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Blog Day 2005 - Five New Sites.
Today is World Blog Day - find and report on five new blogs. In keeping with the Spittoon theme I am restricting my list to wine and food.What I find surprising over the hundreds of food/recipe/cooking sites is how few make any reference to wine. One of the joys of gastronomy, in my view, is matching a good wine with good food. The care and attention of many writers to the food - often accompanied with stunning photographs - could only be enhanced with a note about a wine. Perhaps the 'specialised knowledge' many assume you need puts people off. It's a shame; a heavenly match of food to drink can lift even the most humble of offerings to a fully sensual meal.
One site that does 'get-it' is Every Day Wine Pairings - three writers, Anna, Maureen and Jen compiling interesting recipes and recommending wines to accompany. They recently joined in the Grilled Cheese Day.
Dedicated wine blogs are fewer in number - again perhaps due to the 'specialist knowledge' required. A new site to me, but one that has been going since January, is Benito's Wine Reviews. Not sure who Benito is or where he is based but he offers regular wine recommendations that often include a food suggestion.
It is the inherent nature of blogs to occupy a specialist niche. One such is On the Farm. Gareth Renowden is a New Zealand truffle grower and writer. "It's mostly about truffles, and growing them in New Zealand". He is currently writing a book, detailed on his blog.
One of the aims of World Blog Day is to look at different cultures or parts of the world you rarely come across. Ya Rayi Our Rai is based, I think, in Algeria, but written in English. Farid Zadi also maintains Cuisine Algerienne which is a similar recipe site. I discovered Farid via the FoodBloggers map. I am hoping that Farid can join in the next Euro Blogging By Mail event.
One of the countries I regret not visiting on my travels to the Far East is Vietnam. Sticky Rice covers "Eating, drinking, sitting, watching -these are the things we love about Hanoi. On this site we will attempt to eat our way through Vietnam's northern capital and pass on the results." Just wish I could go with them. The site doesnt offer recipes sadly but has some great photographs.
THere you have it, five great sites to explore. What I would like to see - enlighten me if you know of any - is a wine makers blog or one from a vineyard manager. These strike me as the perfect subject for a blog. Carolyn Tille goes someway towards a view of a vineyard but as an observer rather than a participant in the viticulture or wine producing fields.
Bad Statistics and Binge Drinking.
According to official definitions, the alcohol units from wine her with dinner make statistician, Valerie Pegg, a "binge drinker". It's just one area where she objects to the selective use of statistics.
news.BBC.co.uk
"But just think about it... all that partying to see in the new millennium. Could it possibly be that there hasn't been that big an increase in wine sales between 2000 and 2005? There may even have been a decrease, now party season is over. Either way, not much of a headline-grabbing figure to accompany articles about our supposedly alcohol-fuelled culture."
news.BBC.co.uk
"But just think about it... all that partying to see in the new millennium. Could it possibly be that there hasn't been that big an increase in wine sales between 2000 and 2005? There may even have been a decrease, now party season is over. Either way, not much of a headline-grabbing figure to accompany articles about our supposedly alcohol-fuelled culture."
National Dinner Party Week.
National Dinner Party Week a celebration of food and wine - French food and wine I expect as it is sponsored by the French Wines promotional body. Nothing wrong with that, although it does have a smug Susy Atkins dominating the page. Runs from 10th to the 16th October 2005. No idea what you are supposed to do or where to go.. oh, you mean HOST a dinner party... right... wonder why I didn't think of that...TN: Carlyle Wines Late Harvest Riesling, 2000, Victoria, Australia.
Wine Tasting Note; Carlyle Wine Late Harvest Riesling, 2000, Victoria, Australia.
Available from Bonhote Foster for £6.99 half bottle.
Gloriously intense aroma with a wonderful inviting lemon freshness. Packed to the cork with stunning lemon meringue pie flavoours and lovely balance. Long, long length. Alcohol 11%. Being a sucker for a stickie I rate this highly.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
Available from Bonhote Foster for £6.99 half bottle.
Gloriously intense aroma with a wonderful inviting lemon freshness. Packed to the cork with stunning lemon meringue pie flavoours and lovely balance. Long, long length. Alcohol 11%. Being a sucker for a stickie I rate this highly.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
Coonawarra Tasting In London.
Brett Jones the Wine Maestro has announced a super tasting covering the best of Coonawarra.
WineMaestro.co.uk
"We are delighted to invite you to spend an evening in the company of eight of the region's wine producers. Come along to meet these colourful characters and try their highly prized Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet blends, Shiraz, Chardonnays and even some sparkling wines.
Coonawarra is Australia's leading red wine producing region and takes its name from the Aboriginal word 'honeysuckle'. This cool climate region on the celebrated 'terra rossa' soils produces wine with intense fruit character and great balance. This combination produces seductive and enjoyable young wines, which develop over time into wines of amazing complexity.
The winemakers will share their passion for their wines with you in a typical relaxed Australian style. The master chef at Cantina, Vinopolis will create a stunning dinner that will emphasise the characteristics of the wines using local produce from Borough Market. The dinner includes a Coonawarra aperitif and all wines with dinner."
You need to book via the venue - Vinpolis on 0870 241 4040. Cost is £75 for the full schabang, £55 for the dinner only and £15 for the tasting only (5pm-7:30pm). The tasting/dinner is on the 19th September.
WineMaestro.co.uk
"We are delighted to invite you to spend an evening in the company of eight of the region's wine producers. Come along to meet these colourful characters and try their highly prized Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet blends, Shiraz, Chardonnays and even some sparkling wines.
Coonawarra is Australia's leading red wine producing region and takes its name from the Aboriginal word 'honeysuckle'. This cool climate region on the celebrated 'terra rossa' soils produces wine with intense fruit character and great balance. This combination produces seductive and enjoyable young wines, which develop over time into wines of amazing complexity.
The winemakers will share their passion for their wines with you in a typical relaxed Australian style. The master chef at Cantina, Vinopolis will create a stunning dinner that will emphasise the characteristics of the wines using local produce from Borough Market. The dinner includes a Coonawarra aperitif and all wines with dinner."
You need to book via the venue - Vinpolis on 0870 241 4040. Cost is £75 for the full schabang, £55 for the dinner only and £15 for the tasting only (5pm-7:30pm). The tasting/dinner is on the 19th September.
TN: Langenlois Loimer Riesling, 2002, Kamptal, Austria.
Wine Tasting Note: Langenlois Loimer Riesling, 2002, Kamptal, Austria.
