Anyone who knows me must realise by now that I have a very sweet tooth. When it comes to wines I adore the dessert wines of this world such as De Bortoli’s Noble One and the Inniskillin Ice Wines from Niagara and with single malt whisky it’s the sweeter side of things like the Speyside classics Aberlour A’bunadh and Glenfarclas.

However, there has been a new discovery on the ‘sweet tooth front’ this month.

Please let me introduce Thunder Toffee Vodka. Please don’t get me wrong, it isn’t sickly sweet and it isn’t stupidly alcoholic (29.9% ABV). The guys from Scream Retail Ltd have introduced pure toffee flavoured vodka which is simply stylishly perfect. It is free from any additives and preservatives and is made from triple distilled grain vodka and natural toffee syrup; the blending process alone takes nine hours in total!

Thunder Toffee Vodka is award-winning, achieving a gold medal in 2009 for flavoured spirit, gold awards for 2010 and 2011 and finally Thunder has been awarded with a great taste gold award in 2012. The next few years promise to be a huge success for this drink!

This darkly caramel coloured beauty is best served as cold as possible as a shot or simply over ice. This is what makes it so perfect and refreshing for the summer months. It is sweet enough to satisfy both the male and female palate and is also great as a long drink mixed with ice, lemonade or even coke. A great mixer for cocktails as well makes this London bottled concoction an absolute must try. Browse cocktail recipes using Thunder Toffee Vodka here.

Even the bottle with its new flat front is ridiculously stylish! Give it a try as soon as possible and believe me, if you have a palate like mine, you’ll be hooked for life and urging everyone else to get on board!

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Re-writing wine rules

Never cook with a wine that you wouldn’t drink

Above all else wine should be added to food (such as a sauce) to contribute acidity, fruity depth and liquid volume. You should choose whether you want to cook with a wine or not, don’t be put off by sayings such as this one. It is important to note that wines do taste different when added to a sauce or food, particular flavours are emphasised and obvious on the palate.

Always pair white wines with fish and (yes you guessed it) red wines with meat

This is not always the case. In fact, with so many varieties of wines on offer we can afford to be experimental and see what works and what doesn’t. The key is to assess the lightness/heaviness of a dish as this will help you to choose the appropriate wine pairing. For instance, fish can be quite varied; tuna can be served as a ‘steak’ (heavy in texture) whereas a white-fleshed fish like bass is lighter and more delicate.
Matching the wine to the sauce in a dish is a great way to pair food and wine. Most of the flavours are in the sauce or dressing, so bear this in mind when making your decision. Think about the flavour combinations, for instance a low tannic red wine pairs quite well with spicy food.

You can only really appreciate wine if you are knowledgeable about wine regions and grape varieties

Of course it helps to have some wine knowledge and be able to tell a sweet wine apart from a dry wine, but you do not need to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of wine. The beauty of wine is trying new varieties; so if someone introduces you to a new bottle that you have never heard of, that is great! You can choose what characteristics you liked about it and those you didn’t. Making a written/electronic record of this can help you with future wine tastings.
As long as you enjoy wine that is all that matters. If you’re keen to develop your knowledge then start by trying one grape variety from a number of different countries, then try a different grape variety and so on, then compare likes/dislikes.

Wine should only be consumed with the very best, fancy food

Okay well I will stop you right there. How many times have we seen the lone female drinking a bottle of wine after a break-up? Was there any food present? No. Or if there was, it was most likely a tub of ice cream. The point is, wine can be enjoyed with or without food. It is an enjoyable activity pairing wine with food, but equally a nice glass of chilled wine is fantastic on its own. You can appreciate all of the individual flavours.
We all know that wine goes well with fancy food as well as the homemade pizza or curry. The important thing is whether you enjoy it.

Which wine rules have you broken?

We hope our top 4 rules are well and truly unearthed! Are there any rules which you have broken that we haven’t mentioned? Perhaps you create your own wine drinking rules, do let us know. Leave a comment below or tweet us!

