Wine & Spirits

Let there be no doubt, the «Dry Martini» cocktail is the mother of all cocktails, it is the ultimate aperitif: classy, and the cocktail that separates good bartenders and Butlers from the rest – It is the cocktail of all cocktails. Learning the fabulous art of mixing cocktails is an …

France, it is well-known, is a wine-producing country and within there are well-defined production areas. Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace, The Rhône, the Loire, Languedoc could all be found on a map by most wine-lovers but asking them to find the Southwest and its extent, would produce some mixed results. The …

Two of the most common reactions that I have had over the years to my having worked, and having a continuing love of wine,  are to have people recoil slightly as if I am going to burst into flame and an almost total indifference flavoured with a conceit that says …

People who now consider themselves to be well-versed in wine and who are somewhat deprecating of the novice’s wine choice would do well to remember the past. Through the gloom of yesteryear will be spied a bottle of Mateus Rosé, Liebfraumilch, Jacob’s Creek or Piat d’Or lurking on a mental …

Each country in the European Union produces wine and thus has created systems of regional specification, as well as quality designations within those regions with the intent of maintaining their perceived quality, reputation and to secure pricing. France ranks the quality of producers, villages, or vineyards to assist the market …

Many people purchase wine, some from vineyards; most from the supermarket – but even more people lose out on the fully developed flavours that a wine has to offer. Even your cheaper supermarket wine can benefit from aeration, which is the process of allowing the wine to hit the air, …

You don’t have to work within the luxury market for long before you hear words such as First Growth, Grand Cru, Premier Cru and Cult Cabernet. Wine, not just an alluring experience of the senses, has long been a source of status, prestige and even investment. However, what does it …

For thousands of years it has been customary to have wine accompany a meal. This practice that tracks back to ancient Greece as the main feature in success and wealthy feasts, still exists for many reasons, celebratory or otherwise. This age-old custom we’ve enjoyed for so long has since been …

The first time I was asked to take responsibility for the wine service, I didn’t think much of it. I figured they would tell me which wine they wanted, I would go into the cellar to get it and would serve it. However, I quickly came to realize that although …