The new face of English Wine: Silverhand Estate

With English Wine Week 2023 in full swing, we turn our attentions to a brand new English wine producer based in Kent who are doing things a little differently. Welcome to Silverhand Estate!

Who are Silverhand Estate?

If there were ever a sign that English wine and oenotourism is booming, then this is it. Officially the biggest wine project happening in Europe and the biggest organic wine project in the UK, Silverhand is part of the MDCV UK group who own various vineyards in Provence as well as England and its set to be a biggie.

Located in a properly ancient part of the country around Luddesdown in Kent, where there’s a 1000 year old court house and a house that belonged to William the Conqueror's brother on the vineyard site, Silverhand gets its name from the town’s namesake King Ludd, the founder of London and all round royal legend who lost his hand in battle. He was stripped of his battle rights until he was forged a hand made of silver and thus, Silverhand felt a fittingly royal name for the legacy that this English vineyard means to have. 

Big ambitions

Silverhand Winemaker

With 550 acres already under vine and another 300 to come, Silverhand’s output will be impressive with a million bottles slated to be sold by the end of 2026. A state of the art winery designed by Sir Norman Foster has been planned with a top end café-bar and restaurant on site too. While big does not always mean better in terms of wine however, it’s important to note that the team are setting an example by being organic and sustainable from scratch with their new winery being carbon neutral and producing biogas. Here are some of the things Silverhand are doing to minimise their impact on this area of outstanding natural beauty. 

Sustainable from scratch

Helena with the sustainability manager, William

The company’s existing mosaic of vineyards with their flinty chalk and clay soils are certified organic by Demeter and there’s a conservation team that works tirelessly across the estate throughout the year to ensure that the land gives back. In fact the biodiversity net gain in the area is already at +16%.

Dotted inbetween the vineyards are wild grasslands which are home to numerous wildflowers, flora and fauna. Working sheep graze between the vines and fertilise the soils and the hedgerows and bluebell woodlands are kept in place and maintained. Truffles are being planted beneath a swathe of trees to nourish the soil from within and there is also now a conservation programme for rare orchids that have been found by the hedgerows in the top fields. On the production side, the site composts organic waste, harvests rainwater and uses heat from natural sources, such as ground source heat pumps.

A new style of wine for England

What is currently setting Silverhand apart is a new style of wine they have produced which feels like a hybrid between Prosecco and Champagne or rather, traditional method, English sparkling wine. Their maiden release Silver Reign is a charmat method wine, aka the Prosecco method, where the bubbles are formed in a tank rather than in single bottles. Unlike Prosecco however, only the three Champagne varietals, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier are used in the blend, each grape is vinified separately before blending and there is lees ageing happening as well as 5% reserve wine to add complexity to the final wine. The result is a sparkling that has much of the complexity and toasty notes of Champagne, is less sweet than your average Prosecco on the market but with added fruitiness, verve and freshness. At a retail price point of £17 (though it will be launched in the on trade first), it really feels like a game changer for the industry.

Silver Reign English Charmat

Blend: 60% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier
12.5% ABV and Vegan
13 g/l Residual sugar (NB extra dry Prosecco is between 12 and 17%) and 4.6 Tartaric Acid
3 months on lees in tank
Note: Nose of elderflower, white hedgerow flowers, pear and apricot. citrus and ripe stone fruit. Filled with citrus, fresh pear and cut apple flavours, and best enjoyed at any time.
£17 from thewinecaverns.co.uk 

However, it is not just charmat  / tank method wines that the estate produces; later this year will see the release of a vintage blanc de blancs wine and a Chardonnay dominant Brut NV wine.  There are also some other exciting developments on the way, but we’ll all just have to wait and see what those are…. Watch this space!

Words by Helena Nicklin

The Three Drinkers Return for a Third Series on Amazon Prime!

Award-winning drinks duo Aidy Smith and Helena Nicklin return to our screens this May for the third series of their award-winning Amazon Prime travel show, The Three Drinkers, joined by special guest ‘Third Drinkers’ Eddy Temple-Morris and Eulanda Shead-Osagiede.

The Three Drinkers in Cognac follows Aidy and Helena as they embark on a cultural and gastronomic journey in and around the picturesque French region of Cognac.

With a lifestyle-focused approach, the duo takes an unpretentious look at the fabulous spirit of Cognac and other local delights, taking in the people, places and local attractions of the region along the way. In classic Three Drinkers style, they bust the misconceptions about cognac through their lighthearted, on-screen approach, helping the audience discover brand new ways of enjoying this world-class spirit from grape to glass. Ditching outdated balloon glasses and mundane tasting notes, this is a series for those who seek to be inspired and learn through humour, quirky facts and takeaway tidbits of drinks knowledge.

