Wine Events, Wine Education, Journalist
The Raise a Glass feature is published in several UK regional newspapers every week. Here’s a look at the wines of the Rhône Valley’s AOC Ventoux where the mountain “is magic”. I went on a winding drive up Mont Ventoux in the Rhône Valley. I was hoping to be rewarded with magnificent vineyard views. Not […]
The wines of Ventoux: A magic mountain makes all the difference Read More »
Hold on to your Christmas hats! If you love red wines with a bit of heart, depth, richness and ripe fruits which can comfort and hug, then I’m here for you. I won’t dilly dally with these festive red wine choices, as there’s lots to get through. Three festive red wine choices from France It
Christmas wines Part 4: Festive red wine to warm and hug you (if only it had arms) Read More »
Think of me as the scouting party in your wine world. The person you send in a pub or restaurant to check out the “vibe” before you decide to spend your money there or not. I went scouting around the latest Lidl Wine Tour range just ahead of the release of its autumn Wine Tour
Lidl wine tour: My fizz choice, plus a red, white and pink from the autumn collection Read More »
It’s great that when love is in the air you can buy special treats for your Valentine. Even better, you can buy a treat you’ll enjoy too, which is a win win. Or perhaps it’s wine, wine. Here’s some ideas. Me & Monsieur Jones 2015 (£15.99, www.nakedwines.com, or £11.99 if you’re one of Naked Wines’
Wine to share with your Valentine, from pink fizz to romantic prosecco Read More »
There I was, at my desk, feeling sorry for myself, when a work pal said he wasn’t 100% that morning. He’d opened an Australian shiraz the night before and his senses weren’t tickety-boo. I sympathised. We compared notes and we’d only had a couple of glasses of red on a school night. My red (more
Why some wines have more alcohol strength than others Read More »
I’m always urging you to step out of your wine comfort zones; why stick with the pinot grigios of this world when there are SO many delicious grapes? Now Asda has the same message. Master of Wine Philippa Carr has created a range of 17 wines, hailed as a “passport to wine discovery”. The retailer has
Asda’s new Wine Atlas range is ‘passport to discovery’ Read More »
IT’S always lovely to meet Real People behind wines. I was lucky enough to “break bread” with Silvano Brescianini, the CEO of Barone Pizzini, from the heart of Franciacorta, Italy, and enjoy his wines with a lovely bunch of people at Liverpool’s Bretta & Co shop and bistro just off Bold Street. Now I love franciacorta sparkling
A night of wine and food celebrating Barone Pizzini and Italian wines 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 »
I love Christmas Day trimmings … sprouts in butter with bacon and lemon; golden roast potatoes; creamy mash; buttered carrots; sweet melting crunches of parsnip; a button-mound of stuffing; pigs in blankets, cuddling a bread sauce cushion, which in turn is gently nudged by a teardrop of cranberry sauce. I’m so hungry now. You might
Christmas Day wines which might float your gravy boat Read More »
The only thing I’ve ever associated with wine, which glows in the dark, is yours truly. My pinkish nose and a wine flush around the cheeks are enough to brighten anyone’s journey once the sun goes down. But I’ve discovered a gadgety-kind of wine bottle which glows in the dark too … William Fèvre Limited
Wines from 31dover.com team put to the taste test Read More »