The best wine to take to a picnic in the sun Wine Picnic season is on a roll and no matter what picky bits you are currently into, there is a drop of the good stuff to make it taste even better. Scotch Eggs x English Sparkling Wine Fortnum & Mason first invented the modern “scotch egg” in 1738 as a convenient meal for coach travellers from [...]
English wine has moved up a notch – here’s why Life&Style English wine is on the up, from Kent’s new Wine Garden of England collective to the Surrey Hills Wine Week. How English counties are racing to establish distinct regional identities English wine is considered a collaborative rather than a competitive industry. The feeling was “a rising tide lifts all ships” as our wines began to [...]
Special relationship: Americans snub champagne in favour of English fizz Hospitality Americans are flocking to English wine and snubbing champagne, the boss of England’s biggest winemaker has said. Kent-based Chapel Down said consumers across the Atlantic are fuelling record demand for English sparkling wine, as the AIM-listed firm bets big on the US market. Chief executive James Pennefather told City PM: “Americans are really embracing Chapel [...]
Valentine’s Day: My top recommendations for the perfect date January 29, 2026 Whether you’re treating your partner to a night on the town, whisking them out of the city for a weekend away or just cosying up together at home, here are my top recommendations for Valentine’s Day. For London lovers The Elizabeth on Ebury St, Belgravia will be serving a special three-course menu (£55pp) with an [...]
Laurent-Perrier: King’s champagne supplier blames private school VAT for sliding sales December 9, 2025 Labour’s introduction of VAT on private school fees contributed to profit at Laurent-Perrier, which supplies King Charles III with champagne, being significantly cut during its latest financial year. The division of the French giant has said its sales were impacted not only by the Labour government extending VAT to school fees but also higher interest [...]
What Champagne to buy for Christmas 2025, from Krug to Moet November 11, 2025 It was with a light step that I made my way to a tasting of Moet-Hennessy’s champagnes. To add spice to the occasion, it took place in Langham’s Brasserie, off Piccadilly, the scene of much revelry over the years. Moet-Hennessy, which has been part of the Louis Vuitton Group since 1987, owns some of the [...]
Fabulous! Pop these bottles this World Champagne Day October 20, 2025 A day worth celebrating, 24th October is World Champagne Day, as if anyone needs an excuse to pop a bottle! Hundreds of years ago the wine in Champagne was still and pinky-red – a world away from what we associate with the region now. Bubbles were considered a fault, exploding the weaker bottles made for [...]
Moët & Chandon: Sales slump by £25m at champagne owner September 24, 2025 UK sales at the owner of champagne label Moët & Chandon slumped by £25m during its latest financial year amid “difficult trading conditions”, it has been revealed. Moët Hennessy UK has reported a turnover of £267.1m for 2024, down from the £292.7m it achieved in 2023. The business said its fall in sales was “In [...]
Nyetimber muscle out Bollinger to partner with England Rugby September 1, 2025 Sparkling wine producer Nyetimber has muscled out French firm Bollinger to become an official partner of England Rugby ahead of the autumn internationals. The deal ends a 24 year relationship between the well-known champagne house and England, and is a coup for the West Sussex-, Kent- and Hampshire-based firm with the national rugby team sponsored [...]
Champagne Lanson sales fail to fizz as prices rise May 9, 2025 Champagne Lanson suffered a sharp drop in its UK sales in 2024 as drinkers turned their backs on bars and restaurants amid the cost-of-living crisis. New accounts filed with Companies House show the brand’s turnover was slashed from £45.2m to £35.5m last year while its pre-tax profit also fell from £1.7m to £819,000. The champagne [...]
