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    White Beauty: a Tuscan debut
    • Apr 4, 2018

    White Beauty: a Tuscan debut

    Wine exam question: Explain what is meant by white Sangiovese. When I first heard about a Sangiovese bianco, I didn’t know if we were...
    Vermú, Vermut, Vermouth
    • Feb 12, 2018

    Vermú, Vermut, Vermouth

    Paso-Vermú, a new hand-crafted Spanish Vermouth made by an English couple in Somontano. The striking artwork is by Matt Sewell Strictly...
    The changing face of Txakoli
    • Jan 15, 2018

    The changing face of Txakoli

    Hot-foot from a trip to Basque Spain at the end of October, I postponed the idea of a blog enthusing about Txakoli (aka Chacolí) on the...
    Age shall not wither them: 150-year-old Aglianico vines and a vertical tasting
    • Sep 18, 2017

    Age shall not wither them: 150-year-old Aglianico vines and a vertical tasting

    Antonio Capaldi, president of Feudi di San Gregorio (left) with agronomist and CEO Pierpaolo Sirch; I wasn't the only one to photograph...
    If I had a vineyard, it would be in...
    • Aug 15, 2017

    If I had a vineyard, it would be in...

    Until a couple of weeks ago, I’d never seriously wanted a vineyard of my own, but I came back from a trip and found myself frenetically...
    Assyrtiko steps out of Greece and into Australia
    • Jul 11, 2017

    Assyrtiko steps out of Greece and into Australia

    I like classic wines made from so-called noble grape varieties as much as anyone, but there’s a thrill of a different kind in wines that...
    Ten Years On: tasting top Bordeaux 2007
    • Apr 12, 2017

    Ten Years On: tasting top Bordeaux 2007

    Fruitless it may be, but I couldn’t help speculating recently how the 2007 Bordeaux red wines would have turned out if this vintage had...
    Wine with Food: what to drink with pork
    • Mar 15, 2017

    Wine with Food: what to drink with pork

    Pork dishes in four Michelin starred restaurants (clockwise from top left): Duke of Berkshire barbecued pork ribeye, baked potato, sorrel...
    Credit Where Credit is Due: Hawke's Bay's stellar Chardonnays and a debt to Australia
    • Mar 1, 2017

    Credit Where Credit is Due: Hawke's Bay's stellar Chardonnays and a debt to Australia

    Hawke's Bay is producing stellar Chardonnays, some from vineyards within spitting distance of the Pacific Ocean. Left and centre above,...
    Beaujolais: The Comeback Kid
    • Jan 9, 2017

    Beaujolais: The Comeback Kid

    The famous windmill that gave its name to Moulin-à-Vent, one of the ten crus of Beaujolais I was slightly wary of showing a Beaujolais to...
    Is co-fermentation the new black for Port?
    • Oct 29, 2016

    Is co-fermentation the new black for Port?

    Co-fermenting – fermenting different grape varieties together happened by default in the past It was a while since I’d been in the Douro...
    The Next Big Thing...
    • Oct 7, 2016

    The Next Big Thing...

    This is the sort of piece I normally write at the close of the year, but I have more than enough material and deserving wines to mention...
    Drinking history
    • Aug 30, 2016

    Drinking history

    45 years old and still in perfect health Drinking history: there are times when only a well-worn phrase will do. I’ve just had one of...
    Stock up while you still can at The Wine Society's shop in Montreuil
    • Jul 27, 2016

    Stock up while you still can at The Wine Society's shop in Montreuil

    I joined The Wine Society as a student. Without doubt it was the wisest expenditure of my three undergraduate years (OK, the only wise...
    Top, Top Tuscans: on the Masseto Merlot trail
    • Jul 2, 2016

    Top, Top Tuscans: on the Masseto Merlot trail

    Ornellaia and Masseto are close siblings but very different wines, as I discovered on a recent visit All planted to Merlot – the Masseto...
    The Golden Age of Champagne
    • Jun 2, 2016

    The Golden Age of Champagne

    Vins Clairs from the great 2015 vintage, some of which will go into Cristal in the current, new Golden Age of Champagne Rather a quaint...
    Go Grow it on a Mountain: extreme winemaking in Chile
    • Apr 28, 2016

    Go Grow it on a Mountain: extreme winemaking in Chile

    Tabalí's winemaker Felipe Müller East goes to extremes in Chile: first he planted vineyards within spitting distance of the Pacific...
    Is Champagne a Wine for Food? A light-bulb moment
    • Mar 25, 2016

    Is Champagne a Wine for Food? A light-bulb moment

    Winter trips to Champagne can be a bit nippy. Perishingly cold, actually (cue: violins). And tasting dozens of vins clairs, the region’s...
    Blend it like Johnson... or making the most of leftovers
    • Feb 28, 2016

    Blend it like Johnson... or making the most of leftovers

    As I said a few weeks back, in what turned out to be my most popular Tweet ever @joannasimon, England’s chief medical officer and I...
    What I admire about wine: integrity, authenticity, purity and character
    • Jan 28, 2016

    What I admire about wine: integrity, authenticity, purity and character

    Stop Press! 14 April, 2016: I'm delighted to report that these wines are now available at £19.95 per bottle from winesensations.co.uk...
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    Website © 2019 Joanna Simon

    Header photo © Waitrose & Partners Drinks / Cat Garcia