In what was more Fringe than West End musical, Schloss Gobelsburg’s Michael ‘the Monk’ Moosbrugger and Chevalerie’s Stéphanie Caslot, in the role of ‘Jeanne d’Arc’, brought their respective acts to town last week, hosting separate tutored tastings in Berrys’ Pickering Cellars in front of 30 private customers. Michael took to the ‘stage’ first, his chant in […]

You’ve got to laugh at my lamentable linguistic skills as I struggle to piece together a sentence in French; each one originally decorated with Italian! I thank my friends in the region of Berry (no relations sadly) for being so patient! Sit back and squirm as I interview Messrs. Sautereau, Cailbourdin and Dezat…

Assuming I come out of this one okay – cough! – I’ve always tried to put a positive spin on the annual bout of flu. It’s the body’s way of telling you to slow down (cowboy) or risk coming a cropper. Flu and other such afflictions (losing one’s Ashes for example) provide a natural boost […]

There’s been quite a lot to stomach of late, and I’m not just referring to the festive roll of cotechino e lenticchie (sausage and lentils), cappone (capon), marron glaces, and panettone. No, at the turn it’s perhaps worth reflecting on what’s been served up wine wise from Italia over the past 12 months, and what’s […]