Back in 1981, when the Cape Winemakers’ Guild was first formed, the South African wine scene was very different to how it is today. One of the founder members of…
Video: the 2016 VDP Grosses Gewächs tasting in Wiesbaden
On Wednesday I was in Wiesbaden, Germany, for a very special tasting. It was the 2016 Grosses Gewächs tasting, featuring new releases from some of Germany’s top wine estates, all…
Folium: interesting dry-grown wines from New Zealand’s Marlborough region
Takaki Okada came to New Zealand’s Marlborough region in 2003, and began working with Clos Henri. In 2010, he bought an 8.5 hectare vineyard that had been established by Fromm…
Video: judging the Standard Bank Top 10 Chenin Blanc competition
Here’s a short film of the judging of the Standard Bank Top 10 Chenin Blanc competition
Asda’s £10 Champagne Louvel Fontaine is actually pretty good
Oh, I know I shouldn’t say this. But Asda’s £10 Louvel Fontaine Champagne is actually quite nice. I’s so much safer to slate cheap fizz, but I can tell you…
Video: RAW Artisan Wine Fair 2016
A short film from this year’s RAW Artisan Wine Fair, held earlier this month at the Old Truman Brewery, London.
Nyetimber Tillington Single Vineyard 2010: an exciting new release (with video)
Nyetimber, one of the UK’s most celebrated sparkling wine producers, has released the new vintage of its Tillington Single Vineyard, the 2010. At around £75 a bottle, this is ambitiously…
Video: judging the International Wine Challenge 2016
So, here’s a short film from the International Wine Challenge judging earlier this month. This was Tranche 2 (the other being in November) of the 2016 judging, and 200 judges…
Video: drinking Champagne Dom Pérignon 2004 and talking fizz
So, I open a bottle of Champagne Dom Pérignon with brother in law William Beavington, and we drink it, talk about it, and have a broad-ranging discussion about Champagne more…