Posts by Peter Ranscombe
Why The Wine Society is ‘backing its best’
Peter Ranscombe finds out how The Wine Society, a long-running club owned by its members, is supporting small producers hit by the pandemic lockdowns. FEW businesses have been left untouched by the coronavirus pandemic – and winemakers are no exception. On top of the disruption caused to the harvest in the southern hemisphere, the closure…
Read MoreWhat was Berkmann’s best seller this summer?
With wine merchant Berkmann’s ‘Help 4 Hospitality’ campaign finishing, Peter Ranscombe looks back at its best sellers. WHEN the lockdowns were imposed around the UK, wine suppliers like Berkmann were faced with the closure of the restaurants, pubs and other hospitality venues to which they normally sold their bottles. The company responded within two weeks…
Read MoreForaging for rosehips and crab apples helps care homes
EAST Lothian residents are being asked to forage for rosehips and crab apples to help residents in care homes. Tom Chisholm and Rupert Waites, who founded drinks company Buck & Birch, have launched a foraging campaign called “Restoring Vital Connections”. They want people to bring them rosehips and crab apples, which they will make into…
Read MoreHow Scotch helped Belvedere enhance vodka’s flavour
Vodka brand Belvedere took a leaf from whisky’s book to create its latest drink. Peter Ranscombe finds out why. VODKA is – if I’m feeling generous – a blank canvas on which bartenders can paint exciting pictures through cocktails. At its best, it’s neutral and unobtrusive; at its worst, it’s just plain boring. You can…
Read MoreDundee cleaner wants to ‘clean up’ industry’s image
A CLEANER from Dundee is on a mission to “clean up” her industry’s reputation. Kelly Fairweather, owner and founder of At Your Service, has been appointed as associate director of the Domestic Cleaning Business Network (DCBN), a trade association formed late last year to provide advice and resources to domestic cleaning companies across the UK.…
Read MoreFirst whisky from organic distillery
ORGANIC distillery Nc’nean launches its maiden whisky this morning, becoming the first British spirit to be sold in recycled clear glass bottles. The distillery, which is located on the Morvern peninsula, is powered by renewable energy. Nc’nean’s single malt was made using organic Scottish barley and was aged for three years in a mix of…
Read MoreWINE TO DINE – OCTOBER 2020 – AL FRESCO
Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe picks five luxurious wines for al fresco dining. IT WAS really exciting to see al fresco dining returning as the theme for the food feature in the luxury issue of Scottish Field. As we’ve explored before, outdoor dining requires wines with plenty of character and flavour. And, with this…
Read MoreWine and dessert matching with SprEHd and Vino
Having indulged in SprEHd’s cheese and charcuterie grazing box, Peter Ranscombe turns his attention to its sweet incarnation. PERHAPS the only drawback of the current format for the food feature in the printed Scottish Field magazine is that chefs are recommending fewer recipes for desserts. While it’s exciting to have a different “star ingredient” each…
Read MoreFizz Feast organiser unveils ‘Fizz Friday’ online tastings
THE annual Fizz Feast wine and food festival may not be taking place in Edinburgh this autumn but organiser Diana Thompson has created an online “bonanza of bubbles” to take its place. Thompson, who runs Wine Events Scotland, has organised five “Fizz Friday” tastings on video conferencing platform Zoom. They begin on 30 October and…
Read MoreA Week in Whisky: Is this the ultimate prize for a Scotch fan?
MEMBERS of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) have the chance to win an entire cask of whisky from Holyrood Distillery in Edinburgh. It’s the first time the society has given away an entire barrel from one of its partner distilleries. The prize is worth around £10,000 and includes duty and ageing for 10 years.…
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