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WSET Business And Commercial Knowledge course: A brief introduction

WSET Business And Commercial Knowledge course: A brief introduction

This post is about the WSET’s Business And Commercial Knowledge course, held last month in UK, that I had the pleasure to attend. Through the following 5 minutes read, I will try to highlight it’s advantages and whether it worth the time (and money) to participate.

It was during the Greek WSET branch graduation ceremony a year ago, when I was honoured to receive two scholarships related to the WS…

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Wine Branding. A useful tool for sales, or not?

Wine Branding. A useful tool for sales, or not?

Below is my coursework assignment, for a very versatile topic concerning wine branding. It was submitted to WSET for my Diploma exams, and received a “pass with merit” Introduction Any trader, regardless of product and expertise, was (and still is) in need of the right practices and methodology, to build brand identity and promote his sales.Sales: the magic word indeed. It is fundamental to link…

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What is a great wine? Is it only quality or not?

What is a great wine? Is it only quality or not?

This is blog’s point of view, of defining a great wine: It has to please you not only in nose or palate, but also spiritually. It is not only a material pleasure, but it has to be challenging, to intriguing, and mind blowing. To shout “there is something magical here, come back, take one more sniff, one more sip, think again, rediscover me, and finally, fill up your glass again, as the first one…

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All answers to Cyprus’ wine gem: Commandaria luscious heaven

All answers to Cyprus’ wine gem: Commandaria luscious heaven

The post’s about a rich, amber-colored sweet wine, flagship of the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Find out it’s recent legislation issues, distant relation to Port, ancient history, basic tasting characteristics, and whether it is fortified or not. A beautiful guest post by friend George Loukakis, who serves as a top class sommelier in Cyprus. Welcome George!

Commandaria wine(s) can be…

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A milestone for premium Greek Wines: Boutari Legacy 1879 Xinomavro

A milestone for premium Greek Wines: Boutari Legacy 1879 Xinomavro

I’m very happy to announce that a good friend of me, Yannis Papadakis, will be posting as guest blogger in WineOctopus. His first post, is about a unique wine from northern Greece at it’s maiden vintage of 2007, that made a deep impression during the last Oenorama14 wine exhibition, and probably sets a new milestone for our hi end wines. Wellcome Yanni!

Xinomavro is Northern Greece’s (Macedonia)…

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A 40 year Ch. Porto Carras flight. The live history of Greek wine making!

A 40 year Ch. Porto Carras flight. The live history of Greek wine making!

One of the most exciting tastings to be ever made in Greece, was yesterday’s flight of a legendary red wine: Chateau Porto Carras red blend, all way back to the time that I was … breast feeding! The hosts Grigoris & Giannis gave us the opportunity to verify once more that, Greece can make wines of great value for money, capable to age well for decades.

But first a few words for the winery as…

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The new era of Tokaj dry white wines. Hungary’s winemaking at its best!

The new era of Tokaj dry white wines. Hungary’s winemaking at its best!

You would probably now Hungary’s most famous wine area, for it’s notorious sweet wines. Well, you should definitely look out for Tokaj’s dry whites, as the style and quality of them are constantly rising the last decade, and account for a great amount of region’s production today.

This post is all about a small boutique winery, by a young and ambitious wine maker: István Balassa. As he says: “I…

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One of the most well kept secrets of #Nemea. Live fruit, development & value for money. #RaptisEstate #greekwine #Agiorgitiko #winelover

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The groom: Domaine Chatzimichalis #Cabernet 97'. Take a sniff at wineoctopus.com #winelover #greekwine

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The groom: “Turkey Cabernet” Chatzimichalis. A great year farewell!

The story of this 1,5 lit magnum bottle is quite funny: My wife’s brother once promised, to open it…

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A Greek Wine Alternative to Pinot Noir? Domaine Economou Sitia 1998

Today’s wine is much respected in “underground” Greek wine scene. Due to it’s rather small…

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A Legendary Greek Wine: Tselepos "kokkinomylos" Merlot 2005

Be honest! Did you ever got the feeling that Miles (actor Paul Giammati) was just over reacting…

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WSET Day 7: Viva Iberia! Priorat & Ribera rocks! #winelover

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Parents with twins? We have a great wine for you!

Hmm … quite strange. A wine with a sperm unit on it’s label! Wait a minute … look closer … is it a…

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Athos Monks Winemaking Heritage - Holy Mountain Trip PT. 3

This is the story from the trip we made to the Monastic State of the Holy Mountain. Pt III is about what we tasted by traveling even deeper trough the peninsula, to Mylopotamos wines.

Having completed the Tsantalis vineyards part (please refer to: Holy…

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No need to travel north for a good #Traminer. Try a great one from #Greece! Averof Estate. More on wineoctopus.com #winelover #GreekWine #curry #thai

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No Need To Travel North. Try a Greek Traminer Wine By Averof Estate!

Trying a wine from a warm climate, made by a grape variety, giving it’s best to a cool one, is…

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