Celebrating the Wine Harvest in France at the Balcon: There are ideas which just seem so intuitively good as to be unquestionable. In my humble opinion, a menu to celebrate the wine harvest at the Balcon at Sofitel London St James is a great example. Without lapsing into ‘traditional French Brasserie’ territory, the Balcon always seems […]
Champagne Revisited – an Introduction to the Champagne Region in France
Exploring the Vineyards and Wineries of Champagne – Wine Tourism in France: Remember gentlemen, it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne! Winston Churchill Introduction to Champagne and the Champagne Region The British love for all things bubbly is undisputed. We are still the largest export market for Champagne by volume (although we are […]
Barge Holiday and River Cruise – Burgundy, France with Great Rail Journeys
Diary of a French Barge Holiday: Looking for a relaxing way to explore the waterways of France? A barge holiday is the perfect slow-travel solution. Unlike larger river cruises, a typical Great Rail Journeys barge cruise will have no more than 20 passengers, offering you an intimate and personal experience at a comfortable pace. Join me […]
Finest French Fizz – Crémant de Loire
Crémant de Loire – Créme de la Créme of Fizz: I’m a big fan of Crémant de Loire. Love at first sip, it was the first sparkling wine I ever tasted, on a camping holiday in the Loire Valley when I was about ten. I’ve always found that a good Crémant has plenty of benefits, not only […]
The Loire Valley comes to the heart of London
Loire Valley Rosé Wine Barbecue Pairings: This summer has been unbelievably wonderfully warm, and London has been revelling in the heat with everyone trying to find places to eat and drink outside. We were able to combine these pleasures at a rosé wine barbecue dinner at Jimmy’s BBQ Club on the Southbank hosted by Loire Valley wines. […]
Burgundy Masterclass at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust
Wine Classes at WSET – the Expert’s Choice I’ve always been slightly in awe of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET global). It’s the largest global provider of wine and spirits qualifications offering beginner to expert courses in wine, spirits and sake through Approved Programme Providers across the world for enthusiasts and professionals. All […]
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 hidden […]
Discovering Burgundy with Honest Grapes
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 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 […]