Libby’s Naked Diary December 4, 2024 Scrooges stay away, Grinches get ye gone! I had heard that nowhere does Christmas time like Buckinghamshire’s Cliveden House, but this surpassed expectation. As a parent, Christmas can be all about the children, but stepping through the entrance’s stone pillars, wrapped in wreaths and fairy lights, to the hall’s enormous glittering tree, I felt that [...]
My Top Christmas Wines December 3, 2024 As much as I love the tradition of turkey and think pigs-in-blankets are delicious, unsurprisingly the wine is the star attraction at my house, and I put a whole lot of thought and care into what I serve my guests. Nothing kicks off a celebration better than a glass of something sparkling and I will [...]
The Naked Truth November 27, 2024 Marica Bonomo followed in the family footsteps to create sensational wines in the romantic Italian hills surrounding Lake Garda. Naked’s Angels named her Winemaker of the Year 2023 and her wines feature in the Spectators ‘Top 100 Wines in the World’ How did you get Naked? Joining this lovely new family has been a huge [...]
Supporting the Underdog this Christmas November 26, 2024 If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any f****** merlot!”. It was the line, uttered by Paul Giamatti in the film ‘Sideways’, that triggered a two per cent drop in Merlot sales in the USA and relegated the grape to underdog status for years to come. It is still trying to claw [...]
Libby takes a Bottle to Pilates November 20, 2024 You know, you could really benefit from regular Pilates Libby,” purrs my glamorous instructor as she guides my shaking leg to a previously unattainable angle. Probably true, as right now my hip flexes are screaming at me about my days spent sitting at a laptop. I have been persuaded to try my first Reformer Pilates [...]
High Low Pairings: Fried Chicken November 19, 2024 It was the revered Château d’Yquem that first introduced me to the beauty of the high-low pairing when they served their premier sweet wine with KFC-style fried chicken. It was the taste sensation I never knew I needed, and I set out to discover what other fine wines would enhance the humble (but rightfully beloved) [...]
The Naked Truth November 13, 2024 Charles and Ruth Simpson, co-founders of Simpsons’ Wine Estate and Domaine Sainte Rose, tell Libby Brodie about their journey with Naked Wines How did you get Naked? We started working with Naked Wines in 2012 and they were with us from the outset, helping us through our first vintage in 2016. An amazing 1,200 Angels pre-purchased a case [...]
Move over Malbec: Why There’s more to Argentina November 12, 2024 Argentina is famed for its wine; in fact, wine is legally recognised as the country’s national beverage. Historically its famed Malbec has had ‘Main Character Energy’ but, on a recent trip to the wine region of Mendoza (pronounced ‘Mendosa’ with an ‘s’), there were some other finds that struck me with their star quality. Eduardo [...]
Rowing – Outdoorsy vs Outsidey November 6, 2024 I have recently been made aware of the important difference between being “Outdoorsy” and being “Outsidey”. The main distinguishing factor here appears to be that the former requires some type of skill or capacity for endurance. It is the difference between enjoying a long countryside walk to a good pub for lunch and signing up [...]
Bonfire Night Wines November 5, 2024 During the time of Guy Fawkes, the historical figure for whom today’s Bonfire Night was created, drinking water was often riddled with dirt and germs meaning fermented or brewed alcoholic beverages were deemed safer to drink. Ale and beer, both lower in alcohol than modern day versions, were the staple of most adults and children [...]