The 2-hour series is made up of 4 x 30 minute episodes in which the Drinkers discover the art of cognac with help from famed houses as Courvoisier and Remy Martin, alongside the world famous orange liqueur of the region, Grand Marnier. They also check out local, pioneering gin makers, Audemus Distillery while discovering the fascinating world of mixers, sodas and tonics with Franklin & Sons.

Throughout the series, the team takes a deep dive into highballs and cocktails based on occasion, discover the unique dishes of the region, try their hand at water sports, chocolate crafting, shoemaking, beekeeping, become hotel waiters/waitresses and even collect botanicals from deep within the Charentais wilderness for their own locally inspired gin.

“We like to look at drinks through a lifestyle lens, showcasing these stunning sips in a relaxed, unintimidating setting,” says Helena.

“One of the most important aspects of this series is to highlight that cognac doesn’t belong at the back of your grandparent’s cupboard and we’ll be exploring a number of simple serves and cocktails that the audience can create from the comfort of their homes or be inspired to order the next time they’re at a cocktail bar,” Aidy adds.

The Third Drinkers

This series welcomes Virgin Radio presenter and Persian foodie fanatic Eddy Temple-Morris alongside a returning appearance for travel presenter, journalist and influencer Eulanda Shead-Osagiede. While Aidy and Helena are tasked with inspiring spirit sceptic Eddy into falling in love with the liquid gold of cognac, Eulanda seeks out some of the hidden, lifestyle gems of the region, setting the duo amusing tasks along the way.

A more diverse representation in drinks

Aidy and Helena have been clear on their goals to enable more diversity and equity into the world of drinks. Aidy is a trailblazer for LGBTQIA+ and disability diversity representation as the only TV Presenter in the United Kingdom (and one of a small handful globally) with Tourette Syndrome, battling the stigmas of one of the most misrepresented disabilities in the world. Helena has been well known for her stance on female empowerment within the industry, removing the perception that women only enjoy certain spirits.

“It’s been an ongoing mission to showcase that diversity in drinks is possible and we’re delighted to stand with our partners who have helped us make that a reality in this latest series,” Aidy says.

“The importance of on-screen diverse talent amplifies the narrative that all of our voices matter. The Three Drinkers is a beautiful example of this, looking at the talent within the show and I’m so proud to be a part of that movement., says Eulanda, who is a leading voice within the travel entertainment sphere for BAME talent.

“Three series ago we set out with an aim to create a new travel show with a drinks hook,” Helena says, “Nearly six years on, we’re so happy to see how each project has evolved and we can’t wait to share this latest one with the world.”

This armchair series is packed with fun, memorable moments, helping viewers to create exactly what they see on screen at home while inspiring them to visit the region to see it first hand.

The Three Drinkers in Cognac will launch in mid-May on Amazon Prime in 120 countries and territories, in 9 languages. You can follow The Three Drinkers in the run-up to the show at @TheThreeDrinkers alongside Aidy (@Sypped) and Helena (@HelenaSips).

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 102

Episode 102 of the Bring a Bottle Podcast is packed with knowledge, with Helena joined by absolute cheese and wine guru and owner of Mouse and Grape, Jessica Summer! Inevitably, we took this opportunity to learn all about cheese and wine pairings, using an incredible value supermarket Graffigna Genuine Collection Reserve Malbec as an example. There are Earl Grey gin experiments, a G&T unlike any you’ve probably tried before, and money-saving insight into how wine lists work!

Our Guest Drinker

Sharing a drink with us this week is Jessica Summer, the owner of the cleverly named Mouse and Grape, a luxury cheese and wine business specialising in everything from gorgeous hampers to corporate tastings and events. Jessica really knows what she’s talking about and has WSET Level 3 and Cheese Academy Level 2 to back it up!

What’s In Our Glass?

We’re merrily sipping our way through Graffigna Genuine Collection Reserve Malbec, 2020, a fresh and fruit-forward Malbec. It’s voluminous and intense with black cherry and plum, and perfect alongside food for this time of year. Also, it was awarded 92 points from Decanter so it’s not just us that love it. Immense value.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Find here: £7.50 (usually £9)

Drinks News

The American lager brand Coors Light has released a nail varnish that tells you if your beer is cold by changing colour depending on how cold your beer is when you hold it. Surely, you’d already know if it was cold by that point though? But it’s a nice novelty and maybe it’s an attempt to get more women into beer?!

