Spain & Portugal
Wine wonder woman Isabelle Legeron focuses her formidable expertise on the Ribera Del Duero region of Spain and visits wineries along the Portuguese Douro River. Of course any visit to Portugal would not be complete without producing a 'Port Special'.
Isabelle also takes in the cutting-edge architecture of the Spanish wineries that are causing as much of a splash as the world-renowned wines they produce. Be sure to tune in and allow Isabelle to refill your glass.
Episode 1 - Ribera del Duero
Journey into Wine sets the infectious personality and formidable wine knowledge of French wine expert Isabelle Legeron amongst the world’s vineyards.
Isabelle’s honest, simple approach to wine creates a valuable insight to what is all too often a rarefied and obscure world.
Boasting some of Spain’s most iconic winemakers and home to the country’s most expensive bottle of wine, Isabelle sets off to explore a region that looks set to rival Rioja as Spain’s number one wine producing area.
For more information on the wines, wineries, and activities featured in this episode check out these sites…
Episode 2 - Toro and Rueda
Journey into Wine sets the infectious personality and formidable wine knowledge of French wine expert Isabelle Legeron amongst the world’s vineyards.
Isabelle’s honest, simple approach to wine creates a valuable insight to what is all too often a rarefied and obscure world. In this episode Isabelle heads down river to the heart of the heartland of Spain, where the country as we know it today was born.
This is the land of bulls, blood, wine and passions extreme. What Isabelle discovers are two of Spain’s most exciting, up-and-coming wine regions, one known for reds, the other whites.
For more information on the wines, wineries, and activities featured in this episode check out these sites…
Episode 3 - Douro Table Wines
After having flowed for more than 500km from its source in the Soria hills, quenching the thirst of arid, central Spain, the Duero becomes the Douro as it crosses the border into Portugal and its identity morphs.
Not only does its name change but so do all the related traditions and histories associated with its banks.
In this episode, Isabelle uses wine as a vehicle to understanding how a single river can yield such different results either side of a manmade frontier.
She compares and contrasts the resulting wines and meets their winemakers, wondering whether or not these Iberian brothers may have more in common than they might think.
For more information on the wines, wineries, and activities featured in this episode check out these sites…
Episode 4 - The Story Of Port
Although an area now making exceptional table wines, the Douro Valley is best known the world over as the home of Port.
What is the secret behind this tipple, which is made from the same grapes as a normal table wine but ends up tasting so different?
In this episode Isabelle sets out to decipher Port: its history, what it means in a modern context and investigates the related rites and rituals that leave onlookers rather bemused.
She follows a grape from vine to glass, stomps her fare share during the foot treading of harvest and learns a thing or two about the art of blending that can make or break a Port wine.