How do you decide which your favourite wines were from the year past? Difficult. One way is to let others decide. I have quite a few instagram followers, and it’s…
Oh, the places you’ll go! 2016 in review
January: the year began in New Zealand, for a South Island Road trip, followed by the Sauvignon Blanc celebration. We started off in Central Otago, where it was unseasonably cold….
The ill-health of wine writing
It’s not been a great year for wine writing. Several fellow writers have lost their newspaper columns and regular gigs. It has been particularly tough for those who rely solely…
On being ill
I’m currently ill. This is unusual for me: I can’t remember the last time. Of course, I haven’t seen a doctor. I’m male and British, and we tend not to…
In Madeira with Blandy’s
I’m in Madeira. It’s my first time on the island. It’s quite a beautiful place. The reason? To find out about Madeira wine, with the island’s largest producer, Blandy’s. Day…
Co-chairing at the International Wine Challenge Tranche 1
This week I have been judging in Tranche 1 of the 2017 version of the international Wine Challenge (IWC). After eight years as a panel chair, I’m now a co-chair…
Some good value wines that impress
I’m aware that many of the wines I recommend here are quite expensive. So these are some wines that I’ve tried recently that represent excellent value for money. These are…
On flying
Flew back from Vancouver on Saturday night. The plane in the top left picture above is the ancient BA 747-400 that we were flying on, getting ready for boarding. The…
Brand familiarity, quality and the mac and cheese metaphor
Yesterday’s Kayra tasting raised an interesting question. In 2006, winemaker Daniel O’Donnell finds himself in charge of one of Turkey’s most popular wine brands, Buzbag. As a winemaker, surely it’s…