Wine Events, Wine Education, Journalist
I’ve been tinkering with chenin blanc in the last few days. It just came over me; I thought I’d have a tinker and here we are. I don’t mean I wanted to change the structure of its molecules, or mess with its DNA; but just, you know, tinker. It’s another of those Old World grapes […]
Wine Press: Chenin blanc, a grape with its heart in the Old World 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 »
If I were a grape variety, I’d be Gewurztraminer. I know this because Helena Nicklin told me. Helena is author of the book Winebird’s VINALOGY: Wine Basics with a Twist, and at the launch I filled in a form to discover my vinalogy, my wine self. Lots of Do I Like This … Do I Like that …
If I was a wine I’d be Gewurztraminer, reveals Vinalogy author Read More »
LET me tell you about a wine called Veronica. Well, actually, it’s not called Veronica at all. It’s called viognier. It’s Veronica because I bought my workpal a glass and a few days later, trying to remember the name, she plumped for Veronica. We giggled. So now I ask “do you want a glass
Viognier wine: Here’s some silky favourites to choose from Read More »
BY THE time you read this I will have enjoyed a Girlies’ Night In, with yours truly in charge of a wine-tasting challenge. Other entertainment was to be one Girlie playing tunes on her ukulele. My plan: To disguise all bottles in tin foil and to ask the Girlies questions, including guessing the grapes. I
Top winemaker Neil McGuigan shares his wine-tasting tips Read More »
SOME people can’t stand Mother’s Day. I mean they love their mum, but they can’t stand leaving the house for the so-called “treat”. Over-booked restaurants, under-cooked food and poor old mum trying to pretend it’s the best time she‘s had since the grand final of The X Factor. The alternative is staying in – cook
Mother’s Day wine: Choices for mum’s special day Read More »
Shortlist is a range of individually numbered and limited release wines from McGuigan. The small print: Adelaide Hills – 13% abv – Grape: chardonnay – Buy: Tesco online – Price: £15 – screwcap – 2011 – Tasted Feb 23 2014 – Drink in 5 years of vintage Food matches Creamy pasta, poultry dishes, shellfish,
Wine review: McGuigan Shortlist Chardonnay, 2011, Adelaide Hills Read More »
Pongracz Sparkling Rosé In my glass: A fine bubble tinkles away after the excited pouring fizz dies down. There’s fresh strawberries, strawberry shortcake, brioche and rhubarb crumble on the nose; sweet sultanas too. Fresh red fruits and strawberries bedazzle on the tastebuds as a good balanced acidity comes along to woosh everything along. As a
In my glass: Pongracz Sparkling Rosé wine review Read More »
Christmas dinner wine … what to choose? To make this a genuine Scientific Experiment, I rustled up two of my favourite Christmas Day starters to help you with suggestions for wine to drink as you first gather round the table. My first was a smoked salmon terrine with a filling of creme fraiche and horseradish cream;
Christmas dinner wine ideas to go with your starter Read More »