The Wine Demystifier

"To Decant" definition: To slowly transfer the contents of a bottle into a different container (with the aim of not disturbing any sediment that may exist in the said bottle).Why Decant?Most of us probably don’t even consider getting the decanter out unless we have a particularly expensive or older bottle being opened.  But there are some good reasons why it is a good idea particularly for older red wine, Vintage/unfiltered LBV Ports and even for good young red, white…

Ok, I appreciate that Sherry may not be the most fashionable of wines and probably conjures rather unwanted images of old great aunts, sipping on a glass of Harvey’s Bristol cream from a dusty old bottle that has been grabbed from the very depths of the cupboard!In all seriousness, there is a lot to enjoy about Sherry, and not just for perking up the Christmas trifle.  It’s hugely versatile – there are so many different styles from the bone…

What is the best temperature to serve wine is a question I get asked (a lot!), and the answer is not as obvious as you may think - for instance, don’t always assume if it is a red wine you don’t chill it, or if it’s white wine it must be chilled to within an inch of its life. Why? Well, some lighter style red wines with low tannins are more than able to take a few mins in the…

I thought it might be a nice idea to put together a series of ‘snapshot’ posts that will go out daily up until Christmas Eve – nothing too onerous to read, just a bit of (hopefully) useful info as we all get ready for Christmas. Today "Bubbles on a Budget" Champagne is often the go-to drink of choice for celebrations but can be a tad expensive.  If you remain staunchly in the ‘Champagne’ camp then I suggest you look…

Hopefully this will actually be “go big when you go home (this Christmas)”. For me there is no better way to ‘celebrate’ the festive season than with a magnum of my favourite tipple.  It may feel a bit decadent but there are actually good reasons why buying a magnum this festive season should be the way to go: They age better Wines bottled in magnum age better – I won’t get too geeky but it’s all to do with the…