Blog
Churchill’s: A new look for a new era of port and wine
after celebrating their 40th birthday last year, Churchill’s are heading into their next 40 years with a fresh new image, which represents everything that they are about: minimalism (they are proud practitioners of minimal intervention winemaking) and beauty (their high pedigree vineyards are located in the stunning surroundings of the Douro). The new look suits the philosophy of the wines: a fresh take on an established industry.
Discovering Luberon and Costières de Nîmes in the Rhône Valley
At the southernmost part of the Rhône, either side of the valley, you’ll find the appellations of Luberon and Costières de Nîmes. Luberon is on the east side, wedged between Ventoux and Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, and Costières de Nîmes is on the west side, right at the tip of the Southern Rhône, bordering on the Languedoc.
Exploring Tesco’s Vegan Wine Range
Most people don’t know that most wine isn’t vegan - and why it isn’t vegan. More vegan wines are appearing on the shelves now and are being labelled as so, but would a wine labelled as vegan put you off? And do vegan wines taste any different? Skin + Pulp guest writer Jenni Allen aka @oliveandthevine explores Tesco’s vegan wine range to find out!
Exploring Age-worthy Albariño from Rías Baixas
I first ever tasted an Albariño in a seafood restaurant. It was recommended by the sommelier because of its fresh acidity, characteristic saltiness and stony minerality, which made it the perfect partner for briny oysters and the sweet, juicy meat of grilled Mediterranean prawns. Since then, I’ve been hooked and it’s one of my favourite summer whites, offering excellent value for money as it’s usually drunk young, requiring no ageing.
Top English Wine Week Picks
Lot’s of good drinkin’ happened this week! Check out our top English wines.
The Best Rosés to buy this Summer
Want to know what the best rosés are to buy THIS summer? Read on so that you can celebrate Rosé Season in style!
M&S ‘Found’ wine range: Are you ready for an adventure?
M&S have got a great new range called Found, which features wines from lesser-known regions (all vegan and sustainable), made from rare and forgotten grape varieties. I got sent a few wines from the range to sample - read on to see what I thought of them!
Terrazas de Los Andes: The search for freshness in Mendoza
“When you’re in Mendoza, you decide who you want to be when you look at where you plant your vineyards,” Herve Birnie-Scott muses. Thirty years ago, this winemaker from the Loire decided what he wanted Terrazas de Los Andes to be, despite being a bold move away from Argentinian wine at that time.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio: Celebrating 60 years as an Italian icon
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is celebrating 60 years as an Italian icon. It’s a wine loved by American celebrities and is sold in 95 countries around the world. But among wine circles, Pinot Grigio is a much-snubbed style of wine, dismissed as being characterless and bland. Sophia Longhi explores why Santa Margherita is different from the rest and why you perhaps should give it a try.
Sustainable, zero-waste wines from Borough Wines
Skin + Pulp guest writer Jenni Allen explores sustainable, zero-waste wines available from Borough Wines. Can we look after the planet AND drink high-quality, tasty wines?
Tasting Note: Champagne AYALA Le Blanc de Blancs 2014
AYALA Le Blanc de Blancs 2014 showcases the beauty of pure Chardonnay. It’s bright in colour and in aroma, expressing clean, fresh lemon, alongside perfect flaky pastry.
Exploring Cru Bourgeois du Médoc Wines
Médoc is an appellation prized for producing characterful red wines of excellent value that are accessible, reliable and most of all - enjoyable.
The Cru Bourgeois classification is the promise of expertise and high-quality standards from passionate winegrowers and makers, working towards a sustainable future that champions the quality and essence of the place the vines call their home.
Defined Wine: The UK’s First Contract-Only Winery
Defined Wine was set up in 2018 by Henry Sugden to make wine for other people. Defined owns no vineyards or brands – they purely act as the vessel to bring their clients’ visions to life, with as little or as much involvement as the client desires. The client defines the experience when it comes to making their wine.
Kylie Minogue 2020 Côtes du Provence Rosé
Celeb wines do bring something valuable to the wine trade – and that’s their fans. An excited, engaged, bustling marketplace is good for everybody and these wines will be the catalyst for opening up the world of wine for many consumers. Kylie has one of the most popular wine ranges at Morrisons, where her 2020 Côtes de Provence rosé will be stocked exclusively.
A Tour of Provence with Château Léoube
It was in the summer of 1997 when the Bamfords (from the Cotswolds in England) first set eyes on Château Léoube in Provence. If its scenic beauty is anything to go by, it must have been love at first sight. The image of rusty orange earth, blanketed by lush vegetation, meeting the expanse of blue ocean calms me, even from the page I’m looking at. I am reminded of the utopian Tracy Island from Thunderbirds, as I study the crowd of umbrella pines on the peninsula, seeing how they lean over the edge, peering curiously into the sea. I’m sure if that was the view before my eyes, my heart would have skipped a beat too.
Blue Aurora English Blueberry Wine
Did you know that wine doesn’t have to be made from grapes? The definition of ‘wine’ in the Cambridge English Dictionary is ‘an alcoholic drink that is usually made from grapes, but can also be made from other fruits or flowers’. Well, in this case it’s made from blueberries.
South African Wine Recommendations
The effects of South Africa’s alcohol ban have been catastrophic. The rural communities are among the hardest hit, where tens of thousands of workers are at risk of losing their jobs; many already have. On average, each worker has six dependants to feed and care for, so wine industry job losses will mean serious socio-economic upheaval for many communities.
We can all help to #savesawine by buying it. Here are my South African wine recommendations that you can pop in your shopping basket next time you’re on the high street!
What to drink with sashimi: An exploration of Japanese wine
When we think of Japanese wine, saké and shōchū perhaps might first spring to mind, as these wines, made from rice (saké), or sweet potato, barley or rice (shōchū), are very much embedded in the drinks culture of Japan. But grapevines have actually been growing in Japan for thousands of years and wine made from grapes is produced in 36 of the 47 prefectures.
New 2019 Vintage Wines From Weingut Lutz
I’m always happy to be rolling around in wine and I’m delighted to be hanging out with the new 2019 vintage wines from Weingut Lutz. Stefan Lutz (@stefan.rhh) got in contact with me over the summer and sent me some of his wines – the Grundstock range and two of his Lutz wines. I really enjoyed them (you can read my blog from last July on my ‘links page’ link in my bio!) and my overall impression was that these were modern German wines for the global palate: ‘all at around the 13% ABV mark, these are wines that challenge the cool-climate expectations in more ways than one.’ (Yes, I just quoted myself.)
KEEPING WARM WITH RASTEAU WINE
Rasteau produces dry and fortified red wines made from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre (sometimes Carignan and other additional varieties too, in small amounts). This year, the appellation is celebrating 10 years as a Cru of the Côtes du Rhône, the highest accolade given within the region. It’s a badge of honour, which recognises Rasteau’s distinctive terroir and high quality production.