The Wine Merchant's Blog

Cabernet Sauvignon; king of wine grapes. Core foundation of Bordeaux’s greatest estates, the main contributor to the great cult wines of California’s Napa Valley and of major importance to the “Super Tuscans” of Bolgheri on Italy’s Etruscan coast. We all love Cabernet Sauvignon; it is to wine what Frank Sinatra is to music; timeless, full […]

Spain has always been a great place to look for high quality red wines at an affordable price point. But what about Spanish whites? Having played second fiddle to the full-bodied reds of Rioja and the Duero, Spanish whites are starting to take their rightful place centre stage. From the consistently fresh Albariño’s of Galicia […]

The wine industry has long been governed by strict laws that have influenced the nature of the final product that we decant from the bottle or sip from the glass. These laws (known as Geographical Indications or Appellation Laws) are relevant to the specific and wider wine-growing regions of the world and can restrict growers […]

As wine merchants, we are asked regularly “should I decant this wine?”, “How long does this wine need decanted for?” and various other queries about the age old tradition of transferring your wine from bottle to decanter before serving. Decanting serves two key purposes; one is to remove the sediment from an old or unfiltered […]

Tannins occur naturally in the skins of wine grapes and are the compound that creates a drying sensation in your mouth as you drink.  People that are sensitive (or even allergic) to this sensation as well as that of bitterness can be put off red wines entirely for fear of encountering these tannins.  However, there […]

With every change of the season we all pick a new wine to reflect the time of year.  For Winter 2018 we have chosen a selection of old favourites and new discoveries. Aidan Rustenberg John X Merriman 2013 £14.69 A great example of a New-World, Merlot-dominant blend that does an excellent job emulating the style […]

January is usually a time of year when people decide to make a few healthy changes, at least in the short term; dieting, exercise and abstinence from alcohol are common. You may also find that you have quite a bit of wine left over from the festive season, either received as gifts or unopened leftovers […]

Are you starting to think about a New Year’s Resolution?  Instead of giving something up why not try something new?  We recommend continuing your wine education by signing up to our Wine Club.  What could go wrong with having a selection of your favourite wine delivered direct to your door? We have 3 different Clubs […]

With 2018 just a few days away it is time to start thinking about New Year’s Eve and where the celebrations will take place.  Wherever you are or whatever you are doing make sure you have a good glass of bubbles to toast the end of 2017 and the new beginning of 2018.  Here are […]

Tradition dictates that since Victorian times, Turkey is the festive favourite gracing the tables across the land.  But what is the traditional wine to be served to accompany this feast? Like most poultry, turkey is middle-weight and not especially powerfully flavoured, with a low-fat content and prone to long cooking periods these factors are worth […]

If you want great locally produced food and drink in a place with an open fire and more than a nod to the nautical, then this is the place for you. Set on the banks of the Dibney River where it flows into Strangford Lough, a classic European restaurant with a modern twist serving lunch […]

The grape that has catapulted itself to the forefront of wine society, outselling many of its competitors namely Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. An easy drinking, light fresh wine that is very seldom oak aged by itself- what could be better for the average restaurant? From rags to riches Pinot Grigio has created quite a name […]