Simon Judge

  • Discover Greek Wine

    Discover Greek Wine

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    On 16th August 2023 at 7pm, Cellar Magnifique in Woking is hosting a wine discovery event. This month’s focus is on Greek wines, guided by the Events Manager and winemaker, Sam. The wines will be paired with authentic Greek food from the local restaurant, Elia. I’ll be reporting back on this event.

  • Finish

    Finish

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The wine finish refers to the taste that lingers after tasting a wine. Finish is an important aspect that reveals the depth, complexity and quality of a wine. The finish can vary greatly, being short or long, simple or complex and smooth or harsh. Factors such as the type of grape, the terroir, winemaking techniques,…

  • The Truth About ‘Contains Sulphites’ on a Bottle of Wine

    The Truth About ‘Contains Sulphites’ on a Bottle of Wine

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    If you’ve ever looked closely at the label of a wine bottle, you might have noticed the words ‘contains sulphites.’ What does this mean and should it concern you? Since 2005, it has been a requirement by law to declare sulphites if the present level is 10 mg/l or higher. This isn’t something new to…

  • Best Supermarket Prosecco of 2023

    Best Supermarket Prosecco of 2023

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    A recent article in the Evening Standard highlights the Best supermarket Prosecco of 2023. According to the Prosecco DOC Consortium, the UK imported 130 million bottles in 2022, reflecting a 3.5% increase from the 2021 volume. However, the Evening Standard’s article contains an inaccuracy, stating that Prosecco is made in the same way as Champagne,…

  • Rosé Wine Tasting

    Rosé Wine Tasting

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    This was a wine tasting with family and a few friends, accompanied by the online ‘Everything’s Coming Up Rosé – Rosé’ workshop hosted by The Wine Society. The wines in the online tasting were The Society’s Saumur Rosé Brut NV, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Rosé, Château Vignelaure 2022, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, Contesa 2022 and Rosé d’Anjou…

  • Decanter’s London Fine Wine Encounter 2023

    Decanter’s London Fine Wine Encounter 2023

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Priority booking is open for Decanter’s members’ only London Fine Wine Encounter 2023, set for Saturday, 11th November at The Landmark London. The Landmark London will provide an ideal setting for respected wineries to showcase their offerings. Attendees will be immersed in an all-day Grand Tasting event where they can sample over 1,000 exquisite wines…

  • Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

    Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

    , , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    With a medium body, this wine has flavours of ripe cherries, accompanied by sweet spices and an enticing whisper of smoke. Under Italian wine regulations, a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine must contain at least 85% Montepulciano with Sangiovese permitted to make up to 15% of the remaining blend. The wine is required to be aged for…

  • International Wine & Spirit Competition 2023

    International Wine & Spirit Competition 2023

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The IWSC, or the International Wine & Spirit Competition, is an annual competition that assesses and awards the highest-quality wines and spirits from around the world. Unfortunately, the IWSC web site isn’t really designed for consumers and instead it serves producers and retailers who put award stickers on their bottles. You can browse the results…

  • Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

    Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

    , , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The Yealands reserve collection showcases the premium fruit from Yealand’s ‘Seaview’ site in the Awatere Valley. It offers a more pronounced passionfruit and citrus flavour profile compared to the standard Yealands Sauvignon Blanc. I found this to be a great wine, one that I plan to purchase again, though my preference still leans towards the…

  • Brut

    Brut

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    In the sparkling wine industry, the term ‘Brut’ is used to classify the sweetness level of the wine, which is determined by the amount of residual sugar left in the wine after fermentation. Here is a broad classification of the sweetness levels, starting from the driest:

  • Cork Dork

    Cork Dork

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Journalist and hobbyist drinker, Bianca Bosker, initially knew little about wine until she stumbled upon a world dominated by elite sommeliers obsessed with flavour. Intrigued by their passion and almost supernatural tasting abilities, she embarked on a journey to understand their obsession, exploring whether she could become a “cork dork” herself. Through a mixture of…

  • Barbeque Food and Wine Pairings

    Barbeque Food and Wine Pairings

    , , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The Wine Society have a free BBQ with wine online event on 22 Aug 2023 7:00 – 08:00 pm. Join Emma Briffett and Ewan Murray from The Society’s Tastings & Events team as they share their guidance on pairing wine with outdoor grill food. They’ll discuss what combinations work well and which ones to avoid….

