A grand stay at the Wensleydale Heifer

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Hotels, Restaurants & Pubs

The Wensleydale Heifer

A grand stay at the Wensleydale Heifer The Wensleydale Heifer is a restaurant with rooms in the Yorkshire Dales. It’s a transformed seventeenth-century inn at West Witton, four miles from Leyburn. From the outside, it looks rather like any typical traditional Dales pub. However, the inside is quite a different matter. The only clue to this before you enter is …

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The magic of Caiarossa wines

Paul Howard Articles, Biodynamic, Blog, Italy

Caiarossa head

The magic of Caiarossa wines Background Profile Caiarossa sits alone amidst unspoilt rolling hills in the Val di Cecina near the Tuscan coast. It’s a few miles north of the now-famous Bolgheri wine region. The blank canvas that was Tuscany’s coastal strip underwent a transformation a few decades ago. A slew of wineries and vineyards now occupy this previously virgin land, …

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The Green Fields of France, for Remembrance Day

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, NWR (Non-Wine Related), Travel

Green Fields of France

The Green Fields of France, for Remembrance Day Getting to Champagne from Britain is easy, and it’s quick once you get as far as Eurotunnel. Hence it’s become a regular pastime over the years. The excitement of exploring some of the world’s grandest wines is literally on the doorstep. But northern France and Belgium are also where millions died in …

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Majolini’s Ruc di Gnoc, Curtefranca Rosso

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Italy

Majolini, Ruc di Gnoc

Majolini’s Ruc di Gnoc, Curtefranca Rosso I visit Franciacorta as often as I can. It’s a lovely part of Lombardy that makes Italy’s finest sparkling wine. However, I also enjoy the still red and white wines made there, called Curtefranca. Majolini’s Ruc Di Gnoc Rosso is one of the very best examples. Making red and white table wines here have …

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Ten random wine trivia that titillate

Paul Howard Articles, Blog

ten trivia to titillate

Ten random wine trivia that titillate Here are ten examples of wine trivia, fun facts about wine worth sharing, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. First five 1. A Cork Oak tree needs to grow for 25 years before the first harvest. After that, harvests are every ten years. it means each tree can be harvested about ten times during …

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Visiting Villa Monteleone in Valpolicella

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Italy

Villa Monteleone Valpolicella

Visiting Villa Monteleone in Valpolicella I visited Villa Monteleone on a hot spring day infused with the smell of Jasmine. We sat in the shade of an ancient Cherry tree tasting the wines with owner Lucia Duran Raimondi. Magic was in the air. Villa Monteleone is in the most western part of the Valpolicella Classico zone in northern Italy, found …

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The wines of Querciabella, redux

Paul Howard Articles, Biodynamic, Blog, Italy

Querciabella redux

The wines of Querciabella, redux My admiration of Querciabella increases with each new vintage. I have shown their wines at many events; they are my benchmark of Tuscan excellence. Time then, for an overview. Querciabella redux is a summary of my many and various scribbles about Querciabella during the past few years. In the centre of the prosperous Tuscan hills, between …

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Eat Amatriciana for Amatrice

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Food, Italy, Recipes, Travel

Amatriciana for Amatrice

Eat Amatriciana for Amatrice By now, many of us will have seen the devastation caused by the earthquake in Central Italy this week. The epicentre was close to the town of Amatrice. It’s famous for the Amatriciana pasta sauce central to Roman cuisine. To add insult to injury, Amatrice was preparing for its 50th annual festival celebrating their traditional dish this …

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Rescue Mission. Palari Faro, a Sicilian Icon

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Italy

Palari Faro

Rescue Mission. Palari Faro, DOC Faro, Sicily. 2009. 13.5% This fabulous wine comes from north-east coastal Sicily, on steep volcanic slopes between the towns of Messina and Taormina. It is called Faro after the lighthouse that guards the entrance to Messina’s harbour. Beyond are the narrow, dangerous straights of Messina separating Sicily from mainland Italy. Faro is a shining light …

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