Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Leith market’s Oktoberfest starts today
THE first of three Oktoberfest weekends gets underway today at Pitt Street Market in Leith “Pittöberfest” features Barney’s Beer, Bellfield, Campervan, Edinburgh Beer Factory, New Barns, and Pilot. Barnacles & Bones and Ròst are among the street food vendors taking part in the festival. Barney’s Beer boss Andrew Barnett said: “While the cancellation of beer…
Read MoreWhy grenache is so much more than ‘poor man’s pinot’
Ahead of tomorrow’s World Grenache Day, Peter Ranscombe praises the grape’s revival in Australia’s McLaren Vale – and beyond. SOMETIMES wine feels like a popularity contest, with bottles like prosecco, pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc elbowing each other out the way to catch the drinker’s eye. For ugly duckings, it’s harder to be seen –…
Read MoreWhy organic wine needn’t cost the earth
As Organic September continues, Peter Ranscombe picks five bottles to try for under a tenner. REWIND to the 80s and 90s and “organic” produce used to raise an eyebrow. It was the slightly smaller, slightly manky looking apple in the corner of the display or that slightly odd-smelling wine that the shop keeper desperately wanted…
Read MoreSewing course helps Dundee mum land fashion job
A COURSE that teaches young parents how to sew could become a feeder to the fashion and textile industry after one its first students landed work with a Scottish fashion house. Dundee mum Chelsie Bruce was one of the first 10 students to complete the online pilot “Kindred Clothing” course run by Tayside charity Front…
Read MoreYear’s supply of ice cream up for grabs
ICE cream maker Equi’s has teamed up with Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight to give one customer a year’s supply of free ice cream. Customers who buy an Equi’s product between now and the end of October will be in with a chance of winning a tub of ice cream every month for a whole…
Read MoreDistillery goes back to its roots for organic barley
LINDORES Abbey Distillery in Fife has signed a deal with Crafty Maltsters to use organic barley grown on the Falkland Estate. King James IV was staying at Falkland Palace in 1494 when he told Friar John Corr, a monk at Lindores Abbey, to make “eight bolls of malt”, a command that is now taken to…
Read MorePerthshire castle hosts digital farmers’ market
MEGGINCH Castle in Perthshire will host its first digital farmers’ market next week. Customers will be able to place their orders for local produce from Friday and then collect them from the castle’s courtyard on Thursday 24 September. Buyers will be given half-hour slots to collect their goods to help maintain physical distancing. Catherine Drummond-Herdman,…
Read MoreMorrison’s Academy launches STEM partnership
MORRISON’S Academy has launched a programme covering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The independent school has teamed up with Margaret Ritchie, an associate tutor at the University of Glasgow and founder of STEM Academy Scotland. The academy provides hands-on workshops and activities with experts, enabling pupils to experience STEM. Ritchie visited the school to…
Read MoreMillennials eye whisky investments
MILLENNIALS are more likely to invest in whisky than gold, art, cryptocurrency or even stocks and shares, according to a survey by investment firm Braeburn Whisky. Its poll found that 28% of milliennials favour whisky, second only to property. More than one third of millennials said “stability” was a key factor when choosing their investments.…
Read MoreDollar Academy gives schools free online courses
INDEPENDENT school Dollar Academy has launched an online learning platform to give pupils from other Scottish schools free access to Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) courses and shorter “Discovery” courses. The academy’s “Dollar Discovers” platform will give pupils access to courses that may not be taught in their schools, starting with Higher politics, and will also…
Read More