Simon
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Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival
Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival will take place from 16th to 17th September 2023. It will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00. The event will feature a Jazz Breakfast with Lianne Carroll, along with stalls, bands, and demonstrations. Sunday Brunch star CJ Jackson will make a welcome return. The focus of…
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The Art of Wine Serving: Ideal Temperatures for Red and White Wines
Something that’s often overlooked, but plays a significant role in your wine-drinking experience, is the temperature at which the wine is served. Serving wine at its ideal temperature can dramatically enhance its quality, revealing its complexity, balance, and true flavour.
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Palacio Di Vivero Rueda
ASDA Extra Special Rueda, a wine crafted from Verdejo grapes sourced from Spain’s Rueda region, is a hidden gem due to its relative obscurity. This dry, sharp and citrusy wine offers great value for money and a pleasing depth of flavour. Its qualities have been recognised in the IWSC 2022 with a bronze award, and…
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Corked
A term that denotes a wine that has suffered cork taint, which is characterised by a mouldy, musty or wet cardboard smell or taste. This condition is not related to the bits of cork that occasionally fall into the bottle when opening. Instead, it refers to the wine being tainted by a chemical compound called…
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Italy’s 2023 Wine Harvest in Jeopardy
Italy’s 2023 wine harvest is projected to decrease by up to 14% due to extreme weather conditions associated with climate change, including intense heat, storms and wildfires, according to agricultural group Coldiretti. An initial forecast predicts a national production of around 43 million hectolitres, down from 50 million in 2022, potentially marking one of the…
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Wine Legs
The tracks of liquid that cling to the sides of a glass after the contents have been swirled. Also known as wine tears. This happens due to interaction between several factors: the alcohol content in the wine, the surface tension of the liquid, and the phenomenon known as the Gibbs-Marangoni effect. The Gibbs-Marangoni effect, describes…
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Everything’s coming up Rosé – Rosé workshop
The Wine Society have a free Rose workshop for members on 10 Aug 2023 7:00 – 08:00 pm. Once dismissed as a mere summer refreshment, rosé wines have experienced a significant resurgence, with the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) noting a 22% rise in sales in 2020. With a vast range of styles from…
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Vinha Do Fava Touriga Nacional
Casa Ermelinda Freitas is a 5th generation Portuguese winery dating back to 1920 and is one of the biggest Portuguese producers. This wine has a great depth of flavour, complemented by robust tannins, alongside a smooth, velvety feel. Aromas of spiced bramble, cassis, plum and blackcurrant. Touriga Nacional is one of the top grape varieties…
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Alamos Malbec, Uco Valley
This Malbec gained worldwide recognition as the most awarded of its kind in 2018 and 2019. Furthermore, the 2021 vintage won an International Wine Challenge (IWC) award in 2022. According to Vivino, the 2022 vintage outperformed all previous years, scoring an impressive 3.9. I discovered this at a Majestic a very long time ago when…
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New Kent Winery Planning Rejected
A planning inspector has backed Medway Council’s refusal to allow a £30 million winery, designed by Foster, in Kent. This would have been the UK’s largest winery. This recent decision is another setback for plans to establish a winery, café, and visitor centre in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) near the Cuxton village…
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Acidity
The presence of natural fruit acids that lend a tart, crisp taste to wine. Essential for balance and structure in the wine and its longevity. Acidity is an inherent trait present in all wines, which is characterized by a pH level below 7. Generally falling within a range of 2.8 to 4.0, wine acidity is…
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Bulk Packaging and Local Bottling
A hidden part of the UK wine industry to consumers, is the process of bulk packaging, transporting and local UK bottling of wine. This reduces transportation costs and the environmental impact but also carries implications for the provenance and authenticity of the wine. If you look at the back label of a bottle you might…
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La Masseria Del Borgo Primitivo Manduria
This wine, 2021 vintage, originates from Puglia, Italy and tastes of ripe dark berry fruits, including blackcurrants and black cherries, culminating in a long, satisfying finish. The Primitivo grape expresses itself differently based on the region in which it’s cultivated, with noticeable variations across the key Primitivo DOC areas of Manduria, Gioia del Colle and…
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25% off The Best at Morrisons
Buy 3 or more from ‘The Best’ range, save 25%, until 5/9/23.
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International Wine Challenge 2023
The results for the International Wine Challenge™ 2023, have recently been released. Over 40 countries entered, with thousands of wines, all of which were evaluated in a blind taste test by a panel of international experts. Over 6,000 wines received accolades. While well-established wine-producing countries like France, Australia, and Spain secured a prominent position in…
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Diablo Black Cabernet Sauvignon
Originating from Maule, Chile and made by wine maker Héctor Urzúa Pistas, this wine offers a blend of black wood, tobacco and a hint of vanilla. It’s a rich, dark, silky smooth and pleasurable drink that fulfils the marketing descriptions. It’s produced by Concha Y Toro, the well-known mass producer of wine. However, don’t let…
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25% off at Tesco
Tesco has Buy 6 or more Save 25% Clubcard Price – Save 25% On Selected Wines When You Buy 6 + Bottles, until 30/7/23.
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Tannin
Tannins are natural compounds, known as polyphenols, found in the grape skins, seeds and stems that contribute to the drying, astringent sensation in the mouth. The name ‘tannin’ comes from the old French word ‘tanin’, meaning tanning substance. This is because tannins were historically used in the process of tanning animal hides, due to their…
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25% off at Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has buy any 6 or more, save 25% offer that ends midnight 30/07/2023.
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Yealands Sauvignon Blanc
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand is advertised as having a bright character, with a notes of stone fruit and guava, underlined by tropical flavours and a long, clean mineral finish. This wine is created using grapes from the Awatere and Wairau Valley vineyards. Over a period of eighteen days, the fruit is harvested,…
Recent
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Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting
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Villa Maria Seaspray Sauvignon Blanc
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Virgen del Galir Val do Galir Godello
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Viña Pomal 106 Barricas
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Aldi Autumn Winter Wine Tasting
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Rising Corkage Fees to Upwards of £100
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Label Design Influence on Consumer Attitudes Toward Organic Wine
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Three Domaine Bousquet Malbecs
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Should Rosé Wines Be Darker?
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Fine Wine Tasting