Experience Sicilia DOC – The Heart of Sicilian Wine My love affair with Sicily started right from my first visit, fifteen years ago. The largest island in the Mediterranean, there’s so much to see and do. To the southeast, the Notto Valley, Catania, and Syracuse, with their stunning architecture and archaeological heritage; in central Sicily, […]
Pairing White Wines with Asparagus
When it comes to pairing wines with early summer specialities like asparagus, though, it turns out there’s more to consider than just selecting a dry white.
An Introduction to the Wines of Sicily
We first came across the Mayfair restaurant Silva when it launched in November 2024. We picked the Mediterranean restaurant for our new opening of the month and thoroughly enjoyed the experience there. So, the opportunity to go back for a wine tasting and dinner to celebrate the wines of Sicily was both appropriate and one not to miss.
Fresh and Vibrant Wines for Spring
With the glorious stretch of weather we have been having in the UK, it feels as if it is time to discard the heavy red and full-bodied white wines that have sustained us through the cold winter months for something fresher with a bit of a zing
Beyond Dry January – a No/Low Roundup
When I first tried out an alcohol-free lifestyle over a decade ago, what I missed most was champagne for celebrations, G&T in summer and a glass of red wine with dinner. There were few substitutes back then and the best alternative to gin was a drink that tasted like peas. The summers were not great as far as beverages went. I drank a lot of tonic water.
Friendsmas – A fabulous alternative Christmas Lunch
Unless you happen to be American and celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas does seem a long way off from the last BBQ of summer. Not surprisingly, Friendsmas is growing in popularity – a way to celebrate with friends rather than family perhaps in a more relaxed way, with or without presents
Wine tasting at the Villa Maria Marlborough Estate in New Zealand
Visiting the renowned Villa Maria Marlborough Estate Winery Cellar Door while exploring New Zealand’s South Island on a self-drive tour,
Hugo Cocktail – a Spritz with a Soul
A low(er)-alcohol Hugo Cocktail that punches high The Hugo, a classic aperitif that originated in South Tyrol as recently as 2005, was originally made with prosecco, elderflower or lemon balm syrup and mint. For my taste it’s just a little sweet – and the classic way to add complexity and a little bitterness is to […]
Anything but Chardonnay
Pairing French Chardonnay A few years ago, after the British market was flooded with New World chardonnay, the phrase ‘Anything but Chardonnay’ appeared. For most people, ‘Chardonnay’ was a heavily oaked, buttery wine, often from California, rich enough to drink with red meat. Sommeliers used to joke about customers who stated that they hated Chardonnay […]
Picpoul de Pinet and the Ormarine Effect
A marine terroir and the freshest of wines. When you try a wine for the first time, do you visualise its origin? Best of all, of course, is visiting the region and seeing for yourself what makes the wine so special. And, of all the places I’ve travelled to, Étang du Thau in the Languedoc […]