By: Libby Brodie

Wine Consultant - Bacchus & Brodie Recently named in the top 20 of the Top 100 Most Influential People In Drink list by Drinks Retailing, Libby Brodie is the founder of Bacchus & Brodie Wine Consultancy and City AM’s dedicated wine columnist, with her regular “Wine Without The Snobbery” pages. Published in Condé Nast Traveller, The Independent, the i Paper, Cosmopolitan, Club Oenologique, Harpers Wine & Spirit Magazine, The Buyer, Assemblage, Country Life magazine and the Daily Mail, Libby has presented online, on radio, podcasts and TV including teaching England Rugby Legend Joe Marler how to taste wine and as a regular wine expert on Bottom’s Up with Alan Carr and Lee Peart.

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Enjoy Chinese New Year in London with these great bottles of wine

February 16, 2026

Today marks the start of the Year of the Fire Horse and fifteen days of celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Red lanterns are hung and red, money-filled envelopes exchanged over dinners with friends and family. Never shy of a reason to celebrate, London’s hospitality scene is going all out. Restaurants including Hakkasan (a [...]
How to drink sake: A beginner’s guide

February 10, 2026

Have you heard the siren call of sake? This Japanese drink is everywhere and it’s the coolest thing to be quaffing (though you can enjoy it chilled, warm or hot). The problem is that it is quite complicated compared to wine, so I have compiled a brief beginner’s guide to make you a speedy sake [...]
Valentine’s Day: My top recommendations for the perfect date

January 29, 2026

Whether you’re treating your partner to a night on the town, whisking them out of the city for a weekend away or just cosying up together at home, here are my top recommendations for Valentine’s Day. For London lovers The Elizabeth on Ebury St, Belgravia will be serving a special three-course menu (£55pp) with an [...]
Pay now, drink later: A beginner’s guide to En Primeur wine

January 29, 2026

It’s Burgundy En Primeur season in London for the 2024 vintage. En Primeur means buying the wine before it is finished and bottled. You buy before you try. Sounds risky, so why would anyone do it? Well, it gives the buyer early access to the wines, ensuring themselves a few bottles before they hit the [...]
Why The Ivy is a bastion of hope and quality during a bleak month

January 19, 2026

The start of the year is an especially tough time for hospitality as people watch the pounds when it comes to both their wallets and weight. This kind of abstinence is even more of a travesty in London, a city packed with the most incredible restaurants, with a rich history of social eating and drinking. [...]
From Elton John to Kylie: 10 best alcohol free wines for Dry January

January 12, 2026

The best alcohol free wines to try this month Put down that sad glass of tap water. If you are taking a break from alcohol, I have some of the very best options out there, none of which involve pretending you enjoy drinking London’s chalky, limestone-heavy water. Spoil YourselfEven in the driest of months, there [...]
The Traitors winner Alan Carr on his new approach to drinking

January 5, 2026

On Christmas Eve I was on The Celebrity Traitors winner Alan Carr and Lee Peart’s new podcast Bottom’s Up!, a hilarious series all about friendship and wine, which, as you are reading this ‘Wine Without the Snobbery’ column, may be right up your decanter. Carr clearly has celebrations in mind. “As I approach a milestone [...]
Who made the naughty list in the wine world in 2025?

December 23, 2025

This was another fascinating year in the world of wine, with some great initiatives and events celebrating the people who make this vital and brilliant industry tick. But there were also some things on my naughty list… read on to find out who made the cut. Nice List – Aldi Aldi’s wine department is fantastic, [...]
The Old Course Hotel is bringing a modern twist to a classic

December 8, 2025

St Andrews is known for three things: being the third oldest university in the English-speaking world; sparking the love affair between Prince William and Kate; and being the home of golf. If you’re thinking of checking it out, the famous The Old Course Hotel has teamed up with some impressive experts to create a variety [...]
Where to drink wine in London with a touch of old-fashioned glamour

December 8, 2025

It is a pattern we see repeatedly. At times of austerity and economic hardship: people crave luxury, colour and escapism. During the Great Depression we saw the rise of jazz, dancehalls and art deco glamour, while the World War II ushered in an era of escapist, technicolour movies filled with flights of fancy. Now in the [...]

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By: Libby Brodie

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