Category Archives: Wine Tastings

Timberyard Spring Tasting 2025 Part 2 – Passione Vino

Part Two (of three) of my review of Timberyard’s Edinburgh Spring Tasting covers the wines of Passione Vino. Part One, already published, covers Carte Blanche Wines. Passione Vino is an importer/merchant I don’t know too well, although you may have … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Fine Wine, Italian Wine, Passionate Wine, Sicily, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Timberyard Spring Tasting 2025 Part 1 – Carte Blanche Wines

The spring tasting season got off to a chaotic start in Edinburgh on Monday. Rather like the cliché about buses coming along in twos and threes, there were four wine tastings and a whisky tasting on the same day, all … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, biodynamic wine, Fine Wine, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More Newcomer at Montrose

Montrose bar and restaurant on Montrose Terrace in Edinburgh not only gives its famed sibling Timberyard a run for its money in cool ambience and top-quality wine, it is also becoming a place where I seem to taste any wines … Continue reading

Posted in Alsace, Artisan Wines, Austrian Wine, biodynamic wine, Burgundy, Czech Wine, Italian Wine, Languedoc-Roussillon, Natural Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Clay Wine Fair 2025 (Part 2)

In this second part of my article on the inaugural Clay Wine Fair (16 February 2025, organised by Isobel Salamon of Slonk Wines and hosted at Sotto Trattoria in Stockbridge, Edinburgh) I will cover a similar number of wines as … Continue reading

Posted in Amber Wine, Amphora Wine, Artisan Wines, Beaujolais, Natural Wine, orange wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Festivals, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Clay Wine Fair 2025 (Part 1)

On Sunday I was lucky enough to grab a space at the inaugural Clay Wine Fair at Edinburgh’s Sotto Trattoria in Stockbridge. The event, a celebration of wine made in amphora and other terracotta/clay vessels, was organised by Isobel Salamon. … Continue reading

Posted in Amber Wine, Amphora Wine, Artisan Wines, Natural Wine, orange wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Festivals, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Review of the Year 2024 #theglouthatbindsus

In looking back at 2024, the format follows previous years. Here, I will give you a few boring statistics before mentioning the highlights of my year. I like to mix it up, some wine things (wine books, tastings, rising stars … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Cider, Artisan Wines, Natural Wine, Review of the Year, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Books, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops, Wine Tastings, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alternative Reality by Max Allen (Book Review)

Max Allen is very much my favourite writer of Australian wine books, though in the press I also much admire the work of Mike Bennie. Max has written at least a dozen wine books, but I came on board with … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Australian Wine, Grape Varieties, Viticulture, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Books, Wine Tastings, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ally Wines Tasting (Edinburgh) – “Curiously Cool American Wines”

I was very pleased to attend a tasting/masterclass introducing Ally Wines to the Edinburgh market on Monday. Ally Wines (pron. Al-eye, not Al-ee) is a London-based importer of small production artisan wines from the West Coast of America. Under the … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Californian Wine, North American Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Masterclass, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cork & Cask, Edinburgh’s Community Wine Store with a Far Wider Reach

A lot has changed since I moved to Scotland in 2022. I think one of the main changes I had to get to grips with was that nobody knew me up here. In London I’d get invited to all the … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Cider, Artisan Wines, biodynamic wine, Craft Spirits, Natural Wine, Premium Spirits, Whisky, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Festivals, Wine Heroes, Wine Merchants, Wine Shops, Wine Tastings, Women in Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Graft Wine Autumn Tasting, Edinburgh (15 October 2024)

Graft Wine held their Edinburgh Autumn Tasting on 15th October, at Hawksmoor, conveniently in the centre of the city. It has been a long time since I tasted Graft’s portfolio and the ten producers on taste showcased a whole bunch … Continue reading

Posted in Artisan Wines, Australian Wine, Burgundy, German Wine, Jura, Loire, Portuguese wine, South African Wines, Spanish Wine, Vegan Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wine Tastings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment