Hellraiser-turned-winemaker Charles Smith is the ‘rock star’ of Washington State Syrah. Having spent 11 years managing rock bands in Scandinavia, he headed back to his native United States to pursue a life-long passion for food and wine by opening a wine shop near Seattle. But it
Despite a long history of winemaking spanning back to pre-Roman times, you’ve probably not heard much about Slovenian wine. Which is a shame. Because a drive towards quality in the last couple of decades has resulted in some exceptional winemaking, available at a fraction of
With the 2016 Rio Olympics just around the corner, this summer is going to be all about harnessing the noise and colour of one of the world’s most famous party capitals. And what better way to celebrate than with some Brazilian wine. Starting out as a
Founded in 1927, Protos takes its name from the fact it was the first company to make wine in Ribera del Duero. And it chose the area’s most impressive landmark for its winery. Penafiel Castle dates back to the 15th century and its imposing facade
Bodegas Escorihuela Gascon is Mendoza’s oldest working winery and was the first to start making wines from 100% Malbec in the 1940s. A true taste of Mendoza’s heritage and terroir, the wines are exclusive to Walker & Wodehouse. The story begins in 1880, when 19 year-old
Catena Zapata’s Nicasia Vineyard Malbec 2011 received a gold medal and no fewer than three trophies at this year’s International Wine Challenge. The wine was awarded Best Argentinean Red, Best Argentinean Malbec and Best Mendoza Malbec. It also won a gold medal at the Decanter World
Laura Catena is a fourth generation winemaker whose family pioneered the revival of Malbec. When her great grandfather Nicola Catena arrived in Mendoza from Italy in 1902, he believed he had found the promised land. Until then, Malbec had been used only in blending, but
There are small-batch distilleries, and then there’s NB. This premium artisan gin was first made by husband and wife team Vivienne and Steve Muir on a truly ‘micro-batch’ scale, using nothing but a modified pressure cooker in their North Berwick kitchen. The business may have expanded since
Hyde Single Malt Irish Whiskey won a double-gold medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition earlier this year, earning it the title of Best single malt Irish whiskey in the world 2016 from a panel of 39 judges. But despite such international acclaim, this
A marked increase in quality in recent years, combined with a preference for locally-produced products and positive media attention, has led to a surge in the popularity of English wine, with sales reaching almost £100 million at the end of 2015. English Wine Week is taking