Surf4Wine £8.50
Vibrant is the word here - applying to both the aroma and the palate. Lemons, zesty limes and a healthy dose of lemon sherbet combine into a young, fresh wine with a fair weight and a lively spritz. Developing well. Rieslings, especially dry versions, are really coming back into fashion - this Austrian example is a fine one to pick if you are thinking of dabbling.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Surf4Wine £8.50
Vibrant is the word here - applying to both the aroma and the palate. Lemons, zesty limes and a healthy dose of lemon sherbet combine into a young, fresh wine with a fair weight and a lively spritz. Developing well. Rieslings, especially dry versions, are really coming back into fashion - this Austrian example is a fine one to pick if you are thinking of dabbling.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Pastis - more than just Pernod.
Until a press released arrived detailing Le Grand Cru Pastis my knowledge of this quintessential French drink was sketchy to say the least. Surprising then, to find that its origins lie in Absinthe.When Absinthe was banned in France, due to the toxic nature of the wormwood from which it was made, producers selected star anise, angelica and cloves as a substitute. Drunk with chilled water (one part Pastis to 3-4 parts water) Pastis is now France's most popular spirit.
Under French law an aperitif can be called 'Pastis' provided it is made with liquorice ('reglisse' in French), anethole (a constituent of Star Anise) and contains a maximum of 100g of sugar per litre. Today many cheap Pastis only contain these minimum ingredients and the tradition of slowly infusing herbs and spices individually with alcohol before blending is dispensed with. In the case of Pastis Henri Bardouin however, a complex recipe of 50 natural herbs (with such exotic ingredients as Mugwort, Sage, Cardamon, Tonka Bean, Grains of Paradise, and Nutmeg) is still used to produce a 'Grand Cru' Pastis' with superb aromas and great length and complexity. It is also recommended served with 5-6 parts water due to its intense, richer flavour.
The flavour is clean and pure - and in terms of length incredible with a complex array of liquorice and spices that cascade across the palate.
Available from Arthur Rackham for �16.99.
TN: Xavier Vignon Debut, NV, Vin de Table, France.
Wine Tasting Note: Xavier Vignon Debut, NV, Vin de Table, France.Available from Big Red Wine Company for £7.50.
As the BRW company website states 'Don't be fooled by the vin de table status into thinking this is a lowly wine'. Although rules halt the mention of the composition on the label this is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Merlot, Caladoc, Marselan. This is a georgous wine. Excellent aroma, superbly balanced palate - packed with complex flavours. Hearty tannins but so very drinkable and delicious.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
Beers of The World.
I should have asked in the survey whether people are interested in reading about drinks other than wine - cocktails, whisky, brandy and beer. Next time perhaps. The first issue of this magazine - Beers of the World - plummeted through the letter box this morning. Not sure what I think - its three quid, and has a good spread of articles taking in football (not a subject I take much interest in), history (Joshua Tetley), trends, and breweriana. It touches on food and beer and has eight pages of tasting notes. But the production is shoddy with some truly atrocious photographs many are blurred or heavily pixelated. The last page is made up of poor stock photos. Perhaps I place too much emphasis on the aesthetics and not on the substance of the magazine. But it does lend an air of unprofessionalisum in spite of the quality of the writers.
Subscriptions are available world wide. Prices in the magazine are given in pounds, US dollars and Euros.
EBBP 1 - The Final Write-Ups.
Jeanne just emailed me to say that her write-up for Euro Blogging By Post is now available to read on Cook Sister. Looks like my humble baking efforts were well received. Rather than wade through and update the old EBBP post I thought I would just mention it here.. along with another from one of my regular reads The Passionate Cook. The culinary delights from Chocolate and Zucchini sound, and look, wonderful. Overall I think EBBP was a huge success - thanks to all who took part. The next one is set for the end of September.
UPDATE: Following Dagmar's comments below I must link to Nathelie's post (I forgot!). Her write-up is at Cabbages and Kings. Following the discovery that not a huge number of people like reading about these blogger events - not much fun, I guess, if you do not particpate yourself - all future write-ups will be on a seperate blog. All that is except Wine Blogging Wednesday which is in keeping with the theme of Spittoon. Right .... off to buy a new domain.
UPDATE: Following Dagmar's comments below I must link to Nathelie's post (I forgot!). Her write-up is at Cabbages and Kings. Following the discovery that not a huge number of people like reading about these blogger events - not much fun, I guess, if you do not particpate yourself - all future write-ups will be on a seperate blog. All that is except Wine Blogging Wednesday which is in keeping with the theme of Spittoon. Right .... off to buy a new domain.
New Website: ScotlandWhisky.
The Scotch Whisky Tourism Initiative, a partnership between the whisky industry, the public sector and tourism bodies, is launching Scotlandwhisky, to promote Scottish tourism around the hugely popular malt industry. ScotlandWhisky.com
"Central to experiencing scotch whisky in Scotland is a stay at one of Scotland's Scotch Whisky Embassies. These are hotels specially selected by ScotlandWhisky. They are a minimum of a three star standard, have great whisky bars and staff trained in appreciating whisky. You can book them here on-line."
Duboeuf 'diluted top vintages'
The self-styled King of Beaujolais, Georges Duboeuf, is facing investigation over claims that his company topped up prestigious vintages with cheap wines.
TimesOnline.co.uk
M Duboeuf said that an error, rather than fraudulent practice, lay behind the scandal. 'None of the wine was put on the market and as soon as we realised the mistake, production was blocked at the site,' he said. 'So there was no consequence for the consumer.'
TimesOnline.co.uk
M Duboeuf said that an error, rather than fraudulent practice, lay behind the scandal. 'None of the wine was put on the market and as soon as we realised the mistake, production was blocked at the site,' he said. 'So there was no consequence for the consumer.'
TN: Gallo Red Bicyclette Chardonnay, 2003, Vin de Pays d'Oc, France.
Wine Tasting Note: Gallo Red Bicyclette Chardonnay, 2003, Vin de Pays d'Oc, France.From Threshers £7.99.
As with the Syrah (there is also a Merlot in the range) the Bicyclette sports a fun and eye catching label. A cartoon in gentle stereotyping mode of a guy on a bicycle with French sticks in the front basket. No garlic round the neck though. Although highly drinkable this wasn't really that memorable. Pear and apple flavours, some richness of fruit and texture and a reasonable finish. As with the red a touch expensive.
Scribbling's Rating - 88/100
TN: Gallo Red Bicyclette Syrah, 2003, Vin de Pays D'Oc, France.
Wine Tasting Note: Gallo Red Bicyclette Syrah, 2003, Vin de Pays D'Oc, France.From Threshers £7.99.
