Pot luck:

What to do with your old wine barrel?

Published on October 20, 2015

Sustainability comes to old barrels – re-use, recycle


Concours Mondial 2012

Published on June 5, 2012

More than 300 of the great, the good, the glamorous and the grubby, from 48 different countries, gathered in the Portuguese medieval town of Guimarães last month, for three days, to judge some 8,400 wines and spirits as part of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Me included.


Caviste revisited

Published on November 10, 2011

Caviste changed hands earlier this year, and its new managing director is Ben Llewelyn, invited me to their Overton shop for a tasting.


Should Brunello di Montalcino change its rules?

Published on August 30, 2011

Among the crowd of sangiovese-based Tuscan wines, Montalcino stands out like a beacon of pure sangiovese, challenging yes, but inspiring also in its purity of expression. There are moves afoot to change the rules to allow the ubiquitous cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah into the blend which would ‘internationalise’ the style, and arguably make Montalcino wines indistinguishable from the rest of the crowd.


Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2010

Published on May 14, 2010

The 17th Concours Mondial de Bruxelles wine competition judged nearly 7,000 wines from more than 50 countries. Here are the competition’s top-scorers, and some of my own top-scorers with their medal-awards.


Storing wine: issues and options

Published on February 19, 2010

The briefest of internet searches about wine storage yields a plethora of possibilities for almost any shape and size of space you may have available to mature your favourite bottles of wine.


Minimum pricing

Published on January 8, 2010

Minimum pricing would affect all consumers of alcoholic drinks, including responsible ones. Government-funded research found those heaviest drinkers, most in need of help, are likely to be least influenced by rising prices.


Australia’s First Families of Wine

Published on October 5, 2009

Twelve long-standing, family-owned, Australian wine producing companies plan to create a new image for Australian wine with a regional flavour.


The Wine Society

Published on July 27, 2009

The Wine Society is something of a retail institution that runs under many people’s radar. It shouldn’t. Anyone who enjoys wine can join the club, and there are no arcane entry rituals.


Thai food with wine

Published on June 26, 2009

Thai food offers several challenges for the discerning gastronome. Should wines appeal to the theme and mood of the meal rather than with one or two dishes?

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