Media Home : CellarVie Wines

08.05.13

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Debunking myths about Rosé with Mirabeau’s Stephen Cronk…

While it’s always a little risky to prematurely announce the arrival of summer, it’s fair to say we have been blessed with balmier times (excluding today's deluge), and having recently welcomed the deliciously elegant Mirabeau range to CellarVie Wines, we caught up with their owner Stephen Cronk, in order to timely debunk a few myths surrounding rosé wine…

16.05.13

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Beautiful Douro tapestry by David Eley to be auctioned at Christie’s

A new map of the Douro Valley by English artist and author David Eley, will be auctioned alongside a 12 bottle vertical of Quinta do Noval from 1937 to 2003 by Christie’s this June.

09.05.13

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Rosé wine sales continue to rise

According to market analysts Nielsen, rosé wine now accounts for a record one in eight bottles of wine bought in supermarkets and off-licences in Britain, which is considerably higher than the one in 40 recorded in 2000.

08.05.13

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What Wines to Drink in the Summer

In the summertime when the weather is fine drink these wines…

19.04.13

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Burgundian Winemaker crosses Channel to run Marathon in aid of the RNLI

A leading French winemaker who spends his days nestled among the beautiful rolling vineyards of rural Burgundy is not the first person you’d expect to pledge support for such a quintessentially British charity as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

08.04.13

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The Cheese & Wine Festival returns to London’s Southbank Centre

From 11am on Friday 26 April until 6pm on Sunday 28 April 2013, Southbank Centre Square in Waterloo will host the return of The Cheese & Wine Festival.

05.04.13

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Vodka made from cows milk! Whey or nay?

A dairy farmer from Beaminster in West Dorest, has created the world’s first pure milk vodka, made entirely from the milk of grass grazed cows.

04.04.13

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The stunning photographs of whiskey stained glass by Ernie Button

Phoenix based photographer Ernie Button has created a series of beautiful photographs by capturing the intricate effects light and glass have on evaporated whiskey stains.

04.04.13

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Cocktail of the Week: The Hurricane

On the 4th April 1913, the late great Muddy Waters was born in Mississippi and given the increasingly whimsically nature of our Cocktail of the Week, we thought it prudent to pair a delightful cocktail with a tribute to the great man himself. So without further ado here is a Hurricane Cocktail recipe and a few throwaway facts about the soulful and electrifying blues legend that is Muddy Waters…

03.04.13

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Dessert wine, Languedoc-Roussillon & Spring delights

In this week’s What’s hot in the World of Wine we run the rule over the Guardian’s defence of dessert wines, the Daily Telegraph’s selections from the Languedoc-Roussillon region and we check out a few of the Daily Mail’s unusual spring wine suggestions…

28.03.13

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Cocktail of the Week: Cherry Manhattan

The long Easter weekend is finally upon us and there is no better time to overindulge. So put your feet up this weekend or throw caution to the wind by pouring yourself a Cherry Manhattan cocktail.

28.03.13

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What We’re Drinking: Emeline & Cono Sur Single Block Visión Riesling

When it comes to wine, we all have different tastes and expectations. Sometimes it can be a real challenge to agree on one bottle and everybody tends to have their own particular favourite.

22.03.13

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Recipe: Parmigiano Reggiano And Asparagus Tart

Celebrate the start of the British Asparagus Season on the 23rd April with this simple and savoury Parmigiano Reggiano and Asparagus tart recipe.

22.03.13

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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Les Abeilles Rouge, Jean-Luc Colombo

Our office at CellarVie Wines is very much founded on an Anglo-French axis. Christopher’s wife Dominique, our graphic designer Emeline, her predecessor Sophie, and Cordelia, who is currently on work experience, are all French. Jonathan is moitié français (half French…according to Google Translate). Mr Robins and I are quintessentially English (in desperate need of sunshine) and therefore none the wiser when the office breaks into in a crescendo of French vocabulary. Yet the phonetics of the language is something I have always enjoyed being surrounded by; words like cambrioleur and asperges, never to my knowledge used in the same sentence, roll beautifully off the tongue. And this brings me nicely to my What We’re Drinking selection; Les Abeilles Rouge, Côtes du Rhône, by Jean-Luc Colombo.

21.03.13

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Cocktail of the Week: Dark N’ Stormy

At this time of year we are all hankering for a bit of tropical sun somewhere far away from here, and what better way to evoke memories of crisp white sands and turquoise seas than with this Dark N’ Stormy cocktail recipe.

20.03.13

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WSTA lambast inflation busting tax hikes on wines and spirits

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has condemned the Chancellor for pushing ahead with inflation busting alcohol tax rises on wines and spirits for the fifth year in a row, through the widely derided Alcohol Duty Escalator.

20.03.13

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Wines to drink at Easter

Easter usually marks the beginning of spring and the point at which some wine drinkers veer from rich and wintery reds to lighter and slightly more delicate wines. Yet for some, the Easter weekend is likely to culminate in a family orientated Sunday lunch, which presents an ideal platform to showcase some delicious wines and some that don’t necessarily fall into the aforementioned category.

08.03.13

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What We’re Drinking: Jon & JJ Hahn Western Ridge 1975 Planting Shiraz 2009

Our JJ Hahn Reginald Shiraz (as you must know by now) is a real favourite. Not only from a CellarVie Wines team perspective, but also from the thrilled customer who recently called us to let us know how much they enjoyed it too. Given my love of Shiraz/Syrah wines I was recently asked by a good friend, who almost exclusively only drinks beer, to bring over a bottle of wine to blow him away and the JJ Hahn Reginald was my selection. Additionally, it was this wine that caused a 'first' for CellarVie, when the last bottle on sale at a recent tasting caused something of a melee. But fear not, the wine in question is now back in stock and I’m digressing, because I’m actually going to discuss the Reginald's big brother; the JJ Hahn Western Ridge 1975 Planting Shiraz 2009, which is also from the Barossa Valley.

08.03.13

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie enter the winemaking industry

Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are to produce wines from their French chateau in southern France according to Decanter.

08.03.13

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What Hot’s in the World of Wine: Chenin Blanc, Australian wines & what to drink on Mother’s Day

In this instalment of What’s Hot in the World of Wine, we assess the Daily Telegraph’s take on Australian wines, the Daily Mail’s Mother’s Day suggestions, and three perfect Chenin Blancs for Spring from The Guardian…

07.03.13

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Recipe: Parma Ham Mother's Day Croissant

Surprise your mum on Mother's Day with an indulgent breakfast in bed. These Parma Ham, gruyere and poached egg croissants are simple to prepare and delicious when served fresh from the oven.

07.03.13

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Cocktail of the Week: Mojito

It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday. It is also Chuck Norris’ birthday. There is no connection between the two, but because of the flimsy editorial vetting, this momentous and entirely random coincidence is going to be unabashedly celebrated (until it’s unceremoniously removed and the writer disciplined). So kick back with your dear mother on Sunday with this classic Mojito cocktail recipe and a few whimsical stats about this previously unheralded dual-event…

07.03.13

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Mother's day Recipe: Wild Alaska Pacific Cod With Chorizo

This Mothering Sunday, treat your mum to this delicious wild Alaska Pacific cod with saffron wild rice and chorizo recipe.

04.03.13

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Higgidy Recipes for British Pie Week: Steak & Stout Pie With Crunchy Mash

Seeing as British Pie Week begins today, the CellarVie Wines team thought they would bring you this delicious Steak and Stout Pie with Crunchy Mash recipe courtesy of Higgidy.

04.03.13

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Mother’s Day Recipe: Harveys Orange and Almond Cake

According to a recent survey conducted by Toluna of 400 mothers, 54% of them said they would enjoy a home-baked cake with afternoon tea on Mother's Day. Seeing as her big day is looming (Sunday 10th March for the forgetful , why not relive those childhood memories of baking together and treat her to a delicious 'Harveys orange and almond cake' with this easy-to-do recipe.

01.03.13

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What We’re Drinking: Simon & Château des Bardes

Bordeaux is a tough region to approach for the casual wine drinker. Yes everyone has heard of it and may be vaguely aware of the names of some of the top wines that now change hands at prices so high they can no longer really be considered as consumables. They are more like works of art with top winemakers often venerated like more conventional artists to those in the know. And who am I to disagree. Having been lucky enough to try some of the premier wines in Bordeaux, their creations feel just as far beyond my abilities and even comprehension as a fine painting or sculpture.

28.02.13

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Cocktail of the Week: Strawberry Fields Forever

In a week in which George Harrison (25th February) would have celebrated his 70th birthday, The Beatles loving team at CellarVie Wines thought they celebrate the life of the Quiet Beatle with the Strawberry Fields Forever cocktail and a bit of superfluous trivia…

22.02.13

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Recipe: Caramelised onion tart & wild arugula with Blackstone Merlot

Following this week’s What We’re Drinking which featured the Blackstone Merlot 2010 from California, we sought out a recipe that the aforementioned producer thought perfectly accompanies their brilliant wine. So why not get yourself in the kitchen this weekend and make this hassle free Caramelised onion tart and Wild Arugula with Walnut oil Vinaigrette recipe, courtesy of Blackstone Winery in Monterey…

22.02.13

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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Blackstone Merlot

The main character in the gloriously bittersweet comedy Sideways was famously averse to Californian Merlot, and like many, my opinion had been largely influenced by Alexander Payne’s impeccable 2004 film. Fortunately, I was recently afforded the chance to put the aforementioned character’s incorrigible disdain for one of the world’s most diverse and widely planted grape varietals to the test, when I sampled the Blackstone Merlot 2010 at a tasting event.

21.02.13

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Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash & Red Pepper Tartlets by Higgidy

British Pie Week begins on the 4th March, so why not take a moment to unleash your inner Mary Berry and celebrate this much loved British dish with this delicious recipe, complete with hints and tips on how to perfect your pastry from queen of pies and pastry, Camilla Stephens, founder of award winning Higgidy.

21.02.13

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Cocktail of the Week: Raspberry Rickey

The legendary Nina Simone was born on the 21st February, 1933 and so we thought it prudent to mark her birthday with an archetypal jazz age cocktail, The Raspberry Rickey.

19.02.13

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Chardonnay revived, Napa Valley & Sémillon

After a lengthy hiatus, What’s Hot in the World of Wines returns for the first time in 2013 and this week our leading wine journalists have been extoling the virtues of Chardonnay in The Telegraph, championing Napa Valley in the Sunday Times and praising Sémillon in the Guardian…

14.02.13

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Drink the same amount of wine to avoid divorce says science…(kind of)

A new study has found that couples who drink similar amounts of alcohol are more compatible and divorce is less likely.

14.02.13

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Cocktail of the Week: Belvedere Cupid’s Bow

For some, Valentine’s Day is a moment to treasure, for others it’s simply an annoyance or an inconvenience to negotiate. Either way, it seems as fitting a day as any to share a cocktail with a loved one or simply wallow in self-pity and make one for yourself. With those patently different sentiments in mind, here is a recipe for Belvedere Cupid’s Bow, which is our cocktail of the week for Valentine’s…

13.02.13

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Beer belly myth debunked by scientific study

According to a recent study there is no scientific evidence that supports the commonly held belief that beer causes weight gain. The report “Beer & calories: a scientific review”, intimates that the beer belly is a myth and that the country’s national drink has nutritional benefits similar to wine when drunk in moderation.

12.02.13

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What wine to drink with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday precedes Ash Wednesday in the Christian Calendar and traditionally it is heralded as a day of feasting before a period of fasting. Some give up chocolate, others alcohol (gulp!) but regardless of your efforts, rarely are we presented with such a prime opportunity of indulgence than Pancake Day, so defy the midweek gloom by pairing tonight’s pancakes with some of these wine suggestions…

21.01.13

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What wine to drink on Burns Night

"Go fetch to me a pint o' wine," From My Bonie Mary, by Robert Burns

On Friday 25th January many will celebrate the life and poetry of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, and seeing as the man himself was famously enthralled by a drop of good vino, we thought it prudent to recommend some lovely wine to enjoy with your haggis.

18.01.13

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Beautiful bespoke wine racks

A young artist has combined her love of animals with her skills as a sculptress to create individually commissioned wine racks.

