Recent Posts
Brancott Estate winemaker Patrick Materman was in town this week and unveiled their newest sauvignon blanc, the Brancott Estate Chosen Rows 2010. What makes this particular sauvignon blanc stand out from your run of the mill NZ s.blancs is that it is made with ageability in mind. Patrick and Brancott have produced what they hope...
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The Queen of Australian Viognier, Louisa Rose was in town recently** to show off her wines and I was happy to be invited to a luncheon and tasting showcasing what she has been able to produce in the Australian vineyards. Louisa has been working as Chief Winemaker for Yalumba winery, based in the Barossa, since 2006 but she first...
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Alright lovers, it’s that time of year again – Valentine’s Day!! I know, I know, many of you may be rolling your eyes but let’s face it, if you don’t do something on Feb.14th, you’re going to be in big trouble with your significant other. Going out to dinner is VERY romantic on Valentines Day,...
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Okay, so it has been a long time coming but I am being converted to the wines of South Africa. I remember when I first started wine tasting, S. African wines were definitely not my go-to choice. The reds tasted of an odd, burnt flavour and the whites were frankly, lemon water. Happily, the wines, they are a-changing. I have of...
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Bourboulenc. I just like the name of that grape. It kind of rolls off the tongue…bour-bouuuuuuuu-leeeeeeenc……. Anyway, bourboulenc is a white variety that grows mostly in southern France and was the star grape for me at a recent tasting I went to hosted by AOC Languedoc Wines. Bourboulenc is the main variety used...
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Looking forward to trying the latest release of Dom Perignon rosé, the 2002? Well, too late. It was released yesterday in the UK and the entire allocation is gone! That was fast but after being one of the lucky ones to be invited to the launch yesterday at Leighton House Museum, I can see why it flew off the shelves. When the...
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Last Autumn, I was invited by Celebrity Cruises and Vinopolis to join their Immersive Wine Cruise. The cruise featured Oz Clarke and, from Vinopolis, their head educator, Tom Forrest. They were on hand to not only lead masterclasses on board but also joined guests every evening for wine chats and led the vineyard tours which were...
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I was invited to a performance by the London Philharmonic Orchestra last night to hear a performance of Strauss which was a part of “The Rest is Noise” year long music festival. There are great views of the London Eye and Big Ben from the top of the Centre which is where the Beecham Bar, the members bar of the Southbank...
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Anything with Krug makes me happy so imagine my delight when I was invited to the Krug Institute of Happiness early last December. Arriving at the (literally) glass house where we were to dine, I was ushered past the front door and upstairs to the open plan kitchen where Chef Nuno Mendes and his chefs were preparing our appetizers....
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I’m in Thailand at the moment, mostly on holiday but before I hit the islands, I stopped in northeastern Thailand to visit the vineyards of Gran Monte. Many of you may be scratching your heads – wine? made from grapes? in Thailand? Well, yes, and what Nikki Lohitnavy and her father, Visooth Lohitnavy have achieved in...
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