http://www.dutchwineapprentice.com/

Dutch Wine Apprentice, Utrechtsestraat 30A, Amsterdam Centrum (2026)

27/08/2026

🍽️ BYOB Lunch bij Bistro Copain (11 Oktober) 🍷

🇳🇱 🇧🇪 Na de vorige uitverkochte edities hebben we weer een nieuwe editie van onze Bring Your Own Bottle Lunch.

We organiseren deze editie in samenwerking met Bistro Copain (Bistro Copain) in Den Bosch.

🍴🍷 Hoe werkt het?

Je neemt een bijzondere fles wijn mee uit je eigen collectie (richtprijs ± €125) en deelt deze met je tafelgenoten. Zo proef je tijdens één lunch meerdere mooie wijnen en hoor je de verhalen achter de flessen – precies waar het om draait.

🍽️ Je kunt deelnemen met een eigen groep aan tafel, of aansluiten bij andere wijnliefhebbers. De rest volgt vanzelf.

🔖 Alles op een rij:

🔸 Je neemt één eigen fles wijn mee (richtprijs rond €125)

🔹Copain verzorgt een 4-gangen lunch op hoog gastronomisch niveau

🔸 Wij begeleiden de lunch en zorgen voor een ontspannen, gezellige sfeer

📍 📆 Wanneer & waar?

Zondag 11 Oktober, 13:00–16:00
Bistro Copain (Bistro Copain), Den Bosch.

Meer informatie en aanmelden via de link in onze bio of stuur ons een bericht.

We kijken ernaar uit jullie weer te zien!

25/08/2026

Sebastián Zuccardi: The Future Is in the Place 🇦🇷

For decades, Malbec has been the grape through which much of the world understood Argentine wine. But when we sat down with Sebastián Zuccardi (Sebastian Zuccardi) of Zuccardi Wines (Zuccardi Valle de Uco), the conversation quickly moved beyond Malbec.

For Sebastián, Argentina’s future is about place.

🌱 As the third generation of the Zuccardi family, Sebastián builds on the work of his grandfather Alberto and father José, but has taken his own path deep into the Uco Valley. His focus is increasingly precise: understanding how soils, stones, geology and individual parcels shape the wines.

🍷 What comes after Malbec? Perhaps more Malbec — but defined by where it grows.

At Piedra Infinita in Paraje Altamira, this philosophy reaches parcel level. During our masterclass, Finca Piedra Infinita Gravascal 2020 (97/100) showed energy, freshness and fine tannins, while Supercal 2018 (98/100) was more austere, mineral and uncompromising. Two Malbecs from the same broader vineyard, yet remarkably different.

🥂 Sebastián also sees a new chapter emerging for Argentine whites, from Torrontés and Sémillon to Chardonnay grown in cooler, high-altitude sites such as San Pablo.

🌍 His philosophy is perhaps best captured in one sentence:

“The market is a place where we deliver, not where we look for inspiration.”

🔗 Read the full article via the link in bio. Written by our own Niels Aarts.

🙏🏻 Thanks to Sebastián Zuccardi and Delta Wines (Delta Wines). Zuccardi Wines are imported and distributed in the Netherlands by Pallas Wines (Pallas Wines).

What will define the future of Argentine wine: grape variety or place? ⬇️

20/08/2026

BOND: A Portrait of Napa Valley Through Five Vineyards 🇺🇸

BOND (BOND) approaches Napa Valley from a different perspective. Rather than building its identity around a single estate, it brings together five individual hillside vineyards — each selected for its ability to express a distinctive sense of place through Cabernet Sauvignon.

In conversation with Will Harlan (Will Harlan), we explore how this unusual project emerged and why, nearly three decades after its first vintage, BOND remains deliberately limited to five wines.

🍇 From Exploration to BOND

The story reaches back to Bill Harlan’s early years in Napa Valley. Through Maryvale, fruit from more than 120 vineyard sites was studied and vinified, creating an opportunity to understand the valley across different soils, exposures and microclimates.

Certain vineyards consistently stood apart. Those observations eventually became the foundation of BOND.

As Will explains: “Harlan Estate follows the Bordeaux model. BOND follows the Burgundy model.”

⛰️ Five Vineyards, Five Identities

Melbury and Vecina debuted with the 1999 vintage, followed by St. Eden in 2001, Pluribus in 2003 and Quella in 2006.

All five are hillside vineyards, yet they differ considerably in geology, elevation, exposure and climate. Rather than pursuing a recognisable house style, BOND seeks to preserve those differences and allow each site to develop its own identity.

🍷 The 2022 BOND Collection

Our ratings for the 2022 Collection: 
Quella — 97/100 DWA Melbury — 98+/100 DWA St. Eden — 98+/100 DWA Vecina — 98/100 DWA Pluribus — 97/100 DWA 
🌱 An Ongoing Search

Nearly thirty years after BOND began, the collection still consists of five vineyards. Candidate sites can be studied and farmed for many years before a decision is made, and the search for a sixth continues without a fixed timetable.

🔗 Read our full interview and feature on BOND on our website (link in bio). Written by our own Niels Aarts.

🙏 Thanks to BOND, Will Harlan, Maximilian Kast (Maximilian Kast), Colaris (Colaris | Exclusieve icoonwijnen | Hofleverancier) and Vineum (VINEUM (wine) restaurant).

16/08/2026

Lingua Franca: Speaking the Language of Place 🇺🇸 
From childhood visits to fruit growers in the Pacific Northwest to becoming one of America’s pioneering Master Sommeliers, Larry Stone’s path towards founding Lingua Franca (Lingua Franca Winery) began with a fascination for where flavour comes from.

Over lunch at Restaurant CUE (CUE) in Amsterdam, followed by a conversation with Larry, we explored the story behind this distinctive Oregon estate. 
🌿 From Orchard to Vineyard 
Travelling with his father, a produce buyer at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Larry (Lawrence Stone) learned early that neighbouring orchards could produce very different fruit. Decades later, that same curiosity led him to Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills, where he found the volcanic soils and cooling influence of the Van Duzer Corridor he was looking for. 
🍷 The Wines

At Restaurant CUE, eight wines showed both the consistency of Lingua Franca and the individual character of its vineyards. Our highlights:
 ✨ Estate Chardonnay 2023 – 93/100 DWA ✨ Bunker Hill Chardonnay 2023 – 94/100 DWA ✨ Sisters Chardonnay 2023 – 94/100 DWA ✨ Estate Pinot Noir 2023 – 94/100 DWA ✨ Tongue ’n’ Cheek Pinot Noir 2021 – 94/100 DWA ✨ Mimi’s Mind Pinot Noir 2021 – 95/100 DWA

✨ Speaking the Language of Place

What stayed with us was how rarely our conversation with Larry centred on wine itself. We spoke about orchards, family kitchens, chemistry and farming—everything that comes before the bottle. Perhaps that explains Lingua Franca best: wine is not the beginning of the story, but its natural conclusion.

🔗 Read the full article and wine reviews on our website — link in bio. Written by our own Niels Aarts.

🙏 Our thanks to Larry Stone MS and Lingua Franca, Jason Smith MS, and Constellation Brands (Constellation Brands), Best of Wines (Best of Wines), and Restaurant CUE.

Can understanding great wine begin long before you ever step into a vineyard?

14/08/2026

Introducing Domaine Evremond — A New Voice from Kent 🇬🇧🥂

After more than a decade of planning, planting and patience, Domaine Evremond (Domaine Evremond) has arrived in the Netherlands. We joined founders Patrick McGrath MW of Hatch Mansfield (Hatch Mansfield) and Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger of Champagne Taittinger (Champagne Taittinger) at Restaurant Fred (Restaurant FRED) in Rotterdam to discover the story behind this exciting new English sparkling wine estate.

At its heart lies a friendship spanning almost three decades and a shared belief in the potential of Kent. Their search led to Chilham, where chalk soils, a maritime climate and local expertise offered the foundations for something distinctly English—not an attempt to recreate Champagne across the Channel.

As Patrick told us: “We’re not making Taittinger in the UK. We’re making a wine that reflects Chilham.”

The first expression of that philosophy is:

✨ Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvée Edition I — 93/100 DWA

A blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier, Edition I combines bright citrus and orchard fruit with subtle brioche, a fine mousse and a saline, flinty finish. An impressive debut, but above all the beginning of a much longer story.

