Valpolicella is a wine region we all think we know. Many of us may have cut our teeth on this light, fruity red when we first began to drink wine, but, like in many great wine regions, nothing stands still. I discovered there is always something more to learn on my first trip of 2016 when I attended the 13th edition of Anteprima Amarone. This is the big showcase event where the newly-released Valpolicella Amarone wines are first shown to the press at the end of January; it is held in the beautiful city of Verona in the Veneto. Continue reading
Category Archives: Events & Tastings
Essência Do Vinho 2014
Wine fairs, useful as they are, are usually hard to get too excited about. Essência do Vinho is a stunning exception – it is actually a very exciting event! Continue reading
The Magic of Sicily
Sicily was my first love. It was my first encounter with the heady, exotic mix of southern Mediterranean culture, landscape and food. Sicily bewitched me and left its mark upon my memory. I remember the drama of the landscape and … Continue reading
Hello Wembley!
Standing under the England sign at the entrance of the pitch, imagining the excitement of the players and the crowd before they go on the pitch was quite a thrill. Continue reading
VinExpo 2011 – in pictures
VinExpo 2011 images
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VinExpo 2011 – in pictures
VinExpo 2011 – in pictures Continue reading
VinExpo 2011 – in pictures
VinExpo 2011 – in pictures
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AWE Sherry Seminar, Bar Pepito, Kings Cross
New York! New York! Long Island Vintners Tasting
It’s fascinating to think of vineyards just 78 miles from Manhattan and having been on a brillant tour of the Finger Lakes wine region last July it was good to complete the picture of New York State wines by focusing on those from Long Island.
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Napa Valley Vintners
Images from the Napa Valley Vintners tasting at the Naval Club. Continue reading
Natural Wine @ Blacks & Terroir
An afternoon of Natural Wine; first a seminar at Blacks club then dinner at Terroir.
5th Cyprus Wine Competition
I was pleased to be invited to take part in the 5th Cyprus Wine Competition earlier this year, as one of two international UK judges. I didn’t have to think too hard about this one as I’d never been to Cyprus and I was curious to learn more about and taste the native grape varieties. Continue reading
Charles Philipponnat Champagne tasting
Philipponnat is one of the very few family-run Champagne companies left and they have been in Champagne since 1532 when their family moved to Aÿ. Continue reading
AWRI Wine Assessment Tasting
Australia House, 29th June 2009 It’s always good to challenge yourself so I was keen to participate in the recent Wine Assessment Tasting, hosted by The Australian Wine Research Institute. Those attending included a mixture of journalists, wine educators, winemakers … Continue reading
Spiritual Viticulture – An Alvaro Espinoza Seminar
Alvaro Espinoza has quite a pedigree in winemaking, having studied oenology at Santiago and Bordeaux universities as well as gaining experience at Château Margaux in Bordeaux and Fetzer’s Bonterra vineyards in California. Yet even so, when Alvaro first became interested … Continue reading