Champagne is something that always signifies a celebration – it is a sparkling wine with a fantastic pedigree and is associated with stylish parties and the rich and famous. There are various types of champagne, some people make the mistake of thinking that all sparkling wine is champagne. This is not the case, true champagne comes from one region of France – funnily enough it…

Let’s face it you can get anything and everything on-line now, from beans to Bentleys, Yorkies to Yachts. The power of the internet has enabled more and more companies to sell their wares to a wider audience, enabling consumers to hunt for the best bargains in the comfort of their own home and bringing a whole new meaning to scouring the shelves. And let’s face…

What do you buy the person who has everything? Clothes? No they probably already have a walk–in wardrobe the size of your house. The latest gadget? No again. Their designer house is most likely to be kitted out with all the latest gizmos on the market, either that or it’s already on order! One of those experience days? Well maybe, but who’s to say they…

With Christmas looming, several of us will be frantically scribbling down Gift ideas. Well, the women amongst us anyway. “Mum, easy, that jumper she pointed out. Sister, no problem, that necklace she’s wanted for ages. Gran, as always, the latest Maeve Binchy novel and a box of York Fruit Jellies. Dad, well, ummm, errrrr…” The tedious, yearly problem is on us again… what to buy…

This is the time of year when people are looking to stock up on wines for the festive season, but with a bewildering array of wines to choose from on the supermarket shelves and in independent stores, what should we be buying? There are also lots of special offers on wines at this time of year. However, don’t be tempted to buy a case of…

There’s nothing that epitomises Christmas more than a glass of port wine and a piece of Stilton cheese after a heavy seasonal feast. There is something about the rich sweet taste of this deep red fortified wine that complements the stilton perfectly. Port wine is so named because it is a wine from Porto in Portugal. It is typically a sweet red rich wine but…

Wine has been an important part of any occasion. It is commonly made from fermented grape juice, flowers, and grains. Countries like Italy, Portugal, United States, and Argentina are among the largest exporters of different wines. The most expensive kind of wine is called “vintage”. Vintage wines are made from the highest quality grapes that are harvested several years before they are sold to the…

New Zealand wines have become sought after in a really short period of time since the country started wine production. The first commercial vineyard was established in 1973 in the Marlborough area of New Zealand, which is also New Zealand’s first Sauvignon Blanc growing region too. From this rather late entry into commercial wine production New Zealand has now become a player, especially with its…

When it comes to wine with food, there is one place that always stands out for producing great quaffable wine that tastes good with food without overpowering it with overly rich flavours — Italy. When you think of Italian wines, you inevitably think of pasta with rich meat or cheese sauces and little bistros with great atmosphere and a soupcon of romance. The Italians are…

Champagne is regularly served as an aperitif or as a toast at the end of a meal, so it is often overlooked when it comes to food. However, because Champagne is naturally acidic, it makes a really good food match — and not just for oysters and caviar as you might expect, but for a number of different foods. Non Vintage Champagne This is the…