Posts by Adrian

Wine and cheese helps combat dementia

Eating cheese and drinking red wine could help to combat the symptoms of dementia, according to a study by Iowa State University of almost 1,800 Brits. The study in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found that a daily glass of red everyday, as well as eating cheese and a weekly meal of lamb, helped to…

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April 2024 – the Wines of Greece

It was great to have a full house at this popular tasting. The wines sampled were as follows: Mylonas PetNat Savatiano – Mylonas Winery, Keratea, AtticaMylonas Winery was started in 1917 in Keratea, eastern Attica, by Grandfather Antonis, whose main occupation was the vine and winemaking. As stainless-steel tanks were relatively unknown at the time,…

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Italy North v South Tasting

Thanks to everybody who came along to the February tasting. The group’s favourite white was the Vernaccia di San Gimignano (south / central) and the preferred red was the Barbaresco (north). The wines tasted were as follows: 1. Ferghettina, Franciacorta Brut NV Region: Lombardy, ItalyGrapes: 85% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot NoirABV: 12.5%‘Lively exotic fruit and biscuity…

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Wines of the Islands – January 2024

For this event we selected wines from eight different islands, accompanied by various snacks including cheeses, crackers, olives and assorted nuts. Customers voted as their wine of the evening the Finca Biniagual ‘Negre’, Binissalem DO, 2018 from Mallorca. 1. Mystery rosé! Adgestone Vineyards Blush, England 2022Island: Isle of Wight, EnglandGrapes: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% SchönburgerABV:…

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Winter Warmer Wines – December 2023

For this tasting we selected wines appropriate to Christmas and/or Winter drinking.  Details of the wines we presented are as follows: 1. Nyetimber Brut Classic Cuvée NVRegion: West Sussex, EnglandGrapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot MeunierABV: 12%The Wine Society £30.81Nyetimber’s multi-vintage wine is a full-flavoured, savoury standard-bearer. Predominantly chardonnay alongside Pinots Noir and Meunier, the blend…

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Rugby World Cup Tasting – October 2023

For this tasting we presented two wines from each of the countries that had reached the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup. The wines tasted were: A lower alcohol sparkling wine made by classic bottle fermentation. This is a light joyous drink with a hint of strawberries and raspberries, delicate and tangy with a soft…

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Wines of Greece – September 2023

Recently I have become something of a fan of Greek wines, particularly the whites. The flagship Santorini Assyrtiko is generally excellent; however its reputation has meant that prices are now getting rather high for regular drinking. It is worth trying some of the many lesser known grape varieties as there are a few gems that…

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Canned Wines

I met up with the Canned Wine Company at the London Wine Fair and introduced a few of their wines to a tasting group. I have to confess to being cynical as my previous experience with canned wine has not been great; however I enjoyed several of these, as did the group. The 250ml size…

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Encounter South Africa – July 2023

This was an excellent event organised by WoSA on London’s South Bank. It was a great opportunity to meet so many winemakers and importers. There were so many wines to try but among my personal favourites were: Jordan Inspector Peringuey Chenin Blanc 2022 Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2020 and Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc…

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The Big Fortified Tasting 2023

I have to say this is one of my favourite tastings of the year.  It is very well organised and covers Sherry, Port, Madeira and Moscatel.  The overall quality was extremely high; however among my personal highlights were: I’m running a fortified tasting next month which is already fully booked so it looks hopeful that…

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