Glugging Globally – The Wine Course Part 3 Christine Austin March 12, 2018 Drink, Wine Wander around most wine shops and you will find their selection divided by colour – white, red and rosé, then subdivided by country of origin. There have been some brave attempts to arrange wine shelves...
What’s in your Wine? Christine Austin February 9, 2018 Drink, General, Wine I had a really strange encounter at a Food and Drink fair last summer. A representative from a fairly well-known company tried to get me to sign up for a tasting at home where essentially he would attempt...
No clutter, less clink in Dry January Christine Austin January 18, 2018 Drink, Wine So how is the diet going? As the combined excesses of the festive season fade into distant memories the evidence remains spread around the midriffs of many including me. January is generally regarded as the...
Nostalgic Flavour – Drinking Highlights of the Year Christine Austin January 9, 2018 Wine As the festive empties clang into the recycling bin, I am reminded of the happy occasions they accompanied, with friends and family gathered around the table. Some of the bottles we opened this year came not...
The Fiendish Wine Quiz 2017 Christine Austin December 30, 2017 Drink, Wine Welcome to the 2017 Fiendish Wine Quiz, specially designed to keep your brain cells sharp in this season of endless fun and excess food. As always it will be well worth testing your wine knowledge and research...
Fizz for Christmas Christine Austin December 23, 2017 Drink, Wine What is the best sound at Christmas? Is it Carol singers, the rustle of wrapping paper or maybe the sheer noise of excited children? All of these are important but the best sound of all is the pop of a cork...
Be of Good Cheers – Wines for Christmas Christine Austin December 16, 2017 Drink, Wine Preparation is the key to a good Christmas – and the ability to change plans at a moment’s notice. That is why it is best to lay in a good stock of wines, so that you can concentrate on the really...
Mature choice – Madeira to match mince pies Christine Austin December 16, 2017 Drink, Wine ‘Have a mince pie’, I said to the gathering of neighbours clustered around my kitchen table as we discussed local issues ‘and would you like to try this?’ I poured small amounts of a dark, rich liquid...
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...