So, to celebrate Canadian wine day, a Canadian Riesling. It’s pretty good: if I’d have tasted it blind I would have guessed New Zealand, I think. I normally don’t go…
Supermarkets, convergence and market disruption
I have a couple of related questions. First, people love shopping in supermarkets. Why? Trust – a supermarket brand is trusted by shoppers. They supermarket name is big enough and…
A great day of cricket and a super beer
‘Do you ever do any work?’ A question I get asked quite often. The answer: ‘Yes, but I try not to do too much.’ The truth is, I have a fun…
A lovely Kalecic Karasi from Turkey
Really enjoyed this lighter red wine, made from a Turkish grape variety called Kalecic Karasi. Great value, too. [Also slightly illegally labelled, with an alcohol level declared on the label…
Ingredient labelling in wine
Wine is unusual among foodstuffs in that it doesn’t contain ingredient labelling or lists. All that is required is the statement ‘contains sulfites’ if the total sulfur dioxide level exceeds…
A day at Wimbledon with some vintage Champagne
Had a cracking day at Wimbledon today, watching tennis with some good wine trade buddies. It was courtesy of Champagne house Lanson. We had centre court tickets, and watched three…
France needs to get behind its wine industry
What is it with French politicians? Are they nuts? I’m referring to the way that they seem to be hell bent on damaging one of the things the French do…
Four random reds, tasted blind
Another spot of blind tasting. Always a good way to learn. These four were selected at random from a large stash of wines I have lying around: there are enough…
Dirty Julie, a Verdelho from the Swartland
I love everything about this wine. The packaging (you can’t see the wax capsule in this picture), the grape variety (Verdelho), the winemaking (natural ferment), the flavour, and – of…