We’re having a Christmas Raffle – for a pound a ticket (in aid of the Martlett’s Hospice) we’re giving you the chance to win a £150 bottle of 1982 Saint Emilion Grand Cru to have with your Christmas lunch. Its inspired by the news that the world’s most expensive bottle of wine was sold at [...]
Tags: Bordeaux wine, Brighton Christmas, French Wine, Henry Butler, Merlot grape, Wine raffle, Wine with Christmas Lunch, Worlds most expensive wine
Last week I had the misfortune to be on the Sussex Campus when the protests were happening over tuition fees, so I saw the clash of placard and police. We wryly observed that the student of the future will have to pick their grog more carefully – no more P Diddy Cristal Champagne and back [...]
Tags: Brighton students, Henry Butler, Lambrusco wine, sparkling wine, Student protests, Student wine choice
If you ever wondered what Port wine really is, then this is the video for you. I suggest you explore all the varieties there are to find out for yourself what you like, but I would suggest that the best value can be found in what is called “late bottled vintage.” Watch the video to [...]
Tags: Aperitif, Christmas drinks, Digestif, Fortified wine, Henry Butler, Late bottled vintage, Port wine, Portugal, Ruby port, Vintage port
Ladies and Gentlemen, from the wonderful world class Hanover Community Hall in cosmopolitan Brighton, here’s me roped into a charity tasting event in aid of Marie Curie and Martlets Hospice – worthy cancer charities both. The theme for the evening was Portugal because people don’t tend to know a lot about the wines, partly as [...]
Tags: Arinto grapes, Douro Valley, Henry Butler, Madeira wine, Portugal Wine, Steve Appleby wine label, Wine tasting
Portugal week continues with a broad look at the wines. You know how everyone goes “yeah Rioja, a real crowd pleaser” and orders it at the dinner table? Well, you can get one over on them by plumping for Portuguese wines. Spain favours the tempranillo grape, and the same one is called Tinto Roriz in [...]
Tags: Alternative to Rioja, Douro Valley, Henry Butler, Portugal, Red and White Wine, young winemakers
Portugal week romps on a pace with a film we made when the sun was shining… Cameraman thought Vinho Verde (that’s how you spell it) was a type of wine, but its a region, at the Northerly, wet West point of Portugal where it meets Spain. Its a place for fresh, zesty wines both red [...]
Tags: Alternative to Spanish Wines, Fizzy wines, Henry Butler, Portuguese Wines, Vinho Verde Wines, Wine with fish
As part of our Portugal week I went on a fact finding mission to Portugal’s Douro Valley. Its stunning – great for a long weekend and some of the vineyards there have really pulled their socks up for the whole wine tourist experience; not least Quinta de la Rosa. It was here that I was [...]
Tags: Henry Butler, Hix Fish and Oyster, Mark Hix, Mitch Tonks, Portugal Wine, The Seahorse restaurant, Tonnix Wine, wine holidays portugal
All week, starting this weekend, we’ll be putting up programmes that showcase a wine producing country that I love, Portugal, with a particular focus on the Douro Valley. A beautiful place that’s great for a long weekend with a wine glass in your hand. You’ll hear about my exploits with chefs Mark Hix and Mitch [...]
Tags: Douro Valley, Henry Butler, Hix Fish and Oyster House, Mark Hix, Mitch Tonks, Portugal, Wines from Portugal
Bordeaux is a large region down on the left foot of France and it produces more wine that some countries. It’s vast and vastly important to the world of wine. But there’s good stuff that comes out of it, and some vinegar. As Christmas comes up, a lot of us will think of putting a [...]
Tags: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bordeaux wine, Chateau Ceval Blanc, Choosing French wines, Claret, Henry Butler
Remember the Chilean Miners? You do: hard hats and designer sunglasses? The inevitable film starring Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro? Now you remember. No surprise that sales of Chilean Wine rocketed in the aftermath of that story: I myself was guilty of selling Chilean Wine at 10% discount for an hour the weekend [...]
Tags: Chilean Miners, Chilean Red, Chilean Wine, Henry Butler, Rise in sales of wine from Chile
