Articles by Michael Krondl

A Taste of the Sun

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:45:00 EDT

Of all the words that comes to mind when describing the remarkable wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, glamorous is not high on the list. Here in the southern Rhone valley you won't find multi-million dollar wineries or multi-star restaurants. And despite the name, there?s hardly a chateau to be found. But the wines are profound, complex, and in a world where it's sometimes hard to distinguish between a cab from California and a boutique wine from Bordeaux they have a character that's all their own.

Monaco Yacht Show Live Coverage - In the Pink on the Côte d'Azur

Wed, 21 Sep 2005 10:45:00 EDT

Some of the best wines in Provence come from vineyards that are a stone's throw from the sea. As far as I'm concerned the beaches in Saint-Tropez are overrated, crammed with roasting German and Russian bodies with scarcely space to stretch your limbs. When I'm in Saint-Tropez I turn my back to the sand and head for the glorious, sprawling market that is the heart and core of this sun-baked city on the French Riviera.

Venice After Midnight

Wed, 04 May 2005 11:00:00 EDT

From traditional to contemporary, Venice's many wine bars provide not only fabulous tastings, but a true insight into the local culture as well. There are lots of ways to further your wine education, but perhaps none so delightful as spending an evening in Venice wandering from wine bar to wine bar. Venetians call this exercise the giro di ombre, after the small glasses – ombre – that are typical of the more traditional bars. A fine place to begin is an intimate square just steps from the famously knick-knack-bedecked Rialto Bridge. On a Friday evening, the campo Cesare Battisti fills with chatter and laughter as people (and dogs) spill out from competing wine bars. In front of Marcà, a wine bar that is little bigger than a newsstand, the svelte crowd sips wine and nibbles on Venice’s wide repertoire of bar snacks, known as cicheti. To an Italian, wine is almost unthinkable without food.

Caribbean Gold

Thu, 14 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Dark rums, light rums, chocolaty tasting, or fruity: the Caribbean is a great destination to sample them all. In my opinion, you have two options for watching the sun set in the West Indies. You can go barefoot on a deserted beach with not another sail in sight, accompanied by a loved one and a pitcher of rum punch.