This wine, now available in the UK, is Gallo's plan to dominate the market for French wines in the USA. Gallo hopes to make the brand the largest-selling French wine import by 2006. Over there it retails for $10 here a snidge under eight quid. Is it worth it? The Syrah is a peppery little thing, nice and fruity up-front then a layer of dusty tannins leads into a austere liquorice and herb spiced finish. Dark purple in colour with a nice aroma of cherry and blackberry. Nice but a touch expensive.
Scribbling's Rating - 88/100
TN: Camden Park Shiraz-Petit Verdot, 2004, SE Australia.
Wine Tasting Note: Camden Park Shiraz-Petit Verdot, 2004, South Eastern Australia.Threshers £6.99.
Gadzooks this is a big boy. And I am not just talking about the heavy weight bottle with its oversized punt! The label is resplendent with a well endowed bull on the front. While the back, with typical Australian irrelevance has the bull laid out as one of those 'this is where this cut of meat comes from' diagrams. Great Structure and backbone from the back. Full bodied and earthy from the belly. Intense driving flavour from the horns and speaks volumes from the arse. And it is all of those things.
Big, mouth-filling, packed full of blackberries laced with a blackcurrant sharpness. It's a style of wine that new world wine lovers will devour but perhaps lacking a little subtly. To be honest I found it a little hard to consume but if you like the style add a couple more points to the rating. Needs substantially flavoured food if you are going to serve at dinner. Alcohol 14%.
Scribblings Rating - 86/100
Kacamak - Montenegrin Fatty Porridge.
During my trawl through the internet for all things Montenegrin, in support for the Mountain Valley wines post, I stumbled upon a selection of Montenegrin recipes that you may like to adapt and serve with the wines. One is 'Pa�ticada' (a simple beef stew) that is served with 'makaruli' although what 'makaruli' is I have no idea. There is 'Peppers in jardum'. Twenty days of peppers soaking in lambs milk. They are insistent on the number of days. I am none the wiser over 'Ra�tan' either. But you have to remove the hard parts for 'Ra�tan prepared on smoked joint'. The joint is pork by the way not some chard Rizla remains. Then there is 'Smocani kacamak' (Fatty porridge) which involves a potato and a 'kacama�' a special type of spoon, as pictured on what I think is a pack of ready made Kacamak. I am sure something has been lost in translation. I mean 'Fatty porridge' must rank Montenegro above the Finns and us Brits in culinary masterpieces!
The Mountain Valley Range.
A range of wines, just launched, aiming to encapsulate a more international flavour and create a wine 'brand'.
I wasn't expecting much from these to be honest. Another range of cheap Eastern European wines with 'rustic' and 'requires food' appearing in the less than positive tasting notes. Well I was surprised. The reds were every bit as drinkable and 'international' in style as you could hope. You might not try them and immediately think 'Montenegro' but then what would but in terms of quality and drinkability they certainly held their own. The whites were less successful. I thought the Sauvignon Blanc might be suffering from some poor wine-making while the Chardonnay, well, just wasn't that great.
At the time of writing there are no listed UK stockist of these wines. But they are going to be served at Fifpro World X1 player Awards a 'mega-do' with 1500 guests.
I wasn't expecting much from these to be honest. Another range of cheap Eastern European wines with 'rustic' and 'requires food' appearing in the less than positive tasting notes. Well I was surprised. The reds were every bit as drinkable and 'international' in style as you could hope. You might not try them and immediately think 'Montenegro' but then what would but in terms of quality and drinkability they certainly held their own. The whites were less successful. I thought the Sauvignon Blanc might be suffering from some poor wine-making while the Chardonnay, well, just wasn't that great.
At the time of writing there are no listed UK stockist of these wines. But they are going to be served at Fifpro World X1 player Awards a 'mega-do' with 1500 guests.
Wine tasting Note: Plantaze Mountain Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003, Lake Skadar, Montenegro.RRP £5.99.
The colour of mulberries and an aroma of spiced blackberries and vanilla. It had a few hours breathing but it is good. The palate is smooth, full with a nice lick of spice and a touch of liquorice on the finish. Plenty of blackberry and other squishy black fruits. Good length. Alcohol 12.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Wine tasting Note: Plantaze Mountain Valley Chardonnay, 2004, Lake Skadar, Montenegro.RRP £5.49.
Now this I didn't really take to. The nose is a little odd but the palate is fine. Crisp and appley with touches of walnut and pear. Dry, medium-bodied, reasonably good length.
Scribblings Rating - 80/100
Wine tasting Note: Plantaze Mountain Valley 'K', 2004, Lake Skadar, Montenegro.RRP £5.49.
With its floral, peachy aroma this was reminiscent of a Leanyka (aka Feteasca). This is a white variety grown throughout Eastern Europe that has similar overtones to a Muscat. There are no details of what grapes make up 'K' but its a dry wine, medium bodied, peachy and while soft has enough acidity to balance. Alcohol 11.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Wine tasting Note: Plantaze Mountain Valley Merlot, 2004, Lake Skadar, Montenegro.RRP £5.49.
Young, vibrant purple in colour. Aroma is a little subdued but gently fruity. Palate is fresh, with gentle tannins and a softness that makes for easy drinking. Medium bodied. 12% Alcohol. This was dunk with puy lentils and sausages in a red wine sauce accompanied with spinach quickly tossed in orange juice and butter. But frankly many foods will go with this wine.
Scribblings Rating - 86/100
Wine tasting Note: Plantaze Mountain Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 2004, Lake Skadar, Montenegro.RRP £5.49
The nose here is just not right; not for a Sauvignon Blanc. Its not 'dirty' but it is not vibrant or fresh either and it is not corked; it is just not right. The palate too is odd - lanolin, minerally texture, pear flavours. An off bottle I feel.
Scribblings Rating - 72/100
Wine tasting Note: Plantaze Mountain Valley 'V', 2003, Lake Skadar, Montenegro.RRP £7.49.
The V signifies Vranac (pronounced Vranas) Montenegro's unique indigenous variety. This version from Plantaze ('the biggest single vineyard in Eastern Europe') is rather good. Soft with just a gentle suspicion of tannin. Good texture and distinctive. The wine reminded me of Italian reds with a little bitter twist on the finish. Alcohol 12.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Wine tasting Note: Plantaze Mountain Valley Vranac, 2003, Lake Skadar, Montenegro.RRP £5.49.
Another Vranac - this showing a smoky edge to the deep mulberry fruit aromas - pronounced and vibrant. Sharp red-berry fruits mingle with ripe blackberry flavours - lots of squidgy blackberry fruits.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
A digital take on wine - Enologix.
Using the techniques developed over ten years by hi-tech firm Enologix, wine-makers can adjust - manipulate - their wines to taste just like those that wine-guru Robert Parker ranks highly.
