Wine
Online wine tasting just went hi-tech
Peter Ranscombe logs on to tech entrepreneur Michael Baum’s Vivant virtual wine tasting platform – and he’s impressed by what he sees. I GUESS is was just a matter of time before online wine tastings got the gamification treatment. When every other aspect of our lives – from logging the miles we slog on running…
Read MoreSeven South African wines you need to try
Peter Ranscombe revisits some of his recent favourites from South Africa as the country’s alcohol ban shifts direction once more. YESTERDAY’S news that the South African government has lifted parts of its alcohol sales ban will provide some relief for wine producers. Yet – as winemaker Bruce Jack warned in a recent article for The…
Read MoreWhy your new favourite Italian wine will be from Puglia
Peter Ranscombe samples a new range of organic wines with Bellissimo Vino in Edinburgh. IF ITALY is shaped like a boot then Puglia is its very stylish heel. Bordered by the Adriatic and Ionian seas, the area is sometimes overshadowed by more famous wine regions in Campania and on Sicily. One of the reasons that…
Read MoreWhy you should venture across the Andes
Two online tastings spread over two weeks have convinced Peter Ranscombe to explore more bottles from both sides of South America’s mountains. CONSIDERING that they’re separated by one of the tallest mountain ranges on the planet, Chile and Argentina have a lot in common. During tonight’s online tasting run by Diana Thompson at Wine Events…
Read MoreWine to Dine – March 2021 – Flora Shedden
Scottish Field wine columnist Peter Ranscombe finds five bottles that will flourish with Flora’s recipes. WATCHING The Great British Bake Off back in the days when it was on the BBC was a midweek guilty pleasure. I’ll admit, I’ve not made the switch to Channel 4 – the loss of Mel, Sue, and Mary still…
Read MoreSpanish sunshine in Lidl’s latest ‘wine tour’
Peter Ranscombe dreams of Spain’s beaches, beers, and sunshine – yet is content to make do with its wines for the time being. SCOTLAND’S clincial director, Professor Jason Leitch, might be advising civil servants not to book non-refundable summer holidays, but that hasn’t stopped me daydreaming about Spain. The beaches, the beer, the sunshine –…
Read More#TryJanuary: If you like that, try this…
Looking for inspiration to kick start your #TryJanuary? Peter Ranscombe is on hand with some suggestions. If you like… Albarino Try… its fizzy friend As we saw during lockdown, the pandemic hasn’t got in the way of Mar de Frades continuing to produce seafood-friendly albarino. Winemaker Paula Fandino has also been busy perfecting her sparkling…
Read More12 Wines of Christmas: Rioja
Peter Ranscombe‘s “12 Wines of Christmas” reach their end with a look at traditional Rioja. SO MUCH of my wine writing these days focuses on “the next big thing” – concerete eggs, clay amphorae, obscure varieties grown in unusual locations. Sometimes it’s refreshing to slip back into the classics, and that’s exactly what happened during…
Read More12 Wines of Christmas: Bordeaux
In his penultimate “12 Wines of Christmas” article, Peter Ranscombe picks Bordeaux to suit every pocket. FEW words in the world of wine epitomise poshness like “Bordeaux”. Its five “first growth” chateaux produce some of the most expensive labels on the planet. Yet Bordeaux is also one of the largest production regions in France, which…
Read More12 Wines of Christmas: New York
Peter Ranscombe explains why New York is featuring in his new year’s resolutions in the latest article in his “12 Wines of Christmas” series. I AM notorious for failing to keep new year’s resolutions. But one promise I’ve made to myself for the year ahead with which I’m determined to stick is to learn more…
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