James Wine & Spirits
Strength in depth at Austria’s Pichler-Krutzler
Gruner veltliner and riesling were the stars of the show when winemakers Erich and Elisabeth Pichler-Krutzler visited Edinburgh, writes Peter Ranscombe. THERE’S never been a more exciting time to be drinking wine in Scotland – the breadth of bottles available from independent wine merchants, supermarkets and restaurants is simply astounding. Yet sometimes it’s refreshing to…
Read MoreWhy I’m so pleased the Simpsons broke their promise
Peter Ranscombe toasts a Scottish and Northern Irish couple triumphing with their English wines. “WE PROMISED we would never make an English still wine,” laughed Charles Simpson as he addressed his guests in the basement at Trade Soho, the private members’ club in London where he and his wife, Ruth, launched their range of four……
Read MoreThere’s more to Scottish lager than the Big Red T…
In the first of his new beer columns for Cask & Still magazine, Peter Ranscombe explores the development of Scottish craft lagers. HOP on over to Cask & Still magazine – Scottish Field‘s whisky spin-off – to read my new beer column. In this issue, you can shares in my musings about Scottish craft lager.…
Read MoreAsparagus: Alternatives to sauvignon blanc
If sauvignon blanc isn’t your thing then don’t worry, Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe has other wines in mind to pair with this month’s star ingredient – asparagus. SAUVIGNON blanc is a real “Marmite” wine – you either love it or you hate it. So going all-out and selecting wines made solely from the…
Read MoreWINE TO DINE – JUNE 2019 – ASPARAGUS
In a sauvignon blanc special, Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe picks pairings for asparagus. FEW wines have such a strong affinity with a single ingredient as sauvignon blanc and asparagus, which is this month’s star ingredient in Scottish Field magazine. Flick through any book on wine and the tasting notes for the more savoury…
Read MoreThese wine and doughnut matches have a certain ring to them
Food and wine pairing is a well-trodden route, but how about doughnut and wine matching? Peter Ranscombe investigates, with help from wine importer Inverarity Morton and Tantrum Doughnuts of Glasgow. CAN I murmur “Mmmm, doughnuts…” without channelling Homer Simpson? Probably not, but that’s not going to stop me extoling the virtues of one of my…
Read MoreThere’s nothing fishy about these sushi and wine pairings
Peter Ranscombe joins importer Inverarity Morton’s masterclass with Nippon Kitchen to find out how to pair wine to sushi. THEY say it’s good to try new things and for me those new things over the past few months have focussed on sushi. I’ll always be grateful to Jim Cowie from The Captain’s Galley restaurant in…
Read MoreWhy does riesling have such a bad rep?
Peter Ranscombe asks why Germany’s flagship white grape gets short shrift from consumers – and recommends four wines to help change your mind. RIESLING has become a bit of a running joke within the wine trade. It’s the grape that everyone in the industry adores – but finds hard to sell to their customers. Part…
Read MoreDear Pink Place: The Moët mobile returns to Glasgow
Moët & Chandon Champagne is painting the town pink during its visit to Glasgow this Easter, says Peter Ranscombe. AFTER a tour that took it to the Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh for Valentine’s day and the Corinthian club in Glasgow for Mother’s day, Moët & Chandon’s cute wee Champagne truck has rolled into the Dear…
Read MoreWhat does underwater Champagne taste like?
Winemaker Herve Jestin is doing things differently, both above and below the waves, writes Peter Ranscombe. AS HE strolls along The Shore in Leith, Herve Jestin is following in the footsteps of his father, who came to Edinburgh after the Second World War to play the Breton pipes at the fledgling international festival. Now, Jestin…
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