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video£18 French Sparkling Wine vs Champagne 🍾 Is This the BEST Budget Alternative? (Episode 566)
In this episode of Wine Mastery, we taste a French sparkling wine that claims to deliver a Champagne-like experience… but at nearly half the price 👀 At around £17–£18 from Majestic, could this be the perfect budget alternative to Champagne? We explore the aroma, taste, and value to see if it really stacks up. Expect notes of fresh apple skin, bright acidity, and a delicate, “Champagne-esque” character—without the hefty price tag. But does it have the depth and polish of true Champagne? We also cover: • How it compares to cheaper Champagne 🍾 • Whether ageing on lees makes a difference • Food pairings (including fish & chips and… White Cheshire cheese 🧀) • Our honest scores out of 100 👉 If you're looking for a great value sparkling wine for summer evenings, celebrations, or just an easy-drinking fizz—this could be one to try. 🥂 Wine tasted: Crémant-style French Sparkling (approx. £17–£18, Majestic) 👍 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and explore more Wine Mastery reviews!
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Drops of SunGod: Michel Rolland and China
“Focus on the vineyards.” That was the advice Michel Rolland—the wine world’s most famous consultant—gave during a 2012 Shanghai panel called China Wine Revolution. Rolland, ...
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Exploring Rare Mondeuse Blanche Wines in Brittany
The Grape Wizard describes a week-long holiday in Brittany, where I discover a new grape for €9. This rare grape complements local dishes. Keep your hands of the obvious and use your eyes for the undiscovered !
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From Archives 2008 : India Wine Challenge 2008 Launched
Posted: Sunday, 29 March 2026 11:04 From Archives 2008 : India Wine Challenge 2008 Launched February 28 2008:
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Cocktail Recipe - Peach & Blackberry Bramble
What’s matter? You’re not a reader? Then scroll down to the video. The story I love a Bramble. Invented by the late great Dick Bradsell in the mid 80s, it’s a triumph of sour and sweet - gin, blackberry liqueur, lemon juice and sugar syrup. It manages to appeal to most cocktail fans - it’s technically a sour, but it’s also quite spirit forward and the fruitiness appeals to the summer cocktail crowd. Aldi recently asked me to create a cocktail that used their Haysmiths Blackberry and Raspberry Gin. I excitedly invented the Peach & Blackberry Bramble. Turns out someone had already invented it. Although I don’t think anyone has done it with blackberry gin. So I’ve only invented a variation. Anyway, it’s great. Off you go! Ingredients: 50ml Blackberry Gin* 25ml Peach Liqueur 20ml Freshly squeezed Lemon Juice Garnish - sprig of mint and 2 blackberries I’ve tried this with Haysmith’s Blackberry & Raspberry Bramble Gin. It’s super cheap and decent. If you want a more expensive option, I
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Shoresy S1, S2, S3 + A Mixed Bag of Canadian Whiskey
______________________________ Subscribe to the show: Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Audible, or Google. Please rate and review the show on your favorite Podcast platform, and if you have any questions or comments, message us here, or send us an email at boozedancing@gmail.com. ______________________________ We’re off to the NOSHO for this episode of What We Watch When […]
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From Bourbon to Scotch - What is a Good Whiskey for a Gift?
Choosing the perfect whiskey as a gift can be pleasing, but it's also a challenging task to do. With an array of choices available, from Scotch to Bourbon Irish Japanese whiskey, to find the best whiskey gift, one requires knowledge of the recipient’s preferences and the occasion. Whether it’s for b.. Read More
podcast· 1h 09m· Ep 545Orange Wine Is Not a Fad: Digging Up Ancient Flavors in Modern Bottles; Meet Stetson Robbins.