TimesOnline.co.uk
"The National Post in Canada declared this week that Mr McCloskey had 'reduced the romance of wine drinking to binary code'. Last week The New York Times quoted the general manager of Ravenswood, a vineyard in Sonoma, as saying that he had stopped using McCloskey's technology because, 'when everybody tries to hit the same sweet spot, it's like making soda pop�'
TimesOnline.co.uk
"The National Post in Canada declared this week that Mr McCloskey had 'reduced the romance of wine drinking to binary code'. Last week The New York Times quoted the general manager of Ravenswood, a vineyard in Sonoma, as saying that he had stopped using McCloskey's technology because, 'when everybody tries to hit the same sweet spot, it's like making soda pop�'
Why We Don't Buy British.
It is a long article but contains a host of wine, drink and food related information - from the winning formula Budwesier eventually found in selling the brand to the UK, through to the associations we have with New Zealand that vodka brand 42 Below encapsulates in it advertising and how Peroni uses its Italian heritage to great effect. Britain it seems views itself as 'dull and predictable' and locked into 'heritage' brands.
Brand Republic
"provenance is emerging as one of the most important tools in the European market's arsenal to unite people around a brand"
Brand Republic
"provenance is emerging as one of the most important tools in the European market's arsenal to unite people around a brand"
Search Tags: wine food & drink
TN: Hendred Vineyard Goldberry Hill, 2003, Oxfordshire, England.
A sultry and very still evening in South O. One of those evenings where you just know rain is on its way with that heaviness to the air. So making the most of the few remaining moments of sun another opportunity to encapsulate that summer feeling with a bottle of something English. I know it's becoming a habit.Following last weeks rather good Runnington Hill I ordered another wine from the same vineyard. A different blend though, labelled as Goldberry Hill.
Hendred Vineyard Goldberry Hill, 2003, Oxfordshire, England.
Local Tastes £5.99.
This is a blend of the evocatively named Madeleine Angevine and Seyval Blanc, a hybrid. Stewed apples on the nose, crab apples and hawthorn bushes. The palate is distinctly on the medium side of things but the acidity is high acting as a counter balance. Flavours of pear, baked apple and a sprinkling of dry savoury biscuits. Oh, and a touch of honey from the sweetness. Short length. Plastic cork. Alcohol 11.5%. Food? This went rather nicely with a chicken and green bean salad. Sunshine mandatory.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Organic Week
The Soil Association has set-up the 3rd to the 11th September 2005 as Organic Week. Plenty of events, food fairs and activities around the UK from the Bristol Harbourside Organic Food Festival, Sainsbury's promoting organic wines, beers and spirits during its Drinks Festival and the Co-Op offering discounts on some of its range. Last Call For Does My Blog Look Good In This!
Have received three new submissions for Does My Blog Look Good In This today. This takes the number of entries to 43! I do hope the judges can cope with, not just the number, but the quality of these entries. For a bunch of cooks slapping around with a wooden spoon and a spatula you ain't half bad at taking a snap or two!
The judges are listed on the Announcement Page and a prestigious bunch they are too - all from the wine-blogging field. They are to judge each entry on three criteria -
The judges are listed on the Announcement Page and a prestigious bunch they are too - all from the wine-blogging field. They are to judge each entry on three criteria -
- Aesthetics - just how good does the picture look
- Edibility - just how hungry does it make you feel
- Originality - how unique, beautiful or bizarre does it look
Sassicaia in Space.
I haven't seen this confirmed anywhere else (the Sassicaia website hasn't been updated for over a year) but this New York based Italian retailer reports that Sassicaia rootstock and a specially designed bottle will be launched into space.
ItalianWineMerchant
"As part of a series of experiments to determine the effects of weightlessness on plants, Sassicaia rootstock will be carried to space onboard an unmanned space mission later this year by Kayser, a life science space research company, based in Livorno, that regularly transports materials and supplies to the International Space Station. Once the vines have returned to earth, they will undergo biological and chemical analysis at the University of Pisa before being replanted in Bolgheri, where researchers will continue to monitor their growth."
UPDATE: Found specific details (VINO - Vine in Near Orbit) on the European Space Agency website.
ItalianWineMerchant
"As part of a series of experiments to determine the effects of weightlessness on plants, Sassicaia rootstock will be carried to space onboard an unmanned space mission later this year by Kayser, a life science space research company, based in Livorno, that regularly transports materials and supplies to the International Space Station. Once the vines have returned to earth, they will undergo biological and chemical analysis at the University of Pisa before being replanted in Bolgheri, where researchers will continue to monitor their growth."
UPDATE: Found specific details (VINO - Vine in Near Orbit) on the European Space Agency website.
Old Malt Whisky Samples.
The Fine Wine Company is offering a range of malt whiskies in 20cl sample bottles - great for collectors or for those who can never justify the prices some of these reach in full bottle size. Range includes Caol Ila 10yr old (£13.50), Dufftown 12yr old (£13.50), Clynelish 14yr old (£13.99), Rosebank 12yr old (£13.99), Auchroisk 14yr old (£13.99), Macallan 25yr old (£22.50).
Live webchat with Errazuriz Winemaker.
Errazuriz is one of the best known Chilean wine estates. It just happens to be family owned and the recent winner of three prestigious awards - The International Wine Challenge, Chilean Great Value Red Wine of the Year 2005 and The International Wine Challenge Chilean Red Wine Trophy with Errazuriz Estate Merlot 2004 and Decanter Magazine's Gold Medal with new flagship wine 'The Blend' 2003.The winemaker, Francisco Baettig, is to be interviewed on September 7th on WebChats.tv from 14:30hrs. You can send in any questions you have via Webchats.co.uk.
Alcohol Ads Dominate Top 30.
A survey by ITV places alcohol and drink advertising centre stage in the top 30 creative advertisements. Included in the line-up is the stunning White Horses Surfing for Guinness (1991), the still-funny Leonard Rossiter spilling Cinzano over Joan Collins (1978) and Coca-Cola Teaching the World to Sing (1979). Comedian Peter Kay top bombing into a swimming pool (2002) for John Smith's is in there, as is the Dambusters Spoof for Carling Black Label (1989) and the posh girl taking Cockney for Heineken (1984). Can anyone actually recall an advertisement for Champagne, for a wine or a supermarket group? Funny that.
A Wine for Paella.
There must be a hundred recipes for paella on the internet alone. A simple dish of rice cooked in chicken stock with as many variations of other ingredients as there are laughs in an episode of Faulty Towers. Mine was resplendent with chicken and prawns plus green beans, sliced red pepper, a nice mix of herbs and saffron.
For a wine choice I did initially look to Spain - obvious really - but in Waitrose this Portuguse white caught my eye. It's not expensive at £4.49. The match was a good one.
Stocked by Waitrose £4.49.
