Opinion piece
Brighton & South Downs CAMRA Pub of the Year
As Pubs Officer I organised the Pub of the Year competition and judging – the region broadly covers an area between Shoreham, Haywards Heath and Seaford with well over 400 pubs, so to get recognised is a real achievement for these pubs. My thanks to all those who visited the nominated pubs and completed judging…
Read MoreGreat British Beer Festival Winter
I attended GBBF Winter held this year at Magna in Rotherham. The venue wasn’t ideal as it is not on the Sheffield tram network and once inside was very strung out with odd bars in corners. What was really disappointing was the lack of a beer list so you couldn’t decide which beers to try. …
Read MoreWhy 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…
Read MoreWine 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…
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 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 MorePDO for Sussex Sparkling Wine (and Kent’s sour grapes)
Sussex Sparkling Wine has been granted official Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, which is the equivalent of Appellation Controlee in France or DOC in Italy. A PDO, once granted, identifies products that are produced, processed and prepared in a specific geographical area, using the recognised expertise of local producers and ingredients from the region…
Read MoreWSET Level 3 Exam Tips
Tasting If you believe a wine is simple make sure you write the word “simple” in both the nose and palate sections, it’s worth a mark Ensure you comment on all aspects of palate – sweetness, acidity, alcohol, body, finish and flavour characteristics; create a mnemonic to ensure you remember them all SAABFF so you…
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