I met Clara a few years back at a tasting and I was just starting out with the blogging stuff. I was probably sat in a corner feeling a bit lonely and she must have took pity on me and come over and said hello. Before I knew it I’d been invited down to a […]
Wine List School 101 with Clara Rubin Read More »
When you wander into a wine shop these days and you’re after a Merlot or a Chardonnay or something like that, you take it for granted that what’s in the bottle is actually what’s on the label. Years of study at research labs, and in the vineyards, have left most growers in no doubt as
I have no idea what I’m growing, and I love it – Field blends Read More »
Few weeks back we had the Wines of Portugal trade tasting here in London. Yours truly got asked very kindly to do a bit of tasting and judging on behalf of the organisers. Myself and fellow UK wine-o’s Helena Nicklin (The Winebird) and David Kermode (Mr Vinosaurus) floated around from table to table and tasted
Wines of Portugal – So Much Better Than “Value For Money” Read More »
When I started doing a blog and I started getting invited to trade tastings I remember being a bit floored by some of the cynicism and jadedness of some of the proper wine journalists. I was coming out of nearly 10 years of office work that didn’t suit me and that on the whole I
Restoring My Faith – Paso Primero, Somontano Read More »
Absolutely no idea what that means? Not a problem. I know it needs a bit of explaining. Long story short for the intro, it’s about how many days off a week you have from booze. Studies suggest that even taking 2 days off a week, consistently, can give your liver a fair crack at recovery.
Can You Work In The Wine Trade On A 5:2? Read More »
Walking away from a well-established family business is tough. Moving away from your family and friends and setting up in a far flung part of the country is tough. Setting up a winery is tough. So why on earth did Stefano “Steve” Lubiana do all three at once? You’d have to be nuts!
Love It When A Plan Comes Together – Stefano Lubiana, Tasmania Read More »
I wrote a blog a bit ago about heading over to the Millesime Bio, a massive Organic wine expo in Montpellier. 3 massive hangers full of producers of organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, and I made it round about less than 1% of them! My previous blog was about the women at Castel D’Age in
A Wolf In Donkey’s Clothing – Staffelter Hof, Mosel Read More »
Finishing off this week’s round up of 2017 with April’s trip out to Bordeaux for the annual En Primeur tasting. Basically you all drive around different Chateau drinking young and unfinished wine and make up a load of guff about how amazing it’ll be in a few years. Honest to god, that’s roughly it. I
Top Wine Memories of 2017 – April Read More »
For March there could only be one winner, an amazing trip out to Napa and Sonoma with the California Wine Industry. Wast Coast US wine’s got a special place in my heart for the rest of my life. Great trip, great people, and great wines! “MARCH: Cakebread Merlot, Napa Valley, 2013 In March I went
Top Wine Memories of 2017 – March Read More »
Onto February in my top wine memories of 2017, and a British belter for you all from Hampshire. Get stuck into UK bubbles everyone!! FEBRUARY: Exton Park Brut NV, Hampshire “February brought a Hampshire Vines tasting at 67 Pall Mall’s downstairs bar, you know, the one they allow the riffraff into. I’m so pleased to
Top Wine Memories of 2017 – February Read More »
