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Is the Tesco's Finest Range some of the best value in the high street?
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 25/08/2021 There are some twenty plus “The Finest” range of wines at Tesco’s. A brave claim from them, for what is essentially an own label. You may remember the own labels of old, very plain packaging, very “ordinary” products, and probably the cheapest you could find on the shelves! But I am delighted to say that scenario has very materially changed in recent years. Tesco’s can use it’s very substantial buying power to find some very well made interesting…
Save 7% on English Wines at Corkk
By Corkk Wines 23/08/2021 English wine has changed dramatically over the last few years, winning many accolades and international awards, including 155 medals at the 2020 Decanter awards. With over 700 vineyards in the UK, producing up to 15 million bottles of wine per year, as Oz Clarke put it, England is the newest of the New World wine regions. It is a far cry from 30-40 years ago when our wines weren’t so well received, when the general opinion that it was overpriced and tasted like vinegar…
The glories of Greek Wine
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 02/08/2021 Many visitors to Greece, the islands, and even Cyprus a few years ago would remember the most served wine was an historic wine, Retsina. A basic white wine infused at the time of fermenting with pine resin, which is a preservative. To be honest the wines were pretty ordinary, although nowadays with modern wine making Retsina still exists and if well chilled and if you happen to be sitting by an Hellenic sea shore, and even with some of the more…
Is this the moment for Champagne?
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 12/07/2021 For some there is always a good moment for a glass of Champagne! Indeed the renowned late Lilly Bollinger was famous for saying: “I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I considered it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it, unless I’m thirsty.” I can think of a few reasons to celebrate, be it grand sporting events…
Why we should be very proud of British Wine
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 30/06/2021 I have to admit a vested interest, as I am an immense fan of what is happening to the wine growing industry in this country, and I have planted vineyards and made sparkling wine here. Brexit and politics aside, it is true to say that the growth of English and Welsh Wine production is hugely exciting. I call it British Wine as there are now 176 vineyards in Wales, so whilst there are 600 vineyards in England, it would be wrong to call our countries…
Why Waitrose own label wines are such good value
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 14/06/2021 Waitrose have two Own Label Ranges, ‘No.1’ and ‘Blueprint’. The No. 1 range is a more ‘up market’ selection of sixteen wines, where the wine buyers have collaborated with some good producers to create an exclusive range. The No. 1 range applies in Waitrose to most sections of the store, not just wines. I know most of the producers that Waitrose have partnered with over their No. 1 wine range, indeed I have worked with some of them, Joseph Drouhin in…
Pale Rose without the hefty price tag
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 09/06/2021 The rose fashion seems to have a life of its own, with every wine producing region, every style, still, semi sparkling, sparkling and even fortified Port. Sweet, medium or dry, dark almost red to pale almost white. From being less than 5% of sales in the UK fifteen years ago, rose is now nearly a third of all wine sales. To say it is confusing for the consumer is an understatement! So let me try to provide a simple guide, and some recommendations…
How to get the best prices on Wine
By Erin Tynan 2nd August 2021 When it comes to buying wine, it doesn’t always come cheap. Especially if you’re buying for a gift or special occasion where you’d like to impress. That’s where we come in. At WinesDirect, we search the market for the best prices available on wine and Champagne (and beer, and spirits, and mixers… need we go on?). Then we present these prices to you in a clear and easy way, allowing you to grab the best deal available. With so many supermarkets and wine retailers…
Best Restaurant Meal Kits: Voted by you!
