1821: A new number for wine in Edinburgh

Peter Ranscombe joins one of Italy’s venerable wine families in Edinburgh for the launch of its inaugural ‘wine hotel’. EDINBURGH last night became home to The Wine House Hotel 1821, the first in a chain of hostelries being opened by the Zonin family. Zonin is best known for its prosecco, Italy’s most-famous sparkling wine, but…

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BenRiach releases Batch 14 Cask Bottling

The BenRiach Distillery has today released its Batch 14 cask bottling. The seven casks of both unpeated and peated malt reflect the distillery’s experimental approach to distilling and cask maturation. Batch 14 features first fill Oloroso sherry butts, port pipes, a first fill virgin oak cask, a first fill marsala hogshead and a Pedro Ximenez…

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Charles Heidsieck: Keeping something in reserve

Peter Ranscombe explores the use of higher proportions of reserve wines in Charles Heidsieck’s range of Champagnes. Walk along the aisle of any bottle shop or take a quick glance at a decent wine list and the choice of Champagne brands appears almost endless. It’s easy to dismiss France’s flagship sparkling wine as simply being…

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Rhone Part 1: Syrah’s spiritual home

The Crozes-Hermitage area of the Northern Rhone produces only a single red grape variety, but Peter Ranscombe finds out just how varied its Syrah can be. “Syrah loves a view” – or so French winemaker Jean-Louis Chave once said. In the Crozes-Hermitage region in France’s Rhone valley, those grapes are spoiled for choice when it…

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Rhone Part 2: Finding whites in the land of reds

Syrah may be the king of Crozes-Hermitage, but the Northern Rhone’s largest appellation is also home to some stunning whites, as Peter Ranscombe discovers. Word association can be a dangerous sport in the world of wine. Mention the name “Crozes-Hermitage” and most wine fans will immediately think of deliciously rich and ripe reds made from…

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Introducing Inchmoan: From the Island of the Peat

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two exceptional new single malts from its Island Collection – Inchmoan 12 Year Old and Inchmoan Vintage 1992. Since 1814, the Loch Lomond Distillery has been producing the finest single malt and single grain whisky.  Situated on the banks of Loch Lomond it takes its name from the most picturesque…

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The Dalmore releases 40 year old whisky

The definitive luxury single malt The Dalmore is set to add to its repertoire of exceptional rare and aged whiskies with The Dalmore 40 year old. Building on The Dalmore’s pioneering heritage in the art of maturation, The Dalmore 40 has been carefully nurtured and crafted by renowned Master Distiller Richard Paterson.  Having been laid…

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Kingsbarns goes five star

Kingsbarns Distillery has announced that its visitor centre has recently received a five-star rating from VisitScotland. The visitor centre opened on 30th November 2014 and was initially graded at four stars in 2015. The facility includes a whisky tour complete with exhibition and tasting, a shop and cafe. Scott Robertson, Visitor Centre Development Manager, commented:…

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2017 distillery exclusive now available from Dalmore

Luxury single malt whisky maker The Dalmore has released its limited edition distillery bottling for 2017. Available exclusively from the renowned The Dalmore Distillery in the Scottish Highlands, The Distillery Exclusive Vintage 2000 combines the depth and complexity of The Dalmore’s unique new make spirit with sweetness gifted from the soft character of Californian Merlot. Released during…

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