Marks & Spencer have always had a good selection of wine, branching out and offering a more varied range than most other supermarkets. And with Christmas around the corner, (I know, I said the ‘C’ word) their offering has just got a little bit better. Whether you want white, red, sweet or sparkles they pretty much…… Continue reading This Is Not Just Wine…..This Is Marks & Spencer Wine
I recently attended the DNS wine club in Dublin, for the first time. I have been meaning to attend one of these monthly meet-ups for a while and finally made it along. This month the club was focusing on a region I, along with most people, am not as familiar with as I would like – Burgundy. We…… Continue reading Phil’s Weekend Wine Tip: Domaine Andre Bonhomme ‘Vieilles Vignes’ Vire Clesse 2014 (The Corkscrew €28.95)
This week it’s Spanish Wine Week. So what better for me to recommend than Spain’s most famous wine – Rioja! This weekend’s wine tip is a Rioja reserva from Tesco which I spotted a few days ago, reduced from €18 down to €10. Rioja is one of two wine regions in Spain classified as a DOCa. This is…… Continue reading Phil’s Weekend Wine Tip: Vina del Cura Rioja Reserva 2011 (Tesco €10 – Reduced from €18)
If you like your wines full bodied and punchy grab a bottle or two of Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz this weekend from SuperValu for €13. Also known as Syrah in Europe, the Shiraz grape makes deep, powerful and full bodied wines and is synonymous with the Barossa Valley where it thrives. The lads at Barossa Valley…… Continue reading Phil’s Weekend Wine Tip: Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz 2012 (SuperValu €13 – Reduced from €16.99)
If you’re looking for something easy drinking for the weekend, then look no further than the Cimarosa South African Chenin Blanc from Lidl for €5.49. Cimarosa is Lidl’s wine supply partner and they have a good range of wines that they provide Lidl with, sourced from all over the globe. Chenin blanc is an extremely versatile…… Continue reading Phil’s Weekend Wine Tip: Cimarosa Chenin Blanc (Lidl €5.49)
Almost a decade ago I was introduced to wine, in the cellar of the Royal Opera House in London. I was shown the difference between a Sauv Blanc and a Cab Sauv, the difference between dry and sweet and taught that not all wines are made equal. I had the opportunity to taste some of…… Continue reading WSET Level 3: A Little Bit Wiser
So, you’ve been out in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) for a couple of weeks and the only thing to drink is beer, and not even good beer at that. A glass of chilled wine would go down beautifully on a 29°C day, but it’s not something that is easily found in this part of the world.…… Continue reading A Brave New World
This Christmas I spent my time off with my girlfriend and her lovely family in Clare. Christmas morning we all got up, wished each other well and sat down to open presents and eat breakfast with a glass of something bubbly. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had been looking for some alternatives to…… Continue reading What We Were Drinking For Christmas
It’s that time of year again. Family arguments, unwanted gifts and it being somehow acceptable to have a glass of something sparkling and alcoholic at 11am in the morning. And at some point over the next few weeks we will all be sipping a glass of something fizzy. Even if you don’t like the stuff, you’ll…… Continue reading All That Sparkles
You fumble your way through the pages of the wine list. Château something, random Classico, and then you spot a word you recognise, something you and your dining partner like and within budget, perfect! You order it from the waiter and wait patiently. The bottle is brought to the table and shown to you. You…… Continue reading Would You Like To Try The Wine, Sir?
Phil My Glass 