It’s been made for centuries by Thailand’s northern rice growers. Although called wine, it’s really a lot closer to beer. It’s traditionally brewed in clay jugs with sticky rice, sugar, yeast, water and a starter culture to get the process started.

The steamed rice is mixed with the starter culture and kept in a large tank for three days until the starch in the rice starts to turn into sugar. That’s when the water is added. After another week the rice wine is filtered and drank almost immediately. Home-made rice wine should be drank with caution as the brew has a very short shelf-life and if made improperly can cause ergot poisoning which is not what you want while on holidays in Thailand.

That begin said, one of the biggest joys of travelling, at least for me, is tasting what comes from the region and if that means home-brewed sato then count me in. After all, when you buy flights to Thailand isn’t that your direct ticket to experiencing the culture?

You can find wine made from rice all over Asia including China, where it’s called choujiu.

What is your favourite part about travelling? Have you ever tried rice wine? How would you describe the flavour?

We talked about Rome last time and that you can find charming little enoteches practically around every corner. The Romans love their mid-afternoon glass. Since Venice’s cuisine depends largely on fresh seafood and soups you can bet there’s a lot of white on the menu.

If you’re looking for some great wines in Venice, don’t worry. The best places to find the best of the bottles are at the city’s restaurants, not at a wine bar. If you want to discover the city while tasting your way, try this route. Start off in San Marco at the Rive degli Schiavoni. It’s a wide promenade that is lined on both sides with cafes and small bars. For fresh fish and a glass of cold, crisp white, head to al Covo (Campiello della Pescheria). For wine, Vino …e vini (Fondamenta dei Furlani) which has a host of gourmet treats and wines to go with them.

In San Marco, Café Florian is famous as it was once the usual hang-out for Balzac. Nearby is also Café Quadri, best known for its outdoor patio. Explore the small streets around the Piazza San Marco, you’re sure to stumble upon Harry’s Bar, where Hemingway used to hang out when he was in town. The house favourite: Bellini, made with prosecco and peach liquor.

If you happen to scoop up some cheap flights to Venice this summer, you won’t be disappointed by the wines on offer in Venice. While it’s not like Rome, Venice’s wine scene is a little more subdued and take some effort to really discover. Take your time, enjoy the outside patios and relax. After all, that’s how the Venetians do it!

Images: porscheido, procsilas / Flickr creative commons.

Rome has a long-standing history with wine bars. They became all the rage in the 1960s where you could even get little plates of food alongside your glass of wine. A few of these trendy little places was all it took before the city was won over by them. At Italian restaurants it’s the food on the menu that stands in the limelight, at theses bars it’s all about the wine.

Where the best place to visit wine bars?

The historic city centre. That’s where they all started. Today there are more and more opening up outside the city centre and they’re just as vibrant, if not cheaper. While the newest ones tend to be very trendy and chic, they’re not snobby at all. The staff are well-versed in the wines on the shelf and the variety is unsurpassed.

Google is all over finding the best ones too. I typed in “best wine bars in Rome” and they served up a cool map in a second. In case you’re left wandering around with no idea where to find a good glass of wine, Google to the rescue.

Have you been to Rome? What was your favourite place to drink wine?

image via tomkellyphoto,  / flickr cc.

Florence is a wine and food destination. Sightseeing is just an added luxury!

Where to eat:

Careful where you eat. There are many many many restaurants aimed at tourists and that being said, the prices are higher and meal quality is much lower, restaurant owners know you won’t be back tomorrow so making an impression isn’t as important. You have to seek out the gems, but here are a few to get you started. Hint: if the menu is in English, turn around and walk out, not without a polite “graci” while you go out the door.

Cibrèo – Via A. del Verrocchio 8/r, Santa Croce

Mario – Via Rosina 2/r, corner of Piazza del Mercato Centrale, San Lorenzo

Benvenuto – Via della Mosca 16/r, at Via de’ Neri, Santa Croce

Frescobaldi Wine Bar – Via de’ Magazzini 2-4/r, Piazza della Signoria

Quattro Leoni – Piazza della Passera, Via dei Vellutini 1/r, Palazzo Pitti

When to eat:

Lunch time starts around 1pm in the afternoon and dinner is at 8pm. If you’re from the UK or North America, you’re going to have to learn quick to eat later than you’re used to. Many of the restaurants in Florence are small (meaning intimate, but low on tables) which means that making reservations is essential. It also means that spontaneous dinners aren’t so easy when you pass a charming restaurant while exploring the city.

Italians won’t pass up the opportunity to stop for a glass of wine in the middle of the afternoon. Take a break from your day at an enoteca, a small wine bar. It’s the best place after all to taste samples of what is coming from the nearby vineyards. Choose a glass of chiantis or whatever the barman recommends. Here you’ll find rarely exported wines you can’t find anywhere else.

What to eat:

A local delicacy is the tripe sandwich which you can taste at food stands all over the city. It comes covered in a green sauce (mild) or a red sauce (hot). For a totally cultural trip, stick to Florentine cooking and strictly Italian places where you can taste dishes like fegatini and ribollita, minestrone soup with bread and beans.

Here is our top 10 list, without further ado, of the best places to go for a wine holiday. So sit back, grab your glass and enjoy! Guaranteed great wines, cool tasting experiences and new bottles…

10. Barossa Valley – Australia

Australian wines are pushing the boundaries and with more bottles showing up in international wine stores, they’re becoming more and more recognised for their quality. The Barossa Valley produces wines that are fruit-forward but no lacking the character that French wines do.

9. Central California – USA

The central coast of California is spotted with wineries, great restaurants and vineyards. The area excels in biodynamic farming and the best bottles are Pino Noirs and Chardonnays.

8. Piedmont – Itay

Wine culture here in this part of Italy is so much a part of everyday life. Drinking wine is as natural as drinking water. Nebbiolo is the most-produced grape variety here creating wines that are rich in minerals.

7. Ribera del Duero – Spain

Along the northern bank of the River Duero in Spain, you’ll find great wines being produced. Tempranillo is the most common grape on the vines but the region is particularly known for its Cabernet Sauvignons.

6. Mosel – Germany

Most argue about what I’m going to say next, but in my opinion it’s true: Mosel region produces the most complex wines in the world. The landscape is broken up by rivers and grapes must be grown on south-facing hillsides to get enough sun. Riesling is king here.

5. Napa Valley – California

This is the most famous wine region in the USA. The region enjoys a climate similar to the Mediterranean which is why it’s so easy to produce world-class wines out of generally young vines. Bold flavours, watch out!

4. Tuscany – Italy

Consistently Tuscany produces great wines. Locals here producing wine are known to be passionate, dedicated and hard working and these really come through on the quality produced here. Plus, the region is breath-taking.

3. Bordeaux – France

Almost a no-brainer, Bordeaux has been the MOST influential region in wine making in the world. You might even say they created “wine culture” here. Their wines set the bar, it’s up the rest of the world to follow. Goronne and Dodogne, Chateau Ausone… enjoy!

2. Champagne – France

Quality and consistency are what keep this region in France at the top of wine taster’s lists. There are many small producers here, concentrating on the quality rather than the quantity. Prices remain the same each and every year which is another selling point.

1. Burgundy – France

Fertile soil is in abundance here. The entire region used to be the bottom of the ocean. When it receded it left behind the best place in the world to grow grapes and produce wine. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay… don’t miss bottles from the “Golden Slope,” wine produced from grapes grown on Burgundy’s many hillsides.

Have you ever been to any of these wine regions? How would you rate their tourism and hospitality?

Images from flissphil, tostie 14, svetaz and jenny-pics: Flickr cc.

Another thing, when choosing wines you don’t have to travel far to find good bottles. You might be surprised what is produced in your own backyard, in your own country and part of the world. Now that I’m not a fan of grabbing some cheap flight tickets and discovering new wineries, vintages and varieties!Just saying, keep local in mind.