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Wineware were lucky enough to attend this year’s London International Wine Fair (20^th-22^nd May 2013). The team returned back to Sussex feeling enthused and excited about their new wine discoveries whilst gaining an insight into the future for the wine industry. (They did sample some delicious wines too). Here is Managing Director, Chris Wellman’s thoughts on the event.

We went to the last day of this year’s London International Wine Fair and have several points to reflect upon. We visit the fair every year to try and discover any new products or innovations in the world of wine related accessories and often come back loaded down with brochures, leaflets and contact cards, some of which (but not all) we follow up after weighing up the pros and cons of the item/s in question. Our focus is definitely the accessories, however the main point of this international fair is the wine and the bringing together of the UK wine trade in one place to sample a host of new wines and vintages from producers worldwide.

It is therefore, plainly rude, not to get even slightly involved in trying something at least. What can I do? It’s there waiting to be tasted so I felt I had to oblige, like anyone would. One of my favourite wines over the years and one that I have tasted on many occasions and which has never let me down is Chateau Musar. This 100% family run winery is an absolute marvel and has been making quality wines since 1930. Practically the entire Hochar family from Lebanon, their ‘adopted’  family members working in the UK offices and even Tarek Sakr the chief winemaker himself attend the LIWF each year; leaving you wondering who is back in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon looking after things at the winery. The Chateau Musar red and white wines are highly valued and collected by enthusiasts and the winery has a huge worldwide following. Browse Chateau Musar’s fantastic wines here.

The secret, I believe, is to not just look at the obvious Grand Vin, but to look a little further, sideways even, at the Jeune range and especially the Hochar Pere et Fils Red. This is the wine, from the newly released 2008 vintage that caught my eye and taste buds. This wine is made from grapes from a single vineyard and is not, as many assume, the second wine of Chateau Musar. It stands up for itself and is a complex and concentrated beauty that blends Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a very Pinot Noir type bright red colouring with a nose of figs and plums and to me, a waft of strawberries (even though you probably won’t read that in any other tasting notes!). A bit of an aftertaste of leather and a pleasing tannic tea flavour which also lingers making this soft velvety, smooth balanced wine a definite joy to drink. Perfect on its own or to accompany a meal.

This wine is undoubtedly a winner; one that fully deserves to be after all the effort put into its production and presentation by the Hochar family and the UK team. Please don’t let this one pass you by! The team are already thinking about next year, what will LIWF 2014 behold?

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Wine gift set ideas

Play it safe

If you know your father drinks mainly red or white then why not purchase these high-quality Ivento wine glasses from Schott Zwiesel. This pack of 6 is great for special occasions and can sit proudly on display in his wine glass cabinet.

Celebrate with champagne

Well we do suggest buying a bottle of bubbly as well but these Schott Zwiesel Ivento champagne flutes are truly something special. Made from tritan crystal these slim, elegant set of 6 glasses will definitely make you the best daughter/son (please do not hold us accountable). He can use these champagne flutes for future celebrations; engagements, births, birthdays and so on. This is a long-lasting present for him to cherish.

Will you be taking your father abroad?

Well we know one thing that you will definitely need if you’re taking a short or long holiday: a JetBag. This innovative wine bag /carrier will transport a bottle of wine safely and securely. So purchase one of these and bring back your dad’s favourite bottle of the trip! You can purchase the JetBag singularly or in a set of 5. It is also reusable so is a worthwhile investment to use for many years to come. It can be used for different occasions such as picnics, short weekends away or visiting a wine merchant.

Wineware’s wine tasting gift set

If you know your dad is the host with the most then why not purchase this fantastic wine gift set. It includes all the essentials to host a successful wine tasting evening or party.

We can help you

If you are still unsure on what to buy for Father’s Day then please give us a call on 01903 786148 or email us info@wineware.co.uk and we can offer some great alternatives. If you still want inspiration please see our ‘gifts for him’ section and take a look around the rest of our website. We hope you enjoy father’s day however you spend it.

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So what is 60secondreviews Wine all about?

