In the 1970s, a French customs official famously declared that English wine simply did 'not exist'. How times change. From a meagre total of around 1,500 bottles in the mid-1960s, English wine production now averages around five million bottles, with a national vineyard of some 2,000 hectares....
From Champagne to Prosecco, even English sparkling wine, it seems we just can't get enough of fizz. And as our thirst for the bubbly stuff grows, it's starting to throw a spotlight on the lesser known fizz-producing parts of the world. Like Austria. Susie visited the country...
A break from the norm in that this isn't our writing (for once), it's more a collection of pieces about the inaugural UK Wine Awards, which Susie chaired in May 2017. UK wine is on a roll. Quality has never been better - and it's not...
Chafor Vintage Rosé 2014, England (£45, Chafor Wine Estate) I recently had the pleasure of chairing the brand new UK Wine Awards. A task that involved spending two, very enjoyable days tasting nearly 300 English and Welsh wines along with a panel of industry experts. There was a...
Muga Rioja Rosado 2016, Spain (£9.99, Waitrose or via WineSearcher) I do like this new vintage of the Muga rosé - it strikes a lovely balance between intensity and elegance, and it works beautifully with food too. I recommended it on Saturday Kitchen to go with crispy chicken thighs,...
Pasqua Passimento Bianco 2015, Italy (from £8.99, Majestic) We've recommended this beautiful white on Saturday Kitchen a few times now - and make no apologies for it. It works really well with food because not only is it delicious in its own right, it also has a richness...
The Ned Noble Sauvignon Blanc 2015, New Zealand (from £12.99 for 375 ml, Majestic or via Wine Searcher) It's isn't easy finding good sweet wines to suit not only your own taste but also to go with the food you have before you. What's more, the good ones just don't...
Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor Chenin Blanc 2016, South Africa (from £8, Sainsbury's) This was my Saturday Kitchen wine choice to go with steamed halibut, asparagus and shellfish by Tom Kitchin. It's a very wine-friendly dish. What does this mean, quizzed presenter Matt Tebbutt? It's a good question, so perhaps...
Louis Latour White Burgundy Chardonnay 2014, France (from £10.29, Waitrose or via Wine Searcher) This elegant white Burgundy was my choice to go with a cod and parsley stuffed jacket potato by Nathan Outlaw on Saturday Kitchen. The dish was simplicity itself and went with a fair old range of...
Miguel Torres Days of Summer Muscat 2015, Chile (from £7.49, Majestic) No shortage of aromatic, grapey flavour with this Chilean Muscat, which just bursts out of the glass in joyous fashion. But neither is it a one-trick pony - quite the opposite. I chose this to partner a cheeseburger with a...