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Raise A Glass: Go 'green' for a nice picnic wine May 18 2012

That crusty old Yorkshire phrase “I know what I like and I like what I know” is understandable when it comes to choosing wine. There is so much choice that sometimes it’s a bit of a relief to find something that ticks all your boxes.Read

Raise a Glass: Reds that love to soak up the sun Apr 27 2012

WE may be drowning in April deluges but it’s a fair bet the rain is staying away from the plains of Spain.Read

Raise A Glass: Break open a bottle for an early barbecue Mar 30 2012

This week’s unseasonal burst of high summer has created havoc. Barbecues in March... it’s just doesn’t seem right!Read

Raise A Glass: Rioja Mar 23 2012

The sun-drenched, rolling hills of Rioja are a world away from the urban skylines of Birmingham, but there’s still a “special relationship” between the UK and Spain, according to winemaker Diego Pinilla.Read

Raise a Glass: Treat her to a bottle of wine this Mother's Day Mar 16 2012

CHAMPAGNE, flowers and chocolates seem to be top of the list when it comes to Mothers Day.Read

Raise a Glass: Whiskey-a-go-go for St Patrick's Day party Mar 09 2012

The streets of Birmingham will be swathed in green over the weekend as the city celebrates all things Irish, culminating in the massive annual St Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday.Read

Raise a Glass: Wine experts are giving oak both barrels Feb 03 2012

“I don’t like it,” said Bruno Schenk as we sniffed and smelled the red wine that had just come out of an oak barrel in his dark and silent cellar.Read

Raise A Glass: Blow winter blues away Jan 13 2012

There’s a sense of smugness around at the moment – it’s all those people who’ve decided to give up alcohol for January. Well, it’s not a bad idea, after the excesses of the festive season, but it does make what is already a bleak month even more of a grind.Read

Christmas wine ideas - and how to save money now Nov 11 2011

The German Market opens in Birmingham on Thursday – and that means goodbye to any hopes of blocking out Christmas until it actually arrives.Read

Raise a Glass: Toast the winners of the World Cup final Oct 21 2011

BIRMINGHAM’S wonderful Electric Cinema had a great idea this week – screening Sideways, the hit film about wine, while cracking a few bottles to get viewers in the right mood.Read

Raise a Glass: Greece is the word for wines with character Oct 14 2011

Anyone who’s struggled to be positive about a bottle of Retsina on a Greek holiday – even if the sun is shining and the waves are lapping gently at the restaurant’s harbour wall – might be surprised that Greece actually makes lots of wines that are well worth seeking out.Read

Raise a Glass: Time to bring beers to the dining table Oct 07 2011

BELGIANS may not be well known for very much, apart from chocolate and Poirot... oh yes, and beer.Read

Raise a Glass: The sun's shining on Midlands winemakers Sep 30 2011

It could be the Mediterranean: shirtsleeved grape pickers at work in the vineyards as the sun blazes down on a vintage harvest.Read

Why Chinese wine will soon be as popular as tipples from Bordeaux and California Sep 16 2011

CHINA is not exactly the first place you might look to find quality wine... or any wine at all for that matter.Read

Raise A Glass: Plump for a rosé before the weather turns Sep 09 2011

WITH summer well and truly on the run, it’s time to say goodbye to the rosé.Read

Raise A Glass: Cheap British not real deal Sep 02 2011

Cheap wines that look as if they are made in England are not necessarily the best of British.Read

Raise a Glass: Avoiding rip-offs with BYOB Aug 26 2011

Ordering wine in restaurants can be an ordeal, especially when the mark-up on prices brings a lump to the throat.Read

Raise a Glass: Future for British cider is looking even rosier Aug 19 2011

THE future’s looking rosy for cider. The harvest is already under way – a record early start – and cider-makers are hoping for another bumper year.Read

Raise a Glass: Small breweries enjoy a moment in the sun Aug 05 2011

There are around 57,000 pubs in the UK but with something like 100 going out of business every month that number will soon be a lot smaller.Read

Raise a Glass: Age old argument exploded Jul 29 2011

The latest Harry Potter adventure is ample proof that people still have a hankering for fairy stories. But there can’t be many people left who still believe that corks are the best way to seal a bottle of wine.Read