Fellow Wine Lovers,<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a week of hardship for many of us.<\/p>\n
My mother-in-law flew to Australia last Monday, current temperature in Sydney 22\u00b0C \u2013 but it is the middle of the night.<\/p>\n
Wayne\u2019s Uncle is currently in Queensland \u2013 36\u00b0C in the shade yesterday.<\/p>\n
A friend of mine, who happens to live sporadically in Dubai when not flying to Mauritius or some other paradise, sent me a distraught message on Tuesday moaning that it was raining.\u00a0 23\u00b0C and 61% humidity \u2013 probably a relief.<\/p>\n
One of our suppliers has taken a trip to New Zealand to visit, amongst others, Dog Point Winery in Marlborough and Neudorf Vineyards in Nelson before going off bungying in Queenstown.\u00a0 We know this through Instagram \u2013 the photos of picnics and beach barbecues giving us the impression of warmth and sunshine.<\/p>\n
Another of our suppliers, with a distinctly Braveheart surname, voyaged to Murrayfield on Saturday and came back smugger than Billy McSmug from Loch ma Smug.<\/p>\n
We sat in the shop and watched the mercury oscillate between -4\u00b0C and -1\u00b0C and wondered where had we gone wrong?<\/p>\n
Snow Day<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Is it or isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Apparently it has nothing to do with snow depth but actually availability of public transport, we\u2019re told.<\/p>\n Anyway, Ricards Lodge called it yesterday on the strength of weather predictions.\u00a0 My sons\u2019 school is closing at 1pm today (it\u2019s currently raining here, just so you know).\u00a0 To be honest with you, judging from our visit to the Pig & Whistle last night, I suspect that a number of people had already called it too and have decided to work from home today \u2013 sensible.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to risk the commute, you don\u2019t have to risk slipping over on unsalted pavements, and most importantly you don\u2019t have to risk being the only one who did make it in and thus spend the day answering other people\u2019s phones and making your own coffee.\u00a0 Plus, because you obviously started work earlier, you can obviously stop work earlier and start the weekend early with a visit to your local wine shop!<\/p>\n Since I live just around the corner and Wayne lives in nearby Balham, we can never justify a snow day, Shanks\u2019s pony or velocipede being our preferred transportation methods, so will always be open to provide you with vital vinous survival packs.\u00a0 If you fancy something a bit more fortifying, we always have an array of spirits open for tasting, should you need something character building before scaling Arthur Road \u2013 particular hipflask favourites are currently:<\/p>\n The Kings Ginger – \u00a323.99<\/strong><\/p>\n King Edward VII was a trailblazer, trendsetter and maverick who broke tradition throughout his life.<\/em><\/p>\n The King literally lived life in the fast lane. He would endlessly drive his horseless carriage (a Daimler), whatever the weather. So much so, that in 1903 the Royal Physician became concerned about the monarch\u2019s health. So, he called on Berry Bros. and Rudd for a solution, a high strength liqueur that would warm and revivify His Majesty. Crafted from ginger, (for centuries celebrated for its medicinal properties) The King\u2019s Ginger was born.<\/em><\/p>\n Rich, golden and delightfully crisp in flavour, it helped King Edward stay colourful and ready for whatever came next.<\/em><\/p>\n www.thekingsginger.com<\/a><\/p>\n Bepi Tosolini Amaretto Saliz\u00e1 – \u00a325.99<\/strong><\/p>\n Nel sestiere di Castello, non lontano da piazza San Marco, \u00e8 possibile giungere alla SALIZA’ o SALIZADA DEL PIGNATTER, sotto il cui arco \u00e8 incastonata una pietra rossa a forma di cuore: la leggenda vuole che le coppie che vi si recano assieme si ameranno per sempre\u201d. Questa \u00e8 la storia veneziana che ricorda il nome dell’amaretto Saliz\u00e0, un vero distillato di mandorle nato dalla ricetta di Bepi Tosolini, senza coloranti ed aromi artificiali.<\/em><\/p>\n