Glass of Bubbly
8 Perfect English & Welsh Sparkling Wines for Harry & Meghan’s Wedding
With English and Welsh wines beating Champagne in tastings and the Royal Family’s support for our local wines, how will Harry and Meghan be celebrating and what will be the fizz of choice at the wedding? The Queen has her own vineyard at Windsor Castle, carefully tended by Tony Laithwaite with wines made by Ridgeview.…
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A Look at the Sparkling Wines of Canada… Eh!
Close your eyes and think of Canada. What comes to mind? Unspoiled landscapes? Maple syrup? Polar bears and ice hockey? Or, if you’ve explored the world of wine, perhaps the quintessentially Canadian Icewine? Now, before we get too far in, it goes without saying that Icewine really is great. Made from grapes naturally frozen on…
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The history of Champagne, its Name, Production and Use
When we talk of Champagne, suddenly a grace, sophistication, and charm surround the conversation. As a drink, it is one of the most refined, classy and celebrated ones and a bottle of Champagne is usually saved for special occasions. It is as vintage and classy, as its name. The history of Champagne, takes us back…
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Champagne Season
With the changing of the clocks and the crack of fireworks behind us, we are on the home straight towards festive chaos and all the wonderful vinous delights that the silly season entails. Yet the romantic in me still enjoys pairing wines with the weather and in the final days of November, against a backdrop…
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Interview with Italian Winemaker Piero Masi
Noted Italian winemaker Piero Masi is one of the seven partners of India’s leading Fratelli brand of wines. Among the unusual influences he has introduced into Indian winemaking is an unusual zero dosage sparkling brut, the Fratelli Gran Cuvée Brut. This wine is hand-harvested and made by the method traditionelle. With India still a relatively…
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Bubbles & Côté Mas Food Pairings
When looking for a fine winery, one searches primarily for authenticity. Domaine Martinolles, one of Domaines Paul Mas’ 12 estates, finds its legitimacy in the rich history of the region. It resides in the Limoux appellation area in St Hilaire, birthplace of “La Prima Perla”, the first bubble. The method of sparkling wine production was…
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Discover Champagne Vollereaux
Born into a wine-making family established in Pierry and Moussy since 1805, it was at the end of the Great War that Victor Vollereaux decided to promote his own Champagne. He achieved his first vintage in 1923 and offered his production to a circle made of his friends and relations. This operation was repeated from…
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An Evening of Fizz!
Last month I found myself representing Basilicata’s highly regarded Cantine del Notaio at Blenheim Palace’s literature, film and music festival gala dinner. Indeed!! Now one might have expected the early evening flutes of fizz to carry something as grandiose as their impressive surroundings, perhaps bubbles from a Grand Cru village or as is increasingly the…
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Camel Valley Brut Welcomed Aboard British Airways First Class
It’s ‘chocks away’ and onwards and upwards for Cornwall’s Camel Valley. as their 2013 Camel Valley brut sparkling wine is welcomed aboard by BA Cabin crew. The Cornish sparkler made by Sam Lindo will be served in British Airways First Class. The order, the biggest in the history of Camel Valley, followed a blind tasting…
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