Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Literature: “Zorba the Greek”: Splendid Ierapetra Wine

“We clinked our glasses and drank. Splendid Ierapetra wine, as black as hare’s blood. When you drank, it was though you were receiving earth-blood as Holy Communion. You flourished. Your veins were filled to the brim with strength, your heart with kindness: if you were a coward, you became brave: if you were already braveContinue reading “RKS Literature: “Zorba the Greek”: Splendid Ierapetra Wine”

RKS 2023 Wine Tourism: What is Wine Tourism?

I attended Wine and Tourism Week in Porto, Portugal last February. Having attended many wine shows both in North America and Europe my mind was more focused on wine but Wine and Travel Week shifted that focus where the theme was the interrelationship between wine, gastronomy, accommodations and culture. Combine all those elements together andContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine Tourism: What is Wine Tourism?”

RKS 2023 Film: “The Eight Mountains”: Travel the Eight Mountains and Seas or Climb the Mountain in the Centre of it All?

Based on the novel by Paolo Cognetti, “The Eight Mountains”, a 2022 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize winner, is the story of a friendship. Of children becoming men who try to erase the footprints of their fathers, but who, through the twists and turns they take, always end up returning home. Pietro (Luca Marinelli) is a boyContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “The Eight Mountains”: Travel the Eight Mountains and Seas or Climb the Mountain in the Centre of it All?”

RKS Literature: “Zorba the Greek”: Will God be Ashamed in Front of Zorba?

“I’m telling you Boss: all these things that happen here in this world are unjust, unjust, unjust! I don’t sign my approval, I the tiny worm, the slug, the Zorba. Why should young boys and girls die while decrepit oldsters remain? Why should small children die? I had a small child, my Dimitraki, and heContinue reading “RKS Literature: “Zorba the Greek”: Will God be Ashamed in Front of Zorba?”

RKS 2023 Wine: Simple Vin de France Chardonnay with a Viognier Twist

This Novellum 2021 Chardonnay has an intriguing twist to it. Although 100% Chardonnay it has been aged on Viognier lees with a small proportion of oak ageing. You might want to think of lees as spent yeast cells sort of a goopy gook? Viognier is vastly different than Chardonnay being more perfumed and full ofContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Simple Vin de France Chardonnay with a Viognier Twist”

RKS 2023 Film: What is Darker? The Nasty Sasquatch or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? “Dark Nature” (Terreur Sauvage)

The Canadian film “Dark Nature” may be a psychological thriller or perhaps a horror film. Place your bets and say it is a bit of both. If it is showing at your local drive-in theatre bring some blankets to keep warm from the chills wafting through the film. If watching in a theatre or atContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: What is Darker? The Nasty Sasquatch or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? “Dark Nature” (Terreur Sauvage)”

RKS 2023 Wine: Montepulciano D’Abruzzo: Italian Easy Drinker

Montepulciano D’Abruzzo is an easy come easy go red wine. If Montepulciano was a politician it would be pleasing everyone from kissing babies to visiting senior’s residences making a long list of promises. But it is a wine and not a politician yet it is easy going and likeable by many. A centrist wine ifContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: Montepulciano D’Abruzzo: Italian Easy Drinker”

RKS Literature: Zorba the Greek: Thoughts on Madame Hortense

“We were waiting for Madame Hortense today so that she could join us in celebrating the resurrection. We had roasted lamb on the spit, had prepared stuffed lamb intestines as an appetizer, and spread a white sheet on the sand, and had dyed some eggs. Zorba and I, half in jest, half with emotion, hadContinue reading “RKS Literature: Zorba the Greek: Thoughts on Madame Hortense”

Italian Wine: The Penniless Pensioner Looks for A Sparkling Good Deal

The Penniless Pensioner or PP as we all know him isn’t exactly penniless. In fact he’s filthy rich and a bit of a rebel. He can afford 1982 Chateau LeSnob but looks for a deal and sometimes I think it is to aggravate his wine snob friends. If you have been reading his autobiography latelyContinue reading “Italian Wine: The Penniless Pensioner Looks for A Sparkling Good Deal”

RKS Literature: The Biggest Sin for Zorba!

“Because you young Greek, whoever has the chance of sleeping with a woman and does not sleep with her commits a great sin. If a woman calls you to her bed and you do not go, your soul is destroyed! That woman will sigh at the moment of God’s great judgement and that sigh ofContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Biggest Sin for Zorba!”