by Caspar Bowes

Above photo shows Mark Haisma in a rare state of relaxation in his newly built wineryThose thinking about holidaying in France at this time of year had better pick their spot with care; better yet, consider a stay in one of the lovelier parts of the UK....is what I was thinking as I drove south from…

Many years ago at a time when I hadn't been in the wine trade for very long, I was running a wine shop in South Kensington and if ever there was a better place for a wine shop, I'd like to know about it.The head of operations of a large US bank put in a regular appearance at the weekend (if in summe…

THE DEAL10% off any single case; 15% off 2 cases; 20% off 3 or more cases(For the purposes of this offer, a case is defined as 12x75cl, 2 cases 24x75cl etc.)On 13th November I'll be driving down to Burgundy for my annual few days of tasting the new vintage, in this year's case the 2015s, which are r…

In London for tastings and meetings the other day, all was concluded at an appropriate hour for me to take up a kind invitation for lunch in the offices of a rather fine wine importer. (Their wines being rather more than rather fine, I didn't hesitate to accept.)All wines tasted over lunch were exce…

The Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls, VictoriaThe Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux are a pretty active bunch and, among their many activities, they like to give those in the trade a thorough look at the newly bottled vintage at about this time every year. This year was the turn of 2014: a mo…