Christmas 2021 – a dozen delights Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to you all! Thanks for reading, supporting and encouraging me during this incredibly challenging year. Here’s my present to you all – the pick of the wines for Christmas 2021, together with a Christmas Card. This year there are a dozen delights. All come highly recommended for …
Spanish Reds – six great examples
Spanish Reds – six great examples The Wines From Spain 2021 virtual event had no shortage of red wines. So following on from the previous article on Spanish whites is a companion piece in the same format about six great Spanish dry reds. As with the whites, there are no sweet, fortified or sparkling wines included. In addition, such is the …
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Spanish Whites – six great examples
Spanish Whites – six great examples Spain’s enormous wealth of native grape varieties, terroirs, and winegrowers means that it’s one of the most exciting countries for wine diversity, interest and value. This article covers six dry white wines chosen from the hundreds available at the annual Wines From Spain 2021 event. Furthermore, Spanish whites have emerged from the shadow of …
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Christmas 2020 – A Dozen Festive Wines!
Christmas 2020 – A Dozen Festive Wines! Happy Christmas to you all! Here’s the pick of the wines for Christmas 2020, together with a Christmas Card. This year there are a delightful Baker’s dozen wines recommended for the festive season, all with UK availability. Also, they are sustainable, taste great, and match festive fare. And of course, there’s something here …
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The Sherry Dog – Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz
The Sherry Dog – Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz Dogs are often said to be Man’s Best Friend. Well, I’m a Cat-person myself, but there’s no doubting the connection between people and dogs and their undoubted usefulness over millennia. Whether as companions, guards, guide dogs, drug sniffers, mountain rescuers, hunt assistants, truffle finders, racers or rounder-uppers, there’s a breed for that. We’re …
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International Sherry Week, 2-8 November 2020
International Sherry Week, 2-8 November 2020 International Sherry Week takes place between 2-8 November 2020. Time once again to 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. …
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Pasión de Bobal Rosado – Last of the Summer Wine
Pasión de Bobal Rosado – Last of the Summer Wine In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the late August Bank Holiday is on the last Monday of the month. It represents the last gasp of the Summer holidays.* After this comes the Great Return, whether to work, to college or school. Who hasn’t had cause to dread that dreary prospect? And after …
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Txakoli: The Drunkard, Zarauz, by Joaquín Sorolla
Txakoli: The Drunkard, Zarauz, by Joaquín Sorolla Most of the time, it’s the wine itself that inspires the desire for writing about it. However, at other times inspiration comes courtesy of an entirely different subject. This time is one such, where Art has inspired the desire to write about a less well-known and unique Spanish white wine called Txakoli. The Drunkard, …
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Pedro Ximénez: Discover the Joy of PX
Pedro Ximénez: Discover the Joy of PX Pedro Ximénez (PX) is both a Spanish white grape variety and a particular style of super-sweet dessert wine. PX (the grape) is grown in many Spanish regions and occasionally elsewhere. However, the most outstanding examples of PX (the wine) are arguably from the inland Andalusian wine region of Montilla-Moriles DO. It’s some 45 …
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At Jerez, by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy
At Jerez, by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy Dame Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish poet and playwright. She became the 20th official Poet Laureate in May 2009 until her ten-year fixed-term ended in May 2019. During this time she excelled as a great ambassador for poetry and wrote the poem called At Jerez. As is traditional, part-payment for the …
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