Barnaby Eales

Journalist at Freelance

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Articles

Understanding French Wine: History, Regions & Traditions

2 weeks ago | cellartours.com | Barnaby Eales

France has shaped the culture and language of wine production. Whether through its appellation system, famous grape varieties, methods, research, or the notion of terroir, France today remains the key point of reference for the global wine industry. The world’s attention may have spread to other wine regions, but none generate the same value in exports as French wine from Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Champagne.
Bordeaux of bocht? Wijnfraudeurs verkopen Franse flessen vol Spaanse slobber

1 month ago | ftm.nl | Barnaby Eales

Het gebeurt niet vaak dat een fraudeur zijn geheimen verklapt – laat staan een die strafrechtelijk is veroordeeld. De Franse wijnhandelaar Jean-Sébastien Laflèche is dan ook niet zomaar een oplichter. Hij begon zijn carrière in de wijn op zijn achttiende en was al een oude rot in het vak toen hij zich ontpopte tot het meesterbrein achter de grootste wijnfraude in de geschiedenis van Bordeaux.
Bordeaux's En Primeur Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to How It Works and Why It Matters

1 month ago | cellartours.com | Barnaby Eales

Moving from chateau to chateau in Bordeaux, tasting the new vintage, our mode of transport is a Peugeot car dating back to 1982, coincidentally the same vintage Bordeaux’s En Primeur (EP) week became known for. In the Spring of 1983, wine critic Robert Parker went against popular opinion, saying that the 1982 Bordeaux vintage was ‘a great one’. He rated Mouton Rothschild and Petrus with 100 points.
The Perfect Pair: Unlocking the Secrets of French Food and Wine

Jan 22, 2025 | cellartours.com | Barnaby Eales

Pairing fresh seasonal local dishes with local wine is a key starting point to enjoying the pleasures of French gastronomy. This culture has inspired and shaped eating and drinking habits worldwide. In a search for a symbiosis between wines and dishes, French gastronomy has aimed, over the past century and beyond, to create a third dimension of taste.
Amphora Wine: Reviving an Ancient Tradition for the Modern Era

Dec 1, 2024 | cellartours.com | Barnaby Eales

What have the Romans ever done for us?’ is one of the key questions asked in the Monty Python comedy film The Life of Brian. For one thing, they transported wine across their empire in amphora clay pots. Today, there’s a growing new wave of amphora wine production, with winemakers increasingly using clay pots to make pure expressions of round and concentrated fine wine – they also can play a role in preserving acidity in wine over time.
Burgundy Driving Up Alsace Pinot Prices

Nov 11, 2024 | wine-searcher.com | Barnaby Eales

"Burgundy and Jura producers are turning up in Alsace with cash in hand willing to pay very high sums for Pinot Noir grapes, sums which Alsace growers just can't pay," bemoaned Thomas Larmoyer, a young, rising star winemaker in Alsace. Larmoyer, who makes terroir-driven wines from historic lieux-dits vineyards, under the name of Soil Therapy in Soultzmatt, in southern Alsace, was furious at being driven out of the market.
Alsace Wine Classifications

Nov 11, 2024 | cellartours.com | Barnaby Eales

The rise of Crémant d’Alsace continues unabated: more than a third of Alsace wine bottles are now Crémant d’Alsace, often made in the same quality as Champagne but at more inviting prices. Likewise, Alsace Pinot Noir is sold at more accessible prices than Burgundy’s Pinot Noir and is increasingly sought after.
Bordeaux Wine Classifications

Oct 15, 2024 | cellartours.com | Barnaby Eales

IntroductionWith more than 150 years of history, Bordeaux wine classifications remain a reference point for the world in terms of understanding the heritage and hierarchy of Bordeaux wine estates and their qualitative differences. Importantly, these classifications reflect economic and social stratum divisions in French society.
Graves Wine Classification / Crus Classés de Graves

Sep 24, 2024 | cellartours.com | Barnaby Eales

The Graves sub-region, home to historic Chateaux like Haut Brion, is a fascinating cradle of Bordeaux wine production. Its history dates back to the Romans, who made wines here around 2,000 years ago. Situated south of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Garonne River, the name ‘Graves’ reflects the sub-region’s unique terroir of gravel soils.
Saint Emilion Wine Classification

Sep 2, 2024 | cellartours.com | Barnaby Eales

Known as the prettiest village in Bordeaux, medieval St Emilion is the ‘jewel of stone in a setting of vines’. It is home to old limestone churches and underground catacombs stretching about 70 hectares under the village. Having left his homeland of Brittany in the 8th century, Emilion, a Breton monk, ended up living as a hermit in a cave in Ascumbas. This placement was later renamed St Emilion in his honor.