Claire Blackler MW 09/09/2024 Claire Blackler MW 09/09/2024

Via Istrum Tamyanka chateau burgozone

Discover the unique character of Tamyanka, Bulgaria’s local name for Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains, a grape that thrives in the warm, sun-drenched Danube Plain. Château Burgozone’s Via Istrum showcases the best of this grape with a bone-dry, still Muscat, offering a vibrant bouquet of honeysuckle, orange peel, and apricot. With its rich, slightly oily texture and a touch of almond peel bitterness, this wine is an elegant expression of Muscat’s exotic character.

Claire Blackler MW 08/09/2024 Claire Blackler MW 08/09/2024

Rediscovering Bulgarian Wines: A Bold Journey at 50

At 50, I rediscovered Bulgarian wines—once popular but long absent from UK shelves. Bold reds like Rubin and aromatic whites like Tamyanka now showcase Bulgaria's unique viticultural heritage. Much like my own journey of growth and self-realisation, these wines have emerged with confidence and character worth celebrating.

Claire Blackler MW 25/09/2023 Claire Blackler MW 25/09/2023

A Bitter Twist for Sparkling Water

Bitterness is an essential element in wine, coffee and cocktails. It adds balance, complexity, vivacity and freshness, offering the taster a bracing and stimulating taste experience.

Claire Blackler MW 23/08/2023 Claire Blackler MW 23/08/2023

Height of Arrows Bright

Holyrood Distillery’s Height of Arrows Bright. A truly juniper-forward gin that showcases the extraordinary range of essential oils contained within the tiny week juniper berry.

Claire Blackler MW 06/07/2023 Claire Blackler MW 06/07/2023

That perfect moment

Trying to decide how long to keep wine is like asking how long is a piece of string, some wines will develop positive characteristics as they age, and some will deteriorate. Changes very much depend on the grape variety, where the grapes were grown, and the wine style.

Claire Blackler MW 18/04/2023 Claire Blackler MW 18/04/2023

Melina Honey wine

Raw honey has a very high concentration of sugars which when fermented results in an alcoholic drink called honey wine, or Mead.

Claire Blackler MW 14/03/2023 Claire Blackler MW 14/03/2023

5 reasons to drink more chablis…

With just one colour (white), and just one grape (Chardonnay), Chablis has to be one of the simplest of all the French wine regions to understand, but, in just a few sniffs and tastes, it can offer the wine student a wealth of learning in wine tasting skills.