At Dutch Wine Apprentice we have the greatest team of wine writers, but we are always looking to improve ourselves. As a team it is important for us to continuously grow and develop ourselves, to learn in the world of wine.
Therefore, we take time to visit winemakers, talk with them about their love and passion and see where the real magic happens: in the vineyards with their great terroir and the cellar where the transformation takes place. We call these trips “WineSpiration Trips”.
At the start of this year we have one of these inspiration trips planned, and we will visit two wineries that inspire us and are no strangers to us (and our followers here). This trip will bring us to Rheinhessen, a German region that does not possess a long history or big name but is one of Germany’s rising stars.
Some much of the great German wines is coming out of this middle part of Germany today, and with its “Roter Hang” (positioned along the great Rhine river) and other, limestone rich, vineyards it has some unique aspects to offer.
Sekthaus Raumland
On our trip we will be visiting one of Germany’s top producers of sparkling wine (yes this is a field to pay attention to!): Sekthaus Raumland. They are an established member of the German VDP and leader of the country’s sparkling revolution.
Kühling Gillot – Battenfeld Spanier
The great combined estate of Kühling Gillot – Battenfeld Spanier. Who produce some of Germany’s top Riesling and Spätburgunder, but also have a killer Burgundian selection with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (don’t tell anyone, it’s one of Germany’s best kept secrets!).
On the 9th of February we are heading to Germany. Stay tuned for more on these wineries and our trip, as we will take you with us! For this trip Marylka, Martijn, Nadine, Kazumi, Kirsten, Judi and Niels will be representing Dutch Wine Apprentice.
Discover Château Le Puy, a historic Bordeaux estate in Saint-Cibard that has quietly practiced biodynamic farming and minimal-intervention winemaking for over 400 years. From Vin de France Emilien to the no-sulphur Barthélemy, these distinctive Bordeaux wines reveal a rare expression of terroir, purity, and tradition beyond the region’s conventional path.
Restaurant Bisous in Amsterdam introduces Bordeaux Mondays, offering rare and mature Bordeaux wines by the glass from an exceptional private cellar. Each week features a different Bordeaux theme—from Pomerol to Grand Cru First Growths—allowing wine lovers to discover iconic estates like Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Margaux in an accessible and unique tasting experience.
At Wine Paris 2026, Annie Favia and Andy Erickson reflect on the evolution of Favia Wines and present the Favia Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (96/100), a benchmark expression blending Oakville power with Coombsville precision. Rooted in decades of vineyard expertise and a new Oakville estate designed for the future, Favia Wines continues to shape the identity of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with restraint, structure, and site-driven clarity.
Finca La Emperatriz, a single-estate winery in Rioja Alta owned by Hermanos Hernáiz, champions estate-grown, Viñedo Singular wines that highlight terroir, old vines and the historic Oja Valley. In contrast to Rioja’s large-scale producers, Eduardo Hernáiz focuses on organic bush vines, low yields and a grand vin philosophy to craft age-worthy Tempranillo and Viura that redefine Rioja identity.
Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion redefines modern Bordeaux wine from within the city itself, combining four centuries of heritage with precision viticulture and contemporary whole-cluster winemaking. Located in the heart of Bordeaux, this historic urban vineyard produces elegant, Cabernet Franc–driven wines that balance freshness, structure, and early drinkability while retaining exceptional ageing potential.
In an in-depth conversation with Managing Director Jessica Julmy, TEMPOS Vega Sicilia reveals a philosophy where time, not urgency, shapes every decision from vineyard to release. Through the contrasting yet connected stories of Alión in Ribera del Duero and Pintia in Toro, the group’s patient, place-driven approach unfolds as a quiet counterpoint to the speed of today’s fine-wine market.
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