syrah – EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL

Fine Wines From The Balkans International Wine Competition & Festival

by DR MATTHEW HORKEY - August 14, 2019August 14, 2019

Balkans International Wine Competition and Festival Best Wines

Reading Time: In the Spring of 2019, Charine and I were invited to the 8th Annual 'Balkans International Wine Competition & Festival' in Sofia, Bulgaria. The contest is open to wineries from all countries located in or around the Balkan Peninsula. In addition to the contest, this year featured a

The Best of Villány Wine Region

Hungarian Wine

by DR MATTHEW HORKEY - January 24, 2018July 29, 2018

Reading Time: The first time we came across wines from Villány was in Zagreb, Croatia. During the Vinart Grand Tasting, we attended a masterclass in Villány's Cabernet Franc. The wines were of outstanding quality, and they piqued our interest immediately. Six months after that tasting, we had the opportunity to

James Suckling’s One Wine One World Vino Tinto

by CHARINE TAN - December 19, 2017July 5, 2018

exotic wine travel tasting notes and wine reviews

Reading Time: Some of you may be aware of James Suckling's fondness for Mexican wine and his amicable friendships with the wine producers in Valle de Guadalupe. And so perhaps it is no surprise to some that he would make wine in Mexico. In 2010, Suckling released a red wine and

Wine Academy Croatia: Advancing with WSET

Wine Education

by DR MATTHEW HORKEY - June 7, 2017June 9, 2017

Reading Time: Charine and I moved to Zagreb for a few months in late 2016/early 2017 to finish the research for our upcoming Croatian wine guide. It just so happened that there was a Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) course happening in Zagreb at the end of 2016. We

Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail: Highlights & Tips

American Wine

by EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL - May 23, 2017September 18, 2017

Reading Time: Check out our wine travel guide to Santa Barbara Wine Country. The town of Santa Barbara, also known as “The American Riviera”, is the county seat of Santa Barbara County. Tucked between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the town boasts many stunning natural and man-made attractions---from the

How Do Top Croatian Wines Fare Against Italian Wines?

by EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL - March 15, 2017July 6, 2018

Reading Time: In 2016, we spent three months in Croatia; and we'll be returning to the country again in 2017 for a few more months to finish up the research and writing for our latest wine book entitled Cracking Croatia. During our stay, we wanted to organize a special tasting

Trendsetter: Sarah Abbott, Master of Wine

by CHARINE TAN - December 21, 2016January 17, 2018

sarah-abbott-master-of-wine-turkish-wine

Reading Time: Sarah Abbott is a Master of Wine who comes from a food-loving family. After working in the IT software industry for several years, she decided to change her career trajectory and immerse in wine in 1996. Her first foray into wine was as a sales and marketing representative

Macedonian Wine Expert, Ivana Simjanovska

North Macedonian Wine

by EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL - April 17, 2016January 14, 2018

ivana simjanovska macedonian wine travel wine tourism

Reading Time: One of the many benefits of traveling for wine is the chance to meet talented, passionate people. Ivana Simjanovska is one of those people that we were lucky to connect with. She is the co-author of two Macedonian wine guidebooks and a judge at various wine competitions in