Category: Wine School

Hot and cold: the right temperature to serve wine

If you’ve ever been served a luke-warm glass of Merlot, or fine white Burgundy with an icy chill, you know that having a great wine doesn’t necessarily mean people drink one. This quick guide from our introductory wine book Exploring & Tasting Wine tells you which wines to serve at what temperature Most people do not use […]

Terroir and technique

Is wine made by Nature or by Man? Is terroir – the vineyard environment – the prime influence? Or is it technique, in vineyard and cellar? In an extract from our Wine School’s introductory book Exploring & Tasting Wine, Rebecca Lamont explores. Why are vineyards where they are? Are they the best spots – or […]

A guide to glassware

“Twenty per cent of the enjoyment of wine comes from the glass it is drunk from.” Francis Berry was a little ahead of his time in emphasising the importance of glassware in 1931, but today it is an acknowledged fact that a decent glass is essential for enjoying fine wine. This extract from our introductory […]

Germany: the home of Riesling

Due to its ability to express terroir and its susceptibility to noble rot, Riesling is a grape that yields a vast array of wine styles. Here we look at the grape’s native home, Germany, in an extract from our introductory book, Exploring & Tasting Wine.  Riesling’s identity was forged in the steep valleys of western […]