During the last 12 months, with more and more time spent in our homes, there were only so many ways to add a bit of excitement to weekends and special occasions held in ‘lock down’. In response to this, and with businesses which were potentially going to be badly affected, the hospitality industry quite literally transformed itself. Restaurants that had never previously operated on a ‘take away’ basis, were suddenly delivering to customers locally. Some took it one step further, teaming up…
Why you should buy Taittinger Champagne
About Taittinger Taittinger is one of the leading brands of Champagne in the UK; renowned for its elegance and style, it’s seen not only in restaurants and on supermarket shelves, but being poured for A listers at events such as the BAFTAS. Currently the 7th biggest Champagne brand in the UK, it’s house blend is a more delicate style than many, due to the high proportion of the Chardonnay grape in the blend. Background to Taittinger Taittinger is one of the older Champagne houses, one of many…
The Wonder of Whispering Angel
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 25/05/2021 I suppose the best Rosé wines in the World come from the South of France, after all they have been making them there for a couple of thousand years since the Romans started growing grapes around the Mediterranean. But probably the best of the best comes from the Chateau d'Esclan a lovely property in the heart of Provence, up in the hills near Draguinan, just north of Frejus and Saint Tropez. Whilst this Estate produces the World-famous Whispering…
Wine from the Loire
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 13/05/2021 The most famous wines from the Loire are white, from the villages of Sancerre and Pouilly-sur-Loire where the famous Pouilly Fume comes from. The trouble is that even though these wines are generally great, because they are well known they are always very expensive, generally from £12 upwards. However, the wine making in the Loire in less well-known regions and villages has improved by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Whether that's because…
Springtime Sipping with Fortnum & Mason
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 29/04/2021 What could be more stylish than a Fortnum's picnic hamper, and some Fortnum's branded wines to go with it? The same for the first barbecues of the season. Fortnum's wine department is one of the best, with a good range carefully picked, and at all price points from really good wines around £10, then upwards as high and superb as you might want to go! Just to sweeten deal even further, you’ll save 10% on these fantastic bottles when you buy 12 or…
SOLA Wine Pairing
Top class Californian cooking needs a couple of good Californian wines, for the white we recommend from Waitrose the delicious Chateau Souverain Chardonnay, luscious intense rich Chardonnay and a perfect match for this cooking! Just £9.79 from Waitrose Cellar. The red must again be from Waitrose, the Bonterra Organic Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and intense with masses of dark berry fruit and a hint of leather and eucalyptus. Available for £12.99 in Waitrose.
Jose Pizarro Wine Pairing
The wonderful Basque menu with tapas, Jamon, olives, anchovies and typical Basque main dishes also has a good selection of typical northern Spanish wines and some old mature sherries on offer from this Michelin starred restaurant. Try the Pizarro white Rioja or their exclusively Basque Wine, the complex Txakolina. I am surprised they have not offered the one wine that I would expect for this food, a great fino bone dry sherry, or even better a fresh crisp Manzanilla. The salty crispness and…
Trishna Wine Pairing
The Indian Seafood Experience from Trishna requires bright fresh white wines, but robust enough to be able to match the spices used. A citric, fresh hoppy lager is also a good alternative if you don't feel like drinking wine. My recommendations are firstly the famous wine from the fish dominant gastronomy of Galicia in northern Spain, Rias Baixas Albariño. Majestic have the excellent Villarei 2018 for £12.99. Crisp, citric but with an intense mineral and ripe fruit mid-palate and a nice bright…
The Best Bordeaux in Waitrose
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 08/04/2021 The British love their Bordeaux, or for the reds "Claret" as they prefer to call it, for the last several hundred years. Ever since Eleanor of Aquitaine (Bordeaux was Aquitaine's capital) married Henry the Second of England in 1152, and was mother to two further English Kings, Richard 1st and King John, the trade in wine between the two countries has been unstoppable. English cooking - roasts and grills, seems to have been almost created to…
The Best Champagne in Waitrose
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 08/04/2021 Pop into your nearest Waitrose for three of arguably the best non-vintage Champagnes available in Waitrose, which are really worth shouting about. The best Grande Marque Champagne Houses pride themselves in their non-vintage Champagnes. Indeed, Krug refuse to call their Grande Cuvee "non-vintage" and use the term "a blend of vintages". The reason being that creating a wonderful Champagne is all about the Art and skill of blending. A great Champagne…
Dinings SW3 Wine Pairing
Dinings SW3 has a stunning menu of carefully selected ingredients. Therefore I wanted to select the accomanying wines very carefully too. The wonderful Japanese treatment of shellfish would be suited with a good, dry Sake. Waitrose have Sawanotsuru Delux Sake which is dry with highly polished rice giving fruity flavours and a brightness. £11.99. A great alternative to Sake is a fino sherry. With the crispness and power to compliment the dishes, the excellent brand leader, Gonzales Byass Tio Pepe…
Is it time for a German Wine Revival?
By Master of Wine, Christopher Burr 18/03/2021 Some of you old enough will remember Liebfraumilch, brands like Blue Nun and Black Tower which sold millions of cases in the UK back in the 1960s,70's and 80's. The wines were slightly sweet, fresh and bland, made mostly from a crossed grape varietal called Muller-Thurgau. The one good thing about them is that the Germans know how to make "correct" wine, so whilst they were dull, at least they were well made. Through the 1980s and 1990s the British…
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