This May we celebrate all things English with rich offerings from nature such as asparagus, new Jersey Royal potatoes, wild garlic, spring onions and the first strawberries of the season. So, what better way to enjoy the month and welcome the long-awaited warmer weather, than with an array of wines which evoke Spring, starting with delightful glass of sparkling English wine.
By Luisa Welch, AWE It’s that time of year when I start popping corks. As the festivities approach, I find myself looking for a good bubbly, to enjoy on my own or to share – sometimes reluctantly – with friends and family. Aperitif If, like many others, you are ready to ring the changes from…
by Kerstin Rodgers aka @MsMarmiteLover Snobbery and wine go together like love and marriage. I remember visiting the States a few years ago and getting very snooty about people putting ice cubes in their wine… even red wine! But let’s stop and think a minute. Sometimes, when the weather is pushing up the mercury, it…
by Nick Adams, MW Easter is nearly here, and we return to the regular review and recommendations of what should we be drinking with Easter fare and getting together? The Easter date varies as it falls each year on the Sunday following the paschal full moon after the Spring equinox. In practice, that means that…
From Nick Adams MW With all that has gone on, and is happening now, you may well be planning a New Year’s Eve dinner party at home with a small group of close friends and/or family. In this case I thought a blog on options and ideas for that event may be of interest. And…
From Nick Adams MW Pescatarians Easy to forget that many fish and shellfish are in plentiful supply (and at their best) in the winter with the following particularly good and sustainable examples: Sea Bass Farmed Sea Trout Brill Turbot Lemon Sole Plaice Gilt Head Bream Hake Monkfish Mackerel Mussels Oysters Crab Scallops Clams + as ever…
From Nick Adams MW Christmas is not only the time to celebrate but to indulge. Good food, wine and company are integral to the success and memories which make this time so special. I have highlighted several suggestions for various themes and plans you may have for Christmas: Parties – hosting a drinks and canapés…
The key principle to matching sweet wines with desserts is to make sure the wine is at least as sweet as the pudding; otherwise, it tastes weak and thin. Christmas Pudding, Cake & Mince Pies For the classic sweet treats of the festive season, the wine can be quite sweet and as rich as you…
Christmas Day Lunch – the big one! Although this is a big day the cook, or cooks, also carry a fair degree of responsibility to put on a good spread whilst also trying to relax and enjoy the day themselves. So, hopefully these options will help to make the day that little bit easier: Turkey…
By Nick Adams Another must have for Christmas – cheese! Is there anything more appealing than a great cheese board on Christmas or Boxing Day? Sadly, the great Turkish fig season is over by then to go with it, but look out for Fenland winter (white) celery – a classic savoury accompaniment – and some…
By Nick Adams Tis the season for soup for sure. This recipe below is one of my favourites, and is my homemade recommendation for the holidays. Nothing beats a great pan of vegetable soup: put in the pan some onion, leek, celery, carrot, black cabbage (cavolo nero is delicious in soup) garlic, borlotti beans, flat…
By Nick Adams Vegetarian dishes allow for a broad selection of wines to choose from – including sparkling – hence the longer blog post for this one. In general, though, it is harder to match dry and big, tannic red wines – they tend to sit aside a bit from many vegetarian dishes. If you…
