Waitrose ‘Lost and Found’ Frappato
Who makes it? Waitrose ‘Lost and Found’ Frappato is a Waitrose own label wine. Frappato is one of Sicily’s native red wine grapes. It is known for maker lighter bodied red wines. Of course, lovers of Cerasuolo di Vittoria may know it as a component of that wine when...
Pizzini Round up 2022 – Part 2!
Two of the red grapes that Pizzini are well known for is Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. The family were amongst the first vineyards, after McLaren Vale’s Coriole, to plant Sangiovese in the 1980s. To read more about the background of both the Pizzini family and their...
Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Régence
Who makes it? Champagne Brimoncourt is still a relatively new Champagne maker with a history. You can read more about its history here in Brimoncourt, France's new Champagne House has its roots in history. However, the brand is one that is not ‘new’ but newly...
Pizzini round up 2022 – Part 1!
The Pizzini whites.... As usual, it was a pleasure to catch up with Natalie Pizzini this month to see some of Pizzini’s new vintages of whites and reds, some of their new additions and their striking new labelling. I can still remember visiting them for the...
Chandon Garden Spritz – Australian innovation in the UK
Chandon Garden Spritz has now arrived in the UK and is bound to be the hot drink for Summer 2022! It captures the current excitement around Aperol Spritz cocktails that continues to be just as popular this summer as it was last. Well, if the number pubs and...
Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Syrah
Who makes it? Craggy Range have been steadily putting little known New Zealand wine region, Gimblett Gravels, on the world stage over the past decade or more. This Craggy Range Syrah is an excellent example of why winelovers are sitting up and taking notice. I poured...
Boekenhootskloof The Chocolate Block
Who makes it? The Chocolate Block is one of the wines that Boekenhoutskloof produces. Incidentally, Boekenhoutskloof is itself a very well known wine brand from Franschhoek, South Africa. It was established in 1993 by a group of partners, one of which was Marc Kent...
Bring on the wines of Summer!
Looking for something out of the ordinary..Love learning more about the wine, you are drinking? Want to know how to choose better wines? The Winemusing Sessions are now on sale. Summer does not mean that you have to abandon red wines. It doesn't mean you have to stick...
Vigneti del Vulture Pipoli Basilicata Greco-Fiano IGP
Who makes it? Vigneti del Vulture was previously a cooperative that is now privately owned. It is now owned by the Fantini Group along with a slew of other wine labels and wineries across Italy. This wine proves that not all wines from Vulture is boldly red. Vulture...
Tahbilk Marsanne
Who makes it? Tahbilk is one of the star wineries of Central Victoria, specifically Nagambie Lakes. Today it produces not just this Marsanne, but also some very smart Shiraz and a wide range of other grape varieties. It was established in 1860 and the Purbrick family...
Chateau Vaudois Cuvée Marie
Who makes it? Chateau Vaudois is one of Provence’s family winemaking estates. Chateau Vaudois overlooks the Mediterranean and sits on the hills of Maures. It was planted in 2000 so it is still hitting its stride and Vieilles Vignes (‘Old Vines’) appears on...
Taylors / Wakefield Promised Land Chardonnay
Who makes it? Taylors Promised Land is a very savvy wine range made by the Taylor family. The family is one of Australia’s first families of wine and well known for quality wines at very good value prices. This Chardonnay is just one of the Promised Land range that...
Latest videos:
Winery Spotlight: Rathfinny Wine Estate
Click here to watch this video. or click here to read about Rathfinny Wine Estate
Winemaker Series: Colette Bonnet Champagne
click here to watch video click here to read about Colette Bonnet Champagne
What to drink: Bordeaux wines for Christmas
Please click to watch video Note: First published 24th November, 2018
Winemaker Series: Gavin Monery, Vagabond
Click here to watch video click here to read about Vagabond Winery
Winemaker Series: Henry Connell, The Uncommon
click here to watch video click here to read about The Uncommon Wines and Henry Connell.
Winery Spotlight: Piggs Peake
click here to watch this video click here to read about Piggs Peake
Beaujolais! It is not at all new-vo {new though…. }
Ok… that was a very poor joke. But it is all a gam’, ay? Beaujolais! It is no laughing matter really. I have been very keen to turn my attention to it after noticing that it was gaining popularity amongst wine experts. There were even articles written...
English sparkling wines that you need to taste!
There are now many excellent English sparkling wines to choose from! In your search for great bubbles, don’t miss out on the opportunity to taste some of the elegant English sparkling wines that are becoming easier to find. I have reviewed a number in the past –...
Bring on the rosé! Five rosés that are not just for Summer ….
It should be said that rosé is a superb choice of wine all year round. These wines should never be relegated to just the warmer months, although without a doubt, they an obvious choice for summer. It does not just the evocativeness of a glass of rose, bringing...
Tahbilk – A bottled history in Marsanne
The Tahbilk range of marsanne tells a rich story steeped in the pioneering spirit of Australian winemaking and the Purbrick family. Nowhere else in Australia, to my knowledge, has the breadth of choice of straight marsanne wine on offer. The first vines The...
Langmeil, the Lindner family preserving Barossa history
Langmeil, one of the gems of the Barrossa Valley.... Australia’s Barossa Valley has a well-deserved reputation for some of the world’s finest wines. Amongst the producers that focus on delivering powerful red wines that tell a story of alcohol and dried fruit, there...
Winery Spotlight: Getting to know Rathfinny Estate
I had no idea what to expect when I visited Rathfinny Wine Estate by chance last Summer. It was a spur of the moment idea. The vineyard I had initially decided to visit had no time slots left and did not accept visitors without bookings. Fair enough. It was a smaller...
Women in Wine:
Cote Bonneville Chardonnay
Who makes it? Cote Bonneville is a family run winery in the Yakima Valley, Washington State. The Shiels family expanded the vineyard back in the early 1990s when they purchased it and daughter, Kerry Shiels, is now the winemaker. The oldest block in their DuBrul...
Jane Eyre Wines Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir
Who makes it? Jane Eyre is an Australian winemaker that also puts her stamp on French wine, including this Beaujolais wine from Chenas. She is now well known for her expertise in Pinot Noir after vintages at Cullen in Margaret River, Felton Road, Central Otago and Ata...
Santa Julia Organic Torrontes
Who makes it? Santa Julia is one of the Zuccardi family’s estates, with Julia Zuccardi at the head. The Torrontes grapes for this wines come from Mendoza vineyards at the foot of the Andes, from 600 metres above sea level. This simply means that the grapes are ripened...