Notebook – August 2021

Torabhaig whisky from Skye is among the new spirits reviewed by Peter Ranscombe. IT’S time once again to dip into my notebook and share some reviews from recent tastings. Ahead of its release on Thursday, the second malt whisky from Torabhaig distillery on Skye is among the spirits I explore in the latest in this…

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Borja Perez: Putting Tenerife’s wines on the map

Winemaker Borja Perez demonstrates there’s more to Tenerife’s wines than forgetable holiday whites, writes Peter Ranscombe. ANYONE who dismisses palomino as a “boring” white grape needs to taste the wines made by Borja Perez. Famous for being the variety that’s turned into sherry in Spain’s Jerez region, palomino is known in the Canary Islands as…

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Albarino: Can Spain’s flagship white wine age?

Can Albarino white wines age – Peter Ranscombe joins an online tasting to find out. ONE of the most attractive elements of albarino is its freshness. Spain’s flagship white wine is the perfect example of “what grows together, goes together”. It’s high acidity and bright citrus flavours are the ideal foil for the seafood harvested…

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Aldi beer festival: which brew are you?

The Aldi beer festival includes a quiz to help drinkers find their perfect tipple – so Peter Ranscombe took the test. ONE of the drawbacks of pandemic-induced table service is the inability to stand at a bar and peruse the pints. Pre-lockdown, few joys matched visiting a pub and squinting at the hand pumps to…

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Wine to Dine – September 2021 – Street Food

Street food produces some exciting drinks pairings from Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe. INNOVATION is at the heart of the dishes produced by Scotland’s street-food vendors. They take familiar ingredients and weave their magic – often in a portacabin or a trailer – to produce dishes that make you go “wow”. Winemakers – and…

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Rosé for the bank holiday

Rosé wine will brighten up your bank holiday, even if the weather doesn’t play ball, writes Peter Ranscombe. AFTER this week’s thunder storms brought an end to July’s glorious heatwave, who knows what the weather will do over the bank holiday weekend? Come rain or shine, rosé will still be the order of the day…

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Lidl goes back to the future with French wine tour

Tomorrow’s Lidl wine tour promotion features French classics you may have forgotten, writes Peter Ranscombe. DON’T you just hate it when a tune gets stuck in your heid? I’ve been humming the theme to Back to the Future since getting a sneak peak at some of the wines in Lidl’s latest wine tour promotion, which…

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Franciacorta: Enjoying fizz throughout the meal

Franciacorta makes sparkling wines that can be served with a range of foods, as Peter Ranscombe reports. BEFORE I visited Franciacorta back in 2017, I always wondered whether sparkling wines from the region would be a one-trick pony. After all, the area sits at the foot of Lake Iseo and so I assumed the only…

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Jean Leon: Drinking wine like Hollywood royalty

The legend of restaurateur and winery owner Jean Leon lives on under the watchful eye of the Torres family, writes Peter Ranscombe. SOMETIMES the very thing for which you’re looking is sitting right under your nose. Jean Leon emigrated from Spain to America with dreams of starring in Hollywood films. Yet he returned to his…

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Bonnie & Wild: Toasting Scotland’s drinks

The Bonnie & Wild food hall in Edinburgh’s new St James Quarter is showcasing Scotland’s whiskies, gins, and beers – plus a wine or two, writes Peter Ranscombe. AFTER last night’s official opening, I think it’s fair to say that Bonnie & Wild is going to live up to the hype. The upmarket food hall…

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