Discovering the region of Castilla-La Mancha

The quality of the wines were all very good, and well balanced. The labels were also interesting to behold, as some reflected the traditional Spanish label, while others were almost new wave, designed to stand out on a supermarket shelf.

Meeting George Spiliadis of Cava Siliadis

We sampled five wines from the Cava Spiliadis Portfolio from the very best producers in Greece, beginning with the Amalia Brut NV sparkler from winemaker Giannis Tselpos, composed of 100% Moschofilero, an increasingly popular Greek Grape from the Peloponnese with vineyards at an altitude of 750 meters with mountainous sand clay soil. The wine was quite crisp and refreshing, with intense minerality and perfect for any occasion. That night they paired excellently with oysters.

Enjoy the Crowd Funded party, it may be short-lived

I hate February with all my heart. And it's not just because it's that miserable time of year that I have my annual bath. Nor is it solely down to the fact that I have the charisma, predominantly, of an Ogre intent on spoiling a party.

Start your own blog here

We are offering you the chance to start your very own blog here on Harpers.co.uk

The 11th Commandment - Don't offend wine critics

I found out recently that in the world of journalism it's apparently OK to mock the prophet Mohammad, but offending a Wine Critic is just one step too far.

Tim Atkin called Vinopolis a 'failure', but is he right and is that fair?

Those of the more fortunate readers amongst you who can cough up the annual Harpers Wine mag subscription fee were treated this month to Tim Atkin's take on the imminent closure of London's Vinopolis. But is his critique a fair reflection of the state of affairs at London's premier wine venue?

Stop taking the pessina, Boots

It doesn't matter how much you try, you can't polish a turd. At least that was the lesson this week for the poor old sods that work at Boots as they embarked on damage limitation following an almighty foul-up at the High Street pharmacy chain.

Smell of EX-cess

What could the wine industry learn from the perfume one?

Please Sir, I want some more?

I've heard it all this week. It turns out that Majestic wine, of all companies, has done an Oliver Twist. They've colluded with a bunch of other apparently destitute wine merchants by writing an open letter begging their Bordeaux suppliers; asking: Please Sir, I want some more?

Competitive advantage through customer experience

News emerged this week that A&E waiting times in the UK have reached record levels. This is bad news on several fronts but, if my family are anything to go by, the A&E crisis may be partially attributable to the nation's deteriorating cooking skills.

A real glass act

Show me a real man that doesn't like a bit of willie and I'll show you a squirrel that doesn't like nuts!

Why Bordeaux producers should resist calls to 'reduce' their 2014 prices

Wine investors have been bitching about Bordeaux release prices for the last few years. According to investors, for the 2014 release, "The pressure will be on the producers to get their prices right". But what is the 'right price' and in whose interest is this 'right price'?

Wine Country Resort Review: 5 Star Il Boscareto Resort

Lovers of both the modern and traditional style of Barolo will definitely be attracted to the very modern, five star Il Boscareto Resort, located in Serralunga d'Alba, which appeals to all the senses in its gorgeously designed rooms and suites, state of the art spa, very well appointed exercise room, and of course its two restaurants. The fine dining restaurant has an excellent selection of vintage wines from the region's producers, and it's where the top producers often gather for celebratory dinners.

Interview with Ze'ev Dunie of Seahorse Winery

Interview with Ze'ev Dunie of Seahorse Winery, Judea Hills

Stephen Forward: drinks industry under attack!

If you thought fox hunting had been banned, think again. It appears the concept has just mutated. Some people still get a thrill from the chase, so while it may be illegal to hunt and kill bushy tailed carnivorous mammals using horns, dogs and horses, a new form of hunting has now evolved.

Whatever happened to common sense?

We've all heard the term "more money than sense", haven't we? Well, recently I was offered a case of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti 2011, at a mere £100,000 per dozen.

Piper-Heidsieck Chef de Caves Régis Camus' 20th anniversary

Mr. Camus joined Piper Heidsieck in 1994, quickly proving himself a master blender and taking an interest in every aspect of winemaking. "Style and quality are the result of many subjective decisions taken throughout the process as a whole, from harvesting right through to shipping. Therefore, one must be mult-italented, know what one wants and accept no compromise whatsoever as far as quality is concerned."

It's time wine investment was confined to the history books

This year has seen a string of investment companies go to the wall. Misguided speculators are learning the hard way that the whole concept of wine as an investment class asset is little more than fool's gold.

Add value to the supply chain, or move over!

Little did I know back then, over forty years ago when I was just knee high to a grasshopper, how important my hobby was to the retail supply chain.

A Tasting of BA's Club World Wines

Wine tasting of BA's club class wines on a flight to and from San Francisco recently. The wine was good, the company fantastic, and the beds magnificent. Try it!