The Dutch launch was hosted by VINVIN Wines (VINVIN - Drink less, but better), importer and distributor of Domaine Evremond and Champagne Taittinger in the Netherlands, over an exceptional lunch at Restaurant Fred, prepared by Fred Mustert and his kitchen team, with Head Sommelier Axel Rosier (Axel Rosier) guiding the wines.

Our full feature, by our own Niels Aarts, is now live on our website, exploring the friendship, philosophy and sense of place behind Domaine Evremond.

A sincere thank you to Patrick McGrath MW and Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger for sharing their story; to the VINVIN Wines team, particularly Corinne Hofland, Frank Laurentius and Marcel Just de la Paisières, for the invitation; and to Fred Mustert, Axel Rosier and the Restaurant Fred team for their wonderful hospitality.

We look forward to seeing where Domaine Evremond goes next 🥂

12/08/2026

Don’t even ask 🫣🤭
When’s the next big bottle party Zarzo ( - )?

Follow Dutch Wine Apprentice () for more great wine advice 🍷

12/08/2026

How ÖTW Is Shaping the Future of Austrian Wine 🇦🇹

For more than three decades, Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW – Österreichische Traditionsweingüter) has been one of the driving forces behind Austria’s shift towards an origin-based wine culture. What began in 1991 with a small group of growers has developed into a vineyard classification system that is now helping shape the future of Austrian wine.

Our own Marc Roovers (Marc Roovers) spoke with Michael Tischler-Zimmermann (Michael Tischler-Zimmermann), managing director of ÖTW, about the organisation’s pioneering work and what comes next.

🔹 From Variety to Origin – ÖTW championed a then-radical principle: wine quality should be defined by origin rather than primarily by grape variety or must weight.

🔹 Classifying Austria’s Vineyards – Decades of evaluation have resulted in 145 ÖTW Erste Lage vineyards, assessed through criteria ranging from history and geology to economic relevance and consistent wine quality.

🔹 A National Classification – ÖTW’s pioneering work has helped lay the foundations for Austria’s new vineyard classification, with Erste Lage and eventually Grosse Lage forming the summit of the hierarchy.

🔹 Beyond the Great Vineyards – Tischler-Zimmermann also sees an essential role for Ortswein, helping consumers understand the connection between region, village and vineyard.

Link The full article ‘How ÖTW Is Shaping the Future of Austrian Wine’ is now live and available for free on our website link in bio).

With sincere thanks to Michael Tischler-Zimmermann and ÖTW, and to Dorli Muhr (Dorli Muhr) and Bettina Bäck (Bettina Bäck) from Wine+Partners (WINE+PARTNERS) for making this interview possible.

08/08/2026

Weingut Dr. Hermann – 2019 Erdener Herzlei Riesling Spätlese Alte Reben Goldkapsel 🇩🇪

One of the finest sweet Rieslings we’ve tasted this year comes from one of our absolute favourite Mosel producers. Weingut Dr. Hermann (Weingut Dr. Hermann) continues to set the benchmark for off-dry and sweet Riesling, and this rare Goldkapsel bottling from the legendary Erdener Herzlei is a stunning example of why.

🌟 A Masterclass in Balance

The 2019 opens with captivating aromas of white peach, apricot, pink grapefruit and preserved lemon, layered with hints of mango, orange blossom and cool slate minerality. On the palate, it is both intensely concentrated and remarkably weightless, where vibrant acidity perfectly balances the luscious sweetness. Elegant, precise and endlessly complex, this is Mosel Riesling at an exceptional level.

🍇 Ancient Vines, Timeless Character

Sourced from the Alte Reben parcel in Erdener Herzlei, these ungrafted vines are well over a century old and rooted in blue-grey Devonian slate alongside the famous Erdener Prälat. Their naturally tiny yields produce fruit of extraordinary concentration while preserving the finesse that has made the Mosel world-famous.

📍 A Rare Goldkapsel Selection

Goldkapsel bottlings represent the finest selections of the vintage and are produced only in exceptional years. With only around 1,200 bottles made, this is an incredibly limited expression that showcases both the remarkable 2019 vintage and the unique character of Erdener Herzlei.

⏳ A Wine for Decades

Already breathtaking today, this Riesling possesses the balance, concentration and razor-sharp acidity to evolve beautifully over the next 25 to 35 years. Patience will reward those fortunate enough to cellar a bottle.