18.01.13

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What wine to drink with Sunday Lunch

Sunday lunch is a rite of passage for the English. It is a meal and an occasion that we can collectively claim to have nailed. A momentary window amid our busy week set aside for communal revelry in family, friendship and food. The restorative powers of such moments should be treasured and more pertinently fuelled by a decent bottle of wine.

14.01.13

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New study claims Red wine prevents cholesterol build up from meat

A Sunday roast just isn’t the same without a lovely glass of red wine and now it appears a cheeky sup of claret will actually diminish the unhealthy effects of eating red meat.

20.12.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Eggnog

It polarises opinion even on the rare occasions it is executed correctly but it is quintessentially festive. It looks grotesque, smells unfathomable and yet a Christmas party pales into insignificance without a suspicious looking bowl of jacked-up omelette-like sludge. So throw caution to the Baltic winds this week and brave the odd consistency of eggnog by revelling in our latest Cocktail of the Week…

13.12.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Mulled Wine & Sloe Gin

'Tis the season and nothing tastes quite like Christmas like a warming glass of Mulled Wine, and our cocktail of the week is a slight twist on the traditional with the addition of Sloe Gin.

13.12.12

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New study claims red wine drinkers earn more

Red wine drinkers earn more and are generally happier, while white wine lovers are more practical according to a new social study commissioned by French Wines with Style.

13.12.12

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Merlot Wine Guide

The diversity and easy-drinking style of Merlot has made it one of the world’s most popular varietals, with this black grape - which made its first appearance on the Right Bank of the Dordogne in the early eighteenth century - proving particularly fashionable in the New World. Widely considered the red wine alternative to Chardonnay, Merlot increasingly plays a prominent role in blends with the more austere and aristocratic Cabernet Sauvignon. Early ripening with lush fruitiness, Merlot, unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, thrives in damp, cooler climates like Saint-Émilion and Pomerol - two areas where this varietal’s greatest wines are associated. Dry summers and hotter climates can render the Merlot grape underdeveloped while its thinner skins are sensitive to frost but because it is much easier to ripen, yields tend to be higher.

12.12.12

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Blumenthal breathes new life into UM BONGO

Um Bongo, the iconic 1980’s juice drink containing a blend of nine different types of fruit, is set for a revival following its appearance on Heston’s Fantastical Food, say its makers the Gerber Juice Company.

10.12.12

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Christmas Wine Guide

All your Christmas wine requirements are hopefully covered here, from which bottles to buy as presents, to wine gift vouchers, the best port and dessert wines and what wine to serve with your Christmas turkey on the big day itself…

07.12.12

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What We're Drinking: Georgia & Bolla Prosecco

Last month, we participated in 'The Spirit of Christmas' fair at Kensington Olympia where we were showcasing 12 wines that not only represented the wide variety that CellarVie Wines have to offer, but also the wines that we believe are perfect for the festive period. One of those wines was the Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene Bolla. This gorgeous sparkling wine hails from northern Italy, specifically from the Veneto region which is home to Prosecco, Soave and Valpolicella.

07.12.12

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Chardonnay Food Match: Pasta with Garlic Ham in cream sauce

The wide variety of Chardonnay styles makes it a hugely versatile wine for food matching but in this instance and paired with pasta in a creamy sauce we suggest a full-bodied oaky New World Chardonnay. An Italian classic, this easy recipe is mouth-watering delicious and will bring out the very best of buttery, toffee-like notes of the Chardonnay. The white sauce is rich and creamy without being overly fattening and the simple addition of ham make this a wonderfully tasty meal.

07.12.12

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Chardonnay Wine Guide

Chardonnay is the dominate force in the white wines of eastern France, where it has resided, thrived and subsequently travelled far and wide since the Middle Ages. Easy to grow, hugely adaptable to blending and globally popular, Chardonnay is also a primary ingredient in Champagne - or the only ingredient in the case of a Blanc de Blancs - and it also produces Chablis and many other iconic white Burgundies.

06.12.12

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Cocktail of the Week: The Negroni

The story goes that this equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth cocktail served on the rocks was fashioned in Florence around the 1920s after Count Camillo Negroni, a regular at Bar Casoni, ordered his Americano, a drink containing Campari, sweet vermouth and soda water, to be made with gin instead of soda.

06.12.12

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Evidence suggests red wine contains cancer healing qualities

Moderate red wine consumption has long been attributed to boasting health benefits such as a strong heart and nutritious bones, and researchers now suggest a cheeky daily glass of claret contains a chemical compound capable of preventing cancer.

30.11.12

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Cabernet Sauvignon Food Match: Steak With Blue Cheese Recipe

Cabernet Sauvignon wines are notoriously hearty and rich, boasting sturdy tannins with heavy texture and therefore they need a suitably powerful culinary match such as a rare steak, covered in blue cheese…

29.11.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Long Island Iced Tea

Eleven years ago to the day, the much-beloved George Harrison died of lung cancer. In honour of the “quiet Beatle” the team at CellarVie Wines wanted to recall his beautifully crafted song, ‘Here Comes The Sun’, from The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road and its wonderfully simple yet happy sentiments, in an effort to encourage some cocktail induced revelry on a Thursday night.

29.11.12

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Sauvignon Blanc Wine Guide

Sauvignon Blanc is responsible for some of the world’s most popular, distinctive and dry white wines such as Sancerre and Pouilly- Fumé in France, and a plethora of superb Sauvignon Blancs from the New World, particularly in New Zealand. Frequently blended with Semillon, the Sauvignon Blanc grape will add a zesty, vibrant and often acidic verve to great dry and sweet white wines. Sharing some aromatic similarities to the great red wine grape varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon, DNA fingerprinting in 1997 established that alongside Cabernet Franc, this humble grape native to Bordeaux was a parent of the aforementioned red grape.

26.11.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Argentinian Malbec & Christmas drinking

After a fleeting hiatus our fortnightly instalment of What’s Hot in the World of Wine returns with an almighty bang as this week we run the rule over the Telegraph’s focus on Argentinian Malbec, The Sunday Times examines a few festive tipples to whet your beak over Christmas, while the affable Olly Smith of the Daily Mail champions some decent wines to sup during the Christmas party slog. Finally we look at the Guardian who kindly reveals “three affordable wines to warm your heart on a cold winter's eve.”

23.11.12

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Syrah/Shiraz Food Match: Lamb's liver with bacon and onions

Food matching with Syrah/Shiraz depends hugely on the style of wine so we would urge a little caution and common-sense when endeavouring to partner this noble black grape variety with your culinary feast of choice. In this instance we are recommending a rich, hearty lamb’s liver recipe which is ideal for the incoming cold-snap of weather, with a classical Old World style Syrah from the Rhône.

23.11.12

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What We're Drinking: Georgia & Cono Sur Single Block Visión Viognier

I must admit that up until a few months ago I was not an avid wine drinker and had little knowledge about grape varieties and their differing flavour profiles. In an attempt to initiate me into the world of wines - where better to start than at CellarVie Wines - our resident wine-guru Simon suggested I try a Viognier.

22.11.12

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Cocktail of the Week: The Poinsettia

“The rising tide lifts all the boats.” ― John F. Kennedy

The 35th President of the United States of America, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald exactly 49-years-ago today and while his aforementioned declaration inevitably had far loftier and more pertinent intentions than our own, we wanted to revel in them nonetheless. So why not rejoice in the looming and hopefully happily lapping tides of a fun-filled weekend by pouring yourself a premature but no doubt well-deserved cocktail. CellarVie Wines’ Cocktail of the Week is the suitably festive The Poinsettia.

22.11.12

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Syrah/Shiraz Wine Guide

Often championed as the noblest black grape varietal, Syrah/Shiraz perpetually produces some of the finest red wines in the world and ones capable of ageing superbly over a period of decades. As one of France’s most ancient varieties, Syrah is responsible for some of the greatest reds in northern Rhone, where it is renowned in the wines of Hermitage, Cote-Rotie and Cornas. Shiraz, the Australian name for the Syrah grape, has been so successful it is commonly used on wine labels for Syrah grown all over southern Europe and occasionally inclusive of even the French Languedoc.

20.11.12

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Pinot Noir food match: Roasted vegetables recipe

This great winter warmer recipe for roasted vegetables is easy, hassle-free and more pertinently a perfect food match with Pinot Noir wine. It’s a versatile dish delicious on its own or paired with anything from roast chicken to fish, or even toss it with pasta for a simple vegetarian alternative.

16.11.12

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What We're Drinking: Simon & Savigny-les-Beaune

Ahhh Burgundy! Difficult to understand, often fickle and unpredictable but once you have fallen for her charms you’ll find it hard to look at other wines. Alongside Rhone and Bordeaux, Burgundy is one of the three great French red wine regions. As a region it lacks the ostentatiousness of the grand chateau of Bordeaux but at the same time it isn’t quite the source of bargains many still consider the Rhone to be. It sits in the middle of the two regions with its best wines still commanding the very highest prices but in contrast to their monetary value they are often made by relatively small family owned estates.

15.11.12

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Cocktail of the Week: The Manhattan

The great American author and humanist Kurt Vonnegut would have celebrated his 90th birthday last Sunday, so ahead of our Cocktail of the Week we thought we would recall his jovial romanticisms from ‘A Man Without a Country’ – an essay collection published in 2005 from the Indianapolis born writer - in order to inspire some cocktail induced revelry prior to the weekend.

15.11.12

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Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Guide

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most widely grown red wine grape varieties in the world, thriving as it does in a diverse range of global climates and producing some of the greatest and most varied wines. Prior to the 1990s when Merlot rapidly rose to prominence, Cabernet Sauvignon was perhaps the most readily available premium red wine grape having originated from south-western France during the 17th Century. The grapes have thick skins and the vines are very resistant to rot and frost, hence the varietal’s capacity to travel well. Here is some information to hopefully enlighten you prior to purchasing Cabernet Sauvignon wines…

09.11.12

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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Blackstone Chardonnay 2010

In addition to our considerable commitments with CellarVie Wines, we also run the RFU Wine Club. At a recent tasting event at the Westbury Hotel, attended by none other than World Cup winner Richard Hill and current bastions of English rugby, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree, we tried the Blackstone Chardonnay 2010 from Monterey County, amongst a host of other wines.

08.11.12

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Pinot Noir Wine Guide

Wines made from Pinot Noir are amongst the most popular and widely championed by critics and consumers alike, yet this tantalisingly romantic grape is also one of the most temperamental varieties in the world. Here is a little bit of information to hopefully assist you in your efforts to buy Pinot Noir wine…

08.11.12

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Beautiful nude wine cork portraits by Conrad Engelhardt

An artist from California now based in Shoreditch has found a novel and creatively beautiful way to reuse old wine corks by painstakingly piecing together stunningly detailed nude portraits.

Using between 2,000 and 5,000 corks courtesy of donations made by some of London’s top restaurants, Conrad Engelhardt assembles these large murals which often then feature in a plethora of the capital’s top eateries such as Les Trois Garcons and The Boundary.

08.11.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Tequila Sunrise

The inimitable Charles Bukowski once wrote the following in relation to the degenerating and monotonous capacity of a daily ‘9 to 5’ job:

“What hurts is the steadily diminishing humanity of those fighting to hold jobs they don't want but fear the alternative worse. People simply empty out. They are bodies with fearful and obedient minds. The colour leaves the eye. The voice becomes ugly. And the body. The hair. The fingernails. The shoes. Everything does."

19.10.12

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Kent’s vineyards rue hostile weather as 2012 vintage suffers

England’s premier wine growing region Kent has suffered at the hands of the hostile weather this year, with one winery following Nyetimber’s recent example by deciding not to harvest its grapes and another predicting losses of nearly half its stock.

18.10.12

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Study unearths formula for the perfect pint

A chain of traditional British pubs have released the secret to the perfect pint, after conducting research to find out the optimum conditions their punters look for to enjoy their ales.

18.10.12

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Beautiful Tea and Alcohol ink portraits by Carne Griffiths

A British artist has come up with a novel way of creating beautiful portraits by using vodka, whiskey, brandy and tea as his primary medium. Carne Griffiths’ drawings focus “on the creation and manipulation of the drawn line” but does so working primarily with “calligraphy inks, graphite and liquids, such as tea, brandy and vodka”.

18.10.12

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Cocktail of the week: The Red Carpet

You have shed blood, sweat and tears all week and are now deservedly hankering for a well-earned drink. The week’s worst is over and the scent of the weekend fills your stuffy, serviced office; your chalk-dry palate is yearning for something wet and its undoubtedly time to indulge oneself. With those mouth-watering sentiments in mind, why not kick back and give yourself the VIP treatment by pouring yourself the Red Carpet Cocktail.

17.10.12

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CellarVie Wines announce Richmond Hockey Club sponsorship

CellarVie Wines are delighted to announce that they are now very proud sponsors of Richmond Hockey Club.

16.10.12

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Tuscany triumphs in battle of the wine destinations

Tuscany has been named as Europe’s best wine destination for travellers by TripAdvisor.

The world’s largest travel site unveiled the European winners of its 2012 Travellers’ Choice Wine Destinations awards with Italy taking top spot ahead of Aquitaine in France.

16.10.12

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BevShots: The beautiful photographs of alcohol

A research scientist from Florida State University named Michael Davidson has shone a new light on alcoholic beverages by photographing cocktails through a microscopic lens. The results are breathtakingly beautiful.

16.10.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Port, Wine Awards & Emerging Markets

Every fortnight, the CellarVie Wines team immerse themselves in the weekend’s newspapers accompanied by a glass of something suitable, in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine. In this instalment, The Sunday Times focuses their attentions on Port, The Daily Telegraph discusses the merits of wine awards, and the Daily Mail looks at emerging wine markets…

11.10.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Classic Margarita

Thursday is so dangerously close to the weekend that CellarVie Wines often tend to be hankering for a drink by the close of play. The week’s back is broken, Friday night looms, and we are usually in buoyant mood as the weekend approaches.

03.10.12

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Spirit of the Month: Monte Alban Mezcal Tequila

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates one of our spirits by publishing four cocktails, one each week, that showcases the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Monte Alban Mezcal Tequila Gold for the month of October.

01.10.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Rosé wine & tropical flavoured whites

Every fortnight, the CellarVie Wines team immerse themselves in the weekend’s newspapers, accompanied of course by a glass of something suitable, in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine. In this instalment, The Sunday Times explores the delights of rosé wine, The Daily Telegraph discusses the nuances of the colour of wine, The Observer highlights their three wines of the week, and The Daily Mail champions a host of tropical flavoured white wines…

01.10.12

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What We’re Drinking: Simon & Over the Shoulder Chardonnay 2009

When is a blend not a blend? When it is made from the same grape. Now I probably sound like I've been sampling a little bit too much of my own supply but bear with me. The Over the Shoulder Chardonnay is exactly that - 100% Chardonnay, but interestingly it is made from three batches each one created in three completely different ways and then blended.

27.09.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Martell Float

There comes a time during the working week when everyone* needs to cut loose or just merely partake in a cheeky drink, and seeing as we are currently celebrating our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail every Thursday, why not relax and pour yourself a Martell Float cocktail…

21.09.12

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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Solandia Primitivo 2010, Puglia

CellarVie Wines recently did a tasting with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the aftermath of one of their lengthy seven hour practice sessions in the quite beautiful Henry Wood Hall near Borough. In addition to meeting members of the UK’s unofficial national orchestra, many of whom were unsurprisingly thirsty; it was a great opportunity to reacquaint oneself with some of our tried and trusted wines. One of the eight wines being tasted on the night was the Solandia Primitivo 2010, from Puglia in Italy.

20.09.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Martell Cosmopolitan

CellarVie Wines are currently celebrating our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail every Thursday. Throughout this month we are championing Martell XO Cognac and with the aforementioned cognac in mind, why not kick-off the weekend early by pouring yourself a Martell Cosmopolitan…

14.09.12

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What We’re Drinking: Jon & Veramonte Merlot Reserva 2009

For my latest instalment of ‘What We’re Drinking’ I chose the multi award winning wine - Veramonte Merlot Reserva 2009. This Chilean wine was not only feted by the Decanter World Wine Awards but also by the International Wine Challenge. The acclaim doesn't stop there; our friends over the pond in the US – The Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator - both marked this wine 87 out of 100.

14.09.12

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Pinot Noir induced pigs thrive over vodka persuaded counterparts

While by no means a major breakthrough for heavy drinkers, new research suggests pinot noir - a light to medium-bodied red wine – has better health benefits than vodka.

13.09.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Classic Champagne Cocktail

CellarVie Wines are currently championing our Spirit of the Month, Martell XO Cognac, by recommending a cocktail every Thursday. This week why not give the Classic Champagne Cocktail a try…

10.09.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Value-for-money reds & Sparkling wine

Every fortnight, the CellarVie Wines team dive knee deep into the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine. In this instalment, The Sunday Times explore a number of value-for-money reds, The Daily Telegraph discusses what to drink with gamey meats, The Observer highlights their three wines of the week, and the Daily Mail champions a host of sparkling wines…

07.09.12

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What We're Drinking: Chrisopher & JJ Hahn Reginald Shiraz 2009

Do you like good red Rhône wine? - Try this Barossa Shiraz - the JJ Hahn Reginald Shiraz 2009!

07.09.12

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Swedish company release wine handbags for women on the go

Following recent reports that suggested wine in cartons is set to become a successful niche in the UK, a Swedish company have gone a step further by releasing containers shaped like women’s handbags.

07.09.12

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Seven Deadly Glasses by Kacper Hamilton

While by no means new, CellarVie Wines could only marvel at the creative brilliance of London-based designer Kacper Hamilton and his marvellous ‘Seven Deadly Glasses’. Whilst floating aimlessly on the worldwide web during our lunch hour we stumbled upon these beautiful wine glasses, inspired of course by the seven deadly sins; lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride.

06.09.12

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Hannan Meats’ Moyallon Guanciale wins top gong at Great Taste 2012

Moyallon Guanciale, a bacon style product revered by Italians but made with great dedication by Hannan Meats in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was crowned Supreme Champion at The Great Taste Awards 2012, the annual food awards scheme which seeks out the very best tasting food and drink.

06.09.12

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McDonald’s unveil controversial plans for first vegetarian outlets

McDonald’s are to open their first purely vegetarian restaurants in India later this year. The meat-free incarnation of the globally recognised US Hamburger chain will open within 200 meters of The Golden Temple, the holiest site of the Sikh faith.

06.09.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Martell Sour

CellarVie Wines are currently celebrating our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail every Thursday. Throughout September we will be championing Martell XO Cognac and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself a Martell Sour…

04.09.12

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Do you want fries with that? Giant cheeseburger breaks record

The Black Bear Casino Resort near Carlton, Minnesota has broken a Guinness World Record for the largest bacon cheeseburger ever made.

03.09.12

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James Bond and Bollinger continue their flirtations

To coincide with the October release of Skyfall, the 23rd instalment of the Bond series on screen, starring Daniel Craig in his third outing and directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes, Bollinger have unveiled their latest James Bond special edition bottle entitled ‘002 for 007’.

03.09.12

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Shape of things to come: Curved beer glass speeds up drinking

Researchers claim consumers drink beer almost twice as quickly if it is served in a fashionable curved beer class rather than a traditional 12 fl oz straight glass.

It took on average nearly 12 minutes for participants to down a little over half a pint or a third of a litre from a straight glass yet from a curved glass of the same size, it took just seven minutes.

03.09.12

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Spirit of the Month: Martell XO Cognac

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates one of our listed spirits by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Martell XO Cognac; a spirit that is almost certainly best enjoyed neat or with a splash of water, but let’s not get bogged down in the detail.

31.08.12

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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Nederburg Reserve Noble Late Harvest

I was fortunate enough to interview Nederburg’s charismatic cellarmaster Razvan Macici back in June and in addition to being a lovely bloke, he also gave CellarVie Wines a unique insight into the ethos behind one of South Africa’s leading wineries. In particular, the Romanian born star of South African Master Chef laboured the importance of the Nederburg Winemakers Reserve Noble Late Harvest; a wine their world renowned traditions have been founded on and a totem of their unwavering commitment to world-class vineyard and cellar skills. I was sold on it from the get-go and simply had to try it…albeit a little belatedly.

30.08.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Terroir, Pinot Noir & Sauvignon Blanc locums

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines dives knee deep into the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine. In this instalment, The Sunday Times explains the nuances of Terroir and winemaking in Mexico, The Daily Telegraph discuss a number of alternatives to New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, The Observer highlights their three wines of the week, and the Daily Mail extol the virtues of Pinot Noir…

30.08.12

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Cocktails of the Week: Sicilian Kiss

Our Spirit of the Month for August is Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and although this week’s Cocktail of the Week is perhaps more of a shot or a shooter; it is no less enjoyable for it! So without further ado here is a recipe for the Sicilian Kiss…

23.08.12

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What We’re Drinking: Charlotte & Gavi di Gavi 'La Toledana'

The Gavi di Gavi 'La Toledana' 2011 is a delicious aromatic Italian white and is a fine example of what can be produced in the north of the country. It’s a bit pricey but when I want to enjoy a white that is subtle and complex as a treat, I tend to reach for a bottle of this Gavi di Gavi.

23.08.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Macbeth

CellarVie Wines are currently celebrating our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail every Thursday. Throughout August we are championing Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself The Macbeth cocktail…

20.08.12

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South Africa: An introduction to the wine region

As a wine growing region in the world, South Africa is often positioned right in the middle of the Old and the New World due to its long and varied heritage and obviously because of its central location.

20.08.12

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700 glasses of wine a day…is good for balance?

According to new research a compound found in red wine could help improve balance, but sadly for those looking for better levels of stability, the 700 glasses needed a day to achieve the effect would almost certainly lead to anything but a healthy equilibrium.

17.08.12

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Struth! World's most expensive bottle of wine goes on sale for £120,000

One of the world’s most expensive bottles of wine will go on sale in London today with the special-edition 2004 Block 42’ Cabernet Sauvignon boasting a price-tag of £120,000.

17.08.12

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Government warned against proposed minimum alcohol price

The Office of Fair Trading has warned the government against pressing ahead with their plans for a minimum price for alcohol, claiming the new legislation could encourage retailers to sell more, rather than less booze.

17.08.12

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Weighty wine tome set for publication

A comprehensive 1,200 page guide to the world’s wine grape varieties is set to be published this autumn.

16.08.12

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What We’re Drinking: Simon & Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc

My first love, Champalou Vouvray 1998, well my first Chenin Blanc love at least! It must have been 2002 and I was only a couple of years into my wine career when a friend and wine mentor, Mark, suggested we scoop up the last four bottles at the company where we both worked. I followed his lead and two days later I was driving home from work with two new passengers rolling around on the seat next to me.

16.08.12

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Wine made from tomatoes to ketchup with rivals

Wine lovers in Canada have been indulging in an unusual vintage courtesy of a 1930s Belgian recipe made using tomatoes.

16.08.12

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Cocktail of the Week: The French Connection

It’s that time of the week again; when CellarVie Wines dust-down their cocktail shaker to bring you a palate busting drink that truly celebrates our Spirit of the Month. Throughout August we have been trumpeting Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself a French Connection cocktail.

15.08.12

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Beautiful wine stain solutions by artist Amelia Fais Harnas

There are countless old wives tales about the best ways to conceal or clean those pesky wine stains but none of them are as creative or as beautiful as the stunning wine stain portraits created by artist Amelia Fais Harnas.

13.08.12

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My Perfect Dinner Party: Don Jacobo Winemaker Javier Martinez

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the deliciously award winning wines of Don Jacobo and so it seemed fitting to ask their charismatic winemaker, Javier Martinez, to tell us about his hypothetical perfect dinner party, complete with ideal guests, archetypal meal with his accompanying wine and his picture-perfect location, which perhaps unsurprisingly happens to be in Rioja…

13.08.12

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The Famous Grouse trumps Jack Daniels in largest bottle bid

The Famous Grouse has surpassed Jack Daniels in their bid to produce the world’s largest bottle of whisky after their 228-litre effort was awarded the Guinness World Record on Sunday, amid the brand’s 107th birthday celebrations.

13.08.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: The gift of wine, Crémant & Côtes du Rhône

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In this instalment of What’s Hot, the Sunday Times explains the pleasures and pitfalls of buying wine as a gift, the Daily Telegraph highlight some of the superb sparkling wines available in France but outside of Champagne, the Daily Mail extol the virtues of the Côtes du Rhône and the Guardian suggest a number of bottles to those who have fallen out of love with white wine...

10.08.12

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What We’re Drinking: Jon & French Whites Show Case

With the introduction of our new three bottle showcases coupled with the warmer weather, last week I ended up buying the French Whites Show Case with the knowledge we had people coming over to mine for an all-day glutinous feast of seafood.

09.08.12

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CellarVie Wines meets…Don Jacobo winemaker Javier Martinez

Ahead of our brand feature on Don Jacobo, one of Rioja’s finest boutique wine producers in the heart of Navarrete, CellarVie Wines caught up with Javier Martinez; the gregarious winemaker and director of the award winning winery to discuss his winemaking philosophy, the ideals behind Don Jacobo’s unique range of wines, and his love of vintage cars…

09.08.12

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Cocktail of the Week: The Gladiator

Every Thursday, CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout August we are championing Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself a Gladiator.

08.08.12

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EU organic wine legislation not 'strict enough'

The European Union's first rules governing organic wine production have been deemed not ‘strict enough’ following their passing on August 1.

07.08.12

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Giant 53-metre long Mexican sandwich falls shy of world record

Local authorities and 55 local businesses in Mexico City recently prepared a 173 ft long sandwich in a bid to give the nutritious Mexican ‘torta’ a much-needed boost in sales as it struggles to compete with imported fast food chains.

07.08.12

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Wasps crucial to wine and beer fermentation

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that the humble wasp and their more aggressive cousin the hornet, carry yeast that is responsible for the fermentation of wine, beer and bread.

07.08.12

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Moderate wine drinking ‘as good as drugs’ in battle against osteoporosis

According to a recent study by researchers at the University of Oregon, one or two glasses of wine a day could be as effective as drugs in the protection against thinning bones in post-menopausal women.

03.08.12

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What We’re Drinking: Christopher & Don Jacobo Rioja Rosado 2009

At last the summer has arrived and subsequently it’s a perfect opportunity to crack open the lighter characterful Old World white and Rosé wines.

If you want a Rosé with personality, deep colour and not too much alcohol (12%), then I would recommend you try the Don Jacobo Rioja Rosado 2009, Bodegas Corral.

02.08.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Amaretto Sour

Every Thursday, CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout August we are championing Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself an Amaretto Sour.

01.08.12

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Spirit of the Month: Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question.CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Lazzaroni Amaretto 1851 as our Spirit of the Month for August.

30.07.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Seafood wine, Pinot Rosé & fruity whites

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In this instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, we scrutinise some of our venerated wine journalists’ weekend efforts including what to drink with Seafood in the Sunday Times, wines to suit a barbeque in the Telegraph, Pinot Rosé in The Guardian, and fruity whites in the Daily Mail.

30.07.12

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Study claims ‘holding wine can selectively reduce perceived intelligence’

According to new research from the universities of Michigan and Pennsylvania, holding a glass of wine at a party might lead to your boss and colleagues making negative assumptions about your brain power, in what researches have described as “imbibing idiot bias”.

27.07.12

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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Beronia Crianza Rioja 2008

I tried the Beronia Crianza Rioja 2008 sometime ago but having recently met González Byass’ chairman Mauricio González-Gordón and the family-owned business' Master Blender Antonio Flores Pedregosa at the 2012 London International Wine Fair, I felt compelled to revisit it.

26.07.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Cosmopolitan

Every Thursday CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout July we are championing one of Poland’s premier vodka brands Luksusowa and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself a Cosmopolitan.

25.07.12

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David Lynch reveals 'The Power of Creation' Dom Perignon design

Revered Hollywood filmmaker David Lynch has unveiled his new limited-edition design for Dom Perignon.

24.07.12

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Champagne sales lose their fizz as austerity bites

In this encouraged age of austerity it’s not surprising that Britain is feeling the pinch after it emerged that sales of sparkling wine will overtake those of Champagne for the first time ever this year. Sales figures for Champagne have fallen by a third, while in comparison sales for sparkling wines such Cava and Prosecco have risen by over 50 per cent.

20.07.12

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The stunning wine cork portraits by artist Scott Gundersen

While aimlessly procrastinating on the simply brilliant Colossal website during our lunch hour, the CellarVie Wines team happened to stumble upon the stunningly beautiful wine inspired portraits by Grand Rapids-based illustrator and artist Scott Gundersen.

20.07.12

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What We’re Drinking: Sophie & Riesling Marlborough 2010, Vidal

I really enjoy having light lunches during the summertime (is this really a stereotypical summer in England?) and having stumbled upon a delightful chicken and courgette couscous recipe, I was eager to find a wine with citrus flavours to perfectly match my dish. The Riesling Marlborough 2010, Vidal was the ideal combination.

19.07.12

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Gargantuan Chinese wine bottle tops scales at three tons

The Chinese wine market has long been identified as the most profitable and rapidly upcoming domain in the industry. Consumption and understanding is on the rise and imported volumes have grown nearly six-fold over the past five years. China now accounts for 13% of global wine sales with that number widely predicted to increase on an annual basis. They evidently dig wine in a big way, and so the subsequent unveiling of a three-ton bottle of wine at the Sixth Yantai International Wine Expo held in Shandong province shouldn’t really surprise us!

19.07.12

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Cocktail of the Week: The Ice Pick

Every Thursday CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout July we are championing one of Poland’s premier vodka brandsLuksusowa and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself an Ice Pick.

18.07.12

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IKEA unveil their own beer brand

Swedish furniture giants IKEA have launched their own brand of beer to presumably compliment their easy-to-assemble and well-developed design aesthetics, sterile looking home décor and all-you-can-eat meatball buffets.

18.07.12

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Merlot can rest easy as ‘no-brainer’ Sideways sequel is a ‘non-starter’

“Brilliantly observed characters with uniformly terrific performances; this is wonderful, original stuff." So said Empire Magazine in their five star review of Alexander Payne’s critically acclaimed film, Sideways, which grossed well over $100 million globally, earned five Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Adapted Screenplay, and has since been regularly championed as one of the greatest independent movies ever made. Given Hollywood’s recent habit of superfluous cinematic repetitions and studio executives perennially pedalling of sequels, one could be forgiven for assuming there would be an unquenchable thirst to make Sideways 2, particularly when you consider the original was made for a meagre $12 million? Not so, says Sideways’ author Rex Pickett.

18.07.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Pinot Noir, Grüner Veltliner, Rare Vineyards & Chenin Blanc

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In this instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, we scrutinise some of our venerated wine journalists’ weekend efforts including The Sunday Times’ focus on Pinot Noir, the grüner veltliner grape courtesy of The Telegraph, summer supping in The Guardian and good wines to enjoy with barbeques in the Daily Mail...

18.07.12

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'For relaxing times' get your "Rocks Off" on Suntory's Rolling Stones Whiskey

As part of the well-documented 50th anniversary celebrations of the Rolling Stones’ first gig at London's Marquee Club on July 12th, 1962, Japanese distillery Suntory will release a limited edition blended whiskey to commemorate the band's landmark occasion.

17.07.12

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French bite back over Foie Gras ban as MP calls for Californian wine boycott

A French MP has urged restaurants in France to boycott the selling of Californian wines after the US state banned the sale of foie gras on 1 July.

13.07.12

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Manchester United boss reveals wine induced Premier League title tonic

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s fondness for vintage red wine is well known. As is his willingness to share a glass or two with opposition managers in the aftermath of victory or defeat at Old Trafford, and the Scot light-heartedly admitted his tipple of choice was more than a welcome companion during the summer, as the Red Devils’ nursed their chastening Premier League title loss to bitter rivals Manchester City.

13.07.12

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What We’re Drinking: Simon & Cono Sur Single Block Visión Riesling 2009

I hate car sickness. I don't mean actually 'throwing up', although I do hate that to, but that horrible feeling of nausea and disorientation that used to accompany any attempt to map read my way out of a major European city (I really do love satnavs). Luckily I have now learnt that as long as I eat lots beforehand it doesn't affect me too much. As a child though, without that journey saving tit-bit of knowledge, car journeys would be a real drag. What always used to be the final straw was the slow permeation of the petrol fumes into the car as we sat in another anonymous petrol station on the route du soleil to family fun, sun and arguments.

12.07.12

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French cows reared on fine wine set to rival Kobe beef

Some of the best restaurants in Paris are championing a new ‘Vinbovin’ label that is endeavouring to produce some of the finest meat in Europe by feeding cows up to two bottles of high quality wine every day.

12.07.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Espresso Martini

Every Thursday CellarVie Wines trumpet our Spirit of the Month by recommending a cocktail. Throughout July we are championing one of Poland’s premier vodka brands Luksusowa and with the aforementioned spirit in mind we think you should kick-off the weekend a little earlier by pouring yourself an Espresso Martini.

11.07.12

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Organic, biodynamic & sustainable winemaking: Does the UK consumer care?

During the London International Wine Fair, CellarVie Wines spoke exclusively to some of the industry’s key players to discuss the relevance of organic, biodynamic and sustainable winemaking in order to determine whether or not people within the industry think their endeavours to be 'sustainable' are being noted by UK consumers.

09.07.12

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CellarVie Wines meets…González Byass chairman Mauricio González-Gordón

Mauricio González-López de Carrizosa Gordon represents the fifth generation of the González’ family to be involved with Jerez’s leading Sherry producer, González Byass, and has been chairman of the world renowned wine company since 2006. CellarVie Wines grabbed a few minutes with Mauricio to discuss the importance of family dynamics within the business and the revival of the Sherry industry within the United Kingdom...

06.07.12

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What We’re Drinking: Jon & Château Les Justices 2005

The Château Les Justices from the 2005 vintage is quite simply to die for. The property is family owned and relatively small at just 40 hectares. Out of these hectares the vineyard production for this wine is 11 hectares of Semillon vines, three-and-a-half hectares of Sauvignon Blanc and three quarters of a hectare of Muscadelle vines.

05.07.12

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CellarVie Wines meets…González Byass' Master Blender Antonio Flores Pedregosa

Antonio Flores Pedregosa is one of the Sherry industry’s most revered blenders and having lived and breathed Tio Pepe from the moment he was born in Gonzalez Byass’ iconic bodega in Jerez de la Frontera in 1955; he is certainly one of the finest. Having joining the company where his father was head of production in 1980, Antonio Flores has continued the family traditions of creating award winning Sherries in the heart of Andalucía.

04.07.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Frisky Steve

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Luksusowa Vodka, and with the aforementioned in mind check out the recipe for our Cocktail of the Week - Frisky Steve.

02.07.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Savoury reds, medium-sweet whites & Riesling

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In this instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, we scrutinise some of our venerated wine journalists’ weekend efforts including The Sunday Times’ championing of savoury red wine, Susy Atkins of the Telegraph’s endorsement of medium-sweet whites, and the improvements of once maligned Rieslings…

02.07.12

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My Perfect Dinner Party: England & Middlesex legend Angus Fraser

CellarVie Wines tracked down England and Middlesex cricket legend Angus Fraser MBE to find out who he would invite to his perfect dinner party, where he would hold this hypothetical get-together, and the wine he would serve…

01.07.12

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Spirit of the Month: Luksusowa Vodka

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Luksusowa Vodka as our Spirit of the Month for July.

29.06.12

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What We’re Drinking: Charlotte & Rare Vineyards, Cinsault Rosé, 2011

The Rare Vineyards Cinsault Rosé, 2011 is a great glass of summer rosé. It’s quite a savoury wine and would go well with barbecued chicken and pork – if the sun ever comes out – or with a salad and some grilled fish, if not I enjoy it as a pick me up when I get home from a particularly hard day.

28.06.12

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Wine drinkers will pay more for fancy names on a bottle

A marketing study by a wine researcher in Canada suggests the name on the label of a wine bottle can have a substantial impact on how much the drinker enjoys the taste, and more pertinently, how much the consumer is willing to pay.

28.06.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Golden Apple

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the The Golden Apple as our Cocktail of the Week.

27.06.12

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My Perfect Dinner Party: Nederburg winemaker Razvan Macici

Following our recent interview with Nederburg winemaker Razvan Macici, CellarVie Wines pressed the jovial Romanian and current star of South African Master Chef to reveal his hypothetical perfect dinner party, complete with three guests of his choosing, his ideal location and a three course meal with his favourite wines...

