Elderflower Cordial – making the perfect summer drink Right now, I can’t think of a more quintessentially British summer drink than Elderflower cordial. The Elder (Sambucus nigra) is in full bloom in summer, so why not do a bit of easy foraging and make Elderflower cordial yourself? It’s swift and easy*. The result is brilliant refreshment when you don’t want …
English Wine Week 2022. A fistful of sparklers.
English Wine Week 2022. A fistful of sparklers. English Wine Week 2022 runs from Saturday 18 to Sunday 26 June this year. I’ll support the fun by drinking and promoting excellent English* wines. About English Wine Week 2022 To paraphrase WineGB, they said “English Wine Week is our national campaign to raise awareness of English wine and its wide availability …
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Summer Bubbles 2022 Collection. Rain or Shine.
Summer Bubbles 2022 Collection. Rain or Shine. It’s June. Feeling outdoorsy? Here’s my Summer Bubbles 2022 collection without any preamble: five sparklers to enjoy during the British summer. There’s something here for everyone, come rain or shine. So don’t forget your pacamac. Summer bubbles one. Valdo, Edizione Oro Puro, Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry NV, DOCG Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy. 11.5% …
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Macarons and Recioto – Wine & Cake #2
Macarons and Recioto – Wine & Cake #2 Welcome to the second article in an occasional series about pairing wine with cake. This time it’s Macarons with Recioto della Valpolicella, the classic sweet red wine from Italy’s Veneto region. Macarons Who invented Macarons? There are rival claims aplenty. While proto-versions have Arabic origins, France and Italy both claim it as theirs. One …
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Ribolla Gialla and a Dachshund – what’s the link?
Ribolla Gialla and a Dachshund – what’s the link? What links the Ribolla Gialla grape variety with a Dachsund? The answer is the Eugenio Collavini winery in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy. But as for why – you’ll need to read to the end to find out. Friuli Venezia Giulia Friuli Venezia Giulia lies in the northeast corner of …
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The Mimesi Project by Tenuta di Ghizzano
The Mimesi Project by Tenuta di Ghizzano Tenuta di Ghizzano has been featured on these pages before, with two superb classically-styled red wine blends called Nambrot and Veneroso. Their new wine project is called Mimesi, where current owner Ginevra Venerosi Pesciolini employs ancient natural wine practices in a modern context. As Confucius once said, “study the past if you want to …
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Finca Altamira: World Malbec Day and Easter Sunday
Finca Altamira: World Malbec Day and Easter Sunday The Argento winery makes a single-vineyard premium Malbec called Finca Altamira, which is also one of the best value red wines you’ll currently find. Meanwhile, when compiling the list of International Drinks Days, I saw that the annual World Malbec Day is on the 17th of April. And that got me thinking about an …
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International Drinks Days – a Calendar in progress
International Drinks Days – a Calendar in progress Have you noticed the increasing number of International Drinks Days? These annual days are dedicated to a grape variety, or a cocktail, spirit, or beer. How did the idea of International Drinks Days arise? Apart from clogging up your calendar or Twitter feed, do they have any value? Do you look forward …
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Casisano 2016 – a mighty fine Brunello di Montalcino
Casisano 2016 – a mighty fine Brunello di Montalcino Brunello is one of Italy’s most prestigious wines and aspires to be the ultimate expression of Sangiovese. This DOCG, centred on the hill town of Montalcino, hosts considerable natural variation; in elevation, soil and aspects. Brunello’s stylistic hallmark is based upon long-maturation and subsequent longevity. In recent times, some producers have made …
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Schloss Reinhartshausen – Dry German Riesling
Schloss Reinhartshausen – Dry German Riesling Schloss Reinhartshausen is at Eltville, on the north bank of the river Rhine, where the Riesling grape grows in steep stony vineyards with perfect southern exposure. Welcome to the Rheingau region of central Germany, a small area that has punched above its weight for centuries. It (together with the Mosel) has grown Riesling the longest, as records …
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