Graffigna Malbec and Cheese pairing

Of course, we were going to get up to some wine and cheese pairings when we’ve got Jessica on. We won’t do Jessica justice by trying to recreate her detailed pairing guide here, so you’ll have to listen! The Malbec is tested with Goat’s cheese and Cheddar with very different results, and you’ll definitely want to try it for yourself after.

Mixology with Helena

Helena’s got her mixology hat on and this time she’s concocting a milky cocktail inspired by Earl Grey Latte. With York Gin’s Grey Lady at the heart of it, it’s like a lighter aromatic Baileys with great flavour. Perhaps it needs more creaminess to really sing though? If you try it, let us know your thoughts here!

Drinkers Discovery

It looks like a potion discovered in an ancient alchemist’s lab with the pipette top, but it is in fact Cotswolds Gin Essence, 10x the concentrated flavour of usual gins. 4 or so drops of this with tonic and you get a G&T with a light and breezy feel, and less bitterness if you’re into that. Interesting!

Size: 100ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £17.95

Mailbag

This week’s question concerns where to find the best value wine on a wine list! Helena and Jessica advise targeting the mid-range, to avoid the huge mark up on the cheapest wines and hefty price tag of the top end. Look out for Malbecs and Portuguese wines in general!

For all this and more listen in today!

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 100

A century of Bring a Bottle podcasts! Congratulations to us if we do say so and thank you, loyal listeners! We have both Aidy and Helena in the studio for the 100th special, and there was only one person to complete the trio – the legendary Colin Hampden White. This episode is packed to the rafters with our best bits, so you really won’t want to miss this one. There’s vagina beer, behind-the-scenes television moments, the biggest drinks trends, cask buying advice and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let the reminiscing commence!

Our Guest Drinker

For Episode 100, it had to be our original third drinker, the one and only man of many talents... Colin Hampden White! It’s been too long! Journalist, editor, photographer, presenter, judge... a true Three Drinkers legend. He may no longer be with us every day, but we love him on the podcast, and you can keep up to date with all his drinks news on our website and all things Colin on his Instagram at @champdenwhite.

What’s In Our Glass?

We’re toasting to our century with the gorgeous Westland whiskey. Made in Seattle, Westland American Oak is their flagship release, using 5 different barley varieties in a 5-malt mash bill. This creates a distinct malt whiskey that’s super smooth and soft with a gentle peppery note you’d expect from rye whisky alongside notes of chocolate custard. It’s unusual but boy is it good!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £48.96

Westland also produces a special Sherry oak cask whiskey called Garryana, an oak that only grows in the Northwest of America. Many peated whiskies use 100% peated malt, but this actually makes use of more non-peated malts locally grown in Washington State. As a result, there’s less out-and-out smoke (although still present), and more orange peel, roast banana, almonds, as well as green herbs and pistachio.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50%
Find here: £164.99

Peach Whiskey Sours

Here’s one Aidy prepared earlier! Using Westland American oak he’s got the balance of peach just right, providing the small kick of sweetness needed without becoming overbearing. It’s a sublimely fresh cocktail with the Westland whiskey kick at the heart of it and gorgeous chocolatey flavours from the bitters coming through. A really well-rounded and complete sipper.

Ingredients
50ml Westland
15ml lemon juice
5-7ml peach syrup
Chocolate bitters

Method:
Simply shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and enjoy!

The Best of Drinks News

We’ve uncovered all manner of drinks news over the last 99 episodes, so we’re taking a moment to recap on our favourites. Who could forget Vagina Beer? The first beer to use vaginal lactic acid in the world! Or the dreamlike situation an Italian town found themselves in when red wine started to run from their taps! And the elephant in the room (and most likely snoozing in the corner), the time a group of thirsty elephants guzzled down pots of Mahua liquor in India. That’s right, we only cover the most important news here at The Three Drinkers.

Drinks Trends Through The Years

Drinking and everything that comes with it is constantly changing as the world does the same, so what are the biggest trends we’ve noticed?

Colin looks at the gin craze that began in the late 90s and shows no sign of slowing down, despite the prediction every year that it will! He also recommends the fabulous Audemus Pink Pepper Gin by the way – sweet and spicy and a big hit of pepper on the nose!

