"It is not the multitude of ale-houses... that occasions a general disposition to drunkenness among the common people; but that disposition arising from other causes necessarily gives employment to a multitude of ale-houses."
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Blogging is certainly not the most direct route to fame and fortune. In fact, I'd wager most would be hard pressed to name a single wine blogger anywhere in the world.
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Aussie winemakers who once had a few choice words to say about Tesco's head of wine may come to regard a certain Scotsman as a more pressing enemy lately, given the proposals on alcoholic drinks sales emerging from the Government in Holyrood.
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There is so much talk of premiumisation among the major spirits players that you almost have to do a double take when you take a trip down the spirits aisle in any major supermarket or convenience store.
Read more...So here we are then, after several months of blood, sweat and tears, the relaunch of Harpers.co.uk as TalkingDrinks.com has become a reality.
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It was, I think, Napoleon who said don't give me skillful generals give me lucky generals. The same might be said, mutatis mutandis, of publishers and their writers.
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If you want to know what a low-carbon economy looks like, it's described very accurately in your current fuel bills.
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The Scottish Grocers Federation (SGF) recognises the need to address Scotland's alcohol misuse. But some aspects of the Scottish government's new consultation on the issue are wrong and inappropriate.
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It is clear to me that climate change is already happening, and changes are coming much faster than any of us anticipated. Winemakers must embrace change and be leaders in instigating that change if our industry is to continue in a sustainable way.
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On one level you might view the Scottish Government as brave. After all, with consumers facing spiralling costs for fuel and food, it's a bold politician who suggests voters should pay more for their weekly shop, which is effectively what Scottish ministers told their electorate last week.
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"Out of all bad comes good." Well, it's been a challenging few months, and with the unwelcome, but enforced, absence from work, comes a time of reflection.
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Doom, gloom and uncertainty. We're surrounded by it, and yet we read of the on-trade apparently under-selling wine. Could we do more? Definitely.
Read more...Flaubert considered love to be a superior form of curiosity. With wine writers, all of whom claim to love wine, the curiosity is public. We are sending love letters to the objects of our curiosity.
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Most people are responsible drinkers. But alcohol-related problems - whether in terms of A&E admissions or alcohol-fuelled violence - are growing at an alarming rate.
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I hit rock bottom yesterday, having read the Youth Alcohol Action Plan and applauded it for recognising that "drinking alcohol is a normal activity for many adults in Britain and young people drink for much the same reasons as everyone else - to have fun, to relax, to socialise and to feel more outgoing".
Read more...Have you ever experienced an underwhelming sommelier describing Cava as "Spanish Champagne"? It's pedantic to point it out really.
Read more...The buzz of the London International Wine Fair and Distil brings with it a healthy mix of perspiration and inspiration.
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In uncertain economic times, businesses that reduce marketing spend to achieve a "quick fix" are usually misguided.
Read more...Quite a few things have got up my nose this past month. One of them was the exquisite, if subtle, perfume of the 2005 vintage of Les Hauts de Smith, but you don't really want to hear about that do you?
Read more...In the immediate run-up to the LIWF, many people will be talking about the impact of the Common Market Organisation Reform on the European wine industry. So what about France?
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