Posts by Adrian
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…
Read MoreCanned 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…
Read MoreEncounter 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreWines of New Zealand tasting – April 2023
New Zealand is only the 15th highest wine producing country in the world; however they do put an emphasis on quality. In the UK on average we spend more per bottle on New Zealand wine than any other country. In this tasting my aim was to go beyond Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to try wines from…
Read MoreWines of North America Tasting – March 2023
Thank you to everybody who came along to the tasting of Wines of North America – the wines we tasted were as follows: Peller Estates, Signature Series Ice Cuvée Classic NV (Courtesy of Barry Gibbon) Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, CanadaGrapes: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir12% ABVThis wine is made in the Traditional Method from hand-picked Chardonnay…
Read MoreMinimum Unit Pricing (MUP)
I have long been an advocate of MUP on the grounds that it would promote responsible drinking in pubs rather than the purchase of cheap alcohol from supermarkets that may be drunk on the streets. Scotland introduced a MUP of 50p per unit in 2018. The impact of this is as follows: 1 pint of…
Read MoreHarpers 50 Best Indies 2023
Congratulations to the following Sussex wine merchants which were in Harpers “top 50” for this year. The judges comments are also shown: Butlers Wine Cellar Everything a local merchant should be, with Henry Butler and Cassie Gould being immersed in the community, whether that be through impressive charitable works or intimate knowledge of the restaurant…
Read MoreBeer is good for you – “official”
As reported by The Drinks Business, drinking two pints of beer every day could lower your risk of dementia, according to scientists. A recent study, led by Australian researchers looking into the drinking habits and dementia rates among 25,000 over-60s, showed those who drank the equivalent of two pints of beer per day were a…
Read MoreNext Treasure Hunt – 1st October 2022
THE KEMP TOWN BEER MILE TREASURE HUNT ________________________________________________________ SEEK OUT THE CLUES AS YOU CROSS BRIGHTON KEMP TOWN AT YOUR OWN PACE AND ENJOY A FEW DRINKS ON THE WAY – FREE TO ENTER ________________________________________________________ SATURDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2022 START Brighton Bierhaus, 161 Edward Street, Brighton BN2 0JB BETWEEN 1 PM AND 2.30 PM ________________________________________________________…
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