey-Chambertin or Puligny-Montrachet, no matter how exalted their reputations might be. I am only half joking when I tell people that it is, “the centre of the known world”. The express purpose of my visit was to check out a just-opened new wine bar — and post office. But first came the obligatory stop at the cross that marks the most celebrated plot of agricultural land in the world — the 1.81-hectare Romanée-Conti vineyard. This stop is part of a ritual that I never deviate from, reasoning that if I am lucky enough to be passing close then a slight diversion is warranted.
The wind clipped the ankles and set the eyes streaming. Chilled fingers and blurred vision made photography more challenging than usual. A languid stroll was out of the question, so I marched northwards on the road (a glorified track really) between Richebourg to the left and RomanéeSaint-Vivant to the right, stopping after a minute to stamp my feet before retreating to the cosy comfort of the car. It would be wrong to suggest that I wasn’t enjoying myself; I adore the Côte at any time of year and have a special affection for the winter months when the absence of throngs of visitors gives it a more private, closed-in feel. Add in the low-lying, leaden cloud that leaves only a seam of visibility between sky and ground, and you have a bewitching combination that goes unnoticed too often by those pressing on to another appointment, with no thought for stopping to “smell the roses”.
Esta historia es de la edición Summer 2023 de Sommelier India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Summer 2023 de Sommelier India.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Uncorking The Past: Exploring The Fascinating World Of Wine
Shalini Singh takes us on a tour of four unique wine museums that create an interactive and immersive wine experience
Cure, fine Irish cuisine at its best
Chef Andrew Walsh draws on his Irish roots to create his own brand of Nua Irish Cuisine at Cure restaurant
SARPOSH - A Kashmiri Oasis in Bengaluru
An unusual restaurant, styled after a living room in a Kashmiri home, Sarposh presents a new style of dining as it explores a vast and nuanced regional cuisine. Sarposh introduces a different kind of restaurateur. Azmat Ali Mir, an engineer by training, left corporate life to take on the challenging role of showcasing a cuisine that is frequently misrepresented. Her interest lies in sourcing the best ingredients and presenting a menu that is embedded in the wider culture of Kashmir. Kaveri Ponnapa speaks with Azmat Ali Mir, who is slowly changing people’s perceptions of Kashmiri cuisine and through it, of Kashmir itself.
Indian whiskies to the fore
Indian single malt whiskies have come into their own winning international awards. Here, Gagan Sharma lists the whiskies to keep in your drinks cabinet
WINE AUCTIONS - The Collective Napa Valley program raises funds year-round
The wine fraternity in Napa Valley is known for giving back to the community generously, reports Mira Advani Honeycutt who attended its latest Auction
Historic Wine Cellars
Britain’s famous universities have long held prized wines, estimated at millions of pounds in their venerable cellars
The Women in Wine Network
The international Women in Wine Expo brings women from around the world together to collaborate and exchange experiences. Ruma Singh attended the Expo in London this year
Spring frost - A Burgundian winemaker's singular cross
Raymond Blake on winemakers’ battle against dreaded spring frosts in Burgundy – just one of the many nasty curveballs that nature hurls from time to time
BORDEAUX EN PRIMEUR BORDEAUX 2022 - A Collectors Vintage
Namratha Prashanth shares her personal experience of the wines at the 2022 En Primeur tastings in April
WINES OF HUNGARY - LIQUID GOLD
Tokaji Aszú is a sweet botrytised wine from northeastern Hungary, prized by connoisseurs around the world.