Press Articles

Monday, January 25, 2021
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Winemakers Doing the Right Thing for the Environment

Purato, a forward-thinking wine producer on the island of Sicily, is a leader when it comes to sustainability and environmental conscience.
All large-scale agricultural activities undertaken by man have an impact on our environment. Our planet is being ravaged by man’s activities and...

Monday, January 11, 2021
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Sparkling Pinot Gris. A first for the UK

So, our somewhat muted Christmas festivities are well and truly over and here we are, nearly halfway through January in Lockdown Number Three. A definite sense of ‘Déjà vu’. This wine discovery, however, I am fairly convinced would not be on most...

Monday, December 21, 2020
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Celebrate With Champagne Boizel

With very different celebrations this year, if nothing else, we can celebrate seeing the back of 2020. It goes without saying that this has been a year like no other and not one that any of us would wish to repeat. A whole new vocabulary has grown...

Monday, November 09, 2020
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Noble Wines, Simple Food. The Pig at Harlyn Bay

Just two of the underlying principles on which the Pig group of restaurants are built, though for the food side, read ‘Simply delicious’. Launched less than 10 years ago with the first Pig in Brockenhurst in the New Forest in...

Monday, October 12, 2020
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Camus. An Intensely Aromatic Cognac


Monday, September 28, 2020
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The Sweet Smell of Success

Being privileged to have been invited...

Monday, July 20, 2020
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Chateau de Mercues - A Haven of Peace in the Cahors Wine Region


Monday, July 13, 2020
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La Chartreuse du Bignac - one of the Hidden Gems of the Dordogne

At last! Here I am in south-west France. Something a couple of months ago I thought would never happen again. But although the pandemic is far from over, control measures are now well in place and, for...

Monday, July 06, 2020
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Top Vouvray is the Legacy of a World War II Hero.


Monday, June 08, 2020
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The Exacting Standards of Bruno Paillard Champagne


Monday, May 11, 2020
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Local Sussex Family Strikes Gold


Monday, April 27, 2020
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More Wine Supplies for our Stay at Home Meals


Monday, April 13, 2020
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Lifeline Thrown to Isolated Wine Drinkers

Berkmann Wine Cellars, the largest independent family-run wine importer in the UK, has opened its doors directly to the wine consumer for the first time in 56 years. The Berkmann Family has been supplying remarkable wine to the UK’s leading restaurants...

Monday, March 30, 2020
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Wine Still Available to Keep Up Morale


Sunday, March 01, 2020
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Tasting at the Top!

Tasting at the Top! Etc Magazine March 2020
Have you ever wondered what the top Bordeaux wines taste like, those which sell at over a hundred euros per bottle – and more? Well now your curiosity can be satisfied. Max Bordeaux is ready to educate your palate, without the need for...

Monday, February 10, 2020
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A Rare Cognac from the Perigord


Monday, February 03, 2020
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Discover the Vineyards of the Dordogne Valley

With the still, cold, grey of winter lingering with us, admittedly interspersed with the odd glimmer of sunshine, our thoughts in January and February inevitably turn to Spring and Summer Holidays. The Dordogne region in south-west France, has been...

Monday, September 23, 2019
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Winemaker Journeys From South Africa


Monday, September 09, 2019
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The Rise of Albarino


Monday, September 02, 2019
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Experience Life at the Chateau


Friday, August 02, 2019
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Fall Back in Love With Sauternes


Monday, July 22, 2019
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French Winemakers Have Global Influence


Monday, June 03, 2019
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Bordeaux - The Wine-Lover's Dream City


Friday, May 03, 2019
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Re-charge the Batteries With a Little Bath-Time!


Monday, April 29, 2019
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Top Quality Modern Wines Now Coming from Austria


Monday, April 22, 2019
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The Benchmark for Bordeaux Wines


Monday, March 18, 2019
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Slake your Thirst for Knowledge. Visit a Vineyard!


