Why digital catalogues at wine shows don’t work
When open an A5 catalogue can show c.620 cm2 of information. My phone screen is c.85cm2Hence I can see around 7 times as much information at a glance with a paper catalogue.That is the difference is between being able to see all the wines an exhibitor is showcasing, rather than just one or two. The…
Maltby & Greek portfolio tasting
I was delighted to attend the above tasting on 20th January so thanks to Alexandra for the invitation. M&G work with 25 wineries and have an excellent selection of Greek (and now Cyprus) wines. I didn’t have the stamina, or tastebuds, to try all 90 wines; however some highlights for me were: Kokotos Estate (Attica)…
Wines of Sussex tasting – January 2025
It is easy to ignore the wines that are closest to home, so we decided to cut down the food miles and see the variety of wines that are produced in our home county. Hidden Spring Pinot Gris 2022£20.00 cellar doorPacked full of tropical fruit with a floral honeysuckle nose and a flinty minerality. Aromas…
Fortifies Wines tasting event – November 2024
The wines we tasted were: Hidalgo Manzanilla Pasada Pastrana Sherry£18 Waitrose CellarVery fine Manzanilla Pasada. From a single vineyard, it has the typical and unique freshness and delicacy of Sanlúcar wines. Superb, mature, nutty manzanilla from the fine Pastrana vineyard in the Miraflores region, which has long produced the finest wines in the Hidalgo cellars.…
Hidden Spring Vineyard – Horam, Sussex
Having tried their wines at a WineGB event I was keen to visit the vineyard and winery. Owner Richard gave a highly informative tour of the vines and the winery, followed by a tasting of both still and sparkling wines. All the wines were of excellent quality so naturally I came away with a case…
Beer Tasting Panel / Kissingate Brewery Beer Festival
I had the pleasure of sitting on a CAMRA Beer Tasting Panel held at the Kissingate Brewery Beer Festival. The brewery has collected multiple awards including, on this occasion, “Beer of the Festival” for the South Downs Beer Festival. They laid on a very wide selection of beers, covering all styles; however the dark beers…
October 2024 – Wines of Central and Eastern Europe
1. Bohemia Sekt ‘Prestige’ Brut NVRegion/country: Moravia, Czech RepublicGrapes: Riesling, Pinot Blanc, WelschrieslingABV: 13%Bohemia Sekt Prestige Brut is a premium traditional-method sparkling wine, aged for 15–18 months on its lees. The cuvée is a unique combination of quality varietal wines from selected vineyards in southern Moravia. Rheinriesling (aka Riesling) gives the wine a rich aroma…
Wines for Summer Tasting – July 2024
1. Hidalgo ‘La Gitana’ ManzanillaRegion: Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain; Grape: 100% Palomino Fino; ABV: 15%The Palomino grapes for this wine are harvested in the Bodega’s own vineyard in the areas of Balbaina y Miraflores, two of the most respected zones around Sanlúcar. A lively, crisp, young Manzanilla with yellow apple aromas, lemon and floral notes…
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…