  • Waitrose to Cut Wine Shelf Space

    Waitrose to Cut Wine Shelf Space

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The Drinks Business is reporting that Waitrose intends to cut down the shelf space dedicated to wine to accommodate an increased selection of alcohol-free products. Blue signage will mark designated areas for non-alcoholic options in 253 stores, increasing the space for these items by 60%. Pierpaolo Petrassi, head of beers, wines, and spirits at Waitrose,…

  • Lees

    Lees

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Wine lees are the solid remnants that settle at the bottom of the fermentation vessel during the winemaking process. They are a mixture of spent yeast cells, grape particles and other organic matter. Some wines, like Champagne, certain Chardonnays and Muscadets, are aged on their lees, a process known as “sur lie” aging. This can…

  • Sainsbury’s Brut Non Vintage Champagne

    Sainsbury’s Brut Non Vintage Champagne

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    This champagne, crafted by Louis Kremer Champagne House, uses 20% reserve wines in its blend. “Salty, nutty notes are joined by intense green apple fruit on the nose. A green cooking apple character on the palate sits alongside roasted nuts and a lively acid backbone. It has a wonderful vibrancy that makes this a useful…

  • Laithwaites/Sunday Times Wine Club Festival

    Laithwaites/Sunday Times Wine Club Festival

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    This year, I went to the Laithwaites/ Sunday Times Wine Club, Wine Festival held last May 2023 at its new venue, Olympia London, which is undergoing renovation and more like a construction site. There was a long queue and, on entering, the unfortunate smell of fresh paint, not something conducive to tasting wines! The event…

  • Wine Science: The Application of Science in Winemaking

    Wine Science: The Application of Science in Winemaking

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    This book explores the processes, advancements and factors impacting science of winemaking. With the rise of scientific techniques to enhance the consistency and profitability of wines, there has been a global exchange of knowledge, ideas and practices. This book, written by Jamie Goode, is unique in offering an in-depth examination of wine science. Goode adeptly…

  • Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival

    Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    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…

  • The Art of Wine Serving: Ideal Temperatures for Red and White Wines

    The Art of Wine Serving: Ideal Temperatures for Red and White Wines

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    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.

  • Palacio Di Vivero Rueda

    Palacio Di Vivero Rueda

    , , , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    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…

Follow

Recent

Tags

25% Off Wine Aldi Amarone Argentina Articles Asda Australia Bibendum Biodynamic Bizarre Blog Books Bordeaux Bulgaria Cabernet Sauvignon Carménère Cava Champagne Chile Climate Change Coop Decanter Duty English Wine Events Food France Furmint Glossary Greece Headaches Health Hungary Iceland IGT Italy IWSC Jeroboams Laithwaites Legislation Liberty Wines Lidl Low Alcohol M&S Majestic Malbec Marketing Merch Merlot Morrisons Naked Wines News New Zealand Ocado Offers Organic Past Tastings Pinotage Pinot Grigio Pinot Noir Port Portugal Prices Primitivo Prosecco Regulations Reviews Ribera del Duero Rioja Ripasso Rose Sainsbury's Saperavi Sauvignon Blanc Scotland Selfridges Shiraz Sicily South Africa Spain Sparkling Supermarkets Sustainable Tax Terroir Tesco The Wine Society Unrepresented USA Valpolicella Vegan Virgin Wines Waitrose Wanderlust Welsh Wine What to Buy Wine Art WineGB WIne Glasses Zinfandel