Floral aroma, fresh and fruity in a peachy type way. Palate is dry and quite soft with just a lick of acidity giving interest. Very drinkable both with and without food. Alcohol 13%. The grape variety is a native of Portugal and produces good, if not very complex, wines. Worth trying.
Scribblings Rating - 86/100
For a wine choice I did initially look to Spain - obvious really - but in Waitrose this Portuguse white caught my eye. It's not expensive at £4.49. The match was a good one.
Cork Grove Fernao Pires
Wine Tasting Note: Cork Grove Fernao Pires, 2003, Ribatejo, Portugal.Stocked by Waitrose £4.49.
Floral aroma, fresh and fruity in a peachy type way. Palate is dry and quite soft with just a lick of acidity giving interest. Very drinkable both with and without food. Alcohol 13%. The grape variety is a native of Portugal and produces good, if not very complex, wines. Worth trying.
Scribblings Rating - 86/100
The Waitrose website describes the wine as:
"From the Casal Branco estate near to the River Tagus estuary in the Ribatejo, this white wine is part of a range of new Portuguese wines made for the international market. With its delicately dry, fresh citrus palate and supple, soft approachability, the native Fernao Pires variety makes wine that has good potential to partner all kinds of foods, including the more spicy meats - or try on its own."
News Round-Up.
A selection of links to interesting wine news... are you sitting comfortably? The I shall begin...
Champagne sales are steadily rising in the UK, but will the broadening appeal hit its prestige... a little history and background to Port Port wine brought two countries together... Guinness claims to be the freshest beer in the world Well in the black... created to assist winery tourism by offering detailed maps (utilising Google Maps) Winery Bound shows where wineries are located across the United States. Hundreds of the buggers... the London Wine and Spirits Fair at Excel, London is a trade event but the videos and overviews are very interesting... Jason Curtis is after comments on the ideal wine container does it have to be glass? can it not be square without a punt?... Red wine consumption decreases the rick of cataracts but beer does not seem to work say researchers in Iceland... judging wines via chromatography from the New York Times so not sure if that link will work...
Champagne sales are steadily rising in the UK, but will the broadening appeal hit its prestige... a little history and background to Port Port wine brought two countries together... Guinness claims to be the freshest beer in the world Well in the black... created to assist winery tourism by offering detailed maps (utilising Google Maps) Winery Bound shows where wineries are located across the United States. Hundreds of the buggers... the London Wine and Spirits Fair at Excel, London is a trade event but the videos and overviews are very interesting... Jason Curtis is after comments on the ideal wine container does it have to be glass? can it not be square without a punt?... Red wine consumption decreases the rick of cataracts but beer does not seem to work say researchers in Iceland... judging wines via chromatography from the New York Times so not sure if that link will work...
Le Nez du Vin: New Oak Scents.
The aroma kits - a fun way to enhance and test your smelling abilities (the wine faults kit is very useful) has a new companion. Le Nez Du Vin have released a 12 vial New Oak Cask kit. Le Nez
"12 aromas illustrate new oak's influence on wine. The species, origin, age, drying methods and level of barrel toast all help to give fine wine its extra special charisma. oak - green wood - coconut - clove - vanilla pod - woody-spicy - new leather - pharmaceutical notes - toast - furfural - liquorice - smoky"
Wine Tasting: Scotland.
The Fine Wine Company is hosting a Coonawarra Road Show in Edinburgh (Monday 14th September). Cost is £10 for wines and the people behind them from Balnaves, Highbank, Hollick, Tymill and Wynns. Sounds good. There is also a Christmas event on the 2nd December.
UPDATED: They changed the date. But also only FIVE tickets left.
UPDATED: They changed the date. But also only FIVE tickets left.
Wine Bottle Punt - Why?
Anyone know why wine bottles have the punt in the bottom?
Search Tags: wine food & drink
What food with Gewürztraminer?
Gewürztraminer intrigues me. The cinnamon-spiced, lychee and honeysuckle laden wine, full-bodied and most often touched by a level of sweetness is just so distinctive and individualistic. Reaching its quality zenith from tiny vineyard plots in Alsace, Gewürztraminer is usually sited as being an excellent match for Oriental cuisine. Such a vague catch-all in my book. Are those heavily spiced Sichuan dishes or Malaysian Satay really the right match for a wine that often has great finesse and subtly of flavour? The flavours will get swamped, surely, by hotly spiced food.
2 duck breasts
Fresh Grapefruit Juice
Fresh Pineapple Juice
mixed spice
ground cinnamon
cayenne pepper
clear, strained chicken stock
So the search is on for recipes to accompany decent Alsatian Gewürz.
I discovered a rather complicated French recipe involving far too many ingredients, reductions and faffing about for my liking but, if simplified, looked promising for a first attempt. The combination of spices plus grapefruit and pineapple juices not only mirrors the flavours in the wine but implies an Oriental influence.
Spiced Duck Breasts with Pineapple and Grapefruit Juice.
Ingredients to serve 2
Combine the two juices, stock and spices and boil until reduced to a thick sauce. A little sugar may be added to adjust the sweetness to the level of the wine perhaps. A knob of butter should give a shine to the sauce too. Pan fry the duck breasts and serve with the strained sauce. Accompany with new potatoes and watercress.
Another recipe that you might like to try with Gewürztraminer has just been posted over on Thorngrove Table. This dish, Stir-fried Chicken with Chinese Chives, involves ginger and sesame oil, a combination that should bring out different flavours in a wine than the sweeter sauce detailed above. The Thorngrove recipe would need a drier version of Gewürztraminer.
Wine Tasting Note: Hugel Gewürztraminer, 2002, Alsace, France.Listed by Oddbins at £10.79.
The nose didn't really excite. Pleasantly limey with some nutty ginger spice, but little in the way of roses, lychees or exotic fruits. Soft palate initially then a dry sharpness, ginger again, on the mid-palate which I didn't care much for. The finish is gentle and verging on rose flavours coupled with an orange twist, long and full of ginger and cinnamon. With food, however, it was greatly improved. That middle 'hole' proving to have an affinity with food.
Scribblings Rating - 84/100
I was expecting this wine to be too dry to accompany the richness of the sauce. Tasted by itself it gave the impression of being too light and insubstantial. But the wines softness and full-bodied nature worked well with the heavily reduced sauce. I was surprised.
Schott-Zwiesel Unbreakable Wine Glass.
Despite all the recommendations I have never brought any Riedal wine glasses. The number of reports of 'how I broke my Riedal' almost outnumber those they rave about them. I mean have you seen how fragile their stems are?
Now competitor Schott Zwiesel has invented the unbreakable crystal glass. The website includes some fascinating videos including two experiments with ball bearings.
