Greatest Hits – A Case for Christmas 2024

Paul Howard Articles, Biodynamic, Blog, England and Wales, Italy, Lebanon, Organic, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Sustainability

Greatest Hits - Happy Christmas 2024

Greatest Hits – A Case for Christmas 2024 This year, I’m ringing the changes for the Case for Christmas 2024 article. This time, it’s a Greatest Hits package. This features a dozen wines selected from all my previous annual Christmas wine recommendations. They are twelve wines that stand the test of time and fully deserve highlighting again. Such a listicle …

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International Sherry Week, 4-10 November 2024

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Spain

Bar Pepito

International Sherry Week, 4-10 November 2024 Once again, International Sherry Week occurs between 4-10 November 2024. Let’s celebrate Spain’s great gift to the world! There are the floral delights of a chilled Manzanilla or Fino. Or try the nutty notes of an Amontillado and Oloroso. Add the umami flavours of Palo Cortado or the sweet caramel of PX. There’s a …

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Mi Lugar Rioja from Bodega Queirón is WOTY 2023

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Organic, Spain, Sustainability

Queirón Mi Lugar Rioja DOCa

Mi Lugar Rioja from Bodega Queirón is WOTY 2023 The Wine of the Year (WOTY) 2023 award from Wine Alchemy goes to Bodega Queirón in Spain for their extra-special red wine, Mi Lugar Rioja DOCa, 2018. As is usual, the Wine Alchemy WOTY must be inspirational. Exceptional taste is a given. But, in addition, the winning wine must be genuinely …

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Yuletide drinking – a dozen wines for Christmas 2023

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, France, Greece, Italy, Organic, Portugal, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Sustainability

Yuletide Card 2023

Yuletide drinking – a dozen wines for Christmas 2023 I hope you like my Yuletide card to you all! Like last year, I remain mindful that living costs stay off the scale. However, unlike the previous year, there’s no overall price cap, but each category includes a “budget” wine. No compromises have been made regarding excellence and value in recommending …

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Discovering Dry Sherry, Part 2. May the Flor be with you

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Spain

Discovering Dry Sherry Part 2

Dry Sherry, Parte Dos. May the Flor be With You. Manzanilla, Manzanilla Pasada, Amontillado and Palo Cortado In Parte Uno of discovering dry Sherry, we met Fino and Oloroso. These are entirely different from each other yet they originate from the same base wine. The essential difference between them is that their creation is either by ageing biologically with flor (Fino) or …

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Discovering Dry Sherry, Part 1: Fino and Oloroso

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Spain

Discovering Dry Sherry

Discovering Dry Sherry Parte Uno: Fino and Oloroso Britain has enjoyed Sherry since the 14th century and was primarily responsible for its subsequent worldwide popularity through merchant trading. It comes in all sorts of dry (and sweet) versions. This first piece focuses on Discovering Dry Sherry, the Vinos Generosos, Spain’s great gift to the world. Part 1 of this article …

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A Subtle Dislocation of the Norm? Three wines

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sustainability

A subtle dislocation of the norm

A Subtle Dislocation of the Norm? Three wines Below are three wines, two whites and a red. Each one shows individuality, a great beverage in its unique way, combining people, place, and culture. However, there is also something even rarer about them, as they are unconventional creations. They offer a subtle dislocation of the norm.   Tetramythos, Retsina Amphorae, Traditional Designation, …

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The Cost of Living Crisis Case, Festive Season 2022

Paul Howard Articles, Biodynamic, Blog, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Organic, Spain, Sparkling Wine, Sustainability

Cost of Living

The Cost of Living Crisis Case, Festive Season 2022 I hope you like my Christmas card! Everyone knows we’re in a cost-of-living crisis, so this situation has affected my wine recommendations for the festive season. We all want to celebrate and enjoy ourselves, but in a cost-conscious way. What is a wine-lover to do? A real price cap Hence, for …

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Rioja Wine Month returns throughout October 2022

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Spain, Wine Tasting

Rioja Wine Month ©Rioja DOCa, used with permission

Rioja Wine Month returns throughout October 2022 Rioja Wine Month comes to the U.K. throughout October 2022. It’s a month-long celebration of Rioja, Spain’s most famous wine region. Meanwhile, this article represents my small contribution to Rioja Wine Month. It contains ten recommendations, first tried at the annual Wines of Spain tasting held earlier this year and then subsequently followed up. …

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Límite Norte – a stunning white Rioja from Ramōn Bilbao

Paul Howard Articles, Biodynamic, Blog, Spain, Sustainability

Límite Norte

Límite Norte – a stunning white Rioja from Ramōn Bilbao Finding a wine that leaves you transfixed is a rare event, even more so when it’s unexpected. Then, momentarily, you feel like you’ve found the grail. And so it was with Límite Norte, a Rioja Blanco from the Ramōn Bilbao winery in Haro. It’s worth stressing that I knew nothing …

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