LeDomduVin: Champagne Prematurely Popping (**) (Number 124 on Feedspot Top 100 Wine Blogs)

Champagne Prematurely Popping (**)

by @ledomduvin 2022

Celebrating number 124 this year, on Feedspot "Top 100 Wine Blogs". And that's because of you all my readers and followers, so a HUGE THANK YOU to you all. 

Like every year, around the same period, I just take a quick look at the Top 100 Wine Blogs on @feedspotdotcom. 

And, every year, I'm always very happy to continue to see my blog still listed there. 

To give you a few numbers, I have created this Wine Blog in August 2008 (soon to be 14 years old) and since then, it received 1,265,866 visitors (as of today).  That roughly corresponds to an average of: 

-  90,420 visitors per year

-  7,535 visitors per month

-  250 visitors per day 

-  10.5 visitors per hour

Not bad for an independent Wine Blog, isn't it? 

Very proud of it.  More especially, I had a down period between 2013-2016, (4 years), during which I barely wrote or post anything, as I was busy with my job during the week (even at night) and very active during the weekends too, with the kids during the day and often working at the restaurant or wine events at night, on Fridays and Saturdays (Sommelier life😁👍🍷 ). 

A few years ago, out of the 215 listed wine blogs (*), I was oscillating between 80 and 95 (number 85 in 2020), and last year, I believe I was 118, and this year number 124. 

Which is definitely not that bad, considering both facts that 

- This list (of 215 blogs) includes the best wine blogs on the web (from thousands of wine blogs), ranked by traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. 

- My blog is just an independent blog on which I only post very occasionally, don't spend much time on it, and from which I absolutely get no money and no other advantages whatsoever either. 

That's why I am very happy to still see my wine blog listed, and it encourages me to continue to write and post and create illustrations for it, like this popping Champagne bottle I created for this occasion (**). 

Thank you again to all of you for your support and encouragement, and for keeping this blog alive. And thank you to Feedspot.com too. Much appreciated. 

😁🙏👍👏🍾🥂🍷

Merci beaucoup,

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom 

For the Feedspot "Top 100 Wine Blogs" go to @feedspotdotcom on Instagram 

or https://blog.feedspot.com/wine_blogs/

(*) It should be the "Top 200", instead of 100, no? It would make more sense somehow. 😁👍🍷

(**) Disclaimer: This illustration "Champagne Prematurely Popping" is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. (Get the joke?) 😉😁🤣🤣🤣

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Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Bordeaux vs Burgundy Illustration (2022 version)

Bordeaux vs Burgundy 

by @ledomduvin 2022

Dusting off and re-posting the 2019 version of my "Bordeaux vs Burgundy" illustration, (see my previous post), inspired me to create a new version of it. 

So much fun, I could not resist. And you might notice the improvement in between... 😅😁👍🍷

These 2 bottles, (Bordeaux and Burgundy), have been the protagonists of many of my illustrations and stories for my blog, for at least a decade (or even more). 

And, it is always fun to put both of them face to face, as they have a very conflictual relationship, (like the people of the 2 wine regions of the same names in real life) 😅😅😅😁👍🍷

I love both deeply, yet, my undecided heart constantly swings between the two. 

How about you? Which side are you on? 😉

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom 

PS: As some of you asked, the answer is "YES", I do all my creations myself and on my own: photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, paintings, collages, montages, memes, texts, notes, quotes, descriptions and so much more, even music tracks. 

And Yes, LeDomduVin, Domelgabor, and Aworpyramide are the same person, me. They are just different aliases for different types of things and projects 😁👍🍷🍷🍷

Lyrics (in the illustration) from and courtesy of "I Am Woman", a song by Emmy Meli. (I love this song and the message it conveys) (watch her video at https://youtu.be/uaGM5SRStQo)

#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #lesillustrationsadom #lescreationsadom #lesdessinsadom #bordeaux #burgundy #bordeauxvsburgundy #conflictualrelationship #relationship #battle #bottles #wine #vin #vino #wein #joke #blage #wineclass #education #wineeducation

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Bordeaux vs Burgundy Illustration

Bordeaux vs Burgundy

by @ledomduvin 2019

Dusting off and re-posting this illustration, I did 3 years ago already, as I'm preparing a "Bordeaux vs Burgundy" Wine Class. 😁👍🍷

These 2 bottles, (Bordeaux and Burgundy), have been the protagonists of many of my illustrations and stories for my blog.

And, it is always fun to put them face to face, as they have a very conflictual relationship, (like the people of these 2 wine regions of the same names in real life) 😅😅😅😁👍🍷

I love both deeply, yet, my undecided heart constantly swings between the two.

How about you? Which side are you on? 😉

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

#ledomduvin @ledomduvin #lesillustrationsadom #lescreationsadom #lesdessinsadom #bordeaux #burgundy #bordeauxvsburgundy #conflictualrelationship #relationship #battle #bottles #wine #vin #vino #wein #joke #blage #wineclass #education #wineeducation

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

by @ledomduvin 2022

Quit "wine-ning" around! On Saint Patrick's Day, it's beer and whiskey!!!

