Posts by Adrian
Wines 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 ________________________________________________________…
Read MoreIs it worth paying more? Tasting September 2022
We served two wines each of four different styles, one at around £10-12 and one at over £30. The wines were served blind and attendees asked which they preferred. Group A – Chenin Blanc Ken Forrester Reserve Collection Chenin Blanc 2020 An elegant, zesty, oaked white wine with flavours of tropical fruit, caramel and honeycomb.Ken…
Read MoreChile – overcrowding, water and rabbits!
WSET students may need to update their notes as the Drinks Business has reported a mass exit of one of Chile’s most prominent wine regions is underway due to overplanting, a lack of water, and a pervasive rabbit problem. As a result of the lack of water, producers are packing their bags and taking off…
Read MoreGreat British Beer Festival 2022
It was great to see the GBBF, organised by CAMRA, return to Olympia. There were hundreds of beers available plus gins, wines and many food stands. The stand out beers for me were: Blackedge Dark Mild (3.9%) – from a brewery based in Greater Manchester, a rich dark mild with loads of flavour from a…
Read MoreWines of the Eastern Mediterranean
We organised this tasting recently and it proved very popular. The wines provided were Chateau Musar Jeune White – Lebanon Musar Jeune White is an unoaked blend of Viognier, Vermentino, Chardonnay from youthful Bekaa Valley vines. Crisp and aromatic, this eclectic blend of French and Italian varieties has its own distinct personality – passionfruit, apples,…
Read MoreLondon Wine Fair 2022
I was fortunate enough to attend LWF in June this year – it was great to see it back as a live event. Unfortunately there seemed to be fewer country stands than in previous years; however there were plenty of interesting people to speak to, and a lot of great presentations including Valpolicella, vermouth, Central…
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