Alright, so let’s start with the basics.

Red or white?

But before that I want to explain that wine has several elements to it that will change depending on the dish, ingredients, marinades, spices/herbs and others that are used during the food preparation.

• Body and weight – heavy, medium or light
• Flavour intensity – weak, moderate, strong
• Aroma or smell – earthy, fruity, grassy
• Taste – spicy, acidic, sour, bitter, sweet

When classifying foods, you should also classify your wines in the same category. You don’t want the flavour of the wine to drown out the subtle flavours of the food and vice versa. For example, a grilled piece of salmon marinated in a light lemon-dill cream shouldn’t be paired with a deep red that heavy and earthy. It would better go with something like a fuller white, like a Chardonnay (maybe one that has been slightly oaked for more character). Even a Rose isn’t unheard of for salmon and not just because of the colour!

Wine guide for typical dishes:

• Chicken – Chardonnay or lighter reds such as Rioja, Barbera, Grenache, Burgundy
• Green Salad – Herby whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc.
• Grilled Fish – Light medium bodied whites such as Pinot Grigio, Chablis
• Pasta (red sauce) – Chianti, Zinfandel, Pinot Blanc
• Pasta (white sauce) – Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Viognier, Gavi
• Raw or steamed shellfish – Crisp, acidic wines such as Champagne, Sauvignon Blanc
• Steak – Full-bodied red such as Cabernet, Bordeaux

Wine guide for Asian cuisines:

• Chinese – Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir
• Indian – Zinfandel, Chardonnay
• Japanese – Beaujolais, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling
• Thai – Chablis, Chardonnay

Wine guide for cheese:

• Creamy soft brie or camembert – Red Burgundy, Chardonnay, Chablis
• Strong goat cheese –Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume
• Hard Gouda – Chianti, Dolcetto, Pinot Noir
• Semi hard cheese – Semillon, Rioja, Sauvignon Blanc
• Smoked cheese – Gewurztraminer, Sauternes, Shiraz
• Strong blue cheese – Sauternes, Port, Hermitage, Madeira

This little guide on dish/wine pairings is taken from bettertastingwine.com

I hope you’ve learnt something so that you’ve not caught standing in the wine aisle scratching your head. There are some guidelines but remember, nothing is set in stone. Trying new wines is fun, just like we learnt in Home wine tastings, how to do it?

What are some of your favourite bottles?

Which airlines serve the best wine?

This isn’t just a post about promoting oneworld or their member alliances who happen to have exceptionally good taste in wine. In general, what are the wines like that you have tasted up in the air? I personally haven’t been impressed by airline wine yet, but then again, if you fly Business or First you’re sure to have some better options than just “red or white.”

One promising thing is that airlines are really picking up on the fact that a little effort goes a long way for passengers. Flying low cost all the time really makes you grateful for decent wine and checked luggage. If you take, for example, flights to Malaga then you can get a preview tasting of the Spanish wines waiting for you upon your arrival. Some airlines do the extra mile by offering a variety of regional wines that come from the destinations they serve. So next time, instead of just “red or white” go for “German riesling, French chardonnay, or Spanish shiraz….”

It’s all about choice these days when it comes to wine in the sky.

Just two hours drive from Sydney, this is the perfect getaway for wine-loving travellers itching for a good glass and some outdoor magic. This area of Australia is famous for its wine and it hosts specialty wine events all year long.

Refresh, renew and reinvigorate… does the Hunter Valley do all it p[rmises tod do? There are a couple of things you must do/see while you’re here to make the most out of the region, otherwise you might as well reconsider your flights to Sydney!

Did you know more than 2.5 million people visit this region annually? That’s a lot of traffic for such a small place. It’s the sixth most visited place in Australia.

• Take a trip on the Hunter Valley Steam Train, running the first three Sundays of every month and take in the breath-taking scenery along the Hunter River and Lake Macquarie.

• Pokolbin is where you’ll find the wine. Located between Cessnock and Branxton. Shiraz and Semillon are extensively grown here on top of Cab. Sauv. and Chardonnay. There are plenty of wineries to visit.

