Wine Wyse

Tuesday 8th March 2022 is International Women’s Day. A day to celebrate all kinds of achievements by women throughout the world, including the many women winemakers. It still seems to come as a surprise to some that women make wine, which mystifies me since I believe that there should be equal numbers of men and women involved in wine production. Doubtless the difference has a historical basis, since the early wine producers were small family concerns, and there was perhaps a need for strengt...

“I only drink champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not”. The famous words of Coco Chanel. Valentine’s Day is around the corner once more and that surely calls for a glass of bubbly. As the Covid situation seemingly improves day by day, at least this year we can get together again with the loves in our lives and celebrate in style either out or at home. Although by no means obligatory, pink champagne or sparkling wine always seems appropriate for Valentine’s. In fact, i...

The vineyard region of Monbazillac in south-west France is the largest sweet white wine producing region in the world. Often being a more affordable alternative to its illustrious sister, Sauternes in the Bordeaux region, Monbazillac has its own defined character, usually being a little less sweet than most Sauternes, with greater expression of fruit and balancing acidity. For the last ten years, the tendency of producers has been to lower the residual sugar in the finished wines, with many n...