Search results for: south africa
Whyte & Mackay clocking up 29,000 miles for charity
WORKERS at whisky maker Whyte & Mackay aim to walk, run, row and cycle almost 29,000 miles at home to raise cash for charities. They are trying to raise £50,000 over the next eight weeks for good causes, including the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH). As well as employees from the UK, funds will…
Read MoreDoddie Weir enters rugby’s hall of fame
LEGENDARY player Doddie Weir was inducted into Scottish Rugby’s hall of fame on Saturday to mark his 50th birthday. Weir was capped 61 times for Scotland and was part of the victorious 1997 British Lions tour of South Africa. Domestically, he won titles with both Melrose and Newcastle Falcons. He set up the “My Name’5…
Read MoreWelcome to the ‘lollipop vineyard’
While South Africa may have a strong reputation for its old vines, that isn’t stopping farmers from planning for the future, as Peter Ranscombe discovers. WHEN you see the phrase “old vines” on a label, it can mean dramatically different things in different places. On a remote hillside in Australia or Spain or the Languedoc…
Read MorePinot punch-up: New Zealand v Oregon
Who will come out on top in a comparative tasting between Oregon and New Zealand? Peter Ranscombe grabs his whistle to act as referee. ONE grape unites most if not all wine lovers – pinot noir. Its spiritual homeland is Burgundy in France, yet winemakers around the world use the variety to test their mettle, from…
Read MoreArmchair exploring: a ‘virtual press trip’ to Lebanon
Lebanon’s two oldest wineries teamed up today to take journalists on a visit to the Bekaa Valley – without leaving lockdown. Peter Ranscombe stowed his tray table and ensured his seat was in the upright position for the online trip. FEW winemakers can match Faouzi Issa for sheer enthusiasm. Even as he stood on a…
Read MoreLifting the vale: Searching for grenache outside McLaren Vale
Peter Ranscombe indulges his passion for grenache by looking beyond exciting examples in Australia, France, South Africa and Spain. GRENACHE has helped to put Australia’s McLaren Vale on the map – a grape often seen only in blends in Rioja and the Rhone has become the star of the show and elevated to cult status.…
Read MoreCovid convenience: wines to pick at your corner shop
We’ve got Spar… and Co-op and Scotmid and… if you’re getting your lockdown supplies from a convenience store then Peter Ranscombe has some wine recommendations. ONE of the enduring images of the coronavirus lockdown will be shoppers queuing patiently outside supermarkets, with a line of mask-clad consumers snaking around the car park. Yet, for many…
Read MoreSauvignon blanc: New Zealand and beyond
To mark international sauvignon blanc day, Peter Ranscombe goes on a mission to find exciting examples from New Zealand and beyond. FEW grapes split that audience like sauvignon blanc. For some, it’s the very epitome of freshness, with crisp acidity balanced by either savoury asparagus or tropical guava. For others, it’s over acidic, over hyped, and…
Read MoreGranola recipe by Chef Liam Tomlin
Those at home with pent up wanderlust can begin their days as if they are off-the-beaten track in Singita Kruger National Park at the stylish Singita Sweni Lodge, with a bowl of indulgent yet nourishing granola. Tucked into the banks of the Sweni River, Singita Sweni Lodge is located in Singita’s private 33,000-acre concession in…
Read MoreThis is not just wine… this is a first look at M&S’s £5 range
Peter Ranscombe relives his youth as he dips into Marks & Spencer’s latest releases. DERVLA Kirwan has a lot to answer for. Whether it was putting the “kiss” into Balykissangel on BBC One or making the Noughties truly naughty with her sultry voiceovers for Marks & Spencer, the Irish actress’s dulcet tones enticed a generation.…
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