Best of Deep Purple – Malbec Christine Austin December 12, 2017 Drink, Wine It was a very grand do at the Argentine Ambassador’s residence in the smart area of London as a dozen Malbecs, were introduced by Master of Wine Tim Atkin. A small group of us swirled and sipped our way...
Spanish Revolution – Rioja for winter Christine Austin December 8, 2017 Drink, Wine If there is one Spanish wine that everyone has heard of it is Rioja. Loved for its soft, round, warming flavours, raspberry fruit, maybe a touch of oak and supple tannins, it goes with almost any kind of food...
Warmly welcome – pepper and spice from Shiraz Christine Austin December 3, 2017 Drink, Wine Our recent cold frosty evenings have, in effect, given me an ultimatum. Either I start wearing my thick woolly socks around the house again, or I open some of my bigger, gutsier wines to keep my toes warm. ...
Roll out the budget barrel – wines for under a tenner Christine Austin December 1, 2017 Drink, Wine Having tasted my way through over a thousand wines in recent weeks, here are the most wallet friendly wines that will keep costs down in the build up to the festive season. All limbo under the £10 mark and...
Tunnel visionaries – Tokaji wine Christine Austin November 24, 2017 Drink, Wine Now that we are all one Europe, even with Brexit looming, it is odd to remember that less than 30 years ago, Hungary was still under Soviet rule. This had a massive effect on wine production in particular on...
Marks and Slender – lower alcohol and best buy wines at M&S Christine Austin November 18, 2017 Drink, Wine If you are watching your weight but still want to enjoy a good glass of wine then three new wines on the shelves at Marks and Spencer might be of interest. Sumika Sauvignon Blanc, Sumika Shiraz and Sumika...
Women’s Libations – positive discrimination in a glass Christine Austin October 30, 2017 Drink, Wine The wine department in a supermarket used to be referred to as the ‘husband’s playpen’. This was generally regarded as a safe place to leave men while the wife dashed around the rest of the store,...
Quaff Licence – What’s in store at Aldi and Lidl Christine Austin October 26, 2017 Drink, Wine There was total shock on the High Street as earlier this year Lidl gradually overhauled Waitrose in the supermarket stakes. It joined Aldi which had moved up the pecking order a year ago pushing Waitrose down...
Detour de Force – take a trip to Booths Christine Austin October 25, 2017 Drink, Wine As a retailer, the Northern chain of Booths, with just 28 stores is a minnow in a sea of sharks. Compared with the 6000 Tesco outlets, Aldi’s 700 and even Waitrose’s 355, Booths seems more like a chain of...
Flowing Cape – Top wines from South Africa Christine Austin October 10, 2017 Drink, Wine Regular readers of this column know just how much I love South Africa. Not just because you can fly there overnight leaving cold British weather far behind and have breakfast in Cape sunshine. What I love most...