I met Stetson years ago. Orange wine was not a thing. But he was making it a thing. I was intrigued by his commitment to the sector and the develpment of Georgian wine in the US, particularly in Los Angeles. Bringing Stetson Robbins onto this show is like popping the cork on a bottle you've never heard of, from a country you can barely pronounce, and finding it's the most fascinating taste you didn't know you craved. Forget everything you thought you knew about wine, because this conversation isn't about chasing the next California cab or French pinot—this is about tracking the wild, unfiltered edge of the wine world through the forgotten vineyards of Eastern Europe, where tradition, culture, and rebellion ferment side by side. The conversation focused on peeling away the comfort (and sometimes the snobbery) of the usual wine stories and diving deep into what it means for a wine to actually taste like where it's from—right down to the hands, palates, and histories of the people making
videoArgiano Brunello di Montalcino + Veal Milanese on Long Island NY
What a great find on the wine list at Patrizia’s on Long Island : Argiano Brunello di Montalcino, which in 2019 was heralded by Wine Spectator as wine of the year. It is a perfect pairing with Veal Milanese and we give a shout out to our friend Antonio the manager at Patrizia’s original Williamsburg Brooklyn location. Now with almost 20 locations throughout NYC, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, New Jersey & Florida : Patrizia’s is a fun place to discover. #wine #brunellodimontalcino #argianobrunello #brunello
videoStrawberry French 75
Tomorrow is National Bubbly Day! In honor of the beautiful spring weather, we are breaking out our Strawberry French 75, a unique twist on the classic cocktail, to celebrate.
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The Best Wine Accessories That Make a Difference
If you’ve ever strolled down the wine aisle at Williams Sonoma or fallen into a late-night Amazon rabbit hole (guilty), you know the wine accessory world can be overwhelming. What do you mean I need an electric aerator that can age wine in .5324 seconds?! $200 decanters shaped like dolphins? Preservation systems that cost more … The post The Best Wine Accessories That Make a Difference appeared first on Choice Wineries .
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24 Years Educating About Petite Sirah Since October 2002
Petite Sirah’s US History Since 2002 In 2005, I began my wine blog. I was the first female publicist in the world to do so. Tom Wark was the first male publicist to begin one, ahead of me, and he told me he’d never write about his clients. I was honest and told him I […] The post 24 Years Educating About Petite Sirah Since October 2002 first appeared on Wine Blog .
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Wet Jacket Wine Experience at The Hour Glass – March 2026
On Thursday I had the pleasure of attending (for the second time) an evening presented by Dan from Wet Jacket & hosted by Jenna and her team at The Hour Glass in New Plymouth. Dan provided 6 new wines from both the Wet Jacket and Putangi labels, all matched with delicious bites from Jenna’s kitchen, […]
podcast· 1h 46m· S6E90Smoking Crack at age 12, Juvie, Opiate Addiction by 18, Stripping, Sex Work, Escaping her Pimp, Prison and finally Redemption through Sobriety, Marriage and Opening a Hollywood Hills Rehab
Glynis’s journey is one of the most intense and transformative we’ve ever shared. She began using drugs at a painfully young age, smoking crack by 12, moving through juvie, and growing up as a ward of the state. By 18 she was stripping to survive, drifting from Massachusetts to Texas in the hope that a new place might quiet her addiction. Instead, she spent years in Dallas working as a prostitute and becoming deeply enmeshed the world of solicitation. Everything changed when she was arrested while smuggling people across the border between Mexico and California. That prison sentence became the turning point she never saw coming. Glynis got sober, stayed sober, and rebuilt her life from the foundation up. Today she has six years clean and is opening her own treatment center Peak Path Health in the Hollywood Hills, determined to give others the safety and support she never had. This episode is a powerful conversation about resilience, redemption, and the belief that no one is too far
videoThe Cup is getting closer! Are you ready to watch the action?
Here are some drink suggestions if you are rooting for Mexico! 🌴 → Mexican Beers such as Modelo, Corona, Pacifico or Dos Equis → Ready-to-Drink options, such as Mango Margarita and traditional Lime Marg → and of course… Tequila! El Padrino is a great choice, or you can also go with Mi Familia, Gran Coramino, or Esperalo!
videoPiacenza: Are You Pronouncing It Correctly?
