International Shiraz Day is celebrated around the world each year, a delightful occasion dedicated to honouring Shiraz wine. But what’s the difference between Shiraz and Syrah? Well Shiraz refers to the New World expression, which is often intense, richer, fuller in body and alcohol and with riper aromas. Syrah on the other...
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of catching up again with Gordon Clunie at Paramount Wines in St Albans and hearing how his business is going from strength to strength. As well as delivering to his local customers in and around St Albans, he’s also the man keeping the...
Cava isn’t just about bubbles; it embodies tradition, excellence, and unique authenticity, tantalising the senses with flavours of the Mediterranean. Cava has established a global reputation for making some of the best value sparkling wines produced by the traditional method. But it’s important to note the quality to be found across...
I recently joined François Matton, CEO of Minuty wines for a tutored tasting and lunch on the terrace of Villa Minuty at London’s Rosewood Hotel. Naively I turned up believing he only produced rosé wine as that’s all I’d ever seen in wine merchants, restaurants and hotels but little did...
This week’s cheese and wine recommendation from The Larder (Fleetville Larder) is far from a conventional pairing but it’s one I urge you to try! Ed had me tasting wild garlic wrapped yarg with a Vermentino Pays d’Oc IGP, called ‘Marius’. Marius the name of M. Chapoutier’s grandfather and is the...
This month our local wine merchant, Cellar Door Wines, along with 14 other independent wine retailers, are putting the spotlight on Portugal (#JuneIsForIndies). The wines of Portugal stand out for their wealth of grape varieties and diversity of terroirs, combined with the ancient wisdom and knowledge of its people. With more than...
IXSIR, founded in 2008, is a Lebanese winery that has made a significant impact on the local and international wine scene. The name “IXSIR”, derived from the Arabic word for “elixir” (Al-Ikseer), reflects the magical transformation of grapes into fine wines. Unlike the majority of Lebanon’s wineries which are down in...
Until my recent long weekend in Malta, I hadn’t appreciated that they produced wine there, let alone knowing just how good it was. This is partly due to the fact the quality is so good, they tend to keep most of it for the locals and keep exports to a...
Rosé wine isn’t just reserved for summer; it’s increasingly enjoyed year-round- which is just as well given our British weather! While it’s delightful during warmer months, its fresh, light, and fruit-driven character makes it a great choice for any season. More recently more and more winemakers are producing top end premium rosé...
Greece has a rich viticultural history dating back to around 3,000 BC. However, until the last few decades, its wines were relatively unknown beyond local consumption or tourist enjoyment. Recently, a renaissance has transformed Greek wine. Producers shifted from co-ops to bottling their own wines, using indigenous grape varieties from diverse...
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