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Exploring La Celia: A Premier Uco Valley...

Exploring La Celia: A Premier Uco Valley Winery Posted by on Feb 24, 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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Dinner with Santa Maria’s new Lati...

Dinner with Santa Maria’s new Latin American Kitchen range Posted by on Jun 14, 2017

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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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Basque Cider, Fred Flintstone steaks and...

Basque Cider, Fred Flintstone steaks and catching a drink Posted by on Dec 15, 2016

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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, the Douro Valley and Bourgogne Posted by on Sep 19, 2013
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Recent Posts

Nino Franco Prosecco. Prosecco but not as you know it…

May 24, 13 Nino Franco Prosecco. Prosecco but not as you know it…

Posted by in All, Italy, Sparkling Wine

Cheap and cheerful. Big fat bubbles, sweet tasting. Famous for being the bubbly in a Bellini. All these things are commonly said about everyone’s favourite Italian sparkler, prosecco. But that’s not the only kind of prosecco being produced. I had lunch earlier this week at Locanda Locatelli with the owner of Nino Franco...

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Lunching with Concha y Toro at Novikov

May 18, 13 Lunching with Concha y Toro at Novikov

Posted by in All, Chile, Food and Wine, restaurants

I’d heard a few things about Novikov before I went there for lunch recently but wasn’t really sure what to expect other than it was 2 restaurants in one ( the upstairs being Asian cuisine and the downstairs Italian, along with a Lounge) and that it would probably be full of Russians as it’s owned by a successful...

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Negozio Classica, boutique Italian wine (and food)

May 15, 13 Negozio Classica, boutique Italian wine (and food)

Posted by in All, Food and Wine, Italy, restaurants, wine bars

Walking along Regent’s Park Road near Chalk Farm, with it’s myriad of cute little shops, there sits a charming Italian enoteca, Negozio Classica. A North London outpost of it’s Notting Hill namesake, Negozio is owned by the Italian winery Avignonesi and specializes in not only importing their wines but also wines...

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Champagne cellar snapshot

May 14, 13 Champagne cellar snapshot

Posted by in Champagne, Travel

I took this cellar snapshot when I was in Champagne recently visiting Billecart-Salmon. There is 5 years worth of mold on the bottles. Just waiting for their day of disgorgement… Share this:TwitterFacebookLinkedInPocketRedditTumblrEmailPrintPinterestLike this:Like...

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Langlois-Chateau, Loire Valley wines

It may seem like I only drink champagne but that’s not true. Sometimes I drink sparkling wine, too. All kidding aside, I do enjoy a good sparkling wine and some of my favourites are cremants.  A cremant is a French sparkling wine that does not come from the Champagne region. It’s as simple as that. So for example, you...

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Blending masterclass at the Krug Celebration

May 07, 13 Blending masterclass at the Krug Celebration

Posted by in Champagne, France

They say the best time to taste wine is first thing in the morning. Although I’m not a morning person, AT ALL, I do tend to agree with this particular trope. And so, at 9am on our last day at Krug we were all assembled in the tasting room of the house to try our hand at blending a Grande Cuvee 2012. Krug is one of the last...

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Krug Celebration – a tasting, Clos d’Ambonnay & Clos du Mesnil

May 03, 13 Krug Celebration – a tasting, Clos d’Ambonnay & Clos du Mesnil

Posted by in Champagne

Despite all that Krug the night before, I didn’t have even a headache the next day. I’m not sure if that is is a good or bad thing, the ability to drink copious amounts of Krug and feel fine the next day but maybe I’m just lucky. We started bright and early with a short tour of the cellars and the winery. Krug...

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Krug Celebration, the first night… vintage magnums

Apr 29, 13 Krug Celebration, the first night… vintage magnums

Posted by in Champagne

Late last year I attended the Krug Institute of Happiness and left a very happy camper indeed. I do enjoy a glass or 3 of Krug so you can imagine my delight when I was invited to participate in  the Krug Celebration. A 3 day event of all things Krug at the house in Reims. Spring time in Champagne is lovely. However, this year...

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Saturday Snapshot – sneak peak at Billecart-Salmon brut blanc de blancs 2004

Apr 20, 13 Saturday Snapshot – sneak peak at Billecart-Salmon brut blanc de blancs 2004

Posted by in Champagne, Saturday Snapshot

Spring has finally sprung and this week I was in Champagne again to visit the house of Billecart-Salmon. While I was there, we were fortunate to be the first outside of the maison to taste the 2004 brut Blanc de blancs. It hasn’t been released yet as Billecart-Salmon is one of the last champagne houses to release their 2004....

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Wirra Wirra ‘s Trebuchet, Lost Watches and Church Blocks

Apr 05, 13 Wirra Wirra ‘s Trebuchet, Lost Watches and Church Blocks

Posted by in Australia

Quick! Off the top of your head,do you know what a trebuchet is? Unless you’re  a fan of Australian winery Wirra Wirra or a Medievelist, you probably wouldn’t know it’s another word for “catapult”. That was one nifty bit of trivia I picked up while having lunch with Sam Temme, International Sales...

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