Friday, February 22, 2019
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The Warmth of Spain is on Your Doorstep

Signs of Spring at last! March is the time to start seriously planning some holidays in the sun – the Cote d’Azur in France, the Italian lakes or perhaps Andalucía in Spain, with its warmth not only of climate, but of its people,...

Friday, November 23, 2018
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Alsace - Land of Kugelhof and Riesling


Tuesday, November 20, 2018
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Fab wines from Villa Maria

Recently I had the privilege of having lunch with the owner and founder of Villa Maria - the most awarded Wine company in New Zealand. At the age of only 21, Sir George Fistonich founded the company back in 1961, when the wine industry...

Wednesday, October 24, 2018
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Burgundy - C'est Compliqué!


Monday, May 28, 2018
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Wine Tourism Comes to Sussex

Wine Tourism comes to Sussex
For those of us fortunate enough to live in the beautiful, sunny counties of Sussex, it is impossible not to be impressed by the number of vineyards popping-up at what seems to be ever-increasing speed. From the far west of the region around Chichester,...

Monday, May 21, 2018
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The Love-Hate Relationship with Chardonnay


Monday, May 14, 2018
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The Changing World of Wine

The Wine World Continues to Change
There is an old French saying, which goes “Plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose”, which roughly means ‘the more it changes, the more it stays the same’. This erudite expression can be applied to many things - such as Governments...

Monday, April 16, 2018
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Malbec - an Intriguing Grape Variety

Bordeaux Inhabitant finds new home in South America
This could have been a headline in the mid-nineteenth century, when people from many European countries were flocking to the New World to take advantage of the opportunities there. However, it applies not just to people, but also to other items...

Monday, April 02, 2018
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Arundel Wine Society Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
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Arundel Wine Society Celebrates Fifth Birthday
As the world of wine seemingly gets more complex and confusing day by day, particularly in this country which imports wine from every conceivable wine producing region of the planet, wine education of one sort or another is becoming ever more popular. Whether...

Monday, March 26, 2018
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Take a new Look at Sancerre

Try the Elegant Wines of Sancerre
The Christmas festivities are now but a fading memory, we’ve done battle with the ‘Beast from the East’, the daffodils are well and truly out and the buds are beginning to burst. Spring at last, and with it comes more celebrations in...

Monday, March 12, 2018
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Interesting New Spanish Wine Regions

Look Out for the Delicious New Spanish Wines
A couple of weeks back, I wrote about a group of very authentic Spanish restaurants in London called Iberica, well worth a visit when you're up in town. I also mentioned how Spanish wine has re - invented itself in...

Monday, March 05, 2018
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Wine, Women and Secateurs

Wine, Women and Secateurs
Did it all start with Madame Clicquot? Perhaps, but even she had a tough time and, rather than operating under her own name when her husband died in 1805, she had to carry on as 'The Widow Clicquot'. Nevertheless, she was the first woman...

Monday, February 19, 2018
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A Little bit of Spain in the Centre of London!

An Authentic Spanish Experience on Your Doorstep
The hubbub of the busy tapas bar surrounded me in a friendly, comforting atmosphere, as I sipped a top quality bone-dry manzanilla sherry, accompanied by the best Iberico ham that money can buy, freshly cut in front of me. The Spanish barman...

Monday, February 12, 2018
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Wines to Fuel Your Passion

Despite the best efforts of our dear American President to convince us otherwise, 'Fake Noos' may not be such a new thing. When it comes to Saint Valentine and the origins of this much celebrated day of romanticism, there is much controversy as...

Monday, February 05, 2018
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Burgundy Not Only Shines, but it Sparkles Too!


Monday, January 22, 2018
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End of Dry January in Sight


Monday, January 15, 2018
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Care Needed with Wines of Similar Names


Tuesday, October 03, 2017
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Chilean Wines give Burgundy a Run for its Money

Time was we used to consider Chilean wine as quaffable, inexpensive, 'everyday' wine, albeit well-made and packing a considerable amount of fruity flavour. And indeed, there is a very large amount of wine still produced in that country which is...

