Wine
Not so ordinary claret
There’s nothing ‘ordinary’ about Berry Bros’ claret or many of the other affordable bottles of Bordeaux on the market, as Peter Ranscombe discovers. FEW drinks have such a strong association with Britain as claret, the nickname for red wines produced in Bordeaux. Once used to describe thin and light wines, the term now denotes any…
Read MoreWines for Christmas 2017
Peter Ranscombe goes on a shopping spree to suggest some stonking wines for the Christmas dinner table. INSTEAD of The Grape & The Grain’s usual “100 wines for Christmas”, I thought I’d try something a wee bit different this year. I’ve grouped together these recommendations according to the shops that sell each wine, as opposed…
Read MoreCalifornia: Variety is the spice of life
A series of recent tastings have reminded Peter Ranscombe about the diversity of wines available from California. ONE of the most-exciting aspects of visiting California back in March was learning about the wide variety of grapes being grown in the golden state. As I wrote at the time, there’s far more to Cali than over-oaked…
Read MoreWinter warmers from Sud de France
Looking for a fireside glass this December? Peter Ranscombe explores wines filled with the warmth of the South of France. FEW wine-growing regions ooze sunshine like the South of France; every glass of red feels like it’s bursting with the sun’s warming rays, while each glass of white brings back memories of the lapping waves…
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