Helena takes us through the rise of CBD drinks and how brands like Goodrays, OTO, Tripp and INTUNE have overcome misconceptions to produce super-popular drinks with big benefits. Check out our Best CBD Drinks if this is something you want to explore, especially over the gloomy winter period!

Down with the kids as ever, Aidy talks about the super sweet drinks captivating younger drinkers. Think Smirnoff Ice, WKD, VK etc. (‘etc’ isn’t one by the way, even if it sounds like one!) Tasting almost indistinguishable from fizzy drinks, they’re many drinkers’ first experience of booze and something that Aidy was partial to in his youth ;)

Favourite Part of our Scotch TV Show

The Three Drinkers have got up to all sorts filming the show, and discuss their favourite moments, from missing Land Rovers to Aidy falling on his face in a barley field. Good times indeed... not so much for Aidy.

Best Drinkers Discoveries

Helena praises Cream Liqueur, like the fantastic value-for-money Spice Ginger Biscuit Irish Cream Liqueur by Sainsbury’s. Aldi’s Ballycastle also gets a nod, and the Vegan Cream Liqueur by M&S more than meets everyone’s approval.

Colin’s discovery is Axia, an expertly crafted aromatic Mastiha from Greece that behaves like a gin or flavoursome vodka. It’s dry and versatile, so would be amazing in a Bloody Mary, Margarita, or even G&T equivalent!

Aidy draws attention to Bitters, and how just a drop or two can completely elevate a cocktail. Especially around Christmas, festive bitters like Cacao or Orange work amazingly to spark up a Martini, Sidecar or G&T!

How to Buy a Cask and What to Look Out For

Buying a cask is a cautious game so this is a must-hear segment for anyone thinking of getting involved in the new year! It’s packed full of advice on due diligence, red flags, green flags, and lots more! There’s even a top investment tip thrown in!

Mailbag

The all-important Mailbag – What should we be drinking Christmas morning?

Colin’s beloved whisky gets a mention even here!

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 97

Greetings drinkers! You can listen to Episode 97 of the Bring a Bottle Podcast now! Joining Helena is Jason Myers, a hospitality king who travels the world seeking out amazing food and drink experiences. Discover why his favourite ever whisky cocktail may have changed mid-recording, hear about the pub returning to candlelight, the blockchain powered fine wine revolution and how will Helena fair putting herself in the ‘Buy it or Bin it’ firing line? 

Our Guest Drinker

Joining Helena on the pod this week we have Jason Myers! He’s a hospitality CEO who’s worked and travelled around the world, always keeping one eye on food and drink (particularly his beloved wine and whisky). When he’s back on home turf he’s involved with Grosvenor pubs, opening wonderful new sites like The Hare & Hounds in Newbury, and Wild Thyme and Honey in the Cotswolds. Welcome, Jason!

What’s In Our Glass?

Bruichladdich (pronounced like ‘brookladdie if you weren’t sure), is a very progressive distillery from the island of Islay just off the west Scottish coast. They’re the first of their kind to become a ‘BCorp’, meaning exceptionally high levels of social and environmental performance but right now we’re focusing on what’s inside their ‘Classic Laddie’ Scotch, and it’s very nice indeed.

Unlike the neighbouring distilleries on the island, the entire range is made without the use of peat. It’s a super warm, floral, and elegant Single Malt Scotch with a nice smokiness coming through. It’s bottled at 50% but make no mistake, it’s very easy drinking and not heavy at all. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50%
Find here: £41.45

Not only does it make for a stunning dram, but it also makes a fabulous cocktail. Here’s what we tried in the studio…

Young Laddie

The sweetness and bitters balance out delightfully here, retaining a subtle smokiness that’s perfect as an introductory whisky cocktail for a newbie. The garnish twists tie everything together very nicely at the end too, so we recommend you include one. 

Ingredients
50ml Classic Laddie
20ml simple syrup
2 dashes angostura bitters
Walnut bitters
Grapefruit/ orange/ lemon twist (garnish)

Method:
Simply combine everything (except the twists), add a large chunk of ice, and stir until chilled. Squeeze the twists before dropping them in and you’re ready to go!

Drinks News

The Tollemache Arms in Northamptonshire is rolling back the years by switching off all the lights every Thursday evening in November and setting up cosy candlelit dinners instead. It’s not just because of the tough times we live in either, it’s just to get back to basics and create a romantic and cosy atmosphere. Could this become a trend? We certainly think it should!

Buy it or Bin it

Something slightly different this week as Jason puts his wine tasting to the test with this dense, savoury, and blackcurrant-y red... little does he know it’s actually a Bourdeaux blend by Helena herself!

