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Daly’s New Wine Bar and Beer Hall ...

Daly’s New Wine Bar and Beer Hall in London Posted by on Oct 2, 2025

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Launch of the Piper Heidsieck Essentiel ...

Launch of the Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Cuvée Reservée Posted by on Jul 5, 2017

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Hackstons Knightsbridge: Autumn Tasting ...

Hackstons Knightsbridge: Autumn Tasting Events You Can’t Miss Posted by on Sep 29, 2025

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Discover Soil Therapy: Leading a New Wav...

Discover Soil Therapy: Leading a New Wave in Alsatian Wines Posted by on Feb 10, 2025

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Temptation at The Savoy Hotel, London

Temptation at The Savoy Hotel, London Posted by on Mar 2, 2016

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Castello di Radda, premium Chianti Class...

Castello di Radda, premium Chianti Classico Posted by on Jun 20, 2017

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Dining with the wines of NZ winery Jacks...

Dining with the wines of NZ winery Jackson Estate Posted by on Oct 20, 2013

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Brasserie Joel celebrates Eurostar’...

Brasserie Joel celebrates Eurostar’s 20th anniv. this May Posted by on May 6, 2014

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Saturday Snapshot – The Widow Hen ...

Saturday Snapshot – The Widow Hen from Wirra Wirra Posted by on May 25, 2013

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Saturday Snapshot -Kleine Zalze Shiraz M...

Saturday Snapshot -Kleine Zalze Shiraz Mourvedre Viognier 2011 Posted by on Feb 2, 2013

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Spanish Garnacha Guide: Campo de Borja, ...

Spanish Garnacha Guide: Campo de Borja, Cariñena & Calatayud Posted by on Sep 26, 2025

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A visit to English Vineyard, Albourne Es...

A visit to English Vineyard, Albourne Estate Posted by on Jun 5, 2017

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Stina winery; visiting a Croatian island...

Stina winery; visiting a Croatian island vineyard Posted by on Oct 6, 2020

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Video – How to Read a Wine Label, ...

Video – How to Read a Wine Label, the Douro Valley and Bourgogne Posted by on Sep 19, 2013
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Recent Posts

Stina winery; visiting a Croatian island vineyard

Oct 06, 20 Stina winery; visiting a Croatian island vineyard

Posted by in All, Croatia, Travel

I’ve visited many vineyards in northern Croatia over the years (read about Istrian winemakers here and here) but Stina winery was the first one in the south, off the coast of Dalmatia. Stina is located on the island of Brac, about a 50 minute ferry ride from Split. Brac Harbour I sell Stina’s white Cuvee in Dalston so I...

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Afternoon Champagne and Cheese in Brixton

Apr 07, 17 Afternoon Champagne and Cheese in Brixton

Posted by in Champagne, Food and Wine, London

Champagne! Most people consider champagne as a celebratory drink and only pop it open on special occasions. I, however, consider champange to be a wine just like any other, albeit with bubbles and it should be drunk with food (and cheese in particular goes very well) accordingly. The folks at Champagne + Fromage are also firm...

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A visit to Head High and Three Sticks vineyards, Sonoma, CA (video)

Feb 10, 22 A visit to Head High and Three Sticks vineyards, Sonoma, CA (video)

Posted by in All, California, N. America

Last month, I was in the States and visited Head High and Three Sticks vineyards in Sonoma, CA while I was there. Chris Mattson, Jennifer Abram and Britt Richards (Head High winemaker ) from Head High/Three Sticks vineyards were kind enough to take a morning and show me around some of their vineyards. We started at Durrell...

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Hippodrome Wine Club-upcoming tasting

Jan 07, 22 Hippodrome Wine Club-upcoming tasting

Posted by in All, California

Before the pandemic, I had heard about the Hippodrome Wine Club and, as I had gone occasionally to the Hippodrome to gamble a bit, I think it’s a great idea that they have their own wine club. I received this press release and am happy to pass along this information to my readers. I’ll be in California later this month...

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Moscato d’Asti – A Masterclass

Nov 02, 21 Moscato d’Asti – A Masterclass

Posted by in All

Last week I went to the Simply Italian Great Wines tasting at the Westminster Church Halls. I went not only to taste some great wines but also to attend the Moscato d’Asti masterclass presented by Italian wine expert Walter Speller and the Consorzio Asti Director Giacomo Pondini. The producers were also present and were more...

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Portuguese Food – Wine, Olive Oils and Nuts

Oct 26, 21 Portuguese Food – Wine, Olive Oils and Nuts

Posted by in All, Portugal

Right before lockdown in March 2020, I was invited to Portugal to learn more about the food and wines of the country. It was all part of the AAPI and APPITAD groups efforts to promote the country’s agri-business. According to their information packet sent to me, its purpose is the following: Portuguese Food – Information to...

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Fine Wines Direct Christmas wines

Oct 24, 21 Fine Wines Direct Christmas wines

Posted by in All, Argentina

Halloween is just round the corner but Fine Wines Direct already have Christmas in mind and invited me to participate in an online tasting earlier this week. They choose 10 wines that they think will be great for this holiday season. Fine Wines Direct are a small, independent wine importer based in Cardiff. They have a huge...

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Champagne Castlenau Blanc de blanc 2007 launch

Oct 23, 21 Champagne Castlenau Blanc de blanc 2007 launch

Posted by in All

Champagne Castlenau is a growers collective with vineyards scattered around Reims in the Champagne region. The collective was founded in 1916 and the name originates from a famous WWI hero, General de Curieres de Castelnau. That may explain its popularity amongst the diplomatic and military corps from the 1920’s onwards....

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Why Not Red Misket

Jul 21, 20 Why Not Red Misket

Posted by in All

I’m always on the lookout for wines from relatively unknown regions or varieties that have almost been forgotten. Red Misket is one of those grapes. It comes from Bulgaria and is enjoying a bit of a revival from two young Bulgarian winemakers. The Winemakers Petar Georgiev and Radostin Milkov have worked around the world; in...

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El Marciano from Alfredo Maestro

Jun 04, 20 El Marciano from Alfredo Maestro

Posted by in All

I met Alfredo right before all wine trade events, and everything else, was cancelled due to the Covid-19 lockdown, at a new wave Spanish winetasting here in London. What drew my eye to Alfredo’s stand was one bottle in particular, El Marciano. Now Alfredo himself is quite a character, very passionate about his wines and an...

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Pet-Nat, an Extra Brut Bulgarian Riesling

May 14, 20 Pet-Nat, an Extra Brut Bulgarian Riesling

Posted by in All

A few years ago, I started to hear the phrase ‘Pet-Nats’ making the rounds in the wine trade. As we have loads of natural wines here in London, I soon found out that Pet-Nat is short for ‘petillant natural’, a French term for wines that are naturally sparkling. It’s also known as the Ancestral Method....

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