The key issues affecting the drinks industry today and into the near future

The drinks industry is a very dynamic one; it evolves constantly in order to satisfy the ever-increasing expectations of consumers while facing multiple challenges along the way.
Given the enormous variety of products and socioeconomic factors around the world, the issues at heart of the drinks industry may vary by region or product.

A visit to the World’s Best Cocktail Bar

Only those who aim high can triumph. This concept is very appropriate for the Connaught Bar. When it was reopened in 2008, after almost two years of restoration work, their goal was to become the world’s best cocktail bar. They achieved it in just four years. In 2012 they were awarded the title of the World's Best Cocktail Bar at the Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Unparalleled elegance and refinement in the world’s capital city of mixology, bars and cocktails.

(Scroll down to view the original text in Spanish)

Shortlisted for the Wines of Portugal Sommelier Challenge!

Source: imbibe.com

I’m very happy to announce that in the recent challenge organized by Wines of Portugal in association with Imbibe magazine, my Portuguese food and wine pairing was among the ten finalists.

Many thanks to the judging panel and congratulations to all the shortlisted!

Below, the pairing (complete version) and some images along with an extract from the magazine.

Natural wine – a quest for balance

For a while now organic and biodynamic wines have been gradually gaining ground shoulder to shoulder with slow food and healthy lifestyle.

Even though this trend may be perceived as a novelty, only few decades back there was practically no need to look for an organic shop or market where one could get groceries that not only, though not necessarily, looked good but also tasted great.

Gradual changes in agriculture and food processing and switching from traditional to science based approach have lead to substantial reduction of nature’s control over the process. It’s safe to say though that using latest scientific achievements in this area is justified as long as it doesn’t translate into poor quality and tasteless commercial mass production.

But let’s stick to wine.

Fruit, coffee and chocolate – a versatile autumn wine selection from South Africa

Six wines from three different regions of SA in a late summer garden tasting.

Imbibe Live 2012 – drinks in a nutshell

Source: imbibe.com

The recent Imbibe Live took the on-trade on yet another two-day sensory trip through what’s trendy in the drinks business.

Comfortably nested under the glass roof of Kensington Olympia, a spectacular venue with a lot of natural light and space big enough to fit a commercial jet plane. Instead of a plane, though, it featured a line-up of all imaginable drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and bar snacks distributed in a maze of custom designed more or less glamorous stands: vintage and modern, full of mirrors and decorative artefacts, and in different sizes and colours.

First anniversary

I can hardly believe it that a whole year has gone by since my first shy post.

It’s been an utterly motivating experience and a gateway to a new path of life.

There are many accounts still slowly finding their way to this blog and even more to come in the next weeks and months.

Thanks to all of you, from nearly 30 different countries (I can hardly believe that either) who have followed, read, commented, tweeted, retweeted, liked, shared and so on. It’s been a great boost of energy.

All the very best and do stick around for more.

Taste of London - four days of foodie heaven

Just after the summer solstice, a magical time when days are long and people unite in celebrations and festivities, London’s Regent’s Park became a venue for a melting pot of experiences for all senses known as Taste of London.

All medals of New Zealand

Recent New Zealand wine tasting was very much in tune with the ongoing Olympic Games. Not only did it take place in London but also gathered this year's Gold, Silver, Bronze and Trophy medal winning wines from four major London based wine competitions: Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge, Internationals Wine & Spirit Competition, and Sommelier Wine Awards.

Braaiday – a South African pairing

Source: WOSA

A Friday afternoon is always a good excuse for a culinary experience. This time the excuse was braai, a South African style barbeque and its wines.

Street food - fast and delicious

Food on the go has always been an important part of our culinary history. Long, multi-course meals are not always an option, and gradually, with the progress of civilisation, takeaways have become more and more common, and at times indispensable. We live in a hurry, the world requires things to be done fast, efficiently and without due delays, so we often grab something on the go, on top of having to eat fast while working or commuting. Fast foods of all colours of the rainbow with huge global presence are a perfect answer to such demand, though not always very healthy or tasty one.  

Visual marketing – seeking the edge

Every industry has its own ways to attract customers’ attention. Creating intrigue is one of the most effective techniques. With the immense variety of merchandise, a product must have this something that will glue our eyes to it for long enough to buy it or at least register it.

International Wine Challenge from the kitchen – Epilogue

The basic criterion for accepting wine for the competition is that it is commercially available. The organizer is very determined to protect the identity of the samples at all times. The bottles are stripped of all traces that could lead to identifying the producer - including removing metal skirts from screw cap bottles, and decanting bottles of unusual shape that could be recognized by touch - and placed into plastic bags. Then it is all up to the experienced noses and palates of the judges.

For Act 1 click here

For Act 2 click here

International Wine Challenge from the kitchen – Act 2

The setting. Two dozen or so white-tablecloth-covered long tables set for panel judges with all necessary tasting paraphernalia. Plain and simple. No distractions. Then, another space set for six IWC chairmen: Tim Atkin MW, Oz Clarke, Charles Metcalfe, Sam Harrop MW, Derek Smedley MW and Peter McCombie MW, who re-taste the samples to make sure that no good wines are overlooked.


For Act 1 click here

For the Epilogue click here

International Wine Challenge from the kitchen – Act 1

Even though the competition is now finished, in anticipation of the final results that will be announced at London International Wine Fair in less than a fortnight, let me go back in time to relive these few unforgettable weeks.

For Act 2 click here

For the Epilogue click here

In Ghent’s fair city

A chilly winter morning. I walk down the picturesque streets of still drowsy and in general very quiet town of Ghent, passing by fairylike canals, period houses, churches, squares, small shops and cafes. After several twists and turns, the cobbled streets bring me to a beautiful Kouter Square which on every Sunday morning holds a traditional flower market, an activity, for tourists and locals alike. 

To boldly go where few winemakers have gone before

Living and travelling in South America can give a very valuable perspective to a European used to small scale of things, short distances and in general having everything at a hand’s reach.

Tatras, Tokaj, and Thermal springs – a Slovakian itinerary

        Winter is a great season for get-togethers. It reminds me a bit of emperor penguins huddling somewhere in ice bound Antarctica to fight off cold. Fortunately we don’t need to go to such extremes but truth be told social gatherings are equally natural for us. If combined with the right place and menu there’s no better way to spend unfavourable winter evenings. As for the days, there are more than enough ways to try ourselves against the nature.