Schott-Zwiesel.com
"A quantum leap in crystal glass. After long years of intensive research and development, in collaboration with the University of Erlangen, Schott Zwiesel has succeeded in creating a new type of crystal glass. The use of unique ingredients combined with an advanced manufacturing process, has created an incredibly pure, hard and clear crystal glass. A crystal glass that is highly resilient to dishwashers, accidental breakage and chipping. Tritan is a unique, patented crystal glass that sets new standards."
Now competitor Schott Zwiesel has invented the unbreakable crystal glass. The website includes some fascinating videos including two experiments with ball bearings.
Schott-Zwiesel.com
"A quantum leap in crystal glass. After long years of intensive research and development, in collaboration with the University of Erlangen, Schott Zwiesel has succeeded in creating a new type of crystal glass. The use of unique ingredients combined with an advanced manufacturing process, has created an incredibly pure, hard and clear crystal glass. A crystal glass that is highly resilient to dishwashers, accidental breakage and chipping. Tritan is a unique, patented crystal glass that sets new standards."
Its been a bit quiet...
It's been a bit of a quiet weekend. Little news of interest to post about and no wines tasted (at Galdstone Terrace at any rate; but plenty to come during the week). We are still waiting for the latest EOMEOTE write-up and there are the remaining parcel reports - goodies sent out as part of the EBBP (Euro Blogging By Post) event still to come in. I haven't just been siting on my arse eating cheesecake though - the Scribblings website has been given a meticulous tidy as I had not realised how much was broken since moving to the new servers. Now looking mean and lean!
A spate of entries over the weekend has seen the DMBLGIT page updated several times. Have you seen the quality of some of these pictures? Amazingly professional. I so need to get a digital slr! Many of the entries require viewing on their home website to really appreciate the quality. It is quite different viewing the photograph first and subsequently reading the story or recipe behind it. The emphasis is on the illustration with the text supportive rather than the other way round. Interesting. I now know that many readers dislike these blog-happening reports. So if all goes to plan (Reza??) they will be soon be creamed off the main Spittoon site to another, as yet unnamed, sub-blog. SpittoonExtra has a nice ring but can anyone come up with alternatives?
Of interest to the many readers who maintain their own blog (36% of you apparently) is the World Blog Day. Not only do they have a highly inventive logo (animated it is even better) but the aim of sharing and viewing '5 new Blogs that you find interesting' is rather virtuous.
A spate of entries over the weekend has seen the DMBLGIT page updated several times. Have you seen the quality of some of these pictures? Amazingly professional. I so need to get a digital slr! Many of the entries require viewing on their home website to really appreciate the quality. It is quite different viewing the photograph first and subsequently reading the story or recipe behind it. The emphasis is on the illustration with the text supportive rather than the other way round. Interesting. I now know that many readers dislike these blog-happening reports. So if all goes to plan (Reza??) they will be soon be creamed off the main Spittoon site to another, as yet unnamed, sub-blog. SpittoonExtra has a nice ring but can anyone come up with alternatives?
Of interest to the many readers who maintain their own blog (36% of you apparently) is the World Blog Day. Not only do they have a highly inventive logo (animated it is even better) but the aim of sharing and viewing '5 new Blogs that you find interesting' is rather virtuous.
The VERY last bottle of Nun's Island Whisky yours for �100,000!
A bottle of malt whiskey from the Nuns' Island Distillery which closed in 1913 has turned up in a wine and whiskey specialist shop in England and is expected to reach £100,000 when it is sold in the coming months.Galway Advertiser
"Dating from the late 1800s, it is believed to be one of the rarest bottles of malt whiskey in the world, according to Kenneth Thomas, proprietor of the shop near Swindon.
'A customer brought it in in a carrier bag about three years ago,' he says. 'She left the bottle with me in the hope that I could find out some more about it.' Mr Thomas put a price tag of �20,000 on it, but after further investigation, and the realisation that it is probably the only bottle left from the Nuns Island Distillery, it is now priced at a staggering �100,000, but this is negotiable, he says."
UPDATE: Arkwrights, who are selling the whisky, have been contacted by a resident of Galway. This chap has a bottle of 20 year old whiskey liqueur from the same distillery - Persse's very old liqueur whisky - which too is now for sale at �100,000. Hat Tip to Generosus for the trackback link.
Sugar High Friday - Chocolate Pots with Vanilla Ice Cream Affogato.
I don't like coffee that much. Which is a bit of a bugger really as this months Sugar High Friday, as hosted by Love Sicily has coffee as the theme. Actually it is coffee-flavouring I can't take to; coffee as a beverage is fine. So fine in fact that I drink copious amounts of filter coffee every day. As luck would have it I ran across this recipe in the March issue of Delicious magazine; part of a Jamie's Quickies 'pull out an' keep' card set. He describes affogato as 'ice cream drowned in hot expresso coffee' which sounds right up my street.
Chocolate Pots with Vanilla Ice Cream Affogato.
- 284 ml carton single cream
- 200g good quality dark chocolate
- 2 medium egg yokes
- 3 tbsp brandy
- 20g unsalted butter cut into small cubes
- 1 tub good quality vanilla ice cream
- hot expresso coffee shots
And thats it. I actually drank the coffee from cups at the same time rather than pour over the top; seemed to work fine. I didn't manage to take any decent photographs though, so the illustration was quickly scanned from the magazine article hence the poor quality.
Wine cellars dating from late Middle Ages discovered in Georgia.
Wine cellars and the remains of an irrigation system dating back to 14th-16th centuries have been found in southern Georgia's Atskuri village during gas pipeline construction work.
Novosti
"Archaeologist Zurab Rcheulishvili said artefacts found in the wine cellars provided evidence that the worship of the vine and of wine that had been typical of Georgian tribes on this territory since antiquity had continued up until the late Middle Ages."
Novosti
"Archaeologist Zurab Rcheulishvili said artefacts found in the wine cellars provided evidence that the worship of the vine and of wine that had been typical of Georgian tribes on this territory since antiquity had continued up until the late Middle Ages."
Spittoon - a year old.
I have just realised that Spittoon is one year old. The first post went up on the 16th August but the second not until the 30th.... wonder what I was at? This month has also seen the 200th issue of the Scribblings email newsletter - so celebrations all round.
While it has not been a totally successful year - several promising ventures came, sapped some cash and went - other projects have appeared that look like they could be equally as fun. There is my (limited) involvement with newly launched French Duck a cultural wine, food and holiday type site and what could blossom into something significant the JZepp world 'cultural' collaboration. There has also been discussion over a wine bloggers grouping that I am very interested in but seems to keep stalling in its inception. (Come on guys...) So things are 'happening'. And I have managed to get through the whole year without posting ANY pictures of my cats!
