WHAT ARE BUBBLES? They are just carbon dioxide, and they have lots of ways of finding their way into wine. Some are better than others. The fun of the effervescence also affects the taste. BLOWING BUBBLES The easiest way to bubble wine is just to exhale into...
We have veraison at Ambriel HQ. Right now, our Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes are changing colour. Instead of being green and hard as bullets, they are softening and becoming bruise-purple. This is called veraison (“verr-ray-zohn”). Its very exciting....
This glorious book is an absolute feast. Over-brimming with delicious recipes inspired by visiting English Vineyards, Watercress Willow and Wine is a book to get you salivating. LOVE WINE FOOD Many of you will already be familiar with...
Seasonal hayfever is miserable. Scientific research suggests swopping your drink helps. Avoid red wine in favour of white wine. Even better, sip Sparkling. Honest. Its the most welcome heyfever management advice you'll get this Summer. HEY! HEY! ITS HAYFEVER...
You might dunk a biscuit in your tea, but why would you dunk toast into your wine? WHY IS A TOAST CALLED A TOAST? As with so many things, the Romans deserve the credit. Apparently Romans first dropped burnt bread – known as ‘tostus’ (which, in latin, means...
It’s perhaps not what we’re known for, but Ambriel is proud to be carbon neutral. Why? Well, because sustainability simply benefits everyone – us, because our land gives us great wine, you, because you can consume said wine if you are so inclined, and the...
This is the year of the Treebilee. As the old saying goes, if you want to save a bee, plant a tree. The Queen's Platinum Jubilee It is the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year and in order to celebrate we have planted apple trees. The Queen’s Green Canopy...
On 23rd April we celebrate St George. This year, Matthew Jukes had a fabulous article in the Daily Mail’s Weekend Magazine complete with quintessentially English recipes. There are also some rather good English wine recommendations including (ahem) one of our own...
Budburst! At last - it has happened. West Sussex vineyards budburst into riotous green. We're off with the new vintage. Say it quietly, but the last couple of weeks have been warm and sunny. Unlike last year, when April was obdurately cruel, we’ve had warm, sunny,...
Funny old things grapes. As they ripen, sugar levels rise, acids fall and flavours develop – although not necessarily in sync. Typically the sugars evolve more quickly than the flavours. Higher sugar means higher alcohol. So if you pick the grapes at the correct...
