Harry Crowther, Author at The Buyer

By Richard Siddle on September 20, 2021

The Buyer Banfi Debate: What next for Italy in the premium on-trade?

A local neighbourhood is not the same without a good, friendly Italian restaurant with a long list of classic, well priced wines to choose from, but how popular are Italian wines across the premium on-trade as a whole? To find out The Buyer teamed up with traditional Italian producer, Banfi, to host a debate between leading UK on-trade buyers and sommeliers to assess their views on which styles of Italian wine are making it on to their lists, what they would like to see more of and also the chance to taste though a range of Banfi red and white wines to showcase what different regions can now offer UK restaurants and their customers. In part one of our debate we concentrate on Italian whites and opportunities for the country’s indigenous varieties. In part two, later in the week, we shine the light on Brunello and Super Tuscans.

Posted In: banfi, Italy, slider, sommeliers, super tuscan, wine, wine buyers, wine importers

Tasting: Wine

By Justin Keay on September 18, 2021

How Aussie Grenache is bouncing back in Barossa and McLaren Vale

Aussie Grenache is on the rebound, as it is across much of the rest of the globe. Exploited for so long as a workhorse grape for fortified wines and as a blending partner, it is now beginning to be better understood as a variety. In Australia, particularly in Barossa and McLaren Vale, it is being re-planted in profusion with crush prices reaching an all-time high. Grenache is simply on-trend and to prove it Wine Australia asked Sarah Ahmed and Mark Pygott MW to each pick three wines from Barossa and McLaren Vale to better understand how Grenache is experiencing premiumisation. Justin Keay brings his own views to the table and confesses to being very impressed by the wines and also the standard of the presentation.

Posted In: Aussie Grenache, Australian wine, Barossa, grenache, Justin Keay, McLaren Vale, slider

People People: On-Trade

By Richard Siddle on September 17, 2021

Agustin Trapero on what it takes to be one of the world’s top sommeliers

Agustin Trapero has enjoyed a wide and varied career as a sommelier that has taken him from three star Michelin restaurants to running the entire beverage offer at the new Four Seasons Hotel in Madrid. Here he looks back on his career and reflects on what he thinks it takes to be a top sommelier and what are the vital ingredients needed in order to create the right wine list for the right venue.

Posted In: agustin trapero, restaurants, slider, sommeliers, wine, wine lists

Tasting: Wine

By David Kermode on September 16, 2021

How Exton Park RB45 is tearing a page out of Champagne’s book

October’s launch of Exton Park RB45 is the completion of the new quartet of wines from this influential English estate – joining a trio of reserve-based wines that were launched this April. To achieve a House style and avoid the vagaries of the sometimes inclement Hampshire weather, Exton Park’s new range of English Sparkling Wines owes more than a passing nod to Champagne. Exton Park RB, or Reserve Blend, is a range of four wines that are all multi-vintage and made from up-to 45 different base wines. David Kermode had an audience with winemaker Corinne Seely to find out how she is aiming to make Exton Park “an English Bollinger” and to taste and rate the new wines. Peter Dean visits the virtual launch of the RB45 and provides full tasting notes.

Posted In: Corinn Seely, David Kermode, english wine, Exton Park, Exton Park RB, slider

People

By Tom Sandham on September 16, 2021

Tom Sandham: world of drinks in Thinking Drinkers Almanac

Born to be on stage Tom Sandham and Ben McFarland – aka The Thinking Drinkers – have been twirling rather more of their thumbs than they would have liked over the last 18 months. But it has also given them time to write. A lot. They have pulled together a new live show – the Thinking Drinkers Quiz Show – that kicks off tonight in Lincoln and will travel around the country for the next eight months. They have also written The Thinking Drinkers Almanac, their own tribute to the wonderful world and history of alcoholic drinks, which also shows they do do actually know quite a lot about the drinks they have fun with on stage. Here Tom Sandham explains what it is all about.

Posted In: ben mcfarland, drinks, the thinking drinkers, thinking drinkers almanac, tom sandham

Tasting: Wine

By Roger Jones on September 16, 2021

Roger Jones picks his hits from the long-awaited WineGB tasting

It was one of the hottest days of the year and it was hotly anticipated – the day WineGB held its first showcase trade and press tasting since you-know-what. Chef and sparkling wine expert Roger Jones went to catch up with some old faces and to see how the British wine industry is continuing to evolve and excel, but it was also an opportunity to discover some new wineries and plenty of new cuvées. Whitehall Vineyard was a new producer, specialising in still wines, sparkling champ Dermot Sugrue had some impressive new cuvées, and Hattingley’s still wines were just some of Roger’s many highlights. And how about Multi-Vintage as a more positive way of describing Non Vintage?

Posted In: English sparkling, roger jones, WineGB

Conference

By Richard Siddle on September 15, 2021

What to expect at the new World Bulk Wine Exhibition 2021

The first face-to-face international wine fair organised in Europe and the United States in 2021 will take pace between November 22 and 23 in Amsterdam as the World Bulk Wine Exhibition returns for what will be an even more important show as it will be the first time that producers and key wine buyers will have had to get together, taste wines and get down to the business of buying and selling wine. Here is what to expect at this year’s event.

Posted In: Amsterdam, bulk wine, WBWE, wine

People: On-Trade

By Peter Dean on September 15, 2021

How Gosset Matchmakers 2021 found the best fizz/food pairing

Fischer’s at Baslow Hall in Derbyshire won yesterday’s Gosset Matchmakers Final 2021, with its young sommelier and chef team judged to have made the perfect two dishes to match Gosset’s Grande Blanc de Blancs and Grande Reserve. Our drinks editor Peter Dean had a ringside seat to capture the rising tension as five of the UK’s best up-coming teams battled it out to see who had the chops when it came to pairing with Champagne. And who knew that caramelised celeriac was the perfect foil for a Blanc de Blancs?

Posted In: champagne, Fischer’s at Baslow Hall, food and wine pairing, Gosset Matchmakers Final 2021, Louis Latour Agencies, Peter Dean

Tasting: Wine

By Peter Dean on September 14, 2021

How the new Cramele Recas 2020 vintage wines are tasting

Setting up a winery in Romania after the fall of the Ceausescu regime was a masterstroke for Cramele Recas co-founder Philip Cox and his fellow directors. It has allowed him to build a winery of scale with state-of-the-art equipment, using a mix of bought-in and estate fruit, with more and more hectares of vine planted with indigenous and international grape varieties. The wines are quality and value-driven and with the eight that Cox has selected to represent the 2020 vintage, there is a wide mix of fascinating blends and winemaking techniques that play to a mainstream audience, at the same time as pushing the envelope in key areas.

Posted In: Cramele Recas, Peter Dean, Philip Cox, Romania

People

By Richard Siddle on September 14, 2021

How Sayv ‘has the £5 argon solution’ to wine preservation

When it comes to managing costs and stock levels in a busy restaurant or bar then keeping on top of your wine wastage is paramount as sommeliers and managers battle with ways of keeping opened bottles of wine fresh between service. Well here’s a new idea that, for less than £5, claims it can potentially transform how you manage your wine programme. Sayv is a new wine preservation system that uses argon gas to keep wine fresh. Here its founder David Parrot explains how it works and why he hopes it can make a big difference to on-trade operators.

Posted In: argon, david parrot, stayv, wine, wine bottles, wine preserver

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