The House That Chardonnay Built
There is a version of Champagne that exists purely for the party. The pop, the pour, the Instagram moment. And then there is the version Cédric Jacopin makes. It asks you to slow down.
There is a version of Champagne that exists purely for the party. The pop, the pour, the Instagram moment. And then there is the version Cédric Jacopin makes. It asks you to slow down.
There are moments in the wine world that remind you just how much remains undiscovered. This April, Coravin leans into that very idea with its Curiosity By-the-Glass campaign—an initiative designed to challenge familiarity and celebrate exploration, one glass at a time.
I experienced this firsthand at Frog by Adam Handling, in the company of Wine Director Kelvin McCabe (no relation), whose thoughtful curation brought the campaign vividly to life.
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
Perrier‑Jouët has long been synonymous with beauty — not only in its wines, but in its intimate, century‑long dialogue with the Art Nouveau movement. Today, that legacy evolves under the visionary leadership of Séverine Frerson, the first woman to serve as cellar master of the maison since its founding in 1811. She carries forward the house’s poetic sensibility while ushering in a new era defined by precision, purity, and a contemporary understanding of elegance.
There are few rosé houses in Provence that manage to combine poise, pedigree and a genuine sense of place quite like Sainte Marguerite en Provence.
Cupid may have his arrows, but I’ve always preferred a well‑aimed cork. This Valentine’s Day, forget the clichés and reach for something that actually makes your heart beat faster — great wine. From South African sparkle to French finesse and Rioja romance, here’s your cheat sheet to bottles guaranteed to impress. Flowers fade… but good wine is forever.
Rosé has long since shrugged off its poolside stereotype, and nowhere was that more evident than at a Château d’Esclans lunch at The Fat Badger, Notting Hill — a setting that felt deliberately understated, allowing both food and wine to speak with clarity.
The lineup told a precise story of ambition and evolution: Les Clans 2022, Garrus 2022, and Château d’Esclans 2022 — three expressions that firmly position Provençal rosé in the world of serious, gastronomic wine.
Château d’Esclans: redefining rosé’s ceiling
January is often a month of reset — lighter meals, fewer indulgences and, for many, a pause on alcohol. But Try January doesn’t have to mean missing out altogether. It can also be about being more thoughtful: drinking less, but better. And what better moment to raise a considered glass than Australia Day?
The Negroni is often described as a drink of absolutes. Equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth; stirred, never shaken; garnished with orange. Yet beneath its rigid structure lies extraordinary flexibility. Change one ingredient — particularly the vermouth — and the drink’s personality shifts entirely.