Posts Tagged ‘wine’
Rhone Part 1: Syrah’s spiritual home
The Crozes-Hermitage area of the Northern Rhone produces only a single red grape variety, but Peter Ranscombe finds out just how varied its Syrah can be. “Syrah loves a view” – or so French winemaker Jean-Louis Chave once said. In the Crozes-Hermitage region in France’s Rhone valley, those grapes are spoiled for choice when it…
Read MoreRhone Part 2: Finding whites in the land of reds
Syrah may be the king of Crozes-Hermitage, but the Northern Rhone’s largest appellation is also home to some stunning whites, as Peter Ranscombe discovers. Word association can be a dangerous sport in the world of wine. Mention the name “Crozes-Hermitage” and most wine fans will immediately think of deliciously rich and ripe reds made from…
Read MoreExploring age at Jenkyn Place
English sparkling wines have grabbed a lot of headlines for their fresh fruity flavours and bright acidity, but what happens when the fizz starts to age? Peter Ranscombe travels to Jenkyn Place to find out. The south-east of England was once a land of hops, the aromatic flowers that add citrus flavours and a distinctive…
Read MoreJamie McCulloch: Scottish passion with Swiss precision
Peter Ranscombe meets Scottish winemaker Jamie McCulloch, whose handcrafted wines from Switzerland are finding fans on Edinburgh’s food scene. IT’S always fascinating to meet Scottish winemakers. It’s possible to count the number of vineyards in our nation on one hand and so it’s interesting to explore the reasons why fellow Scots turn to making wine.…
Read More2017 distillery exclusive now available from Dalmore
Luxury single malt whisky maker The Dalmore has released its limited edition distillery bottling for 2017. Available exclusively from the renowned The Dalmore Distillery in the Scottish Highlands, The Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 combines the depth and complexity of The Dalmore’s unique new make spirit with sweetness gifted from the soft character of Californian Merlot. Released during…
Read MoreAlsace: Land of soils
Peter Ranscombe digs into the soils of Alsace, a wine producing region where the interplay between grapes and the land creates a fascinating variety of wines. SCURRYING up the slope behind Eric Kientzler, it’s easy to see why “steep” is a word that crops up so frequently in guidebooks about Alsace. As the winemaker at…
Read MoreSearching for regionality in English sparkling wine
To mark the start of English wine week tomorrow, Peter Ranscombe ponders whether it’s possible to spot regional identity in the country’s sparkling wines ASK a connoisseur of Champagne about their favourite bottles and more likely than not they’ll start waxing lyrical about the different areas that make up the famous French sparkling wine region.…
Read MoreKeeping California affordable
Wines from California can be expensive by the time they reach the UK, but there are still plenty of bargains to be found, as Peter Ranscombe discovers THERE’S no arguing with the quality of the wine being produced in California – some of the pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay I tried during a recent visit was…
Read MoreFinding a wee bit of heaven on earth at Champany Inn’s Creation wine dinner
PETER RANSCOMBE FEW sounds are more inspiring than hearing a winemaker talking about their love for their vineyard – and Jean-Claude Martin is clearly smitten with his vines. Along with Carolyn, his wife, he grows grapes and makes wines at Creation, their estate on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge near Hermanus, in South Africa’s Walker Bay region.…
Read MoreOrganic, biodynamic and natural wines
PETER RANSCOMBE WINEMAKERS have many motivations for tending their vineyards using organic methods; some want to improve their soil, some want to enliven the taste of their wines and some want to protect the land that’s been home to their family for generations. Vincent Rochette has another reason for farming organically – the health of his…
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