Learning about the Wines of Burgundy – Honest Grapes: A while ago I was invited along to a sherry tasting event by the Honest Grapes team. Not only did I come away with a bottle of rather good sherry but I also invested in a monthly subscription to the Honest Grapes Premier Crew – so […]
Chablis – The new black?
More Chabbers dahling? Referred to as ‘the little black dress of Chardonnay’ by the president of the Chablis Commission of the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne, Jean Francois Bordet, Chablis has been “paired” with British fashion designers to highlight the fashionable status of the region’s wines. For someone like myself who loves both fashion […]
A River of Wine from the Loire Valley #LoireMoments
Loire Moments in London: London Wine week kicked off with a hedonistic bang; with Loire Valley wines flowing freely in the 5 Star London Edition Hotel. I was invited by the charming host, wine writer for the Evening Standard Douglas Blyde and wine educator Lindsay Oram, for a gastronomic event with six Loire wines matched […]
A trip to the Bourgogne Secret South (and then Gatwick!)
Wine tasting on a Monday night; what could possibly go wrong? I’ve long been a fan of a Cremant de Bourgogne as an alternative to Champagne, but haven’t really had the opportunity to explore wines under the AOC Macon appellation. Bourgogne has five wine producing regions, but it was the latter that we were to […]
#FantasticBourgogne Wines – A Seasonal Quiz
Seasonal Wines – Fantastic Bourgogne and Christmas Entertainment: When Sopexa and the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) asked me to take part in a little wine pairing just before Christmas I was, needless to say, very enthusiastic. I love wines from Bourgogne – Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, the Mâconnais and more. So, of course, I agreed without reading […]
Classic Coq Au Vin Recipe
Coq Au Vin – A Classic Recipe from my Childhood: Now I’m well past my forties, I’ve become a firm believer that fifty is the new twenty. Despite that, I increasingly find myself spotting things that were significantly different when I was growing up. There are certain foods which really seem to have changed in terms […]
#PureChablis – not Chardonnay.
Chablis Tasting and Supper at Andaz Studio: Suppers involving wine tasting have a recurring end result for me. My notes at the start of the evening are comprehensive and precise. By the time the cheese is served I’m in free-fall and anything after that is gone with the wind…an abstract scrawl in my notebook that […]
A Foraged Feast at Hotel Benvengudo.
Building Tradition with Terroir – Hotel Benvengudo: One of the highlights of my last visit to Provence was a trip to Brantes to go foraging with Les Aventurières du Goût . So, I am well aware of the wealth of edible plants and flowers growing in the region. Hotel Benvengudo, though, is a fabulous four-star hotel […]
Perrier-Jouët – A Love Story
A visit to the Perrier-Jouët Cellars in Epernay: If Mumm is the champagne for sporting heroes, the other champagne house in the Pernod Ricard portfolio, Perrier-Jouët is the beautiful, romantic heroine waiting for her prince. Perrier-Jouët has a long standing association with the Arts and throughout our visit we were constantly surprised by the works of art […]
Making Côtes du Rhône – Blending at Château Maucoil, Southern Rhône
What’s in the Blend? hands on wine blending at Château Maucoil in the Southern Rhône: Sometimes trips to vineyards and wineries get a little overwhelming. Every appellation in France has its its own set of rules (and a vineyard and winery can cover more than one appellation). Every winemaker has their own method. And, then there’s […]