Excited to announce a new partnership with James Flewellen (WSET Diploma graduate) today! One of the goals of Dutch Wine Apprentice is to educate people and help them to better understand wine, making more educated choices, being able to hold down a conversation with a sommelier or wine merchant or just to discover new wines and develop your taste.
Educating yourself might bring you a lot but can also be comprehensive and even intimidating. The world of wine scares away people as much as it attracts them. Having studied with WSET I myself found out that textbooks are not always working in the way they should (no offense but there is so much information so it is hard to keep focus).
More and more people have tried to come up with supportive material that helps you to digest and keep your motivation, and of course I even looked into that myself. But what James has created is nothing short of magnificent! Armed with his talent and wine knowledge he set out to create Wine Maps of the different French Wine Regions, that contain all the facts you must know and are actually easy to digest. On top of that his Wine Maps are a feast for the eye and as easy to understand than the average subway map.
If you want to learn more about wine, French wine regions or just need some help on your WSET course (the maps are modeled with the WSET syllabus in mind) this is just what you need! Check it out on James’s website to learn more about them and order them for Christmas. The perfect gift for every wine lover.
Also I am happy to announce that James will be a guest on one of the editions of my talk show “Cellar Talks”. A great way for you to learn more about him and the maps! Stay tuned for the date. A more comprehensive review of the maps will follow in the upcoming weeks.
High above the Tuscan coast near Riparbella, Caiarossa is redefining biodynamic winemaking with mosaic terroirs, scientific precision, and a Bordeaux-driven philosophy of balance. Under Alexander van Beek, the estate crafts expressive Sangiovese and Bordeaux-blend wines that capture the energy, freshness, and authenticity of coastal Tuscany.
Discover the highlights of the Poot Agenturen 2025 portfolio tasting, featuring legendary estates such as Aldo Conterno, Dr. Bürklin-Wolf, Château Cos d’Estournel and Bibi Graetz, with in-depth masterclasses on Barolo 2015 and terroir-driven German Riesling. From Bordeaux and Piedmont to Tuscany, Napa Valley and Chile, this comprehensive tasting report reveals why Poot Agenturen remains one of the Netherlands’ most respected fine wine importers.
Champagne Billecart-Salmon at Rosewood Amsterdam brought together CEO Mathieu Roland-Billecart, a rare vintage masterclass and a refined Champagne pairing lunch at Restaurant Eeuwen, hosted by Dutch importer Résidence Wijnen. From Nicolas François 1996 to Clos Saint-Hilaire 1998, this exclusive Amsterdam tasting showcased why Billecart-Salmon remains one of the world’s most revered family-owned Champagne houses.
CUE Amsterdam hosted an exceptional four-hands dinner featuring chefs George Kataras and Matthias Marc, paired with the refined Champagnes of Bruno Paillard. The evening showcased the restaurant’s rising prominence in Dutch fine dining, elevated by precise pairings presented by Pierre-Jules Peyrat of Maison Bruno Paillard.
Discover the top sparkling wines of 2025 in our comprehensive blind tasting, showcasing standout bottles from Champagne, Franciacorta, England, Corpinnat, Trento, and the Loire. These results reveal rising regions, exceptional value, and the cuvées that truly impressed when labels and reputation were stripped away.
Discover the story behind Boekenhoutskloof in this special Grape Masters episode, recorded live at De Wereldse Wijndagen with South African winemaker and industry leader Marc Kent. From Franschhoek to the Swartland and the Douro Valley, this conversation offers rare insights into one of the most influential figures shaping modern South African wine.
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