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.
DuMOL has evolved from a small Sonoma startup into one of California’s leading producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, combining estate-driven viticulture, organic farming, and a distinctive focus on Green Valley terroir. Under the leadership of winemaker Andy Smith, the winery has helped redefine modern California fine wine through precision, freshness, and a commitment to vineyard expression.
Field blends, once the dominant form of vineyard planting across Europe, are experiencing a remarkable revival as winemakers seek greater biodiversity, resilience, and complexity in their wines. Exploring examples from the Douro Valley, Alsace, Rioja, and Vienna, this masterclass reveals how ancient field blend vineyards are shaping some of the most compelling wines of the modern era.
At the Jean-Pierre Moueix 2025 En Primeur tasting in the Netherlands, we explored four standout Bordeaux 2025 wines from Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, including Château Bélair-Monange, Château Trotanoy, Château Hosanna and Château La Fleur-Pétrus. Through a lunch hosted by Edouard Moueix and a tasting of mature vintages, the event offered a compelling perspective on the future of Bordeaux, the challenges facing the region and why its finest wines remain among the most exciting in the world.
Discover Restaurant Azurite in Delft and chef-owner Mario Ridder in Episode 4 of Season 2 of Chefs & Cellars, the podcast by Dutch Wine Apprentice. Explore one of the Netherlands’ most exciting fine dining destinations as we discuss hospitality, wine, gastronomy, and the philosophy behind a restaurant built on decades of culinary experience.
Restaurant Azurite in Delft, led by renowned Dutch chef Mario Ridder, is emerging as one of the Netherlands’ most compelling fine dining destinations, combining world-class gastronomy, exceptional hospitality, and a remarkable 12,000-bottle wine cellar. Through an in-depth Chefs & Cellars interview and dining experience, Dutch Wine Apprentice explores how decades of culinary expertise have culminated in a restaurant that seamlessly blends Michelin-level cuisine, memorable wine pairings, and the rich cultural heritage of Delft.
At Cape Cru Amsterdam, Eben Sadie reflects on Chenin Blanc, climate adaptation, family succession and the future of Sadie Family Wines. In this exclusive interview and tasting report, one of South Africa’s most influential winemakers shares his vision for building a wine estate that can thrive across generations.
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