News and Views

Gorgeous green Oregon Jul 28, 2010: If I had to live anywhere in the US it would be Oregon. Admittedly the last couple of days have been unbelievably beautiful but I think it’s more that it’s comfortingly familiar - with green rolling hills and woods and flower-strewn hedgerows. Very much like Burgundy, the spiritual home of most Oregonian winemakers.

What the IPNC is really like Jul 25, 2010: As you can see I’ve given up any attempt to catalogue this NW road trip. Some may call it an excess of Pinot Noir and there would be some justice in that but the truth is the days are so packed there's been little time - or inclination - to sit down at the computer. But here's what I've been up to at the International Pinot Noir Celebration, Oregon's famous summer camp for Pinot lovers

On the road in the Pacific North West: Day 1 Jul 20, 2010: For the next 10 days I’m going to be visiting the vineyards of Oregon and Washington State so the site will turn into more of a blog. Our first day yesterday included lunch at Chateau Ste Michelle, by far Washington’s largest wine producer . . .

The new food and wine matching events calendar is now up! Jun 1, 2010: As promised here is a list of forthcoming food and wine matching events in the UK including tastings, masterclasses, wine dinners and food and wine festivals including ones I am involved with.

New Asian Palate website gives the Asian perspective on food and wine pairing May 29, 2010: News of an interesting new website from food and wine writer Jeannie Cho Lee, the first Asian to become a Master of Wine, who is obviously looking to do for Asian wine lovers what Jancis Robinson and Robert Parker have for Western ones.

Publicise your wine and food matching events May 12, 2010: If you have a forthcoming wine dinner or wine and food pairing event and you're based in the UK let us know and we'll list it in our new events section starting next Monday. In the meantime here are details of an interesting Corsican food and wine matching evening in London this weekend and a Spanish wine and food matching event in Bristol next week.

The return of Rick Stein Mar 25, 2010: This week’s guest appearances at the Putney pop-up hosted by restaurateur Rebecca Mascarenhas in aid of Action Against Hunger was a great opportunity to catch one of Britain’s best-loved chefs

Asian tastes differ when it comes to matching Chinese food Mar 22, 2010: The results of a unique competition in Hong Kong suggest that Asia-based judges may have a different take to Europeans on matching wine to Chinese food. The judging panel at the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition awarded several medals to full-bodied reds and one to a sweet wine in preference to the more common aromatic white wine styles such as Riesling and Gewurztraminer

Problems with the search engine Feb 27, 2010: It seems that there are problems with the search engine in the Find a Wine section at the moment. Unfortunately as it's the weekend it may take a day or so to sort out. I do apologise for this. You should be still be able to get food and wine matching suggestions by entering an ingredient, dish or drink in the search box in the column to your left.

My latest project - Cheese School! Feb 21, 2010: I’ve already mentioned I’ll be doing more live events this year and one vehicle for this will be Cheese School, a joint project with Jess and Todd Trethowan of Trethowan’s Dairy. Jess and Todd not only sell some of the best cheese in Britain at their tiny but brilliant shop in St Nicolas’ Market in Bristol but make it too: they produce the highly regarded Gorwydd Caerphilly.