Pieter Van den Weghe
Pieter Van den Weghe is general manager
and wine director at Beckta dining & wine.
Pieter Van den Weghe's Latest Posts
Now that’s fortification
There’s so much to know about wine that it’s understandable that we tend to limit our awareness to what we know we like. However, these comfortable and safe choices can be a kind of cage. The dark and murky corners of the wine world deserve to be explored and our palates deserve the pleasure of […]
You’ve come a long way, Canada. Cheers!
Canada has come a long way since the early 1800s when Johann Schiller, a retired German mercenary from the Rhine, settled near Toronto and developed a small winery based on the native varietals he found on his property. He sold the wine he made to his neighbours and came to be what is considered Canada’s […]
New Zealand rescues a storied grape
Over the last 40 years, New Zealand has done something amazing in the world of wine. It has redefined a grape varietal and, along the way, established itself as one of the world’s great wine-producing nations. The grape is Sauvignon Blanc, and, for many wine drinkers, the New Zealand expression of this French grape has […]
Moving wine’s spotlight around
Many countries and cultures have developed successful wine industries. Some are very old and others are quite new, and many of them make wildly different expressions of wine. That said, they also share many things. They all shepherd the natural process of fermentation. They all create a drink that speaks of a time and a […]
Venerable Viognier
A dog-eared book, an old sweater, or, even a glass of wine poured more out of habit than pleasure are all familiar things. Unfortunately, while familiarity is certainly comforting and reassuring, it rarely exceeds expectations. The prevalence of certain too-familiar wine grapes and their common styles can send palates running in the direction of something […]
Off program: A summer ode to hops
Beer is the world’s most consumed alcoholic beverage. It is so prevalent and has such deep historical roots that it’s actually intertwined with the identities of several cultures. Not only does beer pair brilliantly with a great variety of foods, it also goes perfectly on occasions ranging from loud celebrations to quiet contemplative moments. Yet, […]
Warning: This column contains sulphites
We often romanticize wine. We think of it as a product made when humans gently coax nature into making drinkable art. While true, that image contrasts with that of wine production as a business. Whether a winery is family-run or a multinational giant, grapes are the raw material and wine the finished product. Though less […]
Wines to warm you
This time of year, it’s all about thick sweaters and good boots. The cold makes us search out warm company and hearty food. And we look for something rich and a bit more powerful in our wine glass. Instead of seeming out of step alongside warm temperatures and delicate dishes, a full-bodied wine is the […]
The mystery and appeal of Pinot Noir
Wine endears itself to drama, romance and even a sense of mystery. And Pinot Noir is the perfect stage on which to play out those narratives. Its aromas, flavours and personality evoke plenty of drama and romance, and much of its seductive appeal is so mysterious that it is maddeningly hard to quantify and explain. […]
The score on wine scores
As with any purchase, many factors can impact the decisions of a wine buyer. For some, it’s the attractiveness of a label, the variety of choice or even their own cultural bias. Complicating matters for many is the perception that, to purchase a delicious wine, one needs a stupefying amount of knowledge. What is seen […]
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