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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Wine and Cake – the first of an occasional theme

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Food, Italy, Recipes, Sparkling Wine

Wine and Cake assortment

Wine and cake – the first of an occasional theme Let’s try some word association. If I say the word wine, do you reply with cake? No, I thought not. Pairing wine and cake together only occurred to me on a miserable winter afternoon. Given the current spate of storms battering these shores (Storm Xena Warrior Princess* will be along …

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Lincolnshire is a wine-producing county too

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, England and Wales, Travel

Lincolnshire - Medieval Bishop's Palace Vineyard - © Stuart Frost, used with permission

Lincolnshire is a wine-producing county too. As many will know, English and Welsh wine has become a fantastic success, and our isles can now boast 178 wineries and 800 vineyards. Meanwhile, Lincolnshire, England’s second-largest county, is devoted to farming and fishing. As a result, it produces over 20% of Britain’s food and has an enviable food culture to match. But do …

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The Wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene (Pt.2)

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Italy, Organic, Sparkling Wine, Sustainability

The Wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene

The Wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene (Pt.2) This Part 2 features the Wines of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Part 1 of this article told the story of this DOCG and why the Prosecco from here is Superiore. Now it’s time to see if the wines to live up to that billing. Winemaking The DOCG regulations allow the sparkling Superiore to …

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Christmas 2020 – A Dozen Festive Wines!

Paul Howard Argentina, Articles, Blog, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain

Happy Christmas 2020

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, a delightful Baker’s dozen wines are 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 for …

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WOTY 2019: Llopart Original 1887

Paul Howard Articles, Blog, Organic, Spain, Sparkling Wine

WOTY 2019: Llopart Original 1887 Brut Nature Gran Reserva

WOTY 2019: Llopart Original 1887 January 1st 2020: it’s time for my Wine of the Year 2019. Of course, there were outstanding candidates this year – each of which gave great pleasure. However, the moment I tasted this Espumosos (sparkling wine) at Llopart in Catalonia, I was convinced it would be WOTY 2019. However, a visit to Llopart with its warmth …

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Gvino: the wines of Georgia, Part Two

Paul Howard Articles, Biodynamic, Blog, Georgia, Organic

Georgia Kakheti Gvino

Gvino – The Wines of Georgia, Part Two Following on from Part 1, about the wines of Georgia, Gvino is the word for wine in Georgian. This Part 2 has a baker’s dozen, selected from those available in the UK. I’ve grouped these firstly into those Gvino made “conventionally” and then those made in traditional Qvevri. There’s something here for …

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