By Gary Bates, Marketing Manager A few weeks ago, the organisers of the ‘Good food would choose Bordeaux’ campaign invited us to take part in The Great Bordeaux Cook-off, in which members of the nation’s wine trade would compete to create some Bordeaux-friendly taste-sensations to be judged by professional chefs. Never ones to shy away [...]
Author Archives: Gary Bates
Of Neds, Nobles and New Zealand
Thursday 2 September 2010 – 12:11
Ned, as you’re probably aware, is a diminutive form of the name Edward. If, like me, you’ve often lain awake at night wondering how and why the letter ‘N’ came to be placed before the seemingly adequate ‘Ed’, you may be interested to hear this (fairly) plausible theory. In days of yore, before surnames were [...]
Parlez Vous France Save?
Wednesday 10 February 2010 – 10:37
“Sometimes, I go out by myself, and I look across the water”, so sang Amy Winehouse (as did The Zutons before her, although their name doesn’t have quite the same wine-related ring to it). And sometimes I do too. I last visited Calais on a little food and wine shopping spree just before Christmas, and [...]
In a class of its Rhône
Monday 25 January 2010 – 12:11
When I was a kid, my parents didn’t like me watching Neighbours. I think they’d heard somewhere that it was full of gratuitous sex and violence, or perhaps they were worried that I “might start using that kind of language”, or something. However, their worst fears were never realised, and the popular soap opera actually [...]
A flying lap with Neil McGuigan
Friday 2 October 2009 – 13:18
I’m going to get onto wine in a minute, but first I’d like to mention something that I think happens to every motor racing fan at some point in their lives. It’s a Sunday afternoon, and you’re sitting glued to your TV, unable to take your eyes off the high-octane action taking place on a [...]
The wines that launched 1000 ships?
Friday 11 September 2009 – 10:12
Loyal customers of Wine & Beer World could be forgiven for looking back on last September with a slight shudder. Today marks the one year anniversary of the fire in the Channel Tunnel which, although relatively minor, did throw a rather large spanner into the works of many people’s travel plans for the festive season. [...]
Find a Match in France
Wednesday 10 June 2009 – 15:35
There comes a time in one’s life when it seems as though everyone else is getting married, and for me that happy chapter has now begun, perfectly timed to remind me that my twenties are soon to meet their demise. Over the past few months my close friends and relatives have been either getting married [...]
Lighten up, it’s Beaujolais season!
Thursday 10 July 2008 – 12:38
Think of French reds, and naturally, the first word that usually springs to mind is of course Bordeaux. Moments later, your thoughts will probably turn to Burgundy. At this point, you may begin musing to yourself about how these two classic regions so aptly summarise every red-wine-related dichotomy. Full-bodied versus delicate. The solid, noble Cabernet/Merlot [...]
Majestic
Richard Weaver
Gary Bates
Jeremy Palmer
Clayton Smith
Nick Dagley
Bethany Guard
Becky Leach
LudovicSurina
William James