I love doing these little illustrations, it's fun.

To my dad, whose name is Patrick and he loves Jameson and Paddy Whiskey. Have a good one dad.

Cheers! Santé! Stay safe, drink responsibly, and take good care of yourself. 😁👍🍺🍷

Dom

#ledomduvin #saintpatrick #saintpatricksday #lesillustrationsadom #lesdessinsadom #lescreationsadom #wine #vin #vino #wein #beer #whiskey #irish #irishwiskey #joke #irishbeer #jameson @jamesonwhiskey #paddy @paddywhiskey

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Bordeaux Top Wines

Bordeaux Top Wines

by @ledomduvin 2022

I know, I know, there is no real point to shove it in your faces about Bordeaux Top Châteaux, again and again. We all know which ones they are, right?

Well, not all the people attending the class will be connoisseurs, amateurs, or fine wine drinkers. In fact, some may have no idea or even never heard about them.

So, here they are ...on a map!

Cool, isn't it?

I thought it will be easier for them to understand and pinpoint from which bank and appellation they come from, rather than a big explanation. A visual is worth a thousand words, right?

What do you think?

Along with the maps and numbers, I've previously posted, I have created about 15 slides altogether to be used for a Wine Class on Bordeaux. I've tried to make them educational, informative, and easy to understand at first glance.

Hope you'll like them, and, maybe even learn something from them, you never know.

Cheers! Santé! Drink responsibly and take good care of yourself. 😁👍🍷

Dom

 

#ledomduvin #lesillustrationsadom #lescreationsadom #slides #lesimagesadom #wineclass #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #bordeauxwineclass #wine #vin #vino #wein #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #wineknowledge #wineeducation #education @ledomduvin

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Bordeaux Soils

Bordeaux Soils

by @ledomduvin 2022

To complement the map of the soils of Bordeaux (previously posted, see 2nd picture also), I thought it would be interesting to see it from a different perspective, with a pedological view.

For those who may not know, Pedology is the study of the formation, characteristics, and distribution of soils (as they are naturally), as well as their evolution and theoretical framework for modeling soil bodies.

In short, understanding the soil composition and variations, as if you were looking at a vertical exposure of the layering soils (also called "Horizons").

I did this slide rather quickly, so it does not accurately reflect the layering of the soils of the left bank and right bank of Bordeaux, yet, it gives you a pretty good (even if rough) idea of it. 😁👍🍷

That's said, it is just a slide for a Bordeaux Wine Class, so it just needs to be friendly and eyes-catching, to prevent it from being boring. You get my point. 😉

Along with the maps and numbers, I've previously posted, I have created about 15 slides altogether to be used for a Wine Class on Bordeaux. I've tried to make them educational, informative, and easy to understand at first glance.

Hope you'll like them, and, maybe even learn something from them, you never know.

Cheers! Santé! Drink responsibly and take good care of yourself. 😁👍🍷

Dom

#ledomduvin #lesillustrationsadom #lescreationsadom #slides #lesimagesadom #wineclass #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #bordeauxwineclass #wine #vin #vino #wein #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #wineknowledge #wineeducation #education @ledomduvin

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Terroir

Terroir

by @ledomduvin 2022

The definition of "Terroir" is often vague for some people, even totally abstract for others.

Consequently, it is hard to define, and for good reasons, as "Terroir" is not a thing, it is a concept that is quite complex, as it encompasses several both natural and human factors.

When speaking about "Terroir", one must take into consideration all the various parameters that can, directly or indirectly, have an influence and an impact on the vineyards and, thus, the wine made from it.

The first things that come to mind are usually the geography, the topography, the weather, the climate/micro-climate, the exposure to the sun, the elevation, the terrain, the quality and specification of the soil and subsoil, natural drainage, the proximity with a mass of water, etc...

Then, usually, comes the vineyard management: monoculture or polyculture? Organic, sustainable, biodynamic? Manual or mechanical? Or a bit of both? Horse? Sheep? Chickens? Minimum use of chemicals (pesticides and /or herbicides) or natural remedies? Local or external grape varieties? clones? hybrids? American rootstock or "franc de pied"? Etc... Or, all the above?

Then follow the cellar management: full or minimal intervention? new or partly or old oak? aging in a barrel or not? short or long maceration? old or new techniques? barrels? amphora? egg shape ceramic? concrete? etc...

And finally, (some may not think that it is related to Terroir, but I do), cultures and traditions and other specific practices of a region, an appellation, an area, as well as regulations, trends, and their evolution.

As you can see and understand, "Terroir" is definitely much more complex and complicated than you can imagine. And, each one has its own definition of it. Not easy.