60secondreviews Wine gives you a high definition video reviewing the latest wine. Yes you guessed it, in only 60 seconds! You can learn about wine quickly without sifting laboriously through pages of text or listening to a slow and tedious review video which leaves you wondering what wine you are after again. So whether you’re a serious wine collector or want to try a new grape variety give this friendly wine app a go!
You can search for wines by their bottle price, star rating and you can sort by colour and country. Red and white wines can also be sorted according to taste description. This app makes wine tasting easy and enjoyable!
It is like having a portable, well trusted wine-merchant wherever you go. Each wine review offers suggestions on when to drink the wine, why you might choose it and what food pairs well with it. This is undoubtedly a useful resource to have, suitable for all levels of wine knowledge and expertise.
The wine reviews are updated throughout the month so you will be sure to be finding new wines constantly! If you find one you particularly like, save it to your favourites and then simply click to buy from either a supermarket or an independent wine merchant. The videos offer the highest quality as well; optimised for the retina display. Wine topics and terms are also reviewed – so make sure you check these out too.
60secondreviews Wine is part of 60secondreviews which also offer 1 minute reviews of: restaurants, movies and books. So be sure to check out these other areas if they are of interest.

How much does 60secondreviews Wine cost?

This wine app is priced at £0.69 for a month or £4.99 for 12 months. Yes it really is only £4.99 a year; an inexpensive way to stay up to date with the latest wines on the market.

Why choose 60secondreviews wine app?

- Learn about a new wine in 1 minute. You’ll be an expert in no time.
- Wine reviews are published regularly as well as discussions surrounding wine terms and topics.
- Save your favourite wines and purchase from your local wine merchant or supermarket.
- Extremely reasonable subscription fee for great content, high definition videos.

What are your favourite wine apps?

Perhaps you have just discovered a fantastic new wine app or you have one that you use religiously every day (maybe a slight exaggeration) then do let us know. Leave your recommendations below or tweet us! We are always keen to find new apps that are wine or drinks related.

Wineware love using this wine app!

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What have Wineware changed on the website?

So we listened to you and what you wanted and we are pleased to announce that we now offer more information such as wine advice and tips, across our website. On each of the category pages (Glassware, Wine Racks, Decanting & Serving, Corkscrews, Wine Preservation, Wine Cabinets, Barware and Wine Education) we offer advice and recommendations to help make your purchase stress free, as well as tips and advice, such as ‘How will my glasses/decanter be packaged?’

As well as these articles, we have produced PDFs to help organise your wine tasting evenings. Use our wine tasting notes template for free. Browse our website for other PDFs which can be printed off and used for years to come.
We hope these changes will make our service more informative and helpful.

We have also created a YouTube channel to demonstrate our products in use. We felt this was the best way to show you our products in action (and yes to show them off in all their glory). Most of the videos also feature our staff, so you can put a face to the name whilst also having a sneak peek around Wineware’s HQ.

What would you like to see on our website?

Perhaps you have a budding question for us to answer? Or you simply need some advice on how to serve a particular wine? Drop us a line via our Twitter page or email us info@wineware.co.uk and we will supply you with an answer as soon as possible. With your help we can provide helpful pages for you to use time and time again!

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Beer gift sets for men

He will drink “any type of beer”

This set of 2 glasses are ideal for a wide variety of beers, so this takes the pressure off knowing which his favourite is!

He will drink “pale lagers and ale”

Buy this set of glasses and his favourite pale ales and you will undoubtedly bring a smile to his face. This set offers good value for money whilst also being practical and excellent quality.

He will drink “wheat beers and ale”

Spiegelau beer glasses really do offer high-quality glassware for that ‘beer occasion’!

A beer glass for every occasion

You will cover all corners buying this set of 4 beer classics glasses. It is the ultimate set for beer lovers or enthusiasts. He can choose the glass to suit the beer; ingenious!

We know beer glasses make for a fantastic present so don’t delay in ordering yours today. If you require further information on the Spiegelau range or any other products we offer then call us on 01903 786148 or tweet us for more gift ideas.

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Why choose a Liebherr wine cabinet?

Liebherr wine cabinets offer the best protection for your wine collection. However, don’t just take our word for it, take a look around the Liebherr website and see for yourself why they are one of the most popular wine cabinets for wine sommeliers and enthusiasts. Liebherr do not compromise on practicality, style or performance.

