Author Archives: dccrossley

Unknown's avatar

About dccrossley

Writing here and elsewhere mainly about the outer reaches of the wine universe and the availability of wonderful, characterful, wines from all over the globe. Very wide interests but a soft spot for Jura, Austria and Champagne, with a general preference for low intervention in vineyard and winery. Other passions include music (equally wide tastes) and travel. Co-organiser of the Oddities wine lunches.

Wir Trinken…Blaufränkisch

There are a number of grape varieties which are almost completely identified with one country yet which have spread beyond false borders, especially those borders which have moved around in Central Europe, or in the Alpine regions. These varieties might … Continue reading

Posted in Austrian Wine, Czech Wine, Grape Varieties, Hungarian Wine, Slovakian Wine, Slovenian Wine, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines July 2020 (Part 2) #theglouthatbindsus

Following on from Part 1 (the previous article on the site so I won’t provide a link), Part 2 of July’s wines at home has a definite Austrian texture to it. There are three Austrian wines here, plus one Czech, … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Australian Wine, Austrian Wine, Czech Wine, Natural Wine, Swiss Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines July 2020 (Part 1) #theglouthatbindsus

We stick with the two-part format again for July’s wines. I’ve selected sixteen once more, which represent a mix of the best and the most interesting bottles drunk at home during July. It remained a month of minimal socialising, although … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Natural Wine, Rosé Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is it with German Wine?

As a wine lover I feel fairly split between the major wine producing nations of Europe. I have an enduring love of Italian wines, with a pendulum swinging every few years between Tuscany and Piemonte. I’ve said emphatically this year … Continue reading

Posted in German Wine, Wine, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tourist Jura – A Brief Guide to Arbois and Beyond

[Added Note 28/08/2024: This article was published in 2020 and since then much has changed in the Jura region. Whilst the majority of the information here remains relevant, from shopping to walking and beyond, changes have taken place and many … Continue reading

Posted in Arbois, Wine, Wine Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mein Burgenland

There are always going to be places in the world where you just feel that little bit more at home, content, calm. Of course France is the country I know best, better than anywhere in the world. It’s the place … Continue reading

Posted in Austria, Austrian Wine, biodynamic wine, Natural Wine, Neusiedlersee, Rust, Vienna, Wine, Wine Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lockdown – The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful

Why Beautiful, not Ugly? There is no getting away from the fact that Coronavirus has been terrible. Remember early this year, Christmas holidays over, looking forward to 2020. Within a few months the lives of many were completely shattered whilst … Continue reading

Posted in Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Recent Wines June 2020 (Part 2)

No diversions this time, straight into the second part of June’s “at home” selection. The first wine is another old school classic but the rest are all contemporary thrillers…to a varying degree, but they all thrill. Two from Alsace, one … Continue reading

Posted in Alsace, Artisan Wines, Czech Wine, English Wine, Natural Wine, Spanish Wine, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines June 2020 (Part 1) (and a nod to the Val d’Aosta) #theglouthatbindsus

Before we head into the first part of my monthly article covering the most interesting wines we drank at home over the past weeks, I want to take you on a short diversion.  I published an article on Swiss Wines … Continue reading

Posted in Aosta, Artisan Wines, Burgundy, English Wine, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Switzerland – Game On

I was reading an article written and published in April by Valerie Kathawala on the Planet of the Grapes web site (that’s the US online magazine, not the London wine merchant of the same name), called “Have Swiss Wines Finally Arrived?“. … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Grape Varieties, Swiss Wine, Wine, Wine Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments