Pop the cork for English wine week

Pop the cork for English wine week

English Wine Week runs from June 21 to 29. This event provides a great opportunity for Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine’s Drinks Editor, James Viner, to celebrate the country’s exceptional wines and vibrant wine scene. So join him as he toasts Britain’s bottled brilliance… This month, I’m highlighting seven top English wines – five sparkling, two…

Raise a glass to toast a classic…

Raise a glass to toast a classic…

Chardonnay has triumphantly reclaimed its crown after losing popularity in the late 1980s, says our Drinks Editor James Viner. Here he celebrates the iconic white grape of Burgundy ahead of International Chardonnay Day on May 22 Chardonnay is the world’s second most planted white grape, covering over 210,000 hectares (OIV, 2020). From crisp and steely to rich…

“My recipes work for everyone”

“My recipes work for everyone”

Local food blogger and author Mandy Miller Simmonds tells Eileen Leahy all about her first book Simply Dinners, which publishes in May, and reflects her culinary ethos of fast, delicious and crowd-pleasing cooking… When the likes of legendary chefs Matt Tebbutt, James Tanner and Jonathan Phang endorse your soon-to-be-published first book you know you’re off…

Six wines to get your taste buds hopping this spring

Six wines to get your taste buds hopping this spring

With green scents in the air and Easter on its way, TWBM’s Drinks Editor James Viner shares his vinous recommendations for spring-time dining With a couple of bank holiday weekends approaching, this time of year presents a wonderful opportunity to indulge in various traditional dishes – and it’s also a great time to refresh your…

Mum’s the word

Mum’s the word

Forget high-priced flowers and chocolate this Mother’s Day (March 30); indulge her with one of these tasty bottles instead… 1. Vilarnau ‘Gaudi’ Organic Rosé Cava Brut Reserva 2022 Spain (£10 mix 6, Majestic, 12%)  A glass of quality fruity, artisanal, traditional method pink Spanish fizz like this will lift Mum’s spirits. Delicious (and handsome value for money)! 2. Spier…

Perk up your palate with these rare reds

Perk up your palate with these rare reds

Stuck in a wine rut? It’s time to reboot and think outside the (wine) box, says Drinks Editor James Viner. Give these six joyful offerings from uncommon grape varieties a try… Last month, I felt a surge of adventure and decided to step away from my usual favourites, like Cabernet Sauvignon—the world’s most widely cultivated…

Orange crush

Orange crush

Our Drinks Editor, James Viner, rings in the new year with five sophisticated on-trend orange wines, including a local cracker from Charing – and suggests the perfect whisky to ‘address the haggis’ this coming Burns Night… The future is bright; the future is orange! While rosé has long enjoyed popularity, orange wine is (re)emerging as a compelling…