The marketing blurb of the Volkswagen Grand California promises freedom, flexibility and a ‘Teutonic’ level of competence – sounds lovely. But I think what it actually delivers over a four day trip from Hampshire to the Lakes and back was a family holiday with just enough chaos and adventure to be utterly memorable.
As part of our Mazda Tour, we paid a stylish detour to The Sloane Club to shop, sip, and savour Chelsea’s charms.
There are plenty of wine podcasts. There are plenty of political interviews. But never have I seen them combined. ‘Vintage Politics’, hosted by Abbie Bennington, does exactly that.
The premise is simple but effective. Conversations with some of the UK’s most recognisable political voices (and a comedian), paired with wines that reflect moments in their lives. Guests include Jon Sopel, Anna Foster, and Nick Robinson, alongside figures such as Guto Harri, Dom Joly and Jo Coburn.
While the forever upmarket district of Kensington in West London remains a magnet for the wealthy and famous, with Kensington Palace Gardens still one of Britain's most expensive residential streets, housing properties owned by billionaires like Lakshmi Mittal and Roman Abramovich, not many people know of the area’s longstanding cultural history, and links with some of the greatest writers in English literature.
Easter is one of my favourite moments in the wine calendar. The menus are generous, the pace a little slower, and the table often stretches from lunch into the evening. From celebratory bubbles to reds worthy of roast lamb and long conversations, these are bottles that rise to the occasion.
Taittinger Nocturne NV
RRP £45 | Waitrose, Tesco, Laithwaites, Hedonism, Amps Wine Merchants
