Libby in Paris: How to drink wine like the French August 2, 2025 There’s something so effortlessly chic about Parisians. The French way of life is tightly woven with centuries of excellent wine-making, and they seem to drink it beautifully. I popped over for Bastille Day to see if I could learn to sip with similar sophistication. It began as soon as I arrived. I had booked a [...]
Wine therapy, known as ‘vinotherapy’, is summer’s wellness hack July 21, 2025 I’M TIRED of the endless articles moaning about how unutterably terrible wine is. Four of the world’s ‘Blue Zones’ territories, where the population live the longest and healthiest lives, are areas in which a glass or two of wine are a part of daily life. Of course, one should listen to one’s body, so if [...]
The best places to drink Portuguese wine in London right now July 15, 2025 Portuguese wine has flown relatively under the radar when compared to its neighbours France, Italy and Spain. “I’m bewildered when I visit a restaurant and there’s nothing from Portugal,” says Max Graham, founder of Bar Douro. “It offers such diversity – from mountains to the Atlantic coast and volcanic islands, there are over 250 native [...]
Forget Dry January – now it’s time for Dry July July 7, 2025 Not content with one month of sobriety in the form of Dry January, I have been made aware Dry July is now a thing too. At least this time of year makes a little more sense to me. January is a bitter, joyless month where the comforts of a glass of good red wine by [...]
The Wimbledon wine challenge: Top desserts to pair with wine July 1, 2025 Few British Summer events can compete with the glamour and sophistication of Wimbledon. Whether jostling for tickets to the courts or watching on a big screen, families from around the country will soon be agog to see if Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu can give us something to celebrate. I decided to visit three esteemed [...]
Jonathan Yeo on King Charles and collages made from porn June 26, 2025 Jonathan Yeo has painted them all, from super models to Presidents and our very own King. When he unveiled his vast portrait of Charles III last year, the monarch appeared, for a second, to recoil at the sight of the bright red canvas. The moment became a meme and the portrait was fervently discussed and [...]
Best vineyards to visit this English Wine Week June 17, 2025 England is bursting at the seams with bucolically beautiful places to visit. With over 1,000 vineyards up and down the country it would be such a waste not to spend at least a few weekends wandering through them and trying exciting wines – especially with English Wine Week upon us! Last weekend I drove an [...]
Terra at Eataly is an Italian wine lover’s dream June 13, 2025 We are celebrating the best of the Square Mile this October with The Toast Awards! Voting is open now so make your voice heard by submitting your favourite City of London spots on the website. In the run up, we’re honouring some of our favourite City hotspots For the Italian wine lover there is no [...]
Fathers Day gifts for wine loving dads June 9, 2025 In general, I am against the gendering of beverages. These days it seems a little embarrassing to pigeon-hole prosecco for hen dos and cognac for city boys. Jon Bon Jovi has a rosé, Hampton Water and the World Whiskies Awards 2025 honoured Stephanie Macleod as Master Blender of the Year. Let us be clear: everyone [...]
Why Greek wine is having its moment in the sun June 3, 2025 Mayfair’s flamboyant restaurant Bacchanalia is taking part in the Coravin World Wine Tour 2025, with an exclusive wine list of rare and iconic bottles never usually available by the glass. Here, over a copper dish of silky truffle tagliatelle, I was reminded just how brilliant Greece’s Xinomavro (pronounced Zee-no-mav-ro) can be. I sipped at a [...]