Author Archives: waywardwine

About waywardwine

Follow Wayward Wine (WSET3) to tour the world's exciting vineyards, breweries, and distilleries, while discovering new drinks.

Luxembourg Wine: Elbling, Auxerrois, Rivaner, and Pinot Noir

Posted on November 3, 2014 by waywardwine

133 days of travel just careened us through the frigid vineyards of Burgundy. With winter gripping, we decide to dip a toe in Luxembourg.

Sandwiched between France, Belgium, and Germany, Luxembourg spans nary 1,000 square miles, filled by 525,000 residents. But can such a small, cold country grow grapes of wine worthy merit?

After dragging our gear across town, we unload into a hostel deep beneath the capital’s cliffs and fortifications. But hunger and knowledge of a Christmas market drive us to climb back up. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Auxerrois, Battle of the Bulge, Caves St Remi-Desom, Christmas market, Elbling, George S. Patton Jr., German wine, luxembourg, Müller-Thurgau, mosel, mosel river, pinot noir, riesling, Rivaner, WWII | 2 Comments

Fontenay Abbey: Au Revoir Bourgogne

Posted on October 27, 2014 by waywardwine

Having hit 130 days of nonstop travel, our EU Austerity Drinking Tour needs a moment of sober solace. The last three days in Burgundy have climbed Beaune’s premier cru vineyards, visited the Hospice de Beaune, and Dijon’s medieval gems.

Today we wake at 9am, feast on chocolate croissants, then hop train to Montbard. Our small map puts famed Fontenay Abbey nearby. Since UNESCO declared Fontenay a World Heritage Site on our birth-year, it must be worth a day trip. But the 6 kilometer march, without sidewalk, near freezing, turn this into surprise penance. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Burgundy, EU Austerity, Fontenay, Fontenay Abbey, France, French wine, monks, montbard, travel, UNESCO, wine | 2 Comments

Looking Beyond Local #MWWC12 Troon, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Applegate Valley, Oregon 2008

Posted on October 16, 2014 by waywardwine

We in the West with more money than sense have made religion out of things local. Like buying indulgences, that carrot at your farmer’s market or grandma’s un-labeled jam makes us feel like we have done our part.

Delicious or dangerous, buying local frees us of our carbon-footprint guilt.

OK, directing money back into the native economy slices out the middle-person. Yes, things grown from the same soil, sun, waters, and hands tend to synchronize well with similar products (see terroir). Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged #mww12, Applegate Valley, grapes, Herb Quady, local, local wine, mwwc12, Oregon, oregon wine, pinot noir, siskiyou range, terroir, troon, troon vineyards, wine | 9 Comments

Beaune Part 2: Hospice de Beaune Hotel Dieu

Posted on October 13, 2014 by waywardwine

Last Monday’s post, we hiked the frozen tundra of Beaune’s vineyards, tasted pinot noir from skeleton vines, got lost, and ate its chalky soil. Today, we tumble back into Beaune to visit the Hospice de Beaune Hôtel Dieu: home of the world’s most famous wine auction.

A few plagues and marauding bands brought Beaune to a humanitarian crisis in the 1440s. Desperate to stop disease and buy a one-way-ticket to indulgence-paved heaven, Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor, and wife Guigone had a hospital and hostel built for the poor. We arrive outside, a bit underwhelmed: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Beaune, Christies, EU Austerity Drinking Tour, France, Hospice de Beaune, Hotel Dieu, wine | 3 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Birthday Champagne Challenge at Paley’s Place LeMaire

Posted on October 9, 2014 by waywardwine

It’s my wife’s birthday and I’m in trouble. I sell wine to restaurants throughout Portland. But who to choose. We rarely eat out. We mostly cook, and it’s usually vegetarian. So the whole restaurant scene seems like overpriced, meat-fest fluff (especially when we buy wine at cost). Yet, deep down, she wants to be overwhelmed. Nothing too formal, just outstanding.

Argghhh… Continue reading →