Author Archives: Robin
A voyage of discovery : a journey into the unknown
The Olympic and Paralympic Games are over. Inspiration for some, annoyance for others, for many they represented a journey into unknown territory – sports that people had never heard of, watched or tried before. So perhaps now is the time … Continue reading
A Sense of fun : Olympic proportions !
So the Olympics have finished, but the smiles remain, even if the full benefits won’t be felt for another 20 years, or so we are told. Hopefully, the Paralympics will be a fantastic success too (although can’t the Olympic flame … Continue reading
A Fond Farewell to Kemp’s Wines !
After 26 years in the wine business, John Kemp retired at the end of last year. An extremely talented winemaker in Suffolk, he cites age (72 but looks considerably younger), a desire to do the things he wants for the … Continue reading
The Definitive Italian Wine Tasting 2012
The "Definitive Italian Wine Tasting" event at Lords Cricket Ground on 18th June was a great showcase for wine diversity. Few countries exhibit such a range of styles and grape varieties as Italy. Given the size and shape of the … Continue reading
The Real Ale Revolution Continues
So real ale used to be thought of as an old man’s drink (probably an old English man wearing a flat cap) and as far removed from youthful trends as Jeremy Clarkson’s dress sense. However, this is clearly no longer … Continue reading
London International Wine Fair
I spent yesterday at the London International Wine Fair (LIWF) 2012, one of the biggest trade events in the wine calendar. Here are just a few highlights. Firstly, guess what – you can’t say that I’m not ahead of the … Continue reading
Organic or Local : you choose !
Organic produce may be a wonderful thing, but there are some, err, buts! For example, it tends to be quite expensive, not always readily available, can have shorter shelf lives and may be flown in thousands of miles before it … Continue reading
National Food Stereotypes
Every nation is justifiably proud of its culinary traditions. France, the home of "gastronomie", has a worldwide reputation for culinary excellence. Similarly, Italy is famous for quality food and drink and increasingly, the diverse flavours of Asian cuisine are winning … Continue reading
Smutty Beer Labels
A letter based on this article was published in CAMRA’s What’s Brewing magazine, May 2012, p.13. There has been much discussion over the past 12 months, concerning British beer labels and pump clips and whether they are often too "smutty". … Continue reading
English Rosé
With English wine coming first in many international competitions, is now the time to stock up on our victorious vino? I explore the rise of home-grown rosé. Although English wines have been produced since Roman times, there are only around … Continue reading