Why the 2021 Burgundy is great and why you probably can’t afford it February 8, 2023 L ondon was abuzz with Burgundy this January and the release of the challenging 2021 vintage En Primeur. To buy En Primeur is to purchase before the wine is officially on the market and means consumers can snap up wines at an often more favourable price point – something that would be very desirable for [...]
Straits Kitchen at the Pan Pacific hotel is great for Chinese wine January 28, 2023 If you’ve read about the rise of Chinese wine and are looking to explore its rise then there’s nowhere better than Straits Kitchen in the Pan Pacific Hotel. Sommelier Francois Bertrand is passionate about providing wines to fit their Asian menu, believing the variety and quality from China will surprise and delight. What unfolded over [...]
Why Chinese wine is so hot right now January 27, 2023 Sunday marked Chinese New Year, an excellent reason to sample some of the country’s incredible wines. Despite making wine for over 2,000 years, it is only relatively recently that winemaking has increased and started filtering into the UK’s market. “Wine is becoming popular because younger people are more influenced by Western tastes, and grape wine [...]
Rails in Kings Cross: A new fine dining option worthy of an early commute December 29, 2022 Rails is the new top dining spot at the transport hub that is King’s Cross, replacing Plum + Spilt Milk in a large airy space on the first floor of the Great Northern Hotel. Designed to be bold yet elegant the high-ceilinged dining room is full of warm wooden panelling, cream leather banquettes, hanging pendant [...]
The basic rules of wine etiquette: How to look suave this party season December 28, 2022 It is a social season and wine is being popped, poured, sipped and slurped across London. I am a big advocate of enjoying your beverage however you see fit, but for those attending more than one fancy do this winter there are some basic rules of wine-etiquette the casual imbiber might want to know. Though [...]
Piazza at the Royal Opera House is perfect for festive fun December 15, 2022 London is beautiful at Christmas and one of the most festive corners of our city is Covent Garden. Opening to the general public for the first time, Piazza is the fifth floor restaurant in the iconic Royal Opera House, boasting a huge terrace with panoramic views over Covent Garden’s holiday wonderland. The dining room is [...]
Pinot Noir: Why this classy grape should be your christmas wine December 15, 2022 There is something special about Pinot Noir. Beloved the world over, it has been referred to as “the heart break grape” due to its exacting demands on those growing it. It was immortalised in the film Sideways by the lead character’s impassioned speech: “Pinot needs constant care and attention, you know? And in fact, it [...]
Leonardslee House is the UK hotel producing South African wine December 12, 2022 THE WEEKEND: Wanting to rusticate in luxurious splendour, we paid a visit to the newly launched accommodation at Leonardslee House. Owner Penny Streeter OBE has brought back a hefty slice of South Africa to rural England and filled the Grade I listed grounds with things to do and art to gawp at for all ages [...]
It’s truly the best of British to dine at Restaurant St. Barts Smithfield November 30, 2022 Stepping into Restaurant St Bart’s is like walking into the most luxurious Shepherd’s hut you could imagine. With an emphasis on stone and wood, the space is so calm I half expected to be ushered to the spa for a massage. We began the meal on cosy, candlelit sheep-skin covered chairs with a wax-sealed menu [...]
Fabulous Christmas cheese and wine to stun dinner party guests November 30, 2022 How to perfect your Christmas cheese and wine servings this year Flavour is fine, but when selecting items for a cheeseboard, the key is to think about weight, texture, and intensity. A creamy bloom cheese such as a brie or camembert, for instance, is perfectly paired with the effervescent bubbles and acidity of a champagne [...]