25.06.12

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My Perfect Dinner Party: The Fladgate Partnership's Adrian Bridge

“I think the point about a good dinner party is that you want to bring together interesting people and you want to have good conversation.” The CEO of The Fladgate Partnership Adrian Bridge told CellarVie Wines when pressed to reveal his ‘My Perfect Dinner Party’. “So I would be looking for people who are either incredible thinkers or people who could create an incredible perspective.”

25.06.12

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CellarVie Wines announce Anthony Nolan partnership

CellarVie Wines are pleased to announce a new partnership with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.

22.06.12

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What We’re Drinking: Christopher & Château Piochet 2009

Finding a good glass of affordable claret can be a real challenge - but look no further than the Château Piochet 2009, Bordeaux Rouge.

21.06.12

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The Tailor Made Wine Buyer Guide

There are a host of wine buyer guides across the web that often tell you what you should and shouldn’t be drinking – but how do these guides know what type of wine suits you and your palate? Sure, they are extremely helpful if you are seeking some enlightenment on wines you may never have heard of, but when it comes to parting with your hard-earned cash are you ready to take the plunge?

‘My Palate’ is a system that allows you to discover your own preferences, after all, wine is about exploration, enjoyment and understanding. Of course it wasn’t faultless at the start, but through rigorous testing, we think we have finally got there, so we found ourselves the perfect guinea pig to try it out…

21.06.12

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CellarVie Wines meets…Viña Cono Sur Chief Winemaker Adolfo Hurtado

Some winemakers are sententious about their profession; others are prone to aggrandizing loquaciously about the traditions of terroir and the nuisances of tannins. Viña Cono Sur’s Chief Winemaker, Adolfo Hurtado, is neither of those things.

21.06.12

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Cocktail of the Week: The Rum Sidecar

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum, and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the The Rum Sidecar as our Cocktail of the Week.

20.06.12

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CellarVie Wines meets…Nederburg cellarmaster Razvan Macici

Razvan Macici has been the Nederburg cellarmaster since 2001 and he is not only a bundle of affable energy and a pleasure to interview, but he is also the man responsible for restoring the prize-winning traditions of one of South Africa’s premier wine brands. CellarVie Wines were fortunate enough to spend the morning in the company of the incredibly infectious star of Master Chef South Africa, during which the Romanian born winemaker discussed the Nederburg philosophy, his attitude towards biodynamic viticulture and sustainable winemaking, his love of Super XV outfit The Stormers, and how he very nearly drowned in wine…

19.06.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Chilled wine, good rosé & soul-warming reds

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In the seventh instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, a number of venerated wine journalists purport their thoughts and interests within the industry and amongst other things discuss the merits of chilling red wine, the delights oflesser-known Gallic grapes, decent rosé and soul-warming reds…

14.06.12

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‘I almost drowned in wine’: The trials & tribulations of a winemaker

His father was a famous winemaker, his mother a viticulturist and he was born amid the vineyards of Dealu Mare in Romania; by his own admission Razvan Macici has been enthralled by wine his whole life. While his upbringing inevitably helped him become one of the world’s most respected winemakers - Macici has been cellarmaster at Nederburg since 2001 - this youthful immersion in wine nearly brought a premature end to his life. Quite literally.

14.06.12

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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Schubert Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Often whilst trying to bully team members into completing their ‘What We’re Drinking’ selections I will fail miserably and end up writing another one myself. Everyone is so willing to try the wines yet are reluctant to write about them! So for the second time in three weeks I found myself trawling through our wine list to find something suitable and following an insightful recommendation from Jon, I stumbled upon the Schubert Sauvignon Blanc 2009.

14.06.12

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A personal travel guide to Sicily

Christopher Carson has spent many years promoting and selling some of the best Italian wines on the UK market and Sicily remains one of his favourite spots. Here CellarVie Wines’ Managing Director gives an insight into some of the best places to visit on this beautifully iconic Italian island...

14.06.12

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Cocktail of the Week: The Cuban Special

While the summer seems a sadly distant memory given the hostile weather of late, CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum. So with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the Cuban Special as our Cocktail of the Week in order to light up the otherwise altogether gloomy and depressing elements.

13.06.12

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Recipe: Spiced Sicilian Pumpkin

This spiced pumpkin recipe is normally served as an antipasti or a side dish in Sicily and is great as an accompaniment to grilled fish or chicken.

12.06.12

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Gift Ideas for Father’s Day

Sunday 17th June is Father’s Day so rather than go down the conventional route of buying socks, aftershave or taking him for a pub lunch, why not go that extra-mile this year? After all they definitely deserve it...don’t they?

11.06.12

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Southern Italy and Sicily: Food and Wine of the region

They are not household names like their Piedmont or Tuscan cousins, but the wines of Southern Italy are bold, full-bodied, and satisfying. Southern Italy has been producing wine for over 4000 years. The wine business here was already booming in 2000 B.C. when the Phoenicians arrived. The Greeks dubbed southern Italy "The Land of Wine".

11.06.12

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Southern Italy and Sicily: The region and places of interest

While Southern Italy had until recently endured a malaise within the winemaking world before its welcome revival, the region has remained a perpetual hotspot for visitors - albeit perhaps less busy than the more saturated north - boasting an array of enviable destinations and places of interest on the tourism trail.

08.06.12

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Recipe: Salmon with Pine Nut and Parmesan crust

An unusual match, however Jon loves salmon and even more so Pinot Noir. He says this is an absolute winner with the lovely vibrant cherry and strawberry fruit character of the Errázuriz Pinot Noir 2010 really working well with the slightly richer than normal salmon. You wouldn't normally think of matching it with salmon, but it works, it really works! We all know that anything with a breadcrumb and parmesan crust works as well and Jon suggests new potatoes as the accompaniment...you may want to be a bit more creative (sorry Jon)...

07.06.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Special Cuba Libre

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum, and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the Special Cuba Libre as our Cocktail of the Week.

06.06.12

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Recipe: Tuna and cannellini bean salad

A simple but tasty and healthy salad recipe for the summer that is best washed down with a glass of chilled white wine like an Orvieto or Vedicchio.

06.06.12

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What We’re Drinking: Sophie & Besserat de Bellefon

As everyone knows we girls love bubbles; there really isn't any occasion I can think of which doesn't merit that infinitely memorable 'Pop'. However we're all aware that the purse and circumstance tend to have something to say about that and outside of Christmas, birthdays, and new year’s eve, there aren't that many times when we can indulge in this love... and then the Diamond Jubilee weekend arrived! Last Christmas I treated myself to a case of the Besserat de Bellefon Blanc de Blanc for my family and prior to the weekend there were still two bottles left…prior to the weekend!

06.06.12

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Central Italy: Food and wine of region

The centre of Italy is perhaps the gastronomic heart of Italy, after all some of the country's most famous ingredients come from the region of Emilia Romagna and its environs. Think balsamic vinegar, Parmesan cheese, Parma ham and Mortadella and you have an idea of the region's contribution to Italian cuisine.

05.06.12

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Recipe: Chargrilled Breast of Chicken with Salsa Verde

A simple chicken dish perfect for midweek. Chicken cooked in this way goes fantastically with delicate, fresh white wines. Our pick in this instance is the Altozano Verdejo-Sauvignon de Castilla - A blend of Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc- extremely quaffable. While we have recommended this to go with a chicken dish it also works well with pasta with very light olive oil and fish based sauces like spaghetti 'alla marinara' or 'alle vongole'.

04.06.12

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Central Italy: The region and places of interest

Home to the opulent and stunningly beautiful Tuscany, Central Italy is responsible for the production of perhaps the most famous Italian red wine - Chianti. The remarkable beauty of places such as Rome, Pisa and Florence make it Italy’s most travelled wine region, and while Tuscany is considered central to the region’s viticultural excellence, Marche, Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Molise all have their winemaking merits.

01.06.12

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Spirit of the Month: Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Havana Club 7 Year Old Golden Rum as our Spirit of the Month for June.

01.06.12

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Recipe: Luxury Fish Pie

With the current stormy weather there is nothing better than our luxury fish pie, a classic winter warmer which goes so well with one of the team's favourite white wines the Domaine Trotignon Touraine Sauvignon 2010 from the Loire - it really is so good that you'd easily mistake it for a Sancerre. The zesty yet crisp wine is a perfect match for a good Fish Pie.

30.05.12

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What's Hot in the World of Wine: Diamond Jubilee, Natural Wines & the movies

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In the sixth instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, a number of venerated wine journalists purport their thoughts and interests within the industry and amongst other things discuss Natural Wines, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, selecting wine to match a film like the timeless classic Withnail & I and rising alcohol by volume...

30.05.12

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What We’re Drinking: Ben & Hendricks Gin

Given CellarVie Wines’ extensive collection it surprised me that none of the team had thus far stumped for a spirit for their What We’re Drinking selection. For me, it was something of a no-brainer because I have to admit gin is often my base alcohol of choice outside of wine and Hendricks Gin is both an interesting drink and an equally intriguing brand.

30.05.12

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The Ultimate Sandwich Recipe: Feast your eyes on this!

First things first, the CellarVie Wines team cannot lay claim to being responsible for the making of the ‘Ultimate Sandwich’. This remarkable feat of culinary engineering, complete with the beautiful pictures displayed below, arrived in our inbox courtesy of an anonymous email chain on Tuesday afternoon. Jamie Oliver would undoubtedly and perhaps quite correctly, not endorse this as a healthy meal, and it certainly isn't for the faint-hearted but we thought it was a bit of fun nonetheless. So feast your eyes on the ‘Ultimate sandwich’…

30.05.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Hendricks Diamond Jubilee Gin & Tonic

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin, and with the aforementioned in mind and indeed with next week’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations nearly upon us, we thought we would choose a quintessentially British drink, the Gin & Tonic, as our Cocktail of the Week.

29.05.12

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The Diamond Jubilee: What to eat and drink

In true British style it looks like the warm weather is not going to last over the Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday, but that will not stop us from spilling out onto the streets in our droves to celebrate the remarkable 60-year reign of Elizabeth II. If you are going to brave the outdoors this weekend then the wine needs to be chilled and the food needs to be easy to eat with your fingers.

26.05.12

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Recipe: Pan Fried Prawns with Garlic butter

When the sun is out not only do you want to be outside you also don't feel like eating anything heavy. Pan Fried Prawns with Garlic Butter is a light and simple dish matched to an award winning Italian wine Fontana Candida's Frascati Superiore Vigneto Santa Teresa 2009, also perfect for the warm weather.

25.05.12

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What We're Drinking: Simon & Finca Constancia 'Parcela 23'

“Retail is detail” is a favourite quote of Christopher’s here in the office and as Operations Manager I can only agree! It was with this mind-set that the label of Finca Constancia Parcela 23 caught my eye.

24.05.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Jacuzzi

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin, and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the Jacuzzi as our Cocktail of the Week.

24.05.12

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Recipe: Pan Fried Cod and Wilted Spinach

Simon - the CellarVie Wines Operations Manager - reckons the zesty, fruity acidity of the Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc 2011 goes brilliantly with the subtle flavours of the pan fried cod and wilted spinach (plus he assures me you'll only need to spend "20 minutes tops" in the kitchen).

23.05.12

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Recipe: Crispy Chicken and Polenta

Following CellarVie Wines’ recent focus on the North East of Italy, we thought we would endeavour to bring you a delicious recipe using one of the area’s staple ingredients, Polenta and matching it with chicken.

21.05.12

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The North East of Italy: Food and wine of the region

The North East of Italy includes the regions of the Trentino-Alto Adige, the Veneto, Friuli–Venezia Giulia and Liguria. All have similar themes to their cuisine but equally a tremendous amount of diversity. Polenta and rice are the staples of their diet and are incorporated into many of the dishes in each region.

21.05.12

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The North East of Italy: The region and places of interest

The mountainous North East of Italy is largely saturated with some of the country’s most renowned and largest appellations despite the widely inhospitable terrain (only 15 per cent of the land in the valley of the River Adige can be cultivated). The vineyards of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, on the hillsides of the eastern corner and near the border of Slovenia, benefit from the contrasting airflows from the Alps and the Adriatic from the south. Veneto is Italy’s largest wine-producing region and home to Valpolicella DOC which is the second most important red DOC in Italy behind Chianti.

18.05.12

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What We're Drinking: Jon & Sancerre Rosé 2010, Le Rabault

Having looked through our previous 'What We're Drinking' wines, I realised not one member of the team had covered a Rosé! Subsequently, and while I've been telling my male colleagues it has been a sacrifice I've had to endure (for masculinity reasons), the wine I bought last week to cover my 'What We're Drinking' selection was a Rosé, and I must admit it has been anything but a chore.

18.05.12

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Recipe: Moroccan Braised Lamb Steaks

Cooking spicy foods doesn't have to be complicated, therefore they don't have to be daunting. In the office we're agreed that this Moroccan braised lamb shank dish is perfect for a Saturday as once you've got on top of prep work you can really sit back and enjoy a perfect example of why Aussie wines have become so popular over here. The Leasingham Magnus Shiraz 2005 truly is fabulous value for money and a great accompaniment to this dish! - Wine Spectator agree, "Vivid in flavour and bright in structure, this is zingy with pineapple, floral and citrus flavours persisting nicely on the juicy finish. Drink now through 2016."

18.05.12

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Recipe: Chargrilled Tuna

A lovely light dish, extremely healthy and filling at the same time - Chargrilled Tuna is one of Simon's favourites and he's matched his recipe to a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Malbec blend, the Flagstone Longitude Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz-Malbec 2010. Full of dark berry fruit - a lovely match! South African wine is growing increasingly popular in the UK market and Bruce Jack's lovely blend is a perfect example as to why!

17.05.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Martini

Having previously advocated James Bond’s favourite tipple the Vodka Martini as our Cocktail of the Week, CellarVie Wines thought they would champion its predecessor and the original Martini, using our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin.

16.05.12

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Recipe: Spinach and fontina tart

A simple recipe using the meltingly delicious Fontina cheese from the North West of Italy, which makes a delightful canapé or light lunch option.

15.05.12

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The North West of Italy: Food and wine of the region

Bordering France and Switzerland, the North West of Italy naturally has a number of influences from these countries rather than the Mediterranean, as might be expected. The regions of Piedmonte, Val d’Aosta and Lombardy roughly make up the north western part of the country, and the area’s rich diet and higher standards of living compared to that of the south, is due to its close proximity to the major European trade routes. This perceived prosperity manifests itself in the food, which is characterized by less use of olive oil, pasta and tomato sauce and more use of butter (or lard ), rice, corn (for polenta) and cheeses for cream sauces.

14.05.12

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What's Hot in the World of Wine: English wines, Chenins & F. Scott Fitzgerald

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In the fifth instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, a number of venerated wine journalists purport their thoughts and interests within the industry and amongst other things, the virtues of English wines are championed alongside theChenin Blanc grape, Portuguese wines, and a delightful collection of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Tit-Bits ‘On Booze’.

14.05.12

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The North West of Italy: The region and places of interest

Due to its close proximity to the French border, the North West of Italy has a long and rich history of superb wine production from the famed reds of Piemonte made from the Nebbiolo grape that makes the widely championed Barolo, to the varied and emerging white wines in Lombardia and Liguria. Italian viticulture is strongly defined by the country’s heterogeneous altitude and this is particularly prevalent in the Alps embraced north.

10.05.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Tom Collins

CellarVie Wines are currently championing the virtues of our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin, and with the aforementioned in mind we thought we would choose the Tom Collins as our Cocktail of the Week.

10.05.12

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Recipe: Pork, Chorizo and Potato Stew

When Saturday comes you want to relax with a nice glass of wine..... However with the current weather, hardly what Spring should represent, we've searched for a winter warming recipe that is as warming as simple and quick. Charlotte has matched a pork, chorizo and potato stew with Flagstone Noon Gun Chenin Blanc-Sauvignon Blanc-Viognier 2010 a South African wine packed full of tropical flavours.

09.05.12

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Recipe: Home cured Gravadlax

The flavours in cured Gravadlax are an ideal match for any Alsace white wine and this is an easy recipe which will certainly add a little bit of sophistication should you want to impress your friends with your newly acquired curing skills. It’s also very easy because you can make it a couple of days in advance and leave it in the fridge, forget about it and carve just before the party starts.

08.05.12

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Alsace: Food and wine of the region

Alsace, the region that has been buffeted backwards and forwards between France and Germany throughout its conflict riddled history, has subsequently got a strong Germanic influence in its cooking and wines.

07.05.12

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Alsace: The region and places of interest

Embraced by the Vosges Mountains and the remainder of France to the west and the Rhine River and Germany to the east, the geological complexities of Alsace have been a major factor behind the wide range of wines fashioned in this relatively small region.

04.05.12

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What We're Drinking: Eliott & Rare Vineyards

Since joining the wine trade I have enjoyed finding wines that people don’t automatically recognise. Hidden gems that come out of nowhere and over deliver on value and blow away your expectations. I have been lucky enough to taste quite a few wines like the aforementioned yet the best find to date has undoubtedly been the Rare Vineyards Carignan Vieilles Vignes.

03.05.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Hendricks Gimlet

Each week CellarVie Wines are keen to whet their whistle on a specially selected cocktail to spice up a Thursday night and today is no different. Our Cocktail of the Week revolves around our Spirit of the Month, Hendricks Gin, and this week why not kick back and make yourself a Hendricks Gimlet.

02.05.12

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Recipe: Tapenade

Following our recent focus on Southern France we thought we would bring you a recipe for an archetypal Provençal dish; tapenade.

Consisting of pureed olives, capers, anchovies and olive oil, this popular hors d’oeuvre is a paste like substance that takes its name for the Provençal word for capers, tapenas.

01.05.12

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Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon: Food and wine of the region

Provence is the south eastern region of France on the Mediterranean Sea. Bordered by Italy on the east, Provence’s diverse topography is characterized by mountains, valleys, beautiful beaches and salt marshes. Originally a Greek colony, Provence was part of the Roman Empire and eventually became incorporated into France in the 15th century and subsequently the cuisine of the region is a reflection of its varied Mediterranean heritage.

01.05.12

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Spirit of the Month: Hendricks Gin

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Hendricks Gin for the month of May.

01.05.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Grüner Veltliner, Malbec & Cortese

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines kicks back with the weekend’s newspapers in an effort to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In the fourth instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, a number of venerated wine journalists purport their thoughts and interests within the industry and the likes of the Austrian grape Grüner Veltliner, Malbec, Moscato and the Italian white grape Cortese all get a mention…

01.05.12

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Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon: The regions and places of interest

The South of France boasts a rich and varied history of winemaking from the country’s oldest wine-producing region of Provence - south of the Alps and stretching from the east of the river delta to Nice - to perhaps the slightly neglected but increasingly alluring Languedoc-Roussillon region - lying to the west and mainly in the plains that stretch between the southern limits of the Massif Central and the Mediterranean.

29.04.12

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Recipe: Wild Mushroom Risotto

Jon's wild mushroom risotto requires you to spend some time in the kitchen, however we think he's onto a winner as he uses some of the perfect wine match for this recipe - Don Jacobo Rioja Crianza Tinto 2007 in the actual cooking process, making sure the bottle never leaves your side...

27.04.12

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What We’re Drinking: Christopher & Rully Blanc 1er Cru Clos la Bressande

Quite often it is really difficult to pick a wine out particularly when you taste everyday - there are just so many good wines!

Last Tuesday evening for supper we had roast fillets of salmon lightly covered with tapenade, roasted cherry tomatoes (on the vine) and French beans. So the question was which wine to accompany this dish? I opted for Chateau de Rully 1er Cru, Clos la Bressande 2007, Domaine Rodet and WOW!

26.04.12

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Harvey Nichols launches Champagne flavoured Lollipop

Upmarket department store Harvey Nichols has launched a luxury Champagne flavoured Lollipop containing gold flakes.

26.04.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Vodka Martini

Traditionally made with gin and dry white vermouth it was of course Ian Fleming’s eponymous hero that catapulted the vodka equivalent into the public psyche. James Bond famously ordered his ‘shaken, not stirred’ and 007’s version has remained hugely popular ever since. In an unabashed ode to Britain’s premier secret agent and of course to the imminent end to another labouring week of work CellarVie Wines’ are celebrating the Vodka Martini as our Cocktail of the Week.

24.04.12

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Recipe: Asparagus in Beurre Blanc sauce

The early arrival of asparagus season thanks to the now seemingly distant mild spring has conveniently coincided with CellarVie Wines’ focus on the Loire this week. With that in mind we thought we would combine a classic French recipe, Beurre Blanc, which originates from the aforementioned iconic wine region and match it with asparagus to coincide with the season’s opening.

23.04.12

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Loire: Food and wine of the region

The Loire Valley is the longest valley in France wending its way from the very centre of the country to the Atlantic coast; as you would imagine the styles and types of foods and wine are very diverse, varying from having a strong maritime influence in the west to a more continental focus towards the centre of France, where pork and game dominate the cuisine. The same of course is true of the wines which go from being light and fresh whites to fuller, tannic reds closer to the source of the River Loire.

23.04.12

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Loire: The region and places of interest

Encompassing the Muscadet region on the Atlantic coast and the area of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé just southeast of Orléans in north central France, the Loire Valley situated near to Nantes in the west, remains one of the most picturesque and enchanting winemaking regions in Europe.

20.04.12

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What We’re Drinking: Sophie & Gewürztraminer Alsace 2009

The My Palate system on the CellarVie Wines website recommended me the Gewürztraminer Alsace 2009, Martin Zahn, which I'd never tried before.

19.04.12

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Recipe: Beef fillet steaks, mushrooms and a drop of Bordeaux

This great beef fillet steak recipe serves four people and goes really well with all sorts of Bordeaux reds. We particularly like it with those Clarets that have a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than the more Merlot based Bordeaux’s that come from the areas around St Emilion and Pomerol...but to be perfectly honest, we’re just being a bit picky because this recipe works well with most wines from the region...

19.04.12

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Cocktail of the Week: White Russian

The ‘Dude’ in the Coen Brother’s film the Big Lebowski, played superbly by the infinitely likeable Jeff Bridges, famously drank copious amounts of White Russian cocktails and while the team at CellarVie Wines are not endorsing the ultimate slacker’s insatiable appetite for "Caucasians", it’s Thursday and having laboured your way through the tedium of work it’s now time to unwind with our Cocktail of the Week.

19.04.12

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Recipe: Roast Chicken

Soft and peppery, La Dentelière 2010 is a lovely wine made from Grenache with some Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Heart warming and ripe it makes you think of autumnal walks and a big roast for lunch. As this week offers little time for everyone we've matched it to a quick roast chicken with lemon and tarragon.

18.04.12

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Bordeaux: The region and places of interest

A winemaking legacy to rival any region in the world, Bordeaux, lying near the Atlantic coast in the Gironde department of Aquitaine, is a beautifully picturesque city steeped in history and boasting a plethora of interesting places of note. 1810 hectares of the historical part of the city has been acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and although the region’s winemaking traditions are at the epicentre, there remains a wonderfully eclectic array of exquisite attractions outside their winemaking customs.

17.04.12

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What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Chenin, Riesling, Pinot Gris & Spring

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines will peruse the weekend’s newspapers to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In the third instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, a number of esteemed wine journalists have suggested and championed a number of suitable wines for spring including amongst others Chenin Blancs, Rieslings, Pinot Gris, Chardonnays and Champagne…

17.04.12

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Bordeaux: Food and wine of the region

Famous for producing some of the world’s most expensive and sought after wines; the region of Bordeaux also has a rich gastronomic culture.

16.04.12

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Bordeaux: An introduction to the wine region

Lying on the Atlantic coast in the southern part of western France, and divided by the Gironde Estuary and its two major rivers, the Dordogne and the Garonne, Bordeaux remains one of the finest wine producing regions in the world.

16.04.12

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Recipe: Grilled lamb steaks & spicy chorizo mash with Rioja

There’s nothing like a juicy piece of lamb to go with a good glass of Rioja and that’s what the team at CellarVie Wines are recommending for a food and wine matching recipe this week.

14.04.12

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Recipe: Roast Rib of Beef

The Sunday roast - one of the UK's favourite dishes. When we asked the team who should pick and create the food and wine match for Sunday, there was only going to be one winner! Step in Gordon Ramsey (ahem) - no, step in Christopher - a dab hand in the kitchen. His roast rib of beef matched with Grant Burge Benchmark Shiraz 2009 is perfect if you want to sit at the kitchen table with the Sunday paper and glass of red wine to get away from the noise in the house.

13.04.12

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Recipe: Smoked trout with horseradish dressing

We know what you're thinking - Trout and horseradish? Trust us it is a match made in heaven with the piquant horseradish dressing working beautifully with the rich smoked trout. We've paired this dish with Kleine Zalze Bush Vines Chenin Blanc a tropical-fruit flavoured Chenin Blanc that is supple and seductive and has picked up a couple of Silvers in international competitions. It is not overtly fruity but it is a great glass of South African white from a grape variety that is often forgotten about.

12.04.12

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Cocktail of the Week: Bloody Mary

You know the deal; it’s Thursday and therefore Cocktail of the Week time and this week we are championing the Bloody Mary using our Spirit of the Month, Grey Goose Vodka.

12.04.12

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Recipe: Chicken stuffed with Asparagus and Emmental

If you love drinking award winning white wines and love eating chicken and cheese but still keeping healthy, this is one of the best matches for you. The Etchart Privado Torrontes 2011 recently won one of the most coveted awards at the Decanter Word Wine Awards - the Best Dry Aromatic White Wine under £10. Coupled with chicken stuffed with asparagus and emmental cheese, enjoy!

12.04.12

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Recipe: Roast leg of lamb

One of the nation's favourite roasts is a leg or lamb, succulent and flavoursome and a great excuse for all in our office to enjoy a glass of Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel possibly one of the best Zinfandels from California. The area where it is grown, Lodi, is recognised as being perfect for the varietal. It’s rich and full-bodied packed with sweet fruit flavours that work well with duck, goose or venison – perfect for Christmas when you are feeling festive. If not it is perfect with roast lamb or beef.

11.04.12

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Recipe: Pan-fried sea bass with stir-fried cabbage

Sea Bass is popular, versatile and often referred to as the fish equivalent of chicken breasts due to its nice texture and beautiful flavour. It is also one of Taittinger winemaker Loïc Dupont’s favourite meals and following this week’s ‘Focus on Champagne’ CellarVie Wines thought they would create a Sea Bass recipe in the 57-year-old’s honour.

11.04.12

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What We’re Drinking: Charlotte & Kleine Zalze Bush Vines Chenin Blanc

For the past couple of weeks I have been tucking into the rather deliciously fresh Kleine Zalze Bush Vines Chenin Blanc 2010/11, Stellenbosch from South Africa.

10.04.12

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Champagne: Food and wine of the region

Britain has an insatiable appetite for Champagne; in fact we are the region’s premier export market. We love it, especially as an aperitif or as part of a celebration and whilst the French enjoy this bubbly beverage in the same way, in the Champagne region it is drunk throughout a meal and not just at the start.

10.04.12

FEATURED

How to woo with bubbles: Champagne, Cava and Prosecco

A notoriously diminutive former Emperor of France once remarked that, “In victory, you deserve Champagne, in defeat, you need it” and while his insatiable appetite for bubbly was the stuff of legend, why shouldn’t we all embrace Napoleon Bonaparte’s joie de vivre? Usually associated with a celebration, the rapturous effervescence of Champagne and its less grandiose cousins Cava and Prosecco means there are bubbles for all occasions. For the discerning or indistinct drinker, for that annual jaunt to Wimbledon or a modest night in, all are catered for.

10.04.12

FEATURED

Champagne: The region and places of interest

The most northern Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée area in France, Champagne lies 90 miles east of Paris and is a historic province best known for the production of sparkling white wine, that bears the region’s name exclusively and by EU law. The viticultural boundaries of Champagne are legally defined and split into five wine producing districts: Aube, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Montagne de Reims, and Vallée de la Marne. The towns of Reims and Épernay are the commercial centres of Champagne.

10.04.12

FEATURED

CellarVie Wines meets…Taittinger winemaker Loïc Dupont

Ahead of CellarVie Wines’ focus on Champagne, we stole a precious moment with Taittinger winemaker Loïc Dupont, to discuss his passionate winemaking philosophy and to gain an insight into his crucial role as the guardian of Taittinger’s world renowned reputation, style and elegance.

10.04.12

FEATURED

Recipe: Pan fried calves liver with caramelised onions

The most commonly used livers in the UK are calves livers, accessible and delicious, they are also healthy (rich in iron and Vitamin B) and the perfect match for an absolutely fantastic wine from the Rhône - Les Collines de Laure Syrah, Jean-Luc Colombo, 2009. The grapes for this wine are hand-harvested from Cornas vineyards, making it a rather special wine even if it cannot be called Cornas (a top Rhône wine) because of local regulations about the age of the wines. Nevertheless you can tell this wine has class. It is full of ripe red fruits and spice, smooth and generous. Should you not be a big liver fan (it does hold a bit of a 'Marmite' factor) try this wine with spicy foods – Mexican dishes work especially well - the heat of the chilli working perfectly with the richness of the wine.

07.04.12

FEATURED

Recipe: Spaghetti with Clams

Spaghetti with clams is the quintessential summer dish and amazingly refreshing. The balance between this dish and the Bolla Pinot Grigio delle Venezie 2010 is quite simply unbeatable - we think the lovely people over at Bolla came up with this dish to accompany the wine.
Pinot Grigio is the varietal of the moment and the freshness of this wine shows you exactly why everyone loves this varietal - dry with ripe peach flavours it truly is a fantastic white wine.

05.04.12

FEATURED

What We’re Drinking: Ben & Flagstone Longitude

After a protracted and perhaps cowardly attempt to get someone else to do it and following a number of curt responses, it dawned on me that I had successfully avoided writing my ‘What We’re Drinking’ since arriving at CellarVie Wines. It was my turn and sitting in an office full of wine experts it was a daunting proposition. Suffice to say I set about recalling the wines that I had tried over the last month or so, and kept coming back to the lengthily named Flagstone Longitude Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz-Malbec 2010.

05.04.12

FEATURED

Gougères Recipe: French Cheese Puffs

A gougère is a baked savoury choux pastry originating from Burgundy and is commonly eaten while tasting wine. Following our ‘Focus on Burgundy’ who better to reveal a delicious recipe for gougères than CellarVie Wines’ resident Burgundian, Sophie Galimard, or to be precise a recipe past to her by her grand-mère.

05.04.12

FEATURED

Cocktail of the Week: Caipiroska

Friday is a day off this week so why not start a four-day weekend by indulging in CellarVie Wines’ Cocktail of the Week, the Caipiroska. Popular in South America, the Caipiroska is prepared with vodka and in this instance we suggest using Grey Goose Vodka which coincidentally, just happens to be our ‘Spirit of the Month’.

04.04.12

FEATURED

Easter Eggs, Chocolate and Wine

Being such altruistic souls, the team at CellarVie Wines felt duty bound to polish their palates in order to discover the best wine to go with chocolate Easter Eggs, Bunnies and the excessive token chocolate paraphernalia coming your way this weekend.

03.04.12

FEATURED

What’s Hot in the World of Wine: Pol Roger, Chardonnay, Cava & Rum

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines will peruse the weekend’s newspapers to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In the second instalment (view the first here) of ‘What’s Hot in the World of Wine’ we take a look at The Sunday Times, The Sunday Observer and the Sunday Telegraph who focused their respective attentions on Pol Roger, Chardonnay, Cava and Rum…

03.04.12

FEATURED

Burgundy: Food and wine of the region

Burgundy produces some of the world’s best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and at times it must be said, some of the worst – it all depends on the producer and of course the vintage. The tip with Burgundy is to get to know the names of those who make the best wines and persist with them; otherwise you tend to be left a little underwhelmed. Once you have stumbled upon a good one, they tend to be the definition of a quintessentially fine Chardonnay or Pinot – dependent on your tipple.

03.04.12

FEATURED

Burgundy: The region and places of interest

Lying in the eastern region of France in the valleys west of the Saône River, south-east of Paris, Burgundy has a greater saturation of Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée (AOCs)than any other region in France. Famed for their belief in terroir, wines from Burgundy tend to be a homage to the region’s geography, geology and climate, embodying the unique qualities that are specific to the environment in which Burgundian wine is produced. Having said all that, there is plenty to see aside from the region’s rich winemaking traditions.

02.04.12

FEATURED

CellarVie Meets…Louis Jadot winemaker Jacques Lardière

If CellarVie Wines have learnt anything whilst endeavouring to interview winemakers, it’s that they are rarely anything other than captivating, perpetually busy and rarely have a moment to spare. Unsurprisingly this was certainly true of Jacques Lardière, the man responsible for making Louis Jadot wines for over 40 years. Often referred to as ‘The Master of Burgundy’, the charismatic and eloquent 62-year-old has been the genius behind the Maison Louis Jadot since 1970 and is widely deemed one of the most important and respected winemakers in France.

02.04.12

FEATURED

Spirit of the Month: Grey Goose Vodka

Each month CellarVie Wines celebrates a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question. CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Grey Goose Vodka as their Spirit of the Month for April…

01.04.12

FEATURED

Recipe: Sausage Casserole

A perfect dish for the 'fresher' weather is a good old fashioned sausage casserole, simple cooking for any midweek dinner and its wine pairing is quite simply out of this world. The Rare Vineyards Carignan Vieilles Vignes, Pays d'Herault 2010 is a Malbec from the home of Malbec; South-West France. This example is as velvety and fruity as any of the Malbec's coming out of Argentina.

30.03.12

FEATURED

Follow the Whisky Trail in Scotland this Easter

The four days over Easter are a perfect opportunity to escape the ‘Big Smoke’ and go a little further afield. In light of the upcoming bank holiday weekend this Easter, why not plan a short trip to Scotland and embark on a crash course in the delights of Malt Whisky.

29.03.12

FEATURED

What We’re Drinking: Simon & Rare Vineyards Marsanne Viognier

Seasonality of wine drinking is something I don't subscribe to particularly. While I can certainly see the attraction of choosing rosé on a blistering hot day, I often find myself picking up a good red wine for my picnics. Despite this fervent desire not to conform on this particular topic, as I sat at my desk thinking of a recently tasted wine to write about, with sunshine pouring in through the window, I found myself drawn to the Rare Vineyards Marsanne-Viognier 2009, Pays d'Oc.

29.03.12

FEATURED

Wine and Food Matches for Easter

Easter is a time for family, chocolate eggs, and for indulging in a few bottles of good wine.Lent is over and with it the nagging guilt, so why not sit back and revel in a few chocolate bunnies and a couple of glasses of wine.

29.03.12

FEATURED

Cocktail of the Week: The Pear Head

Thursdays can only mean one thing…it’s time for the CellarVie Wines’ Cocktail of the Week and today we are presenting the Pear Head. An unusual and obscure drink but an equally delicious one based around our Spirit of the Month, Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky, the Pear Head is a vibrant and refreshing cocktail that is ideal for the balmy weather we are currently enjoying here in Blighty.

29.03.12

FEATURED

Recipe: Roast Belly of Pork

Our roast pork belly recipe does need quite a bit of prep time but when you're preparing a guilty pleasure it's often worth it. The wine we've chosen to accompany this dish is also a pleasure - a lovely refreshing wine which Jancis Robinson praises highly. A Riesling from Chile - Cono Sur Single Block Visión Riesling 2009. The wine's zesty yet mouth watering properties are perfect to cut through the fat of the pork belly.

28.03.12

FEATURED

Rhône: The Food and Wine of the Region

The meandering Rhône Valley, one of the longest in France, boasts hugely diverse and deliciously varied styles of food and wine.

27.03.12

FEATURED

Recipe: Quince and Apple Pie

Following our recent interview with award winning winemaker Jean-Luc Colombo, during which the charismatic Frenchman revealed his favourite meal consisting of ‘stewed quinces from the garden and apple pie’, CellarVie Wines thought they would treat you to a delicious recipe for the aforementioned dessert.

27.03.12

FEATURED

Rhône: The region and places of interest

In light of CellarVie Wines’ focus on Rhône and following our interview with renowned winemaker Jean-Luc Colombo, we thought we would take a closer look at the region and its places of interest. The first cultivated vines in the iconic Rhône wine region in Southern France, was planted around 600 BC and subsequently now produces numerous wines under various Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) designations, the most famous being the Côtes du Rhône AOC.

26.03.12

FEATURED

CellarVie Wines meets…Winemaker Jean-Luc Colombo

In light of our focus on Rhône, CellarVie Wines interviewed the charismatic and colourful winemaker Jean-Luc Colombo, in order to discuss the winemaking philosophy behind his award winning wines, the beauty of his vineyards and the 55-year-old’s beloved golden retrievers.