The Survey (if you havent yet taken two minutes to fill it out - go on, go on, go on, go on!) would indicate that the blog happenings reported on Spittoon are the least favourite portion of the site - which is a shame really as they have given me a lot of fun (especially Wine Blogging Wednesday and, for different reasons, End of Month Egg on Toast Extravaganza). They have led me to meeting, in person and virtually, a whole bunch of super people across the wine and food blogging sphere. While many blogs fizzle out due to lack of interest Spittoon and associated work still excite while the people I have met through it all still stimulate and bring fun and humour. All that combined with wine, food, chocolate, travel and photography bring a tear to the eye. Bloody ol' fool ;-)
While it has not been a totally successful year - several promising ventures came, sapped some cash and went - other projects have appeared that look like they could be equally as fun. There is my (limited) involvement with newly launched French Duck a cultural wine, food and holiday type site and what could blossom into something significant the JZepp world 'cultural' collaboration. There has also been discussion over a wine bloggers grouping that I am very interested in but seems to keep stalling in its inception. (Come on guys...) So things are 'happening'. And I have managed to get through the whole year without posting ANY pictures of my cats!
The Survey (if you havent yet taken two minutes to fill it out - go on, go on, go on, go on!) would indicate that the blog happenings reported on Spittoon are the least favourite portion of the site - which is a shame really as they have given me a lot of fun (especially Wine Blogging Wednesday and, for different reasons, End of Month Egg on Toast Extravaganza). They have led me to meeting, in person and virtually, a whole bunch of super people across the wine and food blogging sphere. While many blogs fizzle out due to lack of interest Spittoon and associated work still excite while the people I have met through it all still stimulate and bring fun and humour. All that combined with wine, food, chocolate, travel and photography bring a tear to the eye. Bloody ol' fool ;-)
The French fail to appreciate fine wine.
Rick Stein has accused the French of failing to appreciate fine wine. He claims there is a far superior choice of wines in British supermarkets than in some of France's finest restaurants.
Scotsman.com
"He said: "I have to say that there is a lot of vin very ordinaire out there. The best French wines are still the best in the world - they have this real sense of belonging to the soil in which they were produced. But for every one really good French wine, there are ten bad ones."
Scotsman.com
"He said: "I have to say that there is a lot of vin very ordinaire out there. The best French wines are still the best in the world - they have this real sense of belonging to the soil in which they were produced. But for every one really good French wine, there are ten bad ones."
Wine Music.
I don't really know what else to add to this snippet from the Wine Music website.
Wine Music
"I am incredibly proud of my new Album Wine Music. As far as I am aware it is the first time anyone has made an Album of music where every sound has been made from Wine.
It has taken 2 years to put together and I have used literally dozens of sounds including wine barrels, Riedel wine glasses of several sizes made from the finest crystal, blowing and tapping bottles and popping corks... add some Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay and some Petaluma Chardonnay....that was my orchestra!
I have recorded (sampled) the sounds painstakingly so that they can be played on my electric piano keyboard. Then I wrote music that I would love to listen to while having a candle lit dinner....It had to transport me or I threw it out....I whittled it down to my favourite pieces and after a 2 years I still enjoy the beautiful, spiritual and sometimes celtic sounds of the Wine Music.
The Barrels sound like Afrcan Djembe drums and at times like Indian Tabla drums....the glasses sound like Irish Whistles...others sound like a beautiful Bach organ...Bottles when you blow across the top and play them 2 octaves down sound like big rich sub sonic bass....Other Bottles sound like Japanese Flute (Shakahachi)......"
Wine Music
"I am incredibly proud of my new Album Wine Music. As far as I am aware it is the first time anyone has made an Album of music where every sound has been made from Wine.
It has taken 2 years to put together and I have used literally dozens of sounds including wine barrels, Riedel wine glasses of several sizes made from the finest crystal, blowing and tapping bottles and popping corks... add some Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay and some Petaluma Chardonnay....that was my orchestra!
I have recorded (sampled) the sounds painstakingly so that they can be played on my electric piano keyboard. Then I wrote music that I would love to listen to while having a candle lit dinner....It had to transport me or I threw it out....I whittled it down to my favourite pieces and after a 2 years I still enjoy the beautiful, spiritual and sometimes celtic sounds of the Wine Music.
The Barrels sound like Afrcan Djembe drums and at times like Indian Tabla drums....the glasses sound like Irish Whistles...others sound like a beautiful Bach organ...Bottles when you blow across the top and play them 2 octaves down sound like big rich sub sonic bass....Other Bottles sound like Japanese Flute (Shakahachi)......"
Champagne Gosset Limited Edition Gift Pack.
Champagne Gosset is about to launch the first of several limited edition gift packs for its Grande Reserve blend. When I worked, all those years ago, in a wine shop I had two people who collected such items (is there a name for collectors of such packs?); but for the rest of us I expect a 'limited edition' tin is of less interest than the wine inside. Champagne Gosset is the oldest house in Champagne, founded in 1584. Grande Reserve is a blend of three vintages and three grape varieties: 46 per cent Chardonnay, 39 per cent Pinot Noir and 15 per cent Pinot Meunier. "Skilfully blended by cellar master Jean-Pierre Mareignier, it is an excellent example of the Gosset style of champagnes and the time it spends in oak brings touches of vanilla and brioche to its superb roundness."
The new gift pack will be available from Harrods, Selfridge's, House of Fraser and other fine wine stockists such as Stanton Wine Company from October and will cost around £35 per pack.
Cocoa is the new red wine.
Cocoa shows benefits for coronary heart disease.
EurekAlert
"Cocoa contains a substance called flavinoids, which are also present in red wine. Flavinoids can be preventive for coronary heart disease; however our research has uncovered another ingredient in cocoa which may be responsible for the platelet inhibition. This finding may well lead to important new therapies to prevent heart disease and stroke. But it may also mean that a nice hot cup of cocoa may also take on new importance for people in high risk categories."
EurekAlert
"Cocoa contains a substance called flavinoids, which are also present in red wine. Flavinoids can be preventive for coronary heart disease; however our research has uncovered another ingredient in cocoa which may be responsible for the platelet inhibition. This finding may well lead to important new therapies to prevent heart disease and stroke. But it may also mean that a nice hot cup of cocoa may also take on new importance for people in high risk categories."
Wine Blogging Wednesday 12: Drink Local, Real Local.
I cant think of a nicer wine than the one I have just drunk with my lunch. Maybe its the combination of sun and alcohol? But then the wine only rates a lowly 10.5%.With the wood pigeons cooing from the roof top, the bell from St.Mary's chiming the hour and a gentle breeze rustling the wild flower bed and releasing the perfume from the last of the sweet-peas - and a glass of this English wine to accompany a light lunch of cheese, bread and tomatoes I am content and happy to be an Englishman.
