London’s wine scene: a tale of two cities

August 5, 2013

Considering its total lack of vineyards, London's long-established position in the wine world might seem surprising. But this has proved to be London’s strength; historically there has been no local pride, patriotism or short-sightedness to cloud judgement. Unlike many wine regions where you can only drink local, when it comes to London, you name it, you can get it. It’s not just the diversity of…

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Perfectly formed: the art of the short restaurant wine list

July 30, 2013

Many wine lists start out like ornate market gardens, with everything neatly laid out in sections and easy to manage. But over time it can grow into an endless jungle: a daunting place, impossible to navigate except for the most intrepid wine nerd. Some of them even start out that way. But grab your machete; it’s time to hack back. Neil Bruce of Studio Alto is one of the judges for the Imbibe…

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Confessions of an English Condrieu drinker

July 23, 2013

A short introduction to Condrieu... There are few wines as wantonly hedonistic as Condrieu. It’s the combination of heady, floral perfume and rich, unctuous texture that gets you hooked. The grape used is the unmistakable Viognier, and this is its greatest expression. Languid flavours of sun-warmed peaches, scented with jasmine and honeysuckle, perked up with a spark of orange zest. And to think…

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Canada: you can’t build an industry on Icewine

July 14, 2013

I wonder how many people buy themselves a second bottle of sparkling Icewine. Fun to try once, but it can feel a little bit... gimmicky. Let’s face…

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We need to talk about sherry

July 2, 2013

Yes.Sherry butts. Wrong answer. Last year you wouldn’t be seen dead ordering a sherry. It was drunk exclusively by nuns. And they would only touch it at Christmas, by the thimbleful. Even they were…

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Médoc: Reassuringly expensive

June 18, 2013

A quick intro to the wines of the Médoc... It not just the owners of Tarmac who have made a fortune out of gravel. Rather than excavating it, the residents of Bordeaux have found an altogether more elegant way of making it pay – by growing vines on it. Not all grape varieties are created equal. You’d be lucky to coax anything better than average plonk out of a jester like Couderc Noir. But…

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We’re all going on a summer holiday… diary of a #frenchwinetrip

May 24, 2013

Saturday 1st June Day 8, homeward bound. After an enlightening, exhausting and thoroughly enjoyable 10 days on the road, the trip has come to an end. Here’s a two minute video I made to sum it up. Again, it’s all done in one take with no editing, so excuse the sketchy delivery! Matt Walls - #Frenchwinetrip - Day 8 from Frenchwinetrip on Vimeo.   Friday 31st May Day 7, Burgundy: Force of…

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The Wine Snob: an endangered species?

May 14, 2013

The snob may look just like you and me, but it is parasite in disguise. It leaves its victim poisoned. When the snob discovered wine, like a facehugger, it pounced. But now the snob…

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Chablis: Ice queen

April 30, 2013

A brief introduction to the wines of Chablis... You’d have trouble making drinkable wine further north than Chablis. Every year the local winegrowers sleep fitfully during spring, keeping one eye on the thermometer. Frost is a tireless threat, and can decimate a crop. But if the delicate buds make it through the spring, and the grapes soak up enough sun during the growing season, they can produce…

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2011 Rhône: the George Harrison vintage

April 16, 2013

The Faravel brothers at Domaine de la BouïssièreThe Faravel brothers at Domaine de la Bouïssière © Søren Gudiksen Who was the best musician out…

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