California Part 1: Finding a sense of place

PETER RANSCOMBE OAK can be a double-edged wooden sword in winemaking. At its best, it can impart aromas and flavours of vanilla and sweet spices like cinnamon and cloves, as well as bringing a rounded mouthfeel to a wine. At its worst, the oak can dominate, overpowering the primary fruit and leaving drinkers checking for tiny…

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World Book Day inspires a look at Scotland’s literary legends

From Rob Roy to Long John Silver, Peter Pan to Harry Potter, Scotland’s landscapes, history and passionate people have helped breathe life into some of the world’s best-loved literary heroes. Whether it’s hard-hitting crime novels, action-packed adventures or heart-soaring romances, the country further cemented its place in the literary history books in 2004 when Edinburgh…

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