Blog

My journal of thoughts, ideas and
experiences collected whilst exploring
the world of drinks.

 
Alsace: Diversity in Every Glass
Insights Claire Blackler MW Insights Claire Blackler MW

Alsace: Diversity in Every Glass

2025 marks 20 years as a wine educator. In that time, I’ve visited almost every corner of France—except, Alsace. So when the Association of Wine Educators announced a trip there, I couldn’t resist.

Alsace is often described as one of France’s most striking wine regions: dramatic hillside vineyards stretching from north to south, and villages of cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and traditional charm. In just three days, we explored the region’s patchwork of terroirs, its wide range of grape varieties, and met producers who balance tradition with innovation. And of course, we tasted an extraordinary range of wines—precise, expressive, and proof of Alsace’s remarkable diversity.

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Claire Drinks Recommended : Via Istrum Tamyanka chateau burgozone
Claire Drinks Recommended Claire Blackler MW Claire Drinks Recommended Claire Blackler MW

Claire Drinks Recommended : Via Istrum Tamyanka chateau burgozone

Discover the unique character of Tamyanka, Bulgaria’s local name for Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains, a grape that thrives in the warm, sun-drenched Danube Plain. Château Burgozone’s Via Istrum showcases the best of this grape with a bone-dry, still Muscat, offering a vibrant bouquet of honeysuckle, orange peel, and apricot.

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Rediscovering Bulgarian Wines: A Bold Journey at 50
Insights Claire Blackler MW Insights Claire Blackler MW

Rediscovering Bulgarian Wines: A Bold Journey at 50

At 50, I rediscovered Bulgarian wines—once popular but long absent from UK shelves. Bold reds like Rubin and aromatic whites like Tamyanka now showcase Bulgaria's unique viticultural heritage. Much like my own journey of growth and self-realisation, these wines have emerged with confidence and character worth celebrating.

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5 reasons to drink more chablis…
Wine, Wine Tasting Claire Blackler MW Wine, Wine Tasting Claire Blackler MW

5 reasons to drink more chablis…

With just one colour (white), and just one grape (Chardonnay), Chablis has to be one of the simplest of all the French wine regions to understand, but, in just a few sniffs and tastes, it can offer the wine student a wealth of learning in wine tasting skills.

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