Posts Tagged ‘trees’
Albarino: how will lockdown affect the way wine is made?
Two very different vintages and two very different tastings demonstrate how the weather still plays a crucial role in winemaking, writes Peter Ranscombe. WHAT a difference a year makes; nearly 12 months ago, I was sitting in a London tapas bar – remember when we could go out for tapas? – listening to Paula Fandino,…
Read MoreGeorgia on my mind: wines for lockdown armchair explorers
Being stuck at home is the perfect time to try wines from Georgia, writes Peter Ranscombe. REMEMBER the days when we could just hop on a plane and fly around the world? Or catch a bus or a train? Or just leave the house whenever we fancied? Lockdown has definitely given me time to reflect…
Read MoreIt’s Bordeaux, but like you’ve never seen it before
Before the lockdown, Peter Ranscombe travelled to Bordeaux to visit winemakers who are caring for the environment as well as their vines. JEAN-BAPTISTE Cordonnier knew he was doing something right when the baby grass snakes started coming back into his kitchen. His father, Pierre, had farmed the family’s vineyards near Moulis in Bordeaux organically “without…
Read MoreTen birds to spot in your garden this spring
The warmer months of spring promise the start of the nesting season and a chance for nature lovers to spot busy birds as they hurry to build nests. To help stay-at-home wildlife explorers identify their sightings, Swarovski Optik, a world-leading manufacturer of long-range optics, has shared a list of ten British birds that can easily…
Read MoreThe fascinating story of historic Dumfries House
Dumfries House holds a very special place in Scottish history. When the foundation stone was laid in 1754, it became the first home to be designed by John, Robert and James Adams, the architects whose practice became arguably the most famous in the UK. The house hit the headlines in 2007 when Prince Charles, the…
Read MoreWhen you discover a murderer in the family
When writer Cal Flyn discovered the dark secret in her family’s past it started a long but cathartic investigation. In the summer of 2011 I made a discovery about my family history that has dominated my work and thoughts ever since. I learned that I was the great-great-great niece of Angus McMillan, who left Scotland…
Read MoreA fantastic home by the beach – with an indoor pool
A unique opportunity to purchase a versatile five bedroom house – with a heated indoor pool – in a stunning beach location has arisen. Presented by Galbraith, Balcary House is a charming, yet unique, single storey property in Castle Douglas, in Dumfries and Galloway. Every window benefits from a stunning view, either across the bay…
Read MoreFormer farmhouse on the Kintyre peninsula
A hidden gem of the Kintyre peninsula is now on the property market. Presented for sale by Robb Residential, Achnafad Farm (Achnafad – which means Long Meadow) is a delightful former farmhouse with attached stone steadings, the buildings are arranged to form a pretty courtyard. The house stands in lovely parkland type garden grounds which…
Read MoreRelocating red squirrels is saving the species
Relocating endangered squirrels offers a road to recovery. Safeguarding red squirrels in Scotland may be an ongoing concern, but the pioneering work of one man is offering hope for the future of this threatened species. Ornithologist and wildlife consultant Roy Dennis MBE has an impressive track record. His name is frequently linked with ospreys, a…
Read MoreDelightful and extensive period arts & crafts home
An outstanding B-listed Arts and Crafts house has been brought to the market. Galbraith present The Boreen, in the heart of Dundee’s West End. Designed by renowned architects Thoms and Wilkie and believed to date from 1911, The Boreen offers superb family accommodation of a very high standard and with many delightful features. The Boreen…
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