Yealands defies expectations with New Zealand’s classic varieties

Peter Ranscombe explores the diversity of styles of sauvignon blanc and pinot noir from New Zealand with Yealands’ senior winemaker, Natalie Christensen. Everyone knows New Zealand sauvignon blanc, don’t they? It’s full of gooseberry flavours and paint-stripping acidity, right? If that’s the assumption then it’s time for a rethink. Although the classic Kiwi style certainly…

Read More

Ageing gracefully in the Languedoc

Picking older wines to drink doesn’t have to be all about the classics, as Peter Ranscombe reports. WHEN we think of wines that will be laid down in cellars to age, names like Bordeaux and Burgundy or Napa and Gimblett naturally spring to mind. Yet the right ingredients for creating an age-worthy wine – ripe…

Read More

Foncalieu: Keeping it fresh in the Languedoc

Peter Ranscombe is enchanted by the freshness of the white wines being produced in one of France’s most famous regions for reds – the Languedoc. The Languedoc region in south-west France is famed for its red wines. Areas such as Corbières, Fitou and Minervois are renowned throughout the world for producing fruity and powerful reds…

Read More

Single vineyard garnacha from Rioja

Whether you call it garnacha, grenache or even garnatxa, Peter Ranscombe wants to praise the often-overlooked red grape variety. BLENDING is at the very heart of the winemaking tradition in Rioja. Whether it’s mixing the tempranillo, garnacha and other grape varieties used to make Spain’s most-famous red wine or fusing together wines from the Alta,…

Read More

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…

Read More

Alsace: Land of soils

Peter Ranscombe digs into the soils of Alsace, a wine producing region where the interplay between grapes and the land creates a fascinating variety of wines. SCURRYING up the slope behind Eric Kientzler, it’s easy to see why “steep” is a word that crops up so frequently in guidebooks about Alsace. As the winemaker at…

Read More

Revolutionary party planned for Falkirk Wheel’s 15th birthday

Scottish Canals is inviting the public to celebrate the 15th birthday of the world’s only rotating boat lift with a special party at The Falkirk Wheel. Featuring an array of unique events, performances, and copious amounts of cake, the party on May 27th will offer fun for all the family. Visitors can go roamin’ with…

Read More

Alternatives to Chablis

PETER RANSCOMBE CHABLIS will always hold a special place in my heart. As a red drinker, it was the white that opened the door for me to a whole world of elegant and exciting wines, eventually leading to delights such as riesling and gruner veltliner. That’s why last year’s news sent a shiver down my spine…

Read More