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...…

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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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