London doesn’t automatically spring to mind when one thinks of growing vines but the good folks from McGuigan Vineyards in Adelaide Hills, Australia have transplanted some to the heart of the City (check out the site here). The vineyard will be open for 3 days (July 9 -11) and admission is free, although there will be a...
read moreWe tried 5 different champagnes in the Bruno Paillard masterclass held at the just opened Bluebird Wine shop. I’ve blogged previously about their non-vintage champagnes, now it’s the turn of the vintage champagnes to go through the wringer. The house only releases vintage champagnes in what they consider exceptional...
read moreI attended a masterclass the other day at a new wine shop that has recently opened within the Bluebird Cafe/Restaurant complex. Bluebird, on the King’s Road in Chelsea, has been around for about 10 years but has recently undergone renovations and has now had an epicerie and wineshop added to the premises. Bruno Paillard is a...
read moreWhen I think of Portuguese wines, other then Vinho verde, white wine is not what springs to mind. I’m thinking big, robust, tannic, or sweet, thick and vintage. The Portuguese however are really working hard to change our perceptions and expectations of what kind of wine comes out of their vineyards. I attended a tasting at...
read moreOne of the worst things that can happen to someone who tastes wine for a living has got to be hay fever. I should know as I am currently suffering from a severe attack. Not only is my nose a red, raw running mess but my eyes won’t stop watering and the constant sneezing is giving me stomach cramps. And to top it all off,...
read moreThe Codorniu tasting was a long one. First the sparkling and then the still wines. I have to admit that after all those sparklings, I was beginning to get a bit tipsy, especially since this was an informal tasting session after work. But I soldiered on and sampled the wines of Raimat which is the still wine arm of Codorniu. A bit...
read moreHere’s an old Scottish joke to start off today. “Alcohol is your trouble” said the sheriff to the drunk. “Alcohol alone is responsible for your present predicament.” The drunk looked pleased as he said, “Yer lairdship’s maist kind. A’body else says it’s ma ain fault!”...
read moreWorking for a big wine merchant does have it’s advantages. Tuesday night the company invited the winemakers from Grupo Codorniu to come down and have a chat and informal tasting with us. There were about 25 of us from various London based shops. Grupo Codorniu is a Spanish owned and operated winery group based in northeast...
read moreEven though it’s summer, I don’t think you should forget red wine and wait for the Fall to come around before opening another red. With that in mind, I popped open a red Italian this week. An Aglianico from Campania. While Italy is probably best well known for Chianti and Brunello (made from the sangiovese variety) and...
read moreI get Decanter mag’s daily e-newsletter and there was in interesting bit of news in there today about Castel Group, France’s largest wine producer, planting vineyards in Ethiopia. Ethiopia?? According to Decanter…”there is a history of wine production…but the industry entered a period of decline after...
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