About me

Born in Maribor in what is now Slovenia, I moved to Sweden when I was a toddler aged 2. Ever since, I've called Stockholm my home sweet home. Since travelling coupled with an innate curiosity of the surrounding world have been a natural part of my life, I've been calling many places my home over the years. Brief stints living in Sydney and Alice Springs, Australia but also in countries like Bolivia and Brazil in South America. Since the time I was bitten by the wine bug, I'm nowaydays also counting Barolo, Piedmont as my home away from home, as well as the German wine landscape, preferably Mosel, Nahe and Rheinhessen.

The winding path to where I am today, took me through a wide diversity of experiences that I collectively see as taking big chunks out of this wonderful adventure called...life. Studying biology and chemistry at the university, doing post-graduate studies in natural resources managament, and conducting research on tropical rainforest ecology in the Brazilian Amazon. As a travel production manager, I spent almost a decade creating adventurous tours to distant parts of the world, way beyond the usual travel sites. I worked with wine at the Swedish state liquor monopoly and now...since the past 12 years, I have been teaching full-time in mathematics and science (chemistry, biology, physics). In some way, coming around full circle since I did a lot of teaching while doing my postgraduate studies.

Winewise, I have a perennial love affair with all things...Riesling. Preferably German Riesling but in the case of an emergency, Riesling from any country will do. A similar extra heart-beat goes to all things Nebbiolo, not to mention the buzz, the thrill, the sheer happiness of just spending time in these beautiful wine regions and meeting with the extraordinary people behind the great wines of Barolo and Barbaresco. Aside from my favourite grapes, I have ONE grape that has become a personal, signature favourite: Scheurebe. Long story... You can read all about it in the first issue of The Riesling Report.

In addition, there are so MANY wonderful grapes and wine regions I like. Be it a really heavy-duty Aussie Shiraz from Barossa (ahh, with a barbie late at night while gazing up at the Southern Cross star formation). Or if staying with the grape, give me some Syrah from Rhone, Valais, Napa, Paso, or Santa Barbara and I'll be a happy camper. A wonderful Sangiovese from Tuscany where you can literally sense the place in the wines; undulating hills and the familiar scent of dusty gravel roads dotted with cypress trees. Barbera, Dolcetto and oh the lovely Pelaverga from Piedmont is always a treat, a full-trottle Malbec from Mendoza, a Tempranillo from Rioja or Ribera del Duero likewise, not to mention a full-bodied Garnacha from Priorat or Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot from places like Napa, Bordeaux, South Australia, and Tuscany. A stony, mineralic Chenin blanc from South Africa or Loire, not to mention the stickies from said wine regions but especially from Vouvray and Coteaux du Layon. Grüner veltliner from Wachau, oh, and then there's Chardonnay - I'm fond of so many different types, be it Russian River Valley, Napa, Sonoma, Burgundy, Australia, New Zealand, South America, etc. There are so many good examples from all over the world. Pinot noir from Burgundy, Germany and California, Gewürtztraminer, yes please, if from Alsace (and imagine...with spicy prawns Szechuan style). As well as Pinot Gris and Pinot blanc, where I believe that the German rendentions of said grapes are increasing in quality for every year. And then there's the beautiful Silvaner, where a revolution is coming your way. Bubbles from Champagne any day of the week, please. Vintage Port likewise (but perhaps not every day ;). Arneis, Ribolla Gialla, Albariño, Godello, Vedejo, Malvasia, Muskateller, Rieslaner, Mencia, Mourvèdre, Cabernet franc...

When I think about it, there are so many grapes and wine regions out there for everyone to discover. Only your own passion and curiosity set your limits.

My best advice: go out and...explore! :-)