What to Buy
Other peoples’ recommendations of what to buy
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Lighter Wines for Spring
Fiona Beckett in the Guardian Newspaper, discusses the shift towards lighter red wines suitable for spring, highlighting the changing preferences in wine styles towards lighter, fresher varieties. This change isn’t limited to traditional wine regions but is also seen in areas like Australia, South Africa and Chile. Even grapes typically associated with fuller-bodied wines, such…
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Wines to Elevate Easter Weekend Celebrations
In Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, Marianna Hunt presents a list of eight wines to enhance an Easter weekend, accompanied by suggested food pairings. These selections span from sparkling rosés to rich reds and dessert wines, suitable for various dishes and preferences.
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The Evolving Landscape of Rioja Wines
In the Guardian Newspaper, Fiona Beckett discusses the evolving landscape of Rioja wines, highlighting a shift towards new styles that offer more fruity, less oaky notes in reds and introduce a breed of floral whites. This change comes as a response to declining sales in the UK, despite its historical popularity. Innovations include higher altitude…
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Red Bordeaux Wine From Supermarkets Under £20
The Scotsman has an article on Best red Bordeaux wine from supermarkets for under £20. The article discusses the author’s evolving appreciation for wine, particularly Bordeaux wines. Initially viewing Bordeaux as exclusive and expensive, the author, Rosalind Erskine, has discovered affordable and quality options available in supermarkets. The journey has highlighted both the traditional appeal…
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TV Wine Expert Hails Lidl’s £5.99 Cava as ‘Best Bargain of the Year’
In an article by Bristol Live, a wine from Lidl has been spotlighted by Saturday Kitchen’s wine expert as the “Best bargain this year.” It’s the Arestel Cava Semi Seco, a sparkling wine that boasts a price tag of only £5.99. During a recent episode of Saturday Kitchen, aired on BBC One on the morning…
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Finding Good Value in Wine
An article by David Williams in The Guardian Newspaper explores the intricacies of finding value in wine, noting that there is no simple formula linking price to quality. However, Williams highlights several factors that can affect the cost of wine, such as vineyard practices, equipment and the inherent qualities of the vineyard itself. Despite the…
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Crisp, Clean, Well-balanced Cavas
The Good Housekeeping Institute conducted a thorough testing of 20 cava bottles from supermarkets and leading brands, serving each chilled and blind to eliminate brand bias. Their search was for crisp, clean, well-balanced Cavas with delightful notes of apple, citrus, and brioche. Here are their top recommendations for 2023, complete with ABV, prices, scores, and…
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Wines from Six Great Importers
The Guardian Newspaper has an article discussing the various strategies people use when choosing wine, such as selecting by grape variety, region or label. It emphasises the importance of looking at the importer’s name on the back of the bottle as a quick guide to finding quality wines. Importers are likened to publishers or record…
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Tasty Low-alcohol Wines
The Financial Times Newspaper has an article on Low-alcohol Wines that Offer Great Taste Without the Headache (might be behind paywall by the time you read this). Wines with alcohol by volume (ABV) between 3.5% and 9% and those naturally low in alcohol like some German Rieslings, are gaining popularity for their ability to combine…
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Wines for Comfort Food
In her article in Delicious Magazine on the best wines for comfort food, Susy Atkins recommends a selection of wines to complement hearty dishes. Suzy highlights wines that pair well with classics such as chilli, fish pie and roast chicken, offering a variety of options from different regions and at different price points. The Baron…
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Wines From Major Wine Outlets
In his article for the Guardian Newspaper, David Williams discusses the evolving landscape of wine retail in the UK, especially highlighting the performance of major wine outlets like Majestic, Naked Wines, Virgin Wines and The Wine Society. He notes that during and after the pandemic, these retailers faced various challenges including the inflation and cost-of-living…
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Unusual Varietals
Fiona Beckett from the Guardian newspaper has an article on Obscure Wines to Liven up Jaded Palates. She explains how unusual varietals of wine are currently popular, as seen in selections from high-street retailers. Wines from regions not traditionally associated with specific grapes are gaining interest. Examples include Italian varietals like Sangiovese from Australia, Grüner…
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Wine and Cheese Pairings
Fiona Beckett, writing for National Geographic Traveller, provides an exploration of which wines go best with different cheeses. The traditional pairing of cheese with red wine, particularly during the colder months, is recommended, with a focus on medium-bodied reds known for their soft, smooth tannins. Suggested favourites include mellow Rioja Reservas, Côtes du Rhônes and…
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Finding Good Value
Victoria Moore, a wine correspondent from the Telegraph Newspaper, discusses the impact of inflation on wine prices in her recent article (article might be behind paywall by the time you read this). She notes that British shoppers are typically thrifty when buying wine, often seeking the best deals, particularly in supermarkets. Moore acknowledges the challenge…
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Reviving the Riches of Australian Shiraz
Fiona Beckett from the Guardian Newspaper has an article on Australian Shiraz. In the 1990s, her favourite red wine was Australian shiraz, admired for its voluptuous, ripe and smooth qualities. However, tastes evolved and these wines became known as too sweet and jammy. However, recently, at a wine tasting, Fiona was impressed with the quality…
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Top 100 Winners
The Wine Merchant Magazine runs an annual competition where a selected panel of independent merchants blind-taste their way through more than 1,000 wines. The result is a great list of wines (also available as a magazine supplement) which arguably is the best of the best. Here are the value wines from the list: Best Value…
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White Castle Vineyard Triumphs at 2023 Welsh Wine Awards
The Welsh wine industry celebrated the 2023 Welsh Wine Awards, held at the Llanerch Vineyard Hotel in Hensol on 6 November, 2023. The awards, marking their most successful year yet, were organised by the Welsh Vineyards Association (WVA) . In a year that also commemorates WVA’s tenth anniversary, the competition saw a record-breaking entry of…
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Good Housekeeping’s German Rieslings
The Good Housekeeping Institute’s annual Wine Awards panel, consisting of 10 WSET-accredited experts, sampled various bottles to identify the Best German Rieslings, for 2023. German Riesling wines are renowned for their sophisticated flavours, intricate depth, and invigorating zest. These wines offer a spectrum of tastes, from exceedingly dry to delightfully sweet, and usually feature a…
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The Evolving Advice for UK Wine Buying
The UK’s wine market is undergoing a transformation, influenced by factors like the cost of living crisis, Brexit and new alcohol duty regulations. David Williams, a wine writer for The Guardian newspaper, has some advice for navigating this shifting landscape. David says the new baseline for a good, everyday bottle is £8 rather than £5.99….
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Portuguese Wines to Try
An article by Nicky Rampley-Clarke in the Evening Standard looks into the diverse world of Portuguese wines which come from 55 different regions and almost 200 indigenous grape varieties. The most well-known regions include Douro, Minho, and Dão, each offering unique flavours and characteristics. Portuguese wines are generally made from indigenous grapes, giving them a…