Liebherr wine cabinet sale

The Liebherr wine cabinet sale has up to 32% off, so you can find a wine cooler at an extremely reasonable price. We should mention that these prices are only available for a limited amount of time.
It is also important to bear in mind a few points when purchasing a wine cabinet. How many bottles will you be storing? How long will you be storing these for? Will you be adding to your wine collection over the next few months, years? Will there be a variety of bottle sizes? Are you after a single or multi-temperature wine cabinet? These prompting questions can help you determine the product specifications you are after so take the time to go through them carefully.
We are confident we have the wine cabinet to suit your home, restaurant or bar, but if not, we will do our utmost to help you find it.

Advice on choosing a Liebherr wine cabinet

We have some great help pages to make choosing a Liebherr wine cabinet simple. Please refer to ‘Which Liebherr wine cabinet is right for you’ for advice. Haven’t found what you are looking for? Still unsure which model meets all of your needs and requirements? Call our friendly team on 01903 786148 who can assist with any questions or information requests. Alternatively drop us an email info@wineware.co.uk.

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The top wine films of 21st Century

Sideways

Released in 2004 this comedy-drama film is written by Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne and directed by Payne. It is adapted from Rex Pickett’s 2004 novel, Sideways. Payne and Taylor won multiple awards for their screenplay, with Sideways winning the ‘Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay’ whilst being nominated for four other prestigious awards.
The story follows two men in their forties, portrayed by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, who take a week-long road trip to Santa Barbara County Wine Country. During their time in wine country, romantic interest blossoms with the local women. These two men definitely learn some valuable life lessons along the way.
This film is definitely worth a watch and received great reviews. It is an entertaining film, described as “the seminal wine film experience”.

Bottle Shock

This 2008 American comedy-drama is based on the 1976 wine competition termed the ‘Judgment of Paris’, when California wine defeated French wine in a blind taste test. This was and still is considered one of the most controversial events within the wine industry in modern times. It saw the world’s most experienced wine critics favouring different wines over French wines.
This entertaining film stars Alan Rickman, Chris Pine and Bill Pullman. It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. If you love wine and the infamous Alan Rickman then you will most certainly enjoy this film with a glass of merlot in hand.

A Good Year

This 2006 British romantic comedy is directed by the great Ridley Scott and features a star filled cast; Russell Crowe, Marion Cotillard, Didier Bourdon, Abbie Cornish, Tom Hollander and Albert Finney. It is based on the novel written by author Peter Mayle.
The film is set in London and Provence and follows Russel Crowe’s over-worked and stressed investment banker character that is bestowed a French chateau and vineyard in a will. The film takes you through Crowe’s journey as he falls in love with a laid back way of life discovered through making wine. If you ever feel like time is going too fast then this is a great film to watch. It reminds you of what is important in life; wine and love (well that’s our opinion anyway).

Mondovino

Mondovino is a documentary film released in 2004 exploring the impact of globalization on the world’s different wine regions. This highly detailed and informative film was written and directed by American film maker Jonathan Nossiter. It was also nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and a César Award.
Mondovino highlights how critics like Robert Parker and consultants like Michel Rolland have shaped and defined international style. The film highlights the stark contrast between multinational wine producers and small single estate wineries. If you want to see the full picture of wine production then this is the film to watch. A fantastic insight and portrayal of the modern wine world.

You Will Be My Son

Released in 2011 and directed by Giless Legrand, You Will Be My Son, follows a prestigious wine-maker and owner and his son. The father, Paul de Marseul, is disheartened by his son taking over the successful family-business as he does not possess the drive or passion for such a task.
This drama filled film is gripping with unexpected events driving the narrative! See the world of wine through a different pair of eyes and find out whether knowledge, heritage and tradition is enough. French film with subtitles.

What are your favourite wine films?

Do you have any wine films that you watch time and time again? Perhaps there is a famous ‘wine drinking scene’ which you love? Let us know which films you have been inspired by or simply makes for a great night in! Leave a comment below or tweet us.

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If you would like to be in with the chance of winning such a splendid glassware piece then enter our competition below. This competition ends 07/06/2013 so get your entry in now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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