COP26: The wine industry joins the Race To Zero November 10, 2021 COP26 is well underway in Glasgow, bringing 197 countries together to present their updated plans to act against carbon emissions, and the wine industry has its own, albeit relatively small, part to play. Wine itself creates relatively low carbon emissions but even so the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) exists. It was founded three [...]
A mouthful of cashmere: The joy of Lalande-de-Pomerol wines November 10, 2021 Traditionally wines from Bordeaux have garnered a certain high level of respect, esteem, fame and the price tag that goes along with that. In broad strokes, the Bordeaux Blend, historically referred to as Claret in the UK, is made up of a combination of the star players Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot alongside, at the winemaker’s [...]
The wine diaries: Dining out on oysters and fizz November 3, 2021 We are in Native Oyster season and there is no better place to enjoy them than iconic seafood restaurant, Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill. Situated on the cobbles of Swallow Street they have been serving the finest seafood to hungry Londoners for over 100 years. “You come here for the best seafood, the best oysters” [...]
British wine is flying high: Here are some of the best November 3, 2021 It is time to drink patriotically because business is booming for British wines. The pandemic did little to slow the growth; in fact wine sales went up by 30 per cent and last year we planted 1.4m new vines. This green, little island of ours now boasts around 800 vineyards and 178 wineries, though England [...]
The wine diaries: How I swooned over Frerejean Frères October 28, 2021 Champagne brand Frerejean Frères hosted a dinner at Michelin-starred Hide on Piccadilly, pairing four sensational courses with a stunning range of wines including, as a special surprise, the last two magnums of its 2006 Premier Cru in the UK. Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger, the youngest of the three “Frères” and great grandson to one of the founders [...]
Ve vant to drink your… Pinot: Top Romanian wine for Halloween October 28, 2021 Halloween is fast approaching and what says ‘ghouls in a glass’ better than wine from the headquarters of Count Dracula himself, Transylvania, or at least the surrounding area in its parent country Romania. The wines produced here offer sensational value for money and are swiftly appearing on savvy London wine lists; particularly the Pinot Noir. [...]
An exclusive tasting of the new Penfold’s collection October 7, 2021 Today Penfold’s launches its new 2021 Collection. I was invited to 67 Pall Mall to taste it with the charismatic Peter Gago, the brand’s Chief Winemaker, via zoom. But before I get to the tasting notes, a spot of history. Penfolds began in 1844 when Dr Christopher and Mary Penfold planted the fledgling vines, which [...]
Fizz is the fun we need: Your guide to sparkling wine October 6, 2021 After a year and a half of lockdown there is an undeniable thrill in leaving the living room. As we head into town to gossip once more by the water cooler, we deserve more of a celebration than an oat-milk latte clutched on the commute. Times like these call for sparkling wine, the true beverage [...]
What does it really take to win the title Master of Wine? September 7, 2021 There are only 419 living Masters of Wine in the world, and a further 77 who are no longer with us, which means that more people have been in space than have successfully passed this rigorous test of wine academia. This total includes the three Masters of Wine who joined the ranks just last month, [...]
Harlot: The inside story of England’s most controversial new wine August 24, 2021 Harlot. Whatever that word brings to mind, it’s probably not an English sparkling wine recently launched by MDCV, which is causing consternation among wine circles. Harlot’s “playful branding” involves sticking “two fingers up at the status quo” and “refus[ing] to conform”. So is this the Pussy Riot of the wine world? Not according to those [...]