Blog

Incredible Condrieu

Ben on Thursday 11 March

After a week of tastings with our suppliers, during which there was time (in between emptying spittoons, checking the ice and trying to speak Italian) to taste from the many tables, there was one flight of wines which I couldn’t get out of my head: the Condrieu of Yves Cuilleron. ...

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The tasting takes shape

Ben on Thursday 4 March

It’s always a looong process putting the annual tasting together. 70 producers from around the world to be invited and accomodated, over 450 wines to be ordered and arranged, invitations, tasting books, food for customers and all the other bits and pieces to be agreed. But finally, as the big ...

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Rose Gray

Ben on Monday 1 March

Rose Gray, who with Ruth Rogers founded the River Café over 20 years ago, died on 28 February.
Enotria founder Remo Nardone, who knew Rose for many years, sent this message:
“On behalf of my family and the team at Enotria, I would like to send my condolences for the very sad loss ...

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Don’t budget on it…

Ben on Thursday 25 February

We’re nearly at the end of February, and still no official confirmation from the government about when the 2010 budget will be. How can the government be allowed to keep its budget date under wraps in the way that it is doing? This prevarication causes major headaches to businesses which ...

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Beyond the status quo – lunch at Franco Rossi

Ben on Wednesday 17 February

In Italy last week with broadcaster Olly Smith; we were travelling to Sicily, but elected (foolishly as it turned out) to travel via Bologna so that we could fly out of Gatwick, and ignore the only direct Sicily flight which goes from Stansted – well, it’s another country, innit?  I ...

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Not grim up north

Ben on Friday 5 February

Spent a very interesting day in Leeds on Wednesday, visiting restaurants and bars with a photographer, to capture images for our next Wine List. Cyriaque, our (French) man in Yorkshire, took us all over the city. We visited Anthony’s, one of Leeds’ most celebrated restaurants, and his new operation Anthony’s ...

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