All posts tagged: wine

Innovative tasting with The Wine List

Published by

Wine. I love it. Like, really love it. But even after being educated by an old boss of a restaurant I worked at in Melbourne, who had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the stuff, and having consumed what could be considered a small river of wine over the years, I’m still not totally sure I know everything I need to. I have threatened myself a number of times – to spend money on learning the proper way, but have backed out every time, as other hobbies stole my spare time… and cash! Recently I was contacted by The Wine List, a discover & education-focused wine subscription box, aimed at the amateur enthusiast who is looking to level up their knowledge. They offered to send a trial box so I could check it out. Sounds like me. I’m in. The premise is simple. Every month, members get: Two amazing bottles: (priced around £15-20 retail) and they value lesser known regions, grapes and winemakers Wine Roots: The Wine List’s wine course programme: 12 lessons explaining key concepts from …

Wine down at BOTTLES, Spitalfields

Published by

You know you’re getting older when you’d rather swap the Jäger Bomb for a bottle of full bodied, high tannin red. But if this is what getting old feels like, I just can’t understand why people want to stay young. Have you never tried a bottle of Chateau Musar??? Ok, I realise you might not have, but rather than wax lyrical about one of my favourite ever wines (I’ll save that for another time), I’m here to tell you about one of my favourite London wine shops. I stumbled upon the first wine Bottles & Battles wine shop when I moved into my new flat a couple of months ago. My boyfriend and I were hungry and had a little break from box lugging to fill our tummies. Not only were we able to pick up some delicious grub, but also an amazing bottle of vino from an unexpected wine shop nestled deep into the inside area. I reckon we have spent £100s between us over the last couple of months – we just can’t stay …

Opulent Perfection at Delaire Graff – ZA

Published by

What Lunch and wine at Delaire Graff Estate. Where Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch,  South Africa Experience After an incredible mini holiday to Cederberg National Park, we decided to counterbalance our time out in the wilderness by stopping off in Stellenbosch for a few days of indulgence. Surrounded by the vineyards of the Cape Winelands, Stellenbosch is the epicentre of the South African wine industry and you are spoilt for choice with lavish scenery and luxurious wine tasting tours. Since arriving in Cape Town, more than a few people have told us that Delaire Graff wine estate is a place to be experienced at least once, so we decided to go there and see. Finally getting into Stellenbosch at about 10pm, we continued driving along the stunning Helshoogte Mountain Pass towards Farm France, our home for the night. We hadn’t quite realised that we would be driving straight past tomorrow’s lunch destination, but it was impossible to miss it. Set back into the hills, the entrance to the estate is impressively landscaped and lights up the …

Diciannove

Published by

What Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar near Blackfriars. Experience Diciannove is an Italian restaurant situated on the ground floor of the Crowne Plaza hotel in Blackfriars. Formerly known as Refetorrio, the restaurant has reopened with a refurb and the addition of a new deli and so I went along to try it out. This was my first time eating around Blackfriars and I have to say that I was slightly dubious about what I could expect from a hotel restaurant. Unsurprisingly, the place has a very international feel and was littered with business suits and hotel guests but we were settled in to our own cosy corner by the lovely waitress and left to look over the extensive all-Italian wine menu. This made us feel right at home. During the evening there is a 3-course menu and our selections included the spaghettini all’ astice (fresh lobster, Pigato thyme and fresh tomato), filatto di manzo (beef fillet, potatoes tortino, sautéed leeks and veal sauce) and mozzarella di bufala (Buffalo mozzarella, roasted balsamic beetroot, mixed leaves and beetroot …

Kopapa

Published by

The Providores is a great place to go on a lazy Sunday for a pot of tea and a read of the papers. I have never eaten in the restaurant but I’m told that the food is brilliant. Peter Gordon, fusian chef extraordinaire has just opened a brand new sister restaurant in Seven Dials called Kopapa. I went with a couple of friends on Monday evening for a few plates from the Tapas menu and a few glasses of wine. A couple of us arrived at 6.30 and had a glass of bubbly and a bowl of Edamame while we waited. My initial thought was that the Edamame was double the price it should have been, or at least the bowl should have been twice the size. At £4.80, the profit margin must be huge! When our friend arrived, we perused the menu and decided on 6 dishes. I have never been much of a fan of Tapas because I think it gives restaurants an excuse to charge £7 for 1/3 of what you’d get …