🏅 96-point DWA Score

🔗 Review by our own Niels Aarts — the full article is now live on our website (link in bio).

🛒 Availble in the Netherlands through Colaris (Colaris | Exclusieve icoonwijnen | Hofleverancier).

Is Weingut Dr. Hermann among your favourite Mosel producers? We’d love to hear which German Riesling estates you keep returning to ⬇️

07/08/2026

Dunn Vineyards: A Reputation Revisited 🇺🇸

Few wineries have done more to define Howell Mountain than Dunn Vineyards (Dunn Vineyards).

Since Randy Dunn founded the estate in 1979, Dunn has become one of California’s benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon producers. Renowned for wines that can age for decades, the winery has built a reputation that is as formidable as it is deserved.

Yet after spending time with Lily Mirabelle Freedman (Lily Mirabelle Freedman), Dunn’s General Manager, we discovered there’s far more to the story than longevity alone.

⛰️ Above the Fog

Perched above Napa Valley’s famous fog line, Dunn’s vineyards benefit from volcanic soils, cooler temperatures and a longer growing season. The result is Cabernet Sauvignon defined not by sheer power, but by freshness, precision and an unmistakable sense of place.

📖 A Winery That Never Chased Fashion

While Napa Valley evolved around it, Dunn remained remarkably true to its founding philosophy. Through decades of careful vineyard stewardship and thoughtful refinement in the cellar, the estate has quietly continued to evolve without ever losing sight of Howell Mountain.

🍷 Highlights from Our Tasting

🏅 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – 93/100 DWA 
🏅 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – 96/100 DWA

✨ More Than a Cellar Wine

One of the biggest surprises? Dunn is far more versatile than its reputation suggests. Beyond its legendary ageing potential, these Cabernets offer freshness, balance and energy at the table, pairing beautifully with everything from grilled octopus to Japanese cuisine.

🔗 Read the full feature, including the story behind Dunn’s enduring reputation and our complete tasting notes by our own Niels Aarts on Dutch Wine Apprentice (link in bio).

🙏 Our sincere thanks to Lily Mirabelle Freedman and the entire team at Dunn Vineyards for their warm hospitality, generous tasting and fascinating insight into one of Napa Valley’s most iconic estates.

The wines were provided, and can be bought, by our partner Best of Wines (Best of Wines).

07/08/2026

USA Wine Night 🇺🇸

An evening built around the producers that continue to define California fine wine—not through trends, but through an enduring belief in place, patience and precision.

We began in the Russian River Valley with Ramey Wine Cellars (Ramey Wine Cellars), where David Ramey’s vision helped redefine California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir by proving that power and elegance can coexist.

🍷 2023 Woolsey Road Russian River Chardonnay — 94/100 🏅
 🍷 2022 Westside Farm Russian River Pinot Noir — 95/100 🏅

From there, The Mascot 2020 (The Mascot) (93/100 🏅 ) offered a window into the philosophy of the Harlan family: exceptional vineyards, uncompromising craftsmanship and a commitment to wines that reward time.

The evening culminated in a fascinating side-by-side of two Napa Valley Cabernet icons.

At Chappellet (Chappellet Vineyard & Winery), Pritchard Hill is not simply a vineyard site but the foundation of a decades-long pursuit of mountain Cabernet capable of combining immense concentration with remarkable finesse.

🍷 2022 Valley Signature Cabernet Sauvignon — 92/100 🏅
 🍷 2022 Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon — 98/100 🏅

Across the table, Dunn Vineyards (Dunn Vineyards) demonstrated why restraint, authenticity and patience remain timeless virtues. Howell Mountain continues to produce Cabernet Sauvignon of extraordinary structure, purity and longevity.

🍷 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — 93/100 🏅
 🍷 2021 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon — 96/100 🏅

Different vineyards. Different philosophies. One shared conviction: the world’s greatest wines are born from an uncompromising respect for terroir and time.

Scores and report by our own Niels Aarts.

Which of these American Greats would you have picked?  

Dutch Wine Apprentice

27/08/2026

25/08/2026

20/08/2026

16/08/2026

14/08/2026

12/08/2026

12/08/2026

08/08/2026

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

Adres

Website

Meldingen

Contact

Snelkoppelingen

Delen

Verzoek om vermelding te verwijderen