Piacenza: Are You Pronouncing It Correctly? Santé, James © 2026 James Melendez / James the Wine Guy — All Rights Reserved. **** Social Networks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespmelendez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_melendez_jamesthewineguy/ WordPress: http://jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/jamesthewineguy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jameswineguy/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/jamesthewineguy
videoModena: Pronunciation & Quick Facts #modena #italy
Modena: Pronunciation & Quick Facts #modena #italy Santé, James © 2026 James Melendez / James the Wine Guy — All Rights Reserved. **** Social Networks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespmelendez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_melendez_jamesthewineguy/ WordPress: http://jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/jamesthewineguy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jameswineguy/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/jamesthewineguy
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Mossburn Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Review
If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand and one times. The beauty of this side hustle of ours is that we get to taste interesting beverages from all over the world without ever leaving the relative discomfort of The Murder Table. And every so often, […]
videoNobody needs a five star meal when hot dogs and Prosecco Rosé exist. 😂🌭 #Short
Nobody needs a five star meal when hot dogs and Prosecco Rosé exist. 😂🌭 #Stellabrate #WinePairings #ThatOneFriend #short
videoThe 67 Pall Mall experience
What makes a wine experience feel complete? 🍇 Lorraine Carrigan talks to Suzanne Mustacich about what makes 67 Pall Mall such a complete experience. What are you looking for in a wine experience? Follow for more wine insights. #WineExperience #WineLifestyle #67PallMall
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Vinitaly 2026 – Le cantine da non perdere e tutto ciò che devi sapere sulla fiera del vino italiano
Le selezione di Francesco Saverio Russo delle migliori Cantine da non perdere al Vinitaly 2026 L'articolo Vinitaly 2026 – Le cantine da non perdere e tutto ciò che devi sapere sulla fiera del vino italiano proviene da Wine Blog Roll - Il Blog del Vino Italiano .
videoOnly 1% of wine drinkers can pass this test
Don’t look at the comments. ⏱️🍷 We put 15 seconds on the clock. If you know your Left Bank from your Right Bank, you should have this solved before the timer hits 10. Did you get it on the first hint, or did you have to let the video loop? Drop your exact guess in the comments below. 👇 Stop guessing and start understanding what's in your glass. Hit the link in our bio to master the world's greatest wine regions. #winetrivia #bordeaux #wineeducation #sommelier #geographyquiz #bighammerwines
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A Tour of Wine Grapes: Colombard
Colombard (or Colombar) Photo from Pancrat on Wikimedia Commons The name Colombard likely comes from the French word for dove, "colombe". Legend has it that the grape was so named because its white, dusty berries match the color of a dove's plumage. It is a natural cross between Chenin Blanc and Gouais Blanc. This makes it a sibling to Chardonnay and Riesling. Colombard was among the most-planted white grape varieties in France but is also found in California’s Central Valley, Texas as well as South Africa, Australia, Thailand and Israel. Before Chardonnay took over in the 1990s, Colombard (often called "French Colombard" in the U.S.) was the most planted white grape in California. Historically a "workhorse" grape in blending, it has played a major role in both distilled spirits (Brandy) and mass-market "jug wines.” For decades, it was the grape used in nearly every generic "Chablis" or "Hearty White" jug wine sold in the U.S. But, in the recent past, French wine producers have began u
videoCagliari DOC in Under 60 Seconds #italy #sardegna
Cagliari DOC in Under 60 Seconds #italy #sardegna Santé, James © 2026 James Melendez / James the Wine Guy — All Rights Reserved. **** Social Networks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamespmelendez/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_melendez_jamesthewineguy/ WordPress: http://jamesthewineguy.wordpress.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/jamesthewineguy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jameswineguy/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/jamesthewineguy