Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’
Find fantastic fizz for your Valentine’s Day at home
Whether you want splash-out sparklers or bubbles on a budget, Peter Ranscombe has you covered. FEW dates strike fear into the hearts of wine fans like the fourteenth of February. Should I buy bubbles? Should the wine match the food? Should I shake the bottle and spray the room like I’ve just won an F1…
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 MoreGet your ‘Bake Off’ on
LOCKDOWN getting a bit monotonous? Looking for new ways to connect with friends? Or give the kids something to do other than home schooling and Tik Tok? My 11-year-old daughter and I had the pleasure of taking part in a virtual choux masterclass hosted by award-winning Glaswegian pastry chef Helen Vass as part of YORStory,…
Read MoreCammo Park turns Christmas trees into wildlife homes
MORE than 350 people have donated their old Christmas trees to the Friends of Cammo Park. The 200-strong voluntary group – which helps the City of Edinburgh Council to manage the Cammo Estate in the north of the city – will use the trees as piles of dead wood. The old trees will decay to…
Read MoreLidl combines Burns Night and ‘veganuary’
LIDL has become the first supermarket to release its own haggis, neeps, and tatties ready meal that’s been certified as vegan. The German discounter’s dish got the seal of approval from The Vegetarian Society. Its own-brand McKinlay’s vegetarian haggis, neeps and tatties meal is available across all 104 of the chain’s stores in Scotland. News…
Read More12 Wines of Christmas: Chile
Day nine of his “12 Wines of Christmas” series sees Peter Ranscombe taking a look at carmenere from Chile. DIVING into a tin of Christmas chocolates can be a bit like a playing lucky dip at the showies – you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get. Back in 1994, Chilean farmers were faced…
Read More12 Wines of Christmas: Spain
Day eight of his “12 Wines of Christmas” series sees Peter Ranscombe exploring Spanish food and wine pairings. THINK Spain, think sunshine. Long lazy days spent soaking up rays on the beach, simmering summer evenings spent devouring plates of tapas, and cringe worthy late nights spent crooning to questionable karioke in “Irish” pubs. Yet master…
Read More12 Wines of Christmas: South Africa
In the latest instalment in his “12 Wines of Christmas” series, Peter Ranscombe looks at KWV’s top wines from South Africa. QUANTITY and quality don’t necessarily have to sit at opposite ends of the spectrum. As we saw with Paul Mas’ operations in the south of France, it’s possible to produce quality wines in large…
Read More12 Wines of Christmas: Argentina
Peter Ranscombe continues his journey through the 12 wines of Christmas with top-end bottles from Argentina. TAKE a walk along a supermarket wine aisle and it’s easy to dismiss Argentina as a land full of simple malbec. Row after row of cheap and usually very cheerful red wines demonstrate how the country and the grape…
Read More12 wines of Christmas: California
Peter Ranscombe begins his journey through the 12 wines of Christmas with Marimar Estate in California. HEAR the name “Torres” and its natural to think of the family’s Spanish vineyards. Yet the country’s most famous winemaking dynasty is now arguably equally as famous for its vines in Chile. What’s perhaps less well-known is that the…
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