Wine Events, Wine Education, Journalist
I’ve been on a diet – sorry, that should be present tense. I am on a diet. Or perhaps I should say I have the backbone of a jellyfish so the diet is “intermittent”. Best laid-plans, eh. The other day, feeling deprived, I craved a steak with onions and mushrooms fried and smothered in naughty things […]
A diet defeated by a glass of cabernet sauvignon (or two) Read More »
The Wine Time feature is published in the Lancashire Post, the Blackpool Gazette and other regional newspapers in Lancashire … here’s when my thoughts turned to wines from the Loire Valley. It’s been a over a year since we learned how to mute, to share, to wave, to leave messages via our laptop screens as
The Raise a Glass feature is published every week in several regional newspapers … here’s one from the end of April 2021 when the garden bench was tested for wine durability with spring red wines. There’s nothing more uplifting than sunshine and bluebells and daffodils and garden benches as the sun dips down after a
Raise a glass: Spring red wines roadtest the garden bench Read More »
One of the giddiest things I do when I’m visiting vineyards is to look for the winery doggie and then take as many photographs of the said doggie. I had a giddy moment a few weeks ago in France, while discovering Bordeaux wines. The most beautiful little bundle of fur called Eau de Vie was
Cute doggie alert! (Oh, and taking the mystery out of Bordeaux wines) Read More »
It’s not long to go to Christmas Day and I’m getting excited now. If you’re looking for a Christmas red wine, here’s some thoughts; starting with some bargains and building up to a knock-out buy. Christmas red wine on offer this month Western Australia Cabernet Sauvignon (Morrisons, 14.5% abv, RRP £7, down to £6 until Jan
I’m on one of those diets that allows you to eat lots of meat, pasta and rice. I’m also allowed limited ‘treats’ and mine’s a four letter word. Wine. A wine diet. I’m not really on a wine diet. I’m on a diet with glasses of wine. But I guess you know what I mean.
Wine diet. Well not quite. Wine and a diet? Perhaps. Read More »
I WAS happily stirring rice last weekend for my version of risotto when I started thinking about wine with food. No apologies if I’ve said this before … I love wine, I love food, I love wine with food. I love cooking with wine. It’s thanks to my favourite combo that I have a wine
Take one bottle of Fiano, add rice … then stir and slurp Read More »
MANY of my friends say that Aldi wines have changed their lives. Friday nights begin with a “rush to the shops” to stock up for the weekend. Mike James, Aldi’s wine buyer, since 2010, has overseen the team which has made Aldi a must-go destination for reliable, affordable wines. I spoke to Mike, and asked
The man behind Aldi wines, Mike James, picks his special wines for you Read More »
THE UK’s supermarkets have really upped their game in the past year when it comes to their own-brand wines. Many have excelled in the 2015 International Wine Challenge Awards. Top of the awards pile is Marks & Spencer, which won 169 medals, including 12 gold, 52 silver and 105 bronze. In all, 498 own-brand and exclusive
International Wine Challenge success for UK supermarkets Read More »
Mums are special and it’s only right they have a special day. And on their special day, it’s only right they have a special treat. My idea of such a treat is a lovely glass of wine for Mother’s Day. I’m going to launch straight in with a handful of extraordinary wines, at prices more
Wine Press: Mother’s Day wines and special treats Read More »