• Australia’s horse breeding takes place right here, including the rearing of thoroughbreds so saddle up and go for a ride. On a nice day there is nothing comparable.

• National forests are in abundance right here, with more than half dozen within close proximity. Pack a lunch with a local bottle and hit the trails. Explore the region on foot but make sure you relax by night.

Have you ever been to Hunter Valley? Know any other great wine destinations Down Under?

First things first, Happy New Year!

I’ve been late coming back to blogging after many a bottles of fine wine over the Christmas holidays and then for New Year’s. Apparently the rumours have spread that I love wine and I was gifted a number of nice ones as hostess gifts and such. Now that 2011 has rolled around, I’m checking out new places, airline tickets and holiday time for trips to wineries this year. How were your New Year’s drinks? Did you enjoy the holidays?

Last year around this time I blogged about the best wines from 2009. This year will be no exception, I’ll just be touching on a few of the best bottles from 2010 though, not the entire list.

Wine Spectator is good at doing the whole “Top 100 of…” whatever vintage. If you’ve got £100+ to drop on a bottle of red, double props. Here are just a few of what they featured on their list which sound a little interesting to me (and not totally out of everyone’s price range).

1. Paul Hobbs – Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley, 2008) $45

Paul was one of the first winemakers in California to concentrate on crafting wines from single vineyards. Others were in it for mass production, mass flavour. Paul, in not following the crowd, is known for the integrity in his unfiltered and unrefined wines.

2. Schild – Shiraz (Barossa, 2008) $20

Australian wines are never looked over when it comes to style, taste, quality and aging. The bottles coming from Schild Estates’ cellars are no exception. Located in the Barossa region, the estate’s several vineyards give it lots to work with in terms of soil structure and climate.

3. Ruffino – Toscana (Modus, 2007) $35

Ruffino has a lot of heritage behind its name. It was founded in 1877 in Tuscany, an Italian region we’re all familiar with and constantly associate with tasty and fresh wines. Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah and the main varieties growing on this estate.

4. Hijos de Antonio Barceó – Ribera del Duero (Vina Mayor Reserva, 2007) $25

“Just like wine, friendship requires maturity, care and constant attention.” reads the main quote on this Spanish winery’s webpage. The winery first began in 1876 in Malaga, along the southern coast of Spain. Today this name is a legend, for crafting excellent wines enjoyed on tables across the nation.

5. The Royal Tokaji Wine Co. – Tokaji Aszú 5 (Puttonyos Red Label, 2006) $39

Although a relatively new winery, making wines in Hungary’s Tokaji region is definitely not new. In twenty years, this estate has become one of the most defining wineries in the region, concentrating on single vineyard wines. Royal Tokaji was the first foreign company to invest in Hungarian property for wine production, prompting the government to sell its property to private investors.

That’s all for now. Did any bottles stand out for you this year? Share them with me, leave a comment!

could the UK pick up it’s game and become the next Burgundy?

Many French wine experts think that their wines will begin to lose their complexity and structure due to the change in weather currents, air pressure systems, etc. due of course to a changing climate that no corner of the world can escape. But will the best wines come from vineyards outside out boutique hotels in Edinburgh as predicted rather than in France?

As wine being a major element in French culture, it’s no surprise that chefs and sommeliers alike are pushing the French government to take action for climate control, for the wine’s sake. Generations of viticulture are expected to die out as vineyards head north to warmer temperatures.

Is climate change to blame for the ruin of French wines? Summer heat-waves, hail storms and new diseases are just the beginning of the problems…

Imagine doing winery tours in the south of Sweden and even Scotland, now that’s a sight the French do not want to see. Will we see a spike in flights to Edinburgh rather than Bordeaux? As far as long-term predictions go, it’s too hard to tell. Some meteorologists think that even by 2080 it might be too hot even in the south of England to grow grapes.

How do you think climate change will effect the wine industry? Do you think they’re right in saying wine growing regions will move north towards England and Scotland?