Monday, September 25, 2017
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Superior Sparkling Wines from the Loire Valley

'Infinitely Loire'. Such is the leading statement on the website of a producer of top quality sparkling wines in the Loire Valley. The company is called Louis de Grenelle, known more often as Caves de Grenelle, and is located in the heart...

Monday, September 11, 2017
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Restaurant Wine Lists

Last week, I was invited to a fascinating evening at the Institute of Masters of Wine in London. The event was designed to launch the Institute’s 9th International Symposium called ‘Living Wine’, which will take place in June 2018, in Logrono...

Monday, September 04, 2017
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The Vexed Question of Varietal Labelling

Choosing a bottle of wine from the shelves of your local wine store or supermarket is not always an easy task. If you know exactly what you’re looking for, then there’s no problem – provided it is in stock. But looking for something...

Monday, August 28, 2017
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English Wine on the Up.

Another very successful Arundel Festival has just come to a close, when thousands of visitors had the opportunity to enjoy the many events and exhibitions which took place over the ten-day festival. For the third year running, a number of wine events were run by...

Monday, August 21, 2017
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National Burger Day! Of course........!

Are you ready for one of the year's great culinary events which takes place this week? Perhaps you have been looking forward to it for weeks, or maybe you've never even heard of it. Shame on you, since this Thursday 24th August is...

Monday, August 14, 2017
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Lobster and Taittinger - a perfect pairing

When it comes to food and wine, there are certain things that just seem right together. Beef and horseradish, lamb and mint, fish and chips are some of the incontrovertible food pairings. But with food and wine together, there are also some pairings...

Monday, August 07, 2017
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The Pros and Cons of a Glass of Wine

A report in the International drinks trade magazine 'The Drinks Business' reads "A 29-year study into the effects of alcohol and dementia has found that older adults who consume alcohol on a regular basis are more likely to live to the age...

Monday, July 31, 2017
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Summer Rose

August is here and our Mediterranean style summer has transformed itself into the normal English Summer. It had to happen of course. The one thing you know for sure is that as soon as the kids break up the weather will be...

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
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Unexpected California
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What do you normally think of when you hear the words 'Californian Wines'? Depending on what your taste profile is, the answer can be somewhat different. At the lower end of the market, there are some ranges of easy drinking, relatively characterless white, red and rosé...

Wednesday, July 05, 2017
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Explore a Different Part of Burgundy

Summer's here and holidays are around the corner. If you've not yet booked, or are off on one of those 'take pot luck' driving holidays in Europe, and you enjoy a glass of wine or two, head for the hills of Burgundy. An...

Wednesday, June 28, 2017
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Vinexpo

Last week saw the 19th International Wine Fair called Vinexpo take place in Bordeaux. A 'trade only' event, it happens every other year and is probably the largest, and certainly the most important, event of its kind in the world. The size of...

Wednesday, June 21, 2017
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Sicilian Wines

Open a bottle of chilled Sicilian white - or red for that matter - and you can almost feel the sunshine that has ripened the grapes to produce these delicious and eminently affordable wines. Sicily is the largest island in the...

Wednesday, June 14, 2017
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Sherry for Your Picnic

With mid-Summer's day just around the corner, it's time to make the most of the sunshine, find the picnic rug at the back of the cupboard, put the folding chairs and table in the boot and pack the picnic basket. The...

Wednesday, May 31, 2017
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Summer Wines from M&S

Summer has come early, or at least it had last week. May is traditionally a month of ups and downs as regards the weather in this country, and this year it has certainly been true to form. Earlier in the month we had...

Wednesday, May 17, 2017
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Blending Wine

Often misunderstood by the consumer as a technique in winemaking, blending is one of the greatest and most versatile of tools in the oenologist's, or wine-maker's, armoury. The reasons why wines, or grape varieties, are blended are many and differ according...

Wednesday, May 03, 2017
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New English Vineyard Planted at Mannings Heath, Sussex

Underlining the exponential growth of English wine, particularly the sparkling variety, the UK wine industry recently announced that one million vines are expected to be planted in 2017. An astonishing number, but a little less since last week when 38,000 vines were planted in...

