Cloud & Cabernet

Observations about IT and wine

AI powered wine fair guide

Agentic AI, or agents for short are all the rage these days. As I showed in my previous post, they can come in quite handy when it comes to quickly and easily analyzing and making sense of data and help generate the insights you are looking for.

With my wine cellar already imported, I began to wonder what else my little AI helper might do for me. Zurich hosts several sizeable wine fairs each year (see my article here for more info), but making the most of them can be surprisingly tricky. Sure it’s easy to wander in unprepared and leisurely drift from stall to stall (or wherever one happens to find free elbow-room) but if you’re actually interested in finding wines that are right up your nose or those that are complete novelties, you’ll need to carefully study the brochure and then plan a route, lest you be running around like a headless chicken looking for the 10th booth with something like wine or vino in the name. So what to do? Easy: Let AI do the heavy lifting.

AI sommelier

Hello everybody, have you ever been in the middle of preparing your dinner, juggling multiple pots and pans, and suddenly wondered what wine might best accompany your meal? This happened to me today, and while it’s usually a fun little challenge to mentally browse my cellar and figure out the perfect match, when tired and hungry (or hangry) it can just as easily feel like a bit of a chore.

A wee journey through Fèis Ìle 2025 — Part 1: Making whisky

Today, let’s step away from the world of wine and dive into another revered liquid: whisky. More specifically, I’d like to take you to Islay — a small Island west of Glasgow that is famous for its natural beauty and peated whisky. I had the chance to spend a few unforgettable days on this magical island, just in time for the Fèis Ìle whisky festival, that had connoisseurs of the peaty pour come from far and wide in pursuit of the perfect dram.

Wine Certifications

Most journeys into the world of wine share the same simple beginning: We enjoy a few glasses (or bottles) and decide which wines we liked and which we didn’t. However it usually does not take long to realize that even though we liked this one particular Cabernet Sauvignon very much, the next one we tried was truly awful - perhaps it was much too sour or had unbearably coarse, gritty tannins.

Food and wine starter recipes #1

As I explained in my previous post, a perfect marriage of food and wine can elevate both and unlock a whole new level of culinary enjoyment. But starting out can seem like a daunting task. What wines match with which recipes?

I’m by no means a master chef, but I’ve written down a few of my favorite recipes - easy and straightforward to make - and included some suggested wine pairings to help anyone else exploring this path.

Mulled Wine / Glühwein

As the days grow shorter and Christmas decorations begin to light up our streets, the festive spirit comes alive. With the start of Advent, Christmas markets are finally opening in most places, bringing with them the delightful aromas of Bratwurst, Raclette, gingerbread, and — of course — Glühwein. But what makes a good Glühwein, and can you make it at home?

Mulled wine, or Glühwein as it’s known in German-speaking countries, is essentially spiced wine and can be made with either red or white wine as the base. To the wine, you add a variety of spices — usually seasonal ones like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves — to give it more depth and warmth. You can also incorporate fruit juices, most commonly orange juice, to make the Glühwein a bit easier to drink and to add sweetness and acidity. Some people prefer to give it a little extra kick by adding a shot of rum, brandy, cognac, or other liqueurs.

Wine and Food Pairing Basics

Drinking a glass of wine on its own can be delightful, but pairing wine with the right food takes the experience to a whole new level. A well-chosen pairing allows the wine to elevate the dish’s flavors while the food enhances the wine—a beautiful harmony that can feel like an intimate dance between two perfect partners.

The Basics of Food and Wine Pairing

The theory of pairing begins with the flavors on the tongue, the elements of a wine and their relationships. On the tongue we can taste salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami (savory) aromas. These can also be found in wine:

Wine Synonyms

Have you ever tasted two different wines and felt sure they were made from the same grape? Well, you might just be right! Many grape varieties go by different regional names, and some even have slight genetic variations known as biotypes.

A synonym is simply a locally different name for the same grape—genetically identical but called something else depending on where it’s grown.

A biotype, on the other hand, refers to a variant of the grape with subtle genetic differences or variations in its composition, behavior, or adaptability. These differences often come about through natural mutations or environmental influences, but they aren’t significant enough to classify the grape as a completely new variety.

Zurich Wine Events

Due to it’s central location and high purchasing power, Switzerland is at the top of the list for many wine exporters. Considering this, it makes sense that Zurich has a vibrant wine scene and can call itself home to multiple exciting wine fairs. Let’s go over the most popular ones.

Please keep in mind the information below are based on previous experiences, ticket prices and locations may change in the future.