I have created about 15 slides altogether to be used for a Wine Class on Bordeaux. I've tried to make them educational, informative, and easy to understand at first glance.

Hope you'll like them, and, maybe even learn something from them, you never know.

Cheers! Santé! Drink responsibly and take good care of yourself. 😁👍🍷

Dom

#ledomduvin #lesillustrationsadom #lescreationsadom #slides #lesimagesadom #wineclass #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #bordeauxwineclass #wine #vin #vino #wein #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #wineknowledge #wineeducation #education @ledomduvin

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Bordeaux Time Line

Bordeaux Time Line

by @ledomduvin 2022

It is hard to compress nearly 2000 years of Bordeaux history into such a small timeline, so I had to make choices.

And, unfortunately, I couldn't elaborate further, as I did not want to make it too complicated either. After all, it is a slide for a Wine Class, so, it has to remain clear, concise, and to the point.

What do you think?

Along with the maps and numbers, I've previously posted, I have created about 15 slides altogether to be used for a Wine Class on Bordeaux. I've tried to make them educational, informative, and easy to understand at first glance.

Hope you'll like them, and, maybe even learn something from them, you never know.

Cheers! Santé! Drink responsibly and take good care of yourself.

😁👍🍷

Dom

#ledomduvin #lesillustrationsadom #lescreationsadom #slides #lesimagesadom #wineclass #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #bordeauxwineclass #wine #vin #vino #wein #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #wineknowledge #wineeducation #education @ledomduvin

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Bordeaux Reading the Label

Bordeaux Reading the Label

by @ledomduvin 2022

Reading Bordeaux labels can be quite challenging for those who are not acquainted with it (and don't get me started on Burgundy or German labels, it's even worst 😅).

Yet, if you take the time to understand it, it is quite simple and logical somehow. I hope this slide will help you to better understand it.

To be fair, this is an old example of Bordeaux Label, Château Margaux for this example. Nowadays, front labels tend to be more sober, clean, colorful or not, and/or minimalistic, crowding the back label with countless details, descriptions, and symbols/signs/logos.

I recently read an article talking about getting rid of the back label, which may work for the national/local market, but might prove difficult for export.

Moreover, it will contradict the current trend of having cleaner and easier to read front labels, as well as ruin all the efforts that have been made within the last 10-15 years to achieve it.

Are we going to regress and go back to complicated front labels? Time will tell.

Along with the maps and numbers, I've previously posted, I have created about 15 slides for a Wine Class on Bordeaux. I've tried to make them educational, informative, and easy to understand at first glance.

Hope you'll like them, and maybe even learn something from them, you never know.

Cheers! Santé! Drink responsibly and take good care of yourself. 😁👍🍷

Dom

#ledomduvin #lesillustrationsadom #lescreationsadom #slides #lesimagesadom #wineclass #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #bordeauxwineclass #education #wine #vin #vino #wein #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #wineknowledge #wineeducation #education @ledomduvin

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Bordeaux 6 Main Grape Varieties

Bordeaux 6 Main Grape Varieties

by @ledomduvin 2022

Bordeaux wines are mostly made with these 6 predominant grape varieties:

• Red: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc

• White: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle

Both respectively are complemented by a small percentage of a few other grape varieties authorized in the blend.

Yet, climate change is changing things around, as the vineyards are more frequently impacted by temperatures shifting drastically and rather unpredictable weather patterns (late frost, hail storm, winter storm, summer storm, etc...) and the vine diseases that may come as consequences.

Consequently, a bunch of Bordeaux "pirates", led by influential people, like Jean-Baptiste Duquesne (Château Cazebonne) and Loïc Pasquet (Liber Pater), are leading the way to challenge Bordeaux "establishment", cultures and traditions, by reviving and replanting some of the grape varieties that existed in Bordeaux prior phylloxera, and speaking "franc de pied" and "biodynamie" as a common language.

Creating the future of Bordeaux with ancient grapes and more natural vineyard management methods, and a twist of new techniques and technologies in the cellar. Bordeaux is starting to embrace new ways for the better.

As stated on the slide, QTY, %, values may differ depending on the source and the vintage (of course), as every year, these numbers change ever so slightly, depending on various factors and reasons.

Therefore, these numbers on the slide are just rough averages to be taken for reference only (just to give you an idea basically).

Along with the maps I previously posted, I have created about 15 slides for a Wine Class on Bordeaux. I've tried to make them educational, informative, and easy to understand at first glance.

Hope you'll like them, and maybe even learn something from them, you never know.

Cheers! Santé! Drink responsibly and take good care of yourself. 😁👍🍷

Dom

#ledomduvin #lesillustrationsadom

#lescreationsadom #slides #lesimagesadom #wineclass #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #bordeauxwineclass #education #wine #vin #vino #wein #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #wineknowledge #wineeducation @ledomduvin

Unless stated otherwise, all right reserved ©LeDomduVin 2022 on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, drawings, illustrations, visuals, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).