Wednesday, April 19, 2017
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Hungary for Cabernet Franc

No, it's not a spelling mistake in the title. The red grape variety Cabernet Franc is making a bit of a name for itself in a country which, more recently, has been more known for its delicious sweet wines from Tokaij and some rather variable reds -...

Wednesday, April 12, 2017
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A New look at Muscadet

The French dry white wine produced in the Western Loire valley, not far from the Atlantic Coast, has been around for a long time, not just in France but also on the UK market. It's one of those wines which wine-drinkers of 'a certain age' remember alongside...

Wednesday, April 05, 2017
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An Alternative to Champagne

Last week (March 2017) saw a gathering of sparkling wine producers at a tasting in London, determined show that the (more affordable) alternative to champagne does not have to always be Prosecco, despite what the marketers would have you believe. This was...

Wednesday, March 15, 2017
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Contains Sulphites - Friend or Foe?

Words to strike the fear if God into you or superfluous information? Well, neither actually. It is a legal requirement that wines that contain sulphites must show the fact on the label. Since all wines contain sulphites, all wines have this information on...

Wednesday, March 01, 2017
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Great Value Wines from The Wine Society

The vexed and eternal question of "how much do you have to pay to get a decent bottle of wine?" The question itself is not as straight forward as it may seem, since it depends on A, what is your definition of...

Wednesday, February 08, 2017
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Champagne Best for Celebrations

A headline in the Wine Trade Press caught my eye recently, concerning the plight, or otherwise, of champagne. Latest import figures for the UK showed that the quantity was down by some 3 million bottles, a ‘not insignificant quantity’ as John Major would have said. The...

Tuesday, January 17, 2017
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Calvados and Apple Pie......!

Mid-January and the end of year celebrations already seem like a distant memory. Winter weather is truly here and the first signs of Spring may still be a long way off, as we sit and look out at cold, grey skies...

Wednesday, January 11, 2017
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Hop across the Channel for a little Re-stocking

Assuming that your only acknowledgement to 'Dry January' is to avoid sweet wines, now is the perfect time for a hop across the channel to re-stock the 'cellar', which has been ransacked and pillaged over the last few weeks. Living in the...

Wednesday, November 30, 2016
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70 Burgundy Wines Served by the Glass

Every year in the third week of November, the most famous wine auction in the world takes place in Burgundy. This is the wine sale at the Hospices de Beaune and this year was no exception. Founded in 1443, the...

Wednesday, November 23, 2016
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Family of XII Adopted by Arundel Wine Society

Much as the members of Arundel Wine Society support many of the local charities, this event was nothing to do with social services, but about a family of wine companies. In 2005, twelve of New Zealand’s most prestigious and enduring wineries got...

Wednesday, November 16, 2016
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2 Star Michelin Chef Franck Putelat favours wines from Languedoc

One of the most iconic fortified cities in South-west France is Carcassonne, located 60 miles south-west of Toulouse and about 50 miles inland from the Mediterranean. As you approach the old historic part of the city, it is...

Wednesday, November 09, 2016
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A Taste of the Future at Cité du Vin, Bordeaux

If you ever needed another excuse to visit the fabulous city of Bordeaux (as if!), then this is it. The Cité du Vin opened its doors in June this year, the culmination of a huge project of three...

Wednesday, November 02, 2016
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The Golden Hills of Burgundy

Last week I was visiting vineyards in Burgundy, where some of the best, and most expensive, wines of the world are made. The Central area of the Burgundian vineyards is called the 'Cote d'Or' literally translated as 'The Golden Hill'. This name...

Monday, January 11, 2016
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Domaine de Ferrant - new agency launched January 2016

The 13 hectares of vineyards produce great...

Wednesday, June 18, 2014
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More awards for Champagne de Barfontarc
Further recognition of the tremendous quality and value for money of the champagnes from de Barfontarc was seen recently when awards were announced at the London Wine Fair in...

Tuesday, May 06, 2014
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Champagne Barfontarc a hit with consumers

Monday, April 28, 2014
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