Posts Tagged ‘wine’
First vines planted at Taittinger’s Domaine Evremond in Kent
PETER RANSCOMBE “WE HAVE even arranged for bubbles to fall from the sky,” laughed Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, president of the eponymous Champagne house, as he prepared to plant the first vines at Domaine Evremond, the French producer’s vineyard at Chilham, in Kent. His joke drew nervous giggles from the crowd of journalists, drinks industry veterans and…
Read MoreSalt, lemon and lime time at Edinburgh’s Marriott Courtyard
PETER RANSCOMBE IT’S a situation that will be familiar to so many travellers: you arrive at your hotel, dump your bags in your room and head straight to the bar to unwind. Yet, when you cast your eye along the taps or pick up the drinks menu, your heart sinks as you realise it’s the…
Read MoreFranciacorta – fizz with food
PETER RANSCOMBE IF YOU stop to think for a moment, sparkling wine is an amazing product. No other drink has such a strong connection with celebrations, whether it’s a bottle of Champagne to toast a newly-married couple or getting the keys to your first house, or just a glass of Cava or Prosecco to congratulate…
Read MoreIt’s all about the base
PETER RANSCOMBE WHEN it comes to Champagne, it’s all about the base – the base wines that go into creating France’s signature fizz. Each Champagne house or producer will normally create a non-vintage blend, mixing wines from different vintages or years to create a house style that can be reproduced bottle after bottle. In exceptional…
Read MoreBringing a taste of Napa Valley to the UK
VISITING California with the Wine Institute – to learn more about its sense of place, environmental programmes and diversity of styles – demonstrated the sheer variety of quality wines produced in the Golden State. Yet much of the tastiest wine never leaves the United States – or even, in some cases, California. That’s why it…
Read MoreUnfamiliar wines in familiar places
PETER RANSCOMBE MENTION the word “Sancerre” and most wine drinkers will immediately think of a dry white wine, then slip the name “Beaujolais” into conversation and they’ll picture a light and fruity red. We’re all guilty of it – we taste a wine we enjoy from a specific region and it becomes fixed in our mind,…
Read MoreGoing beyond bubbles
PETER RANSCOMBE FLICKING through the pages of a wine textbook sometimes feels like looking back at an old photo album. There on the pages are all the old friends – from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir through to Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and that cheeky wee Sauvignon Blanc. Then you reach the pages about England…
Read MoreAlternatives to Chablis
PETER RANSCOMBE CHABLIS will always hold a special place in my heart. As a red drinker, it was the white that opened the door for me to a whole world of elegant and exciting wines, eventually leading to delights such as riesling and gruner veltliner. That’s why last year’s news sent a shiver down my spine…
Read MoreAt home in Glasgow
Scotland’s Ideal Home Show celebrates a major milestone and you can join in on the festivities by indulging in their new food and drink festival. Returning to Glasgow bigger and better than ever for their 70th anniversary on 26 – 29 May 2017, Scotland’s leading homes event has now added The Eat & Drink festival…
Read MoreRoyal Academy of Culinary Arts Scotland to host dinner in City of Glasgow College training restaurant
The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Scotland is teaming up with City of Glasgow College to host a one-off gastronomic evening in the college’s new city centre training restaurant, Scholars on Wednesday 29 March. A unique four course dinner will be prepared by college students in collaboration with some of the country’s most talented chefs.…
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