Wine Events, Wine Education, Journalist
Is it really that time of year again? Have you done your shopping yet? To be clear, I mean your Christmas shopping, not this weekend’s Big Shop. If you have a wine lover in your life, or anyone who enjoys a tipple as a tonic, then here’s a handful of Christmas gift ideas. The only […]
Wine Press: Christmas gift ideas for people in your life who like wine Read More »
THIS girlie, as I write, has a mild red wine hangover. I have tried revitalising shampoo but it hasn’t worked, so I’m going to write to the Shampoo Ombudsman. The reason for my “mild” head? This week the International Wine Challenge announced its Merchant Awards and I was there “quietly” enjoying the occasion. The headlines
International Wine Challenge announces Wine Merchant honours Read More »
IF you’re lackadaisical about wine labels; if you rage about reds or whimper over whites; if you blush at a barolo or glaze over at a gerwurztraminer; if you pale at a pinot noir or think tempranillo is a percussion instrument; fear not. Because you might not be the only one. As another Bank Holiday is
Women like blokes with wine knowledge but are they bluffing? Read More »
I HAD a rotten day the other day and was in need of comfort. I stood in a supermarket aisle in front of something which declared itself to be fresh and crisp. I wasn’t in the fruit and vegetable section. It also had “sparkling” on the label. I certainly wasn’t near the household cleaning products.
Freixenet and Mia range looks to the younger market Read More »
AUTUMN is here; weekends of scrunchy woodland walks, skin-tingling whip-it-up winds and soggy downpours. Crisp whites and rosés still have their place but there’s nothing better than a red wine reflecting the season’s leafy clusters and harvest fruits. Last week I was a little rosy-cheeked after sitting in unexpected warm autumnal sun. With me, a
Wine Press: Autumn days … when only red wine will do Read More »
I WAS very happy it was sunny in the garden so I made sangria. I should have been planting the petunias, but you can’t write a drinks column about petunias. With the garden fork cast to one side, I Googled for inspiration and discovered as many recipe variations on the sangria theme as there are Police
Making sangria is more exciting than planting petunias Read More »
IT’S Easter, time to relax. Four days off – and I’m ducking airborne corks flying at me from those of you still working. Sorry and all that. For the rest of us, what shall we do with our time? Well this wine column isn’t called a wine column for nothing – here’s ideas from around
Wine Press: Enjoy the Easter break with a glass of something different every day Read More »
It feels as if I’ve been waiting for Spring to spring for, well, ever since the clocks went back last autumn. Now it’s here I’ll be greeting it with one of my favourite roast dinners, lamb, with a glass of springtime red wine. With Easter just around the corner next week, I’m thinking about red
Mark change of seasons with springtime lamb and red wine Read More »
WE’RE funny, aren’t we, people. We can make decisions based on preconceived ideas; decisions based on perceptions, not fact. Take Aldi wine. Remember that advertising slogan “it is a Skoda honest” …. well how about, “it is from Aldi, honest”. Maybe Aldi is the retail equivalent of Skoda; in the public’s mindset it may not
The Aldi wine team takes the game up to another level Read More »
THE sun surprisingly came out at the weekend and so did the Rioja. I blinked and the sun was still there … if only I could say the same about the Rioja. A glorious taste of Spain; the signature red wine of the country. It is so elevated that Rioja was the first wine to