24.03.12

FEATURED

Recipe: Posh Prawn Cocktail

Frank Sinatra's favourite Soave - Bolla - offers freshness and much more character than you might expect…a truly cracking wine which is perfect when you are cooking your supper or tucking into a sumptuous Prawn Cocktail as we have suggested. You can also try it with salads, smoked salmon or fish based pasta dishes.

23.03.12

FEATURED

Drinks industry bears the brunt as minimum alcohol price looms

Still licking their wounds from the Chancellor’s recent Budget and more pertinently from the continuation of the alcohol tax escalator which equates to a 5% increase in excise duty, the drinks industry have been dealt another blow following reports the government will shortly announce new legislation setting a minimum alcohol price of 40p a unit in England.

23.03.12

FEATURED

The Budget, the alcohol tax escalator & a hangover for the drinks industry

In his infinite wisdom the much maligned Chancellor, one George Osborne, announced in Wednesday’s Budget the continuation of the alcohol tax escalator which equates to a 5% increase in excise duty.

23.03.12

FEATURED

What We’re Drinking: Eliott & Veramonte Pinot Noir

The high quality of South American wines has really begun to show in the past five to ten years, resulting in Chilean and Argentinean wines becoming more and more popular both on the shelves and in restaurants. Whilst conducting my own research in to South American wines I came across the Veramonte brand, a small Chilean producer who is really beginning to punch well above their weight, and in particular the Veramonte Pinot Noir Reserva, Casablanca Valley 2009.
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23.03.12

FEATURED

The Taste of Spring: Riesling and Gewürztraminer

The clocks are going back this weekend and whilst we are all going to struggle with an hour’s less sleep, our thoughts can finally turn to spring. Easter is round the corner and the blossom is starting to bloom, there is the promise of longer nights and the potential of a first barbeque – especially when the weather is decidedly balmy – so the team at CellarVie Wines thought they would taste and subsequently recommend what might be a good drinking match for the hopefully warm months ahead.

22.03.12

FEATURED

Cocktail of the Week: Penderyn Catch

Thursday is the new Friday for the CellarVie Wines team and that’s all because of our ‘Cocktail of the Week’, so why not kick-off the weekend (of sorts) with the Penderyn Catch!

21.03.12

FEATURED

A delicious Ceviche recipe

Earlier in the week CellarVie Wines interviewed Viña Errazuriz winemaker Francisco Baettig, who amongst many other things (such as revealing a love of football and passion for planes) chose Ceviche as his favourite meal. In tribute to the charismatic 42-year-old Chilean, we thought we would uncover the recipe behind this hugely popular dish in South America.

21.03.12

FEATURED

What's Hot in the World of Wine: Gewürztraminer, Rieslings & Spanish Whites

Once a fortnight, CellarVie Wines will peruse the weekend’s newspapers to determine what’s hot in the world of wine, offering up views and possible alternatives to the nation’s big-hitting publications and their wine suggestions. In the first instalment of ‘What’s Hot’, it appears a number of esteemed wine journalists are turning their focus towards white wine and in particular lesser known or at least less established varieties, as thoughts turn to spring…

21.03.12

FEATURED

Recipe: Beef, Mushroom and Red Wine Casserole

Nero d’Avola is a grape variety that comes from Sicily. It is dark and bursting with delicious juicy fruit and has a touch of sweet spice that is reminiscent of Shiraz – a red for those who like their wines big and juicy. Either of the Nero d'Avola wines go well with this duck as well as with duck, venison or beef and is excellent with a good warming casserole.

19.03.12

FEATURED

CellarVie Meets…Viña Errazuriz winemaker Francisco Baettig

CellarVie Wines are this week focusing on the wines of Chile and with that in mind, we were fortunate enough to catch up with Viña Errazuriz winemaker Francisco Baettig, to discuss the 42-year-old’s winemaking philosophy, his desire to produce wines that reflect their origins and his love of football…

15.03.12

FEATURED

What We're Drinking: Jon & ‘Piluna’ Primitivo

During my fledgling career in the wine industry, I have found the hosting of a wine tasting a perennially difficult balancing act. You want to select a suitably eclectic array of wines that not only spark healthy debate or mutual appreciation, but more importantly a selection of wines that titillate the taste buds. The Piluna Primitivo is one of our 'bankers'; a thus far universally enjoyed wine at CellarVie that is yet to disappoint.

15.03.12

FEATURED

Cocktail of the Week: The Tom Jones

It’s that time of week again and the CellarVie Wines team have chosen the Tom Jones cocktail in a bid to brighten the mood on a Thursday evening. Once again revolving around our Spirit of the Month, Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky, the aforementioned is a lovely way to kick-start a Thursday night, and although it is often a gin based cocktail, it is just as nice with a hearty measure of Penderyn.

15.03.12

FEATURED

Riojan Cuisine

Being a landlocked region you might not be surprised to find that a lot of the dishes that Rioja is famous for includes the fruits of the land rather than the sea; lamb, beef, excellent charcuterie, cured cheeses, superb vegetables and the local produced Pimentón (a type of smoky, sweet or spicy Paprika) are the main staples of the Riojan diet - all of which match beautifully with the region’s red wines and its rosés and oaked whites.

15.03.12

FEATURED

Ideas for Mother’s Day

It’s Mother’s Day this Sunday and so it’s that time of year to make your mum feel special. With that in mind CellarVie Wines thought they would offer up a few suggestions to do just that. Now you may not buy in to the commercialisation and hype surrounding the day itself, but in essence the message remains the same; show your mum how much you appreciate her!

13.03.12

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Rioja: The region and places of interest

Ahead of CellarVie Wines' focus on Rioja, we thought we would take a closer look at the region and its places of interest. Situated in the north, La Rioja is the smallest but arguably the most diverse region of mainland Spain and is located between Navarra and Pais Vasco to the north, Aragon to the east, Castilla La Mancha to the south and Castilla Leon to the west.

13.03.12

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Mother’s Day Recipe: Pan Fried Salmon Fillet

What are you going to do to treat your Mum on Mother’s Day this Sunday? It’s a time to pamper and spoil, the day when you make that extra effort to show just how special she is. Why not really push the boat out this year with CellarVie Wines' Pan fried Salmon fillet recipe!

13.03.12

FEATURED

CellarVie Wines meets…CVNE winemaker Maria Larrea

Ahead of our focus on Rioja, CellarVie Wines interviewed CVNE (Cune) winemaker Maria Larrea to discuss her winemaking philosophy, her experiences in the industry, and her passions outside of wine…

08.03.12

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Cocktail of the week: The Orchard Highball

Each week CellarVie Wines are keen to whet their whistle on a specially selected cocktail to spice up a Thursday night and today is no different. Our Cocktail of the Week revolves around our Spirit of the Month, Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky, and is called the Orchard Highball.

08.03.12

FEATURED

How to shuck oysters

Following our interview with the CEO of Oyster Meister, CellarVie Wines explains the art and occasional danger of shucking oysters with a little help from the man himself: -

08.03.12

FEATURED

CellarVie Wines meets…Oyster Meister

It is often said that finding oysters in England can be like diving for pearls, but this is one of the many misconceptions that Oyster Meister - a high quality wandering oyster shop and a fresh alternative to canapés - is keen to address.

07.03.12

FEATURED

Spirit of the Month: Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky

Each month CellarVie Wines will celebrate a Spirit of the Month by recommending four cocktails, one each week, that best showcase the unique flavours of the spirit in question.

In March 2012, CellarVie Wines are proud to promote Penderyn Welsh Malt Whisky as their Spirit of the Month…

06.03.12

FEATURED

Recipe: Tarte Tatin

In light of our recent focus on New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and our subsequent interview with Vidal winemaker Hugh Crichton, who whetted the appetite by recalling his dream meal, CellarVie Wines thought they would reproduce one of his beautifully selected dishes, a Tarte Tatin, in an easily accessible but deliciously tasty recipe.

01.03.12

FEATURED

'A cause de l'Amour': How Social Media revitalised a flailing French Winery

The power of social media never ceases to amaze in this internet entrenched age. A flailing winery in France has seemingly been saved from the abyss, after the blogosphere made one, Olivier B, a cause celebre for every winemaker’s travails.

29.02.12

FEATURED

CellarVie Wines meets…Vidal winemaker Hugh Crichton

In line with our focus on New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, CellarVie Wines caught up with Vidal winemaker Hugh Crichton to discuss his winemaking philosophy.

22.02.12

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A lighter Lent with German Riesling and Halibut

Why not start Lent in moderation, by opting for a lighter-in-alcohol German Riesling and this delicious sesame crusted Halibut recipe.

20.02.12

FEATURED

“Fat” Tuesday

We all know it as Pancake Day in England but for the rest of the Christian world the day before the start of Lent is Mardi Gras, literally, Fat Tuesday. CellarVie offers up a few suggestions to make your Shrove Tuesday a memorably indulgent one.

16.02.12

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What We're Drinking: Sophie & Bourgogne Blanc 'Clos de Loyse'

Since I started living in the UK I've tried to widen my palate to new flavours and new wines. Today though I'd like to share a French wine: Bourgogne Blanc 'Clos de Loyse' 2009.

Sophie Galimard - Digital Designer

10.02.12

FEATURED

The lavish nature of Extravagance

If you can’t be lavish with the one you love.......... At CellarVie Wines we've thought up some ideas to help you splash your cash at the hottest spots in town.

09.02.12

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A laugh a minute?

If your Valentine loves a good laugh, why not think about taking them out to a comedy night in town? CellarVie have a few suggestions to get you giggling.

09.02.12

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A sophisticated lady?

Organise a treat to impress even the most ingrained sophisticate. We like to think we can mix with the best culture vultures...read on.

09.02.12

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A hopeless romantic

There’s nothing a girl likes more than being spoiled on Valentine’s Day. If you can throw a bit of romance in there too then you are really showing your style. The team at CellarVie have come up with a few ideas to help you turn on the charm.

09.02.12

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My gorgeous Valentine

Gorgeousness is all about looking after yourself and your loved one. Why not get out the lotions and potions and find out what we think would get your Valentine in the mood?

01.02.12

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What We're Drinking: Charlotte & 1847 Oloroso Dulce Sherry

I love the 1847 Oloroso Dulce from Gonzalez Byass – yes it’s a Sherry and no, it’s not still Christmas nor am I a granny or a vicar. I just adore the rich, sweetness of the wine.

18.01.12

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What We're Drinking: Simon & Errazuriz Single Vineyard

Well it took me (Simon) a bit of time to choose my wine of the week because I've been re-tasting quite a few of the wines recently so had many of them fresh in my mind all competing for attention (don't worry they don't actually speak to me!).

In the end I went for a Chilean wine, Errazuriz Single Vineyard Carmenere 2009 for 3 reasons: it's a famous producer but a wine few will have tried, it's an interesting grape variety and last but by no means least it's a bargain right now!

17.01.12

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Calorie Counting Couscous

Having spent the majority of this month being a little careful on the calorie front, we've found out some great news... Couscous is in fact a healthy carbohydrate, so it's true every cloud has a silver lining, diets included. We've put together some fantastic wine matches for our Moroccan saviour of the month.

13.01.12

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Lifestyle...

Something new for this year - our Lifestyle side of the blog will cover all elements of life whether related to wine or not, this should be regarded as where we share our opinions and we hope you share yours with us.

10.01.12

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January: you can afford a little luxury!

Do you want to lose a little weight post Christmas? It seems to be the national obsession every time January is upon us - certainly everyone in the office is watching the calories and there are a few newspaper supplements floating around. So how can we help? Well, while we don't pretend to be nutritional experts like some of the zanier characters on TV, we do know about low calorie wines.

10.01.12

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What We're Drinking: Jon & Tenuta Rapitala Chardonnay Grand Cru

This week it's Jon’s choice, he's described the wine selected as his personal 'white wine of 2011', high praise indeed! While you can see that the bottle is extremely impressive, read more to find out the real reasons why he has chosen this wine.

01.12.11

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24 Wines of Christmas - week 1

We're feeling festive at CellarVie Wines, it being the 1st of December - the team are all excited about the run up to the big day, so we have created a special food and wine matching for the next twenty four days until Christmas Day, our idea being to come up with "24 wines of Christmas" which we love and which we hope will help and inspire you this Christmas.