Crurated

Crurated is a wine community completely changing up the fine wine industry by selling fractions of wine barrels that you can personalise yourself. It’s a membership club that uses blockchain and NFT technology to skip the middleman and open up the world of fine wine to everyone. Helena chats with Paolo Sforza to find out more in the podcast and you can also read more here.

Instant Sommelier

What wine would Jason pick to impress colleagues?  And has his favourite ever whisky cocktail changed literally over the course of the podcast? Listen to hear the answers to these questions and other fab recommendations!

Mailbag

A question from the mailbag to finish of course, and it’s...*drum roll* ‘What is the best value wine usually found on a pub wine list?’ Listen in to find out what you need to drink next time you’re down the pub!

Bring A Bottle Podcast: Episode 95

In Bring a Bottle Podcast Episode 95, Helena is joined by the fabulous founder of, ‘All Things Drinks’, Dimple Athavia. They chat about grape powered skincare, a liqueur that smells like baked cherry pie, Helena’s new wine slogan t-shirts and how to explore great wines on a budget! There are some really great recommendations in this episode too that you definitely won’t want to miss, so listen now!

OUR GUEST DRINKER

This week we’re joined by the lovely Dimple Athavia, a wine and spirits enthusiast who used her passion to set up ‘All Things Drinks’, an online drinks company specialising in curating a wonderfully varied selection of craft drinks. As the name suggests, they really do sell pretty much everything! They also want to create an inclusive community within the drinking world that goes beyond retail, educating and connecting those with the same passion. Cheers to that! @dimpsflavourgirl

WHAT’S IN OUR GLASS?

Last week we tried the Glen Grant 10-year-old, and this week it’s the older 12-year-old single malt Scotch that’s gracing our glasses. It has gorgeous vanilla aromas on the nose, and a hint of caramel alongside touches of spice to taste. This isn’t a peaty scotch at all, it’s smooth and gentle and a fantastic option for beginners wanting to try a classic Speyside Malt.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.94

Rob Roy Cocktail

Whisky is all too often buried in cocktails but using this fantastic Scotch in a Rob Roy allows it to be the star of the show. The warm vanilla flavours are very much in the limelight leading to a delicious and surprisingly light, cocktail.

Ingredients
40ml Glen Grant 12YO
20ml sweet white vermouth
A couple of dashes of angostura bitters
Maraschino cherry (garnish)

Method:
Shake everything with plenty of ice because dilution is key here. Finish with a gorgeous Maraschino cherry and voilà!

DRINKS NEWS

Did you know that grapes are used in skincare? Brad Pitt’s new, ‘Le Domaine’ range worked with Mirabeau to use grape skins and seeds in an effort to waste as little of the grape as possible. The science behind it is that the antioxidant high polyphenols in wine are good for the skin, and Le Domaine aren’t the first to cotton on to this. Westwell and Pelegrims also use grape extract, and Caudalie use oil from the seeds in their products.

Helena’s T-Shirts

Helena has been busy making her own wine slogan t-shirts, ‘Mama loves Malbec’ and, ‘Talk Terroir to Me’! All made with the environment in mind, there’s no plastic packaging and they’re fully recyclable! You can literally send them back to be recycled when you’re done with them.

Buy it or Bin it

This week’s, ‘Buy it or Bin it’ is super autumnal. If we say it smells like marzipan and almonds, then you might already be able to guess what kind of drink it is? That’s right, it’s Amaretto...well, almost. It’s actually a slight reimagining of it, and it’s called Adriatico. It’s full of morello cherries so combined with the classic amaretto flavours, it smells like a baked cherry pie once you crack it open. It’s drier on tasting than you might expect, and has a surprising saltiness intertwining with cinnamon, cocoa, and subtle coffee flavours. At 28% it’s fantastic over ice and would also work well in a hot cosy cocktail or coffee.  

Size: 700ml
ABV: 28%
Find here: £28.74

Quickfire Questions

What is the best drink for a very hot curry? 
What is the best wine restaurant in London? 
What is the best winter warmer you’ve ever tried?
Our guest has all the answers, and some must-try recommendations too!

Mailbag

We have one of the most famously contested drinks questions this week and it’s, ‘Do I have to spend a lot of money to find really good wine?’ 

Listen in to find out what the sweet spot is for finding value in wine, and how you can still try new and exciting wines throughout the year without breaking the bank! 

