France and the frosts

With temperatures plummeting across France, the vignerons have been fighting back against the frost. While it’s too early to tell how the vintage will be impacted, Barbara Drew MW talks us through this seasonal peril. No doubt you have seen some of the evocative images coming out of France in the past week; dark vineyards […]

In praise of white Bordeaux

Why is white Bordeaux – that gloriously aromatic and complex wine style – so often overlooked? Barbara Drew MW explains what we’re missing out on. This weekend I discovered a serious issue in my cellar. I have too much white Burgundy. At first glance, this may not seem problematic: who wouldn’t want a white Burgundy […]

A guide to Crémant

There’s more to Crémant than cheap fizz. In the right hands, it’s a wine of incredible depth and diversity argues Barbara Drew MW. Crémant – France’s “other” sparkling wine – is often described as the alternative to Champagne. But it’s a huge category in its own right. Every year, more than 100 million bottles are […]

Barbara Drew MW on prestige cuvée Champagne

Barbara Drew MW selects the most memorable prestige cuvée Champagne enjoyed at various points throughout her career and personal life, and highlights a handful of bottles which would be perfectly suited to any festive celebration. Prestige cuvée Champagne: three words that are impossible to say without both joy and a certain smartness; a phrase that […]