For Albarino in the City, head to Humble Grape Toast the City Not satisfied with one isolated national grape day, Albarino (or Alvarinho in Portugal) is about to kick off a week’s worth of celebrations from 1 August. This annual event began in the 1950s in Spain as a wine-tasting competition between local winemakers and was later made official, spreading internationally to highlight what makes this grape [...]
Greek wine perfectly suits summer. These 5 bottles are the best Life&Style Get me to the Greek! My top bottles from a country that’s been a 6,000-year wine secret. Greek wine has been a local hit since around 4,500BC but it hasn’t always been a mainstay on UK wine lists. Thankfully that seems to have changed, with fresh, saline Assyrtiko and robust red Xinomavro being so de [...]
Why lighter, chilled Claret is causing a stir Life&Style Bet on Claret – but the Brit fave is changing Wine has a habit of making things more complicated than they need to be. The terminology, the labelling, the annoying communicators warbling on about “mouthfeel” and describing perfectly enjoyable bottles as tasting of “tar”, “tennis balls” and that Sauvignon Blanc classic “cat’s pee”. (Sorry about [...]
Humble Grape is up for two Toast the City Awards: Here’s why July 14, 2026 We have launched the Toast the City awards 2026 and throughout the year we’ll be speaking to some of our amazing Finalists – today it’s Enya Buchenau, marketing manager at Humble Grape and Vivat Bacchus. To vote for your favourite Square Mile spots for the 2026 awards, from bars and restaurants to galleries and green [...]
Why chilled red wine is the coolest thing to drink right now July 13, 2026 Rosé is a safe summer bet, but the coolest thing to be drinking right now, in more ways than one, is a chilled red. There was an inkling that this was going to be a thing last summer, but now that chilly glass of rouge has its feet well and truly under the table. I [...]
Inside the trippy French vineyard owned by ousted Claridge’s billionaire July 3, 2026 Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst have designed pieces for Chateau La Coste, France’s totally surreal vineyard, the vision of the billionaire who formerly owned Claridge’s. Adam Bloodworth on the trippiest Provençal escape Resting on the side of a dirt road at Chateau La Coste, a vineyard and country estate half an hour outside of Marseille, [...]
Thirsty work! Here are 6 great ways to invest in wine June 30, 2026 So, you enjoy wine and are curious about getting more involved but don’t own a vineyard? Not a problem. There are plenty of ways to experience viticulture aside from just drinking it. Invest English wine producer Folc have opened to public investment on Republic Europe. Launched in 2019, the vineyard has secured a host of [...]
The best wine to take to a picnic in the sun June 25, 2026 Picnic season is on a roll and no matter what picky bits you are currently into, there is a drop of the good stuff to make it taste even better. Scotch Eggs x English Sparkling Wine Fortnum & Mason first invented the modern “scotch egg” in 1738 as a convenient meal for coach travellers from [...]
The best bottles to buy this English Wine Week June 19, 2026 English Wine Week is almost upon us (20-28 June) and we have more to celebrate than ever before, with our producers seeing massive wins across global competitions. A magnum of Sugrue South Down’s ‘The Trouble with Dreams’ 2009 (Hedonism, £195) became the first English sparkling in large format to receive Best in Show at the [...]
Vino by the waves: The best British seaside hotels for wine June 10, 2026 English summertime means visits to the seaside, ideally with a glass of wine in hand. Having toured the coast recently here are some of the best places to drink with a view of the waves. The Terrace Rooms & Wine – Ventnor, Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight has a new destination for wine [...]