That, or a bumptious old fart waffling on about nothing.
Now that the wine has been open a while a more complex nose has emerged - gone are the waxy lemon aromas, replaced with something more interesting, unique and evasive; due no doubt to the extended bottle age, this being from the 2001 vintage. The palate too, while light, very crisp from the high acidity, has a more honeyed edge to the flavour - its quite complex for this style of wine and offers a surprisingly good length too. It is a style of wine that not everyone will enjoy - thinking here how different it would appear during the depths of winter - but at the height of an English summer that sees the sun re-emerging from a depressingly long hiatus, its great.
Wine Tasting Note: Hendred Vineyard Runnington Hill, 2001, Oxfordshire. England.
From Local Tastes £5.99.
This is a blend of Madeleine Angevine and Seyval Blanc from a small vineyard in the Vale of the White Horse. Hendred vineyard was established in 1972 with the grapes for this blend planted in 1991. A crisp, almost Sauvignon nose - with grassy hints and lemon rind. Distinctively light to medium bodied with a honeyed richness initially. Then a mineral, quite intense lemon edge emerges. A touch of spritz too. Fresh, crisp with high acidity.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
The Wine Blogging Wednesday theme is drinking from the most local vineyard - I was spoilt for choice. There are several wineries within just few minutes drive from Henley. Closest I think is at Fawley, up a single track road in the heart of the beech covered Chiltern Hills. You can see the vineyards from the road. They do not appear to have any local outlets (certainly not in Henley) or a farm shop however. Over the other side of the hill is Hambleden and Chiltern Valley Vineyards. But this is in a different county (Buckinghamshire) I believe, so I ruled that out as a potential source. Then there is a vineyard north of Wallingford, a little further away, but again no gate sales and no local outlets unless I trek over to Abingdon. I resorted to buying from my veg-box supplier in Thame (Local Tastes) who list this wine and several others from the same vineyard. So, while it isn't the exact closest vineyard to Henley, it is the closest I could find to buy.
My last thought is 'that these people dont have a clue about marketing'.
My last thought is 'that these people dont have a clue about marketing'.
Languedoc Wine helps RSPB.
Languedoc Estate Domaine Sainte Rose in conjunction with James Nicholson Wine Merchants in Northern Ireland has created a special blend for the R.S.P.B.(Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) and Bird Watch Ireland. The artwork for this endangered bird (the Yellowhammer) was created by wildlife artist Julian Friers. The wine promotion will support the conservation work of the R.S.P.B. and B.W.I. throughout Ireland. 20pence/30 cents per bottle sold will be donated to these charities. The wine priced at £6.99 per bottle is a blend of Roussanne and Chardonnay and can be purchased directly from James Nicholson.NewVoices: Cuisine de Pompey
No idea how I stumbled across this one but here is a new UK-based food and wine blog for you - began just last month by a chap called Bill Hughes in Portsmouth
Cuisine de Pompey
"A gastronomic blog from the quaint Hampshire fishing village of Portsmouth, dedicated to all things food and drink with a particular local focus... this 40-something literate cookbook reader has a predilection for spaghetti Napoli and cheap Valpolicella under an Italian sun. Dislikes nuts and courgettes."
Cuisine de Pompey
"A gastronomic blog from the quaint Hampshire fishing village of Portsmouth, dedicated to all things food and drink with a particular local focus... this 40-something literate cookbook reader has a predilection for spaghetti Napoli and cheap Valpolicella under an Italian sun. Dislikes nuts and courgettes."
End of Month Egg on Toast Extravaganza: Harry Potter Edition.
Nothing tops a slice of Dragon Bacon with your eggs and toast.
International Wine Challenge Voting.
You could vote for Spittoon! I don't stand an earthly but the last voting question in the Wine Magazine International Wine Challenge questionnaire is for wine websites. It is for UK merchants but you can skip the first few questions.
WineInt
"Once again we are calling on you to play your part in choosing our Merchants of the Year. These awards are made annually across a variety of categories. Your votes will be considered alongside those of the International Wine Academy, a distinguished 100-strong panel of senior members of the wine world."
WineInt
"Once again we are calling on you to play your part in choosing our Merchants of the Year. These awards are made annually across a variety of categories. Your votes will be considered alongside those of the International Wine Academy, a distinguished 100-strong panel of senior members of the wine world."
TN: Stormhoek Sauvignon Blanc, 2005, South Africa.
Does writing this - my part in the first UK blog wine promo - make me a Buzz Agent? Gaping Void via Hugh Macleod, sent out a batch of pre-release samples of South African producer Stormhoek's wines in an attempt to utilise blogs as a marketing 'word of mouth tool'. Personally I think it is a little early; Blogs in the UK are under-developed when compared to America. The British either dont know exactly what they are or deride them; but then word of mouth is word of mouth and website link is a website link.
Wine Tasting Note: Stormhoek Sauvignon Blanc, 2005, South Africa.
Pre-release Private Label
Fresh but not over-powering aroma - unripened limes, green sherbet and capsicum. Palate is medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing. Perhaps a little young as the flavours are rather 'green' - unripe pears springs to mind but fresh, crisp and juicy with a decent length of flavour and a level of crab-apple tartness. No alcohol recorded on the label. Screwcapped.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
To compliment those green flavours the wine was poured out to accompany a simple pasta dish - French Green Beans (locally grown), a big handful of grated Parmesan, grated lemon rind and a hearty squeeze of juice topped a pile of linguine. It worked rather well but fish and salads would be superb too.
I have been reading Ben's 
Their website states "Excuse us while we run around like headless chickens for a bit..." Crouch Vale Brewery have won the prestigeous Champion Beer of Britain Award for their 4% Brewers Gold Ale.
Oh, the stories I have heard. The fun and the mild panic as people fail to find boxes, forget to add baking powder to their signature dish, bravely cope with exploding pesto jars and stay up til one in the morning baking to get their culinary creations out in time! Oh, what fun. Except, perhaps, the exploding pesto.
Proscuitto and Artichoke Schiacciata
Now I like Chocolate. I like Chocolate a lot. But I don't want to smell of it thank you very much. Others do apparently as chocolate lovers can now savour the aroma of their favourite treat by just wearing a T-shirt
Have you got yours yet? The Euro food parcels are starting to arrive - Pille just unwrapped hers and Celia says "yum yum yum" over hers! I am falling behind; I can't find a box big enough.
Wine Tasting Note: Marquis de St. Vincent Oak Aged Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, 2004, Bordeaux, France.