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 93

Have you heard of Crémant? Made in exactly the same way as Champagne but with decent bottles available for under £10 – you are going to want to listen in to our Crémant special podcast to find out more! That’s not all we cover this week though, we chat to two Crémant producers, Helena is joined by a very special guest and we have a ‘Buy It or Bin It’ you will not want to miss!

Our Guest Drinker

This week Helena has welcomed Libby Brodie to the podcast. As City A.M.’s wine columnist, and passionate communicator of the world of wine without any of the stuffiness, Libby is a true inspiration and her passion and enthusiasm is infectious! You can find her here!

What’s in our Glass?

This week it’s all about Crémant and Helena opens up two stunning examples of it. For those who are wondering, ‘What is Crémant?’ It’s a sparkling wine made using exactly the same method that is used to make Champagne. Once not thought of to be particularly well produced, current-day Crémant is stunning and massively over-delivering given its price and quality. It has continued to fly under the radar for many years but it won’t for much longer if we have anything to do about it! Here are the bottles we tasted this week:

First up was Maison de la Rougerie Crémant Blanc Brut. It’s easy drinking, with a gentle but generous fizz. It’s lovely alone but it would also work perfectly in a Kir Royale! Want to know the even better news? Check out the price!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: Iceland £8.75

Next up we have Celene Opale Blanc de Blancs Brut. A blend of Muscadelle, Sémillon and Sauvignon, it’s elegant with notes of lemon cream to start that later turn into subtle tropical fruits as it opens up in the glass.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Find here: £18

Drinks News

We’ve got all the stories this week as we chat about putting vodka into Brita filters (…yep!), Nigel Farage’s latest endeavour…a new trio of red, white and blue gins… Libby fills us in on what she’s been getting up to with The Wine Collective of late, and Aidy and Helena catch up with Crémant producers, Céline Lannoye and Clément Lescouzères!

Buy it or Bin it

It’s creamy, it’s opaque, it’s beige… any guesses?! You’ll have to listen in to see if you got it right 😉

Mailbag

This week the question is ‘You can get a perfectly nice bottle of wine for £6 so why spend more?!’ With working conditions and chemicals in wine cropping up in the answers Libby and Helena give, it’s well worth a listen to find out more.

To listen to our previous podcasts, click here!

Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 89

Whether it be stunning wine from Côtes de Bordeaux, Duran Duran’s guilty pleasure, a very moreish summer cup or the best wine to pair with duck and hoisin sauce, Helena and special guest, Virgin Radio DJ Eddy Temple-Morris have got a little bit of everything for you in Episode 89 of the Bring a Bottle podcast! Listen in now via the player below!

Our Guest Drinker

This week the podcast baton has passed to Helena and she is joined by non-other than DJ and musical guru Eddy Temple-Morris! Eddy is a musician by trade having been in a band since the 1980s. He’s also been a regular radio presenter for the last 30 years and you can find him on Virgin Radio daily from 10am. To find out more about Eddy and his passions make sure you listen to the podcast today!

What’s in our glass?

This episode is a Côtes de Bordeaux special. Côtes de Bordeaux is a relatively new appellation and has many amazing winemakers within it.

In Episode 89 you'll find us sipping on two different wines produced in this region, the first of which is Château Puynard 2018. It is 100% Merlot. On the nose, it has a leathery, cedary note and to taste it is full of ripe plum and bright red fruits. It would pair perfectly with a beef roast dinner.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: Naked Wines £15.99

Next up we have Château de Couronneau Volte Face 2018. This wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is a beautiful dark red colour and has savoury, earthy tones to it as well as punchy flavours of black fruits. 

Size: 750ml
ABV: 15%
Find here: vintageroots.co.uk £14.75

Buy it or Bin it

You’re not going to want to miss Eddy’s reaction when Helena surprises him with Reverend Hubert’s Summer Cup. This summer cup is packed full of rhubarb, plums, pomegranate and cranberries and is sweet and summery. The question is though, do Helena and Eddy decide to buy it or bin it?! Listen in here to find out!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 20.1%
Find here: £29.99

Instant Sommelier Quick Fire Round

Eddy also has a surprise as he puts Helena to the test in a quickfire round of questions in which she has to come up with the perfect bottle to pair with different dishes. There’s mention of haggis, duck in hoisin sauce and Thai green curry but which drinks will Helena choose, and does Eddy agree?!

Mailbag

Finally, it wouldn’t be a bring a bottle podcast without our mailbag question and this week that question is ‘Why did James Bond like his Martini shaken and not stirred?’. Listen in to hear what Helena has to say about it!