Grape&Grain
How local grapes could be Romania’s new ambassadors
In the second of his reports from Romania, Peter Ranscombe meets the winemakers who are creating premium wines from the country’s indigenous grape varieties. MENTION “Romania” and a series of well-known images are bound to spring to mind: Nicolae Ceaușescu waving from his balcony as the 1989 revolution reached Bucharest; Ilie Năstase winning the French…
Read MoreThese wines will make you take a second look at Romania
In the first of two articles about Romania, Peter Ranscombe reveals why the Eastern European nation is the wine world’s secret weapon when it comes to producing popular varieties. EVER had a wine from Romania? No? Are you sure…? In fact, many of us may have been drinking Romanian wines for years and have never…
Read More‘Mas’ production: How Paul Mas makes quality in quantity
Returning to the Languedoc in the South of France, Peter Ranscombe examines how Paul Mas creates high-quality wines in large quantities. I LOVE it when a winemaker has a sense of humour – and the twinkle in his eye combined with the grin on his face told me that Jean-Claude Mas has that quality in…
Read MoreBehind the scenes with Justerinis in Edinburgh
Peter Ranscombe takes a sneak peak at wine merchant Justerini & Brooks’ revamped tasting room in the Scottish capital. FEW names in the wine trade have such an illustrious history as Justerini & Brooks – founded in 1749, the company was granted a royal warrant by George III, an honour it has maintained with each…
Read MoreJourney’s End is just the beginning of South Africa’s quality wines
There’s much more to South Africa than simple mass-market blends, as the Journey’s End label demonstrates, writes Peter Ranscombe. BEING known as a country that produces “good value” wine can be a double-edged sword. Portugal has slipped into this trap and deserves far more recognition for its efforts to produce higher-quality wines, as award-winning blogger…
Read MoreThese pizza and wine pairings will tantalise your taste buds
Peter Ranscombe ropes in his Scottish Field colleagues to solve a pizza and wine matching mystery. THINK pizza, think beer: whether it’s through cheesy American sitcoms or recommendations from Italians, beer and pizza are inextricably linked in many enthusiasts’ minds. But what about wine? Which wines pair best with a doughy base or a crispy…
Read MoreWine to Dine – May 2018 – Lamb
Drinks writer Peter Ranscombe picks five wines to go with lamb, which was the star of May’s food feature in the printed Scottish Field magazine. LAMB or beef? A first-world problem if ever there was one, but in Scotland we’re blessed with world-beating examples of both, and so it’s only right that we pick some…
Read MoreDeutz pops the cork on its Scottish push
With its rounded flavours and engaging story, Peter Ranscombe expects Champagne Deutz to be a popular addition with diners and drinkers north of the border. NEVER before has there been so much choice on the Champagne shelf in your local bottle shop or the sparkling wine list in your neighbourhood restaurant. Big-name brands rub shoulder-to-shoulder…
Read MoreWine to Dine – Mad March Hare
Peter Ranscombe picks five wines to accompany the dishes from Mad March Hare in the April issue of Scottish Field magazine. DINING outdoors is always a memorable experience and Amanda’s recipes require a picnic basket full of wines that have the character and the flavour to leave a lasting impact, even when there’s sensory overload…
Read MorePairing Pacari’s chocolates with wine is the perfect match
Two of Peter Ranscombe’s favourite topics are brought together at last as he explores chocolate and wine matching. FEW combinations strike fear into the heart of a drinks writer like wine and chocolate; if the wine isn’t sweeter than the chocolate then the liquid will taste bitter but go too sweet and the result will…
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