Syrah

The great grape of the Northern Rhône where, despite legends linking it to Persia or Syracuse, it originated. It is the principal or sole variety in all of the Northern Rhône’s great red wines and features heavily in the Southern Rhône albeit in support of Grenache. Syrah has spread across the world, especially so to the New World where the style tends to be more plush and overt than the silkier gently peppered wines of its homeland. Known as Shiraz in Australia, a name that has spread across the New World especially with regard to more commercial wines.

Wine Dinner at the River Cafe with Castello del Terriccio

By on 17/11/2012

SOLD OUT On Thursday 13th December we are hosting our final wine dinner of 2012, in one of our favourite dining rooms in London, the private room at the River Café, with the wines of Castello del Terriccio. Patrick Sandeman was the first 'outsider' (not from the estate staff) other than the consultant oenologist Carlo Ferrini, to taste these wines, back in the early '90s.

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Sacrificing wine to the Inca Gods

By on 05/09/2012

Many things have been done to wines over the centuries in the name of improved quality. Much of the world’s best wine, for instance, is poured into oak barrels for various (often surprising) lengths of time. Casks of Madeira used to be shipped to India and back and, even, left out in the rain.

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