Black Cottage rosé 2016

Black Cottage rosé 2016, 12.5%, New Zealand (£10.99 on multi buy or £12.99, Majestic or via Wine Searcher)  A slightly more expensive option on Saturday Kitchen this time - but it's worth it. I was matching it to a delicious but tricky dish by Sabrina Ghayour: harissa lamb with...

The Wine Detectives

Wine fraud is a big issue. It also makes for a fascinating story. So I was thrilled to be able to explore the topic in a recent BBC Radio 4 documentary called The Wine Detectives. (Click on the link to find the original 28-minute programme...

Rating Chilean Carmenere

Carmenere is the James Bond of wine grapes. It's mysterious, with a past shrouded in conjecture. No one knows how best to handle or contain it. It's often been on the ropes - but has proved a dogged survivor. It also goes under many pseudonyms, from...

Fierce Beer Imperial Café Racer Porter

Fierce Beer Imperial Café Racer Porter, Scotland, 8.5% (£3.49 per bottle, Fierce Beer)  We thoroughly enjoyed this great little brew on Saturday Kitchen alongside some delicious chocolate brownies. It's actually a coffee and vanilla porter - so a dark beer but with lots of richness to it. This...

Ara Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Ara Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2016, New Zealand, 12.5% (£10.59 but down to £7.94 on multi buy, Waitrose)  We are big fans of chef Freddy Forster in this household. He's not only a lovely man but also a brilliant cook - witness his utterly delicious, dangerously moreish Saturday...

English sparkling wine moves on

After Susie helped plant the first vines on Champagne Taittinger's brand new English wine estate in May 2017, she reflects in the pages of Decanter on how far and fast the category has moved on. From being an emergent category just a decade or so ago,...

Domaine du Vieux Vauvert Vouvray 2016

Domaine du Vieux Vauvert Vouvray 2016, France (£9.99, Waitrose or via Wine Searcher)  First things first: this is not a dry wine! There. Glad we got that one out of the way. But it's important to say because there's nothing worse than expecting something to be dry when...