Initially South Africa was of interest for just one attraction - the penguin colony at Boulders Beach. Now another significant aspect has appeared: wines. Although winemaking traditions there are not as ancient as in the good old Europe, South Africa today has claimed an important place and accounts for around 3% of the total global wine market.
Chardonnay is the world's most popular white grape variety. It adapts easily to different climatic conditions and soils, and readily lends itself to various transformations and the wine maturation process, which is why it has gained popularity among grape growers, winemakers, and consumers alike.
This month we are fans of Sicily, as it is one of those places on the world map where one would someday love to go. Initially, hearing the word Sicily, one associates it with the mafia, the Corleone surname, the constantly active volcano Etna, sunshine, and the sea. But one wants not only to see Sicily but also to taste it - which is why this is specifically about Sicilian wines. They brought new discoveries and even falling in love with one wine that comes from the very foot of the Etna volcano.
Inspired by the latest wine event dedicated to food and wine pairing, and having received the recipe from Larisa, I made a chocolate cake. It is wonderfully simple with a heavenly dark chocolate flavour, yet at the same time slightly fiddly in the baking process. I made it twice to achieve a smooth brown surface without cracks. What I like is that there's no need for flour.
From the very first moments of the presentation I understood that writing about these wines and this wine region would be much easier, as it is far freer from canons. California wines account for 9/10 of all wines produced across the great United States. The climate is wonderfully obliging - warm and sunny almost all year round. The fundamental principle: simplicity and accessibility for the wine drinker.