Breaking Glass – which fizz glasses are best? One rainy Sunday afternoon I tested the suitability of various stemware for fizz in an experiment called Breaking Glass. What works best for bubbly? Admittedly my Breaking Glass test was conducted without much scientific rigour. Different glasses were hand-washed beforehand to ensure there were no lingering traces of detergent, which kills bubbles …
Coffele Castel Cerino Soave Classico
Coffele Castel Cerino Soave Classico DOC, Veneto, Italy. Soave is a famous Italian white wine region. In the heart of the Classico zone, the town of Soave lends it its name. Here, a magnificent walled fortress dominates the landscape. From its swallow-tailed vantage points, you can see far and wide. It seems besieged by rolling limestone and volcanic hills. On …
Mosnel EBB – White Gold for the 180th Birthday
Mosnel EBB – White Gold for the 180th Birthday Recently, Franciacorta winery Mosnel celebrated its 180th Birthday, and I was privileged to be invited to take part. In the course of their celebrations, they had a very special treat. It was an opportunity to taste every release of their vintage Franciacorta called Mosnel EBB, back to the very first vintage of …
Terrys All-Time
Terrys All-Time. Leeds psychoheritage Walking down Woodhouse Lane in Leeds recently, I passed by the Universities, heading toward the city centre. On the left, past the Brutalist Car Park, and where Leeds Beckett Wellness Centre now stands, once stood Terrys All-Time. I sat down, overwhelmed by unbidden memories. Terrys All-Time, (no apostrophe) was a real 24-hour cafe, long demolished and …
English Fizz comes of age
English Fizz comes of age. For English Fizz, this is the year that a step change happened. In years to come, we’ll look back at 2016 as the year everything seemed to go together. Climate change, professional winemaking, maturing vines, grape varieties, site selection, business and investment skills, media recognition, coveted awards and sheer self-confidence mean that English Sparkling Wines …
Friday Night Fizz Night
Friday Night Fizz Night What a week for the UK! Huge divisions have been opened up over Brexit, with politicians of all hues and financial markets in turmoil, while Iceland thrashed England at Euro 2016. So take your pick about what’s gloomy for you. But just because we are living in turbulent times, it doesn’t mean that we can’t still …
How to walk on water
How to walk on water Ever wondered how to walk on water? Well, for a brief time this summer, it is possible. Is this heaven? No, it’s the Bresciano. Lago Iseo is Italy’s hidden gem, a lake mostly known only to Italians. Sandwiched between Bergamo and Brescia in Lombardy, it has long been overshadowed by its larger siblings; Garda, Maggiore, …
Biodynamics in detail, Part 3 of 3
Biodynamics detail, Part 3 of 3 Part 1 of this article gave some context regarding the condition of modern agriculture. Part 2 provided an overview of Biodynamics. Now it’s time to describe Biodynamics in detail. How is Biodynamics practised? Biodynamics originated in eight lectures in June 1924 by the philosopher Rudolf Steiner. These were called The Spiritual Foundations for the …
The Biodynamics overview, Part 2 of 3
The Biodynamics Overview, Part 2 of 3 Part 1 of this article was about context, Koyaanisqatsi, a life out of balance caused by synthetic chemicals. Some of the reaction to this has been the development of “sustainable” agriculture and organic farming. This Part 2 is a Biodynamics overview of how it builds upon organics and how adoption has grown despite controversy. …
Biodynamics. Making saving our planet taste better. Part 1 of 3
Biodynamics. Part 1 of 3: Koyaanisqatsi Recently, I was asked to republish my articles introducing Biodynamics (or BD, for short). Pol Roger published parts of these. Biodynamics is an agricultural philosophy that offers a radically different approach to agriculture. With wine, this means the farming of grapes. I first encountered BD over a decade ago. Then it was regarded as an …