Category Archives: Wine

The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide – Languedoc by Natalie Earl (Review)

Posted on 23/10/2026 by dccrossley

I’ve already reviewed four of the Smart Traveller’s Wine Guides published by the Academie du Vin Library. They are another string to the bow of this publisher which has rejuvenated wine publishing since taking over the Infinite Ideas Library. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Languedoc-Roussillon, Restaurants, Vineyard Visits and Tastings, Wine, Wine Bars, Wine Books, Wine Shops, Wine Tourism, Wine Travel, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines September 2026 (Part 2) #theglouthatbindsus

Posted on 19/10/2026 by dccrossley

For Part 2 of the wines we opened at home in September we have another nice varied selection, although all European wines this time. We start in the far south of Baden, then hit a windy vineyard in the middle … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian Wine, Czech Wine, English Wine, German Wine, Jura, Natural Wine, Spanish Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants, Wines of Southwest France, | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines September 2026 (Part 1) #theglouthatbindsus

Posted on 15/10/2026 by dccrossley

Apologies for the tenn day break in writing. I had a nasty virus. For September I shall revert back to two sets of six wines each, less drinking than August but cheaper all round. We still have the usual insane … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Australian Wine, Austrian Wine, Crémant, Languedoc-Roussillon, Natural Wine, Slovakian Wine, South African Wines, Wine, Wine Agencies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ottolenghi Opens in Edinburgh

Posted on 05/10/2026 by dccrossley

Ottolenghi does have a couple of restaurants overseas, but they are first and foremost known for their London restaurants, serving food which is fresh, and with a vibe that would be wrong to try to pin down geographically, but which … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Dining, Natural Wine, Restaurants, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine and Food | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The World Atlas of Wine 9th Edition (Book Review)

Posted on 28/09/2026 by dccrossley

If any wine lover were asked to name the most essential wine book they need on their book shelves, or as a part of their wine library, however large or small, I would guess they would say The World Atlas … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Fine Wine, Viticulture, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Tourism, Wine Travel, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines August 2026 (Part 3) #theglouthatbindsus

Posted on 15/09/2026 by dccrossley

We finish August’s bumper three editions for the wines we drank at home in the height of summer with seven more varied bottles. We begin with a Stellenbosch Chenin, then move on via another Chablis (a contrast in price to … Continue reading →

Posted in Albanian Wine, Arbois, Artisan Wines, Canary Islands, Chablis, German Wine, Greek Wine, Jura, Natural Wine, South African Wines, Spanish Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Recent Wines August 2026 (Part 2) #theglouthatbindsus

Posted on 08/09/2026 by dccrossley

The second batch of wines we drank at home through August is an altogether different selection from those in Part 1. Whereas there we had several Austrian and Czech wines, here we are leading from the top with a very … Continue reading →

Posted in Aosta, Artisan Wines, biodynamic wine, Chablis, Italian Wine, Natural Wine, Portuguese wine, Rhone, Sherry, Spanish Wine, Swiss Wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Recent Wines August 2026 (Part 1) #theglouthatbindsus

Posted on 01/09/2026 by dccrossley

My usual format for Recent Wines (what we drank at home in the previous month) is about a dozen wines split over two parts. Well, in August we drank rather a lot. You will get 21 wines over three parts … Continue reading →

Posted in Amber Wine, Artisan Wines, Austrian Wine, biodynamic wine, Czech Wine, English Wine, Fine Wine, Loire, Natural Wine, Neusiedlersee, orange wine, Wine, Wine Agencies, Wine Merchants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Building a Wine Library (Part 2) (Going Deep)

Posted on 26/08/2026 by dccrossley

In Part 1 of this article, I suggested a small number of wine books which covered fairly broad subjects. Here in Part 2, I get a bit more specific. These books fall into the third and fourth categories listed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Artisan Wines, Australian Wine, Champagne, English Wine, Grape Varieties, Jura, Rhone, Sake, Swiss Wine, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Tourism, Wine Travel, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Building a Wine Library (Part 1)

Posted on 18/08/2026 by dccrossley

Owning a wine library, however small, is something I guess the majority of serious wine lovers have, or aspire to. By serious wine lovers, I don’t of course mean lovers of so-called serious wines. Building a wine library, in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Amber Wine, Geology and Wine, Minerals and Wine, Natural Wine, orange wine, Regenerative Viticulture, Viticulture, Wine, Wine Books, Wine Science, Wine Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments