Latest news with #winelovers
New York Times
18-07-2025
- New York Times
For Some New Zealand Winemakers, Māori Beliefs Lead the Way
In February, I traveled to New Zealand for the first time, to take part in Pinot Noir New Zealand 2025 in Christchurch, a gathering examining the central topic from all angles. We discussed soils and environmentalism, tariffs and trade, tasted dozens of wines, renewed old acquaintances and forged new ones. I gave a talk, on the place of New Zealand pinot noir on the world stage. (Spoiler alert: It currently has a bit role but shows potential.) But one significant feature made this wine conference entirely different from any I've ever attended. Enormous care was taken to weave the culture of the Māori, the Indigenous inhabitants of New Zealand, into the fabric of the event just as it is in the identity of the country. During the conference, Māori speakers introduced and summarized the Māori conception of tūrangawaewae (too-rung-uh-WAY-way), how the characteristics of a place define the identity and culture of the people who come from there. As I understood the thought, it goes well beyond the simple formula of place determining personality. Tūrangawaewae is often translated as 'a place to stand,' which suggests as well that people belong to a place and can be their most authentic selves when they are in that place. It's a complex idea that I admittedly understand superficially. But, as any wine lover might do, I immediately jumped to the French notion of terroir, the idea that the singular qualities of a particular place and people can be expressed through a wine. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
A winter wine deal worth savouring - how to snap up 12 bottles of premium wine for under $8 a bottle with FREE delivery
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Cosy nights call for great wine and Naked Wines has an unmissable deal you won't want to miss. Whether you're hosting friends, pairing it with a hearty meal, or enjoying a quiet night in, winter is the perfect season to wind down with a quality glass of red or white. Enter Naked Wines, the viral wine club that's shaking up the industry. They work with over 90 independent winemakers to bring premium bottles straight to your door, all at a fraction of the price you'd normally pay in-store. This season, Naked Wines is offering its customers $100 off their first 12 wines to make sipping your way through winter hassle-free. Oh, we almost forgot, they are spoiling shoppers even more with free shipping. Pour us a glass (or five!). Whether you are an avid wine drinker or not, Naked Wines has loads of variation from their makers to their flavors. The high-end brand takes pride in working with some of the best winemakers around the country, including Silver Oak and Mondavi. They offer something for every taste bud, with reds, whites, rosés, and more listed on their website. You can explore their curated crates and learn more about the wineries they come from on their site, too, before choosing your unique 12 bottles! What we love about Naked Wines is that it makes hosting a breeze. No more worrying about what to bring or stressing about what to serve with these luxury wines delivered right to your doorstep, you do not have to do a thing. With 12 bottles delivered right to you, the possibilities are endless for hosting from charcuterie nights to backyard barbecues. By going through Naked Wines, you not only get the best of the best, but you also save 30 percent compared to what you would pay in mass retailer shops. The brand is on a mission to connect sippers with real, raw, talented winemakers at price points that don't break the bank, because they believe everyone deserves to enjoy good wine, even on a dime. We have a feeling once you start drinking Naked Wines selections, you will not want to stop, which works out because they offer a subscription plan that is tailor-made to each sipper. When you sign up for a plan, you complete a quiz that matches you to a case of wine, and from there, it learns your evolving preferences! So what are you waiting for?! Snag your curated 12-bottle case of wine ASAP while you can save $100 off.
Condé Nast Traveler
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
Bar Bandini — Bar Review
First impression? Imagine hanging out in the living room of that friend who somehow always has the most interesting wine collection. That's the vibe. The LA space embraces the neighborhood's creative energy while maintaining focus on what's in the glass. How's the crowd? Echo Park creatives and natural wine enthusiasts create a crowd that's both curious and knowledgeable. You'll find first-time natural wine drinkers alongside sommeliers, all learning together. How are the drinks? The list changes often based on what's exciting and available, with staff who can guide you through unfamiliar territory with enthusiasm rather than pretension. These are natural wines—on tap and in bottle—with personality, served by people who promote curiosity and community. If there's food, is it worth ordering something to eat? The food options change frequently but lean towards tasty things you eat with your hands, like tacos and pizza. Did the staff do you right? The team brings genuine passion for natural wine. Wrap it up: what are we coming here for? You're here for an atmosphere with wine club vibes where everyone's invited.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Sip through summer without breaking the bank - 12 premium wines for just $89.99, delivered FREE
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more World-class wine at a fraction of the cost? Sign us up! Summer is the season of enjoying delicious sips with friends, family, or even by yourself, and thanks to this incredible brand, you can do so for less. Naked Wines is a viral wine club that has pros and newbies alike flocking to subscribe. Sourcing from 90+ independent winemakers, the brand brings quality wine to your doorstep for a fraction of the cost. This season, Naked Wines is offering its customers $100 off their first 12 wines to make sipping your way through summer hassle-free. Oh, we almost forgot, they are spoiling shoppers even more with FREE shipping. Pour us a glass (or five!). Whether you are an avid wine drinker or not, Naked Wines has loads of variation from their makers to their flavors. The high-end brand takes pride in working with some of the best winemakers around the country, including Silver Oak and Mondavi. They offer something for every taste bud, with reds, whites, rosés, and more listed on their website. You can explore their curated crates and learn more about the wineries they come from on their site, too, before choosing your unique 12 bottles! What we love about Naked Wines is that it makes hosting a BREEZE. No more worrying about what to bring or stressing about what to serve with these luxury wines delivered right to your doorstep, you do not have to do a thing. With 12 bottles delivered right to you, the possibilities are endless for hosting from charcuterie nights to backyard barbecues! By going through Naked Wines, you not only get the best of the best, but you also save 30 percent compared to what you would pay in mass retailer shops. The brand is on a mission to connect sippers with real, raw, talented winemakers at price points that don't break the bank, because they believe everyone deserves to enjoy good wine, even on a dime. Go local! Naked Wines makes it their mission to connect you to the best local winemakers on the market at a fraction of the typical cost. We have a feeling once you start drinking Naked Wines selections, you will not want to stop, which works out because they offer a subscription plan that is tailor-made to each sipper. When you sign up for a plan, you complete a quiz that matches you to a case of wine, and from there, it learns your evolving preferences! So what are you waiting for?! Snag your curated 12-bottle case of wine ASAP while you can save $100 off and start sipping in luxury all summer long for less.
The Independent
08-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Chilling red wine actually makes it taste better (yes, really)
Do you remember the summer of 2018? I do. I sweated – a lot! It didn't seem to rain for weeks on end. Just day after day of unending sunshine. At the time, I owned a wine shop and bar in an arch under a railway track on a dead-end street in east London. Receiving deliveries of cases of wine in that heat was not fun. I couldn't keep up with people's insatiable desire for chilled rosé and white, but so many red lovers felt left out. So I started serving red wine in the way I love to drink them: chilled. Now, of course, I'm not for a moment suggesting that my little paradise of wine was responsible for the trend of chilled reds we're encountering today. I was merely emulating what I'd experienced in the bars and restaurants on Le Continent. If you've ever been in a hot country and ordered a red wine, you might find it takes on an almost soup-like consistency. It seems to become denser, heavier and jammier, and isn't particularly appealing. While many reds love to give you that enveloping feeling, it's not something you necessarily want in 35-degree heat, thank you very much. But in countries across continental Europe, they'll be served from bottles glistening with the beads of condensation, pouring the promise of freshness into your glass. And I love to see that this trend has gone mainstream. When the large supermarkets are stocking wines with the specific goal of being served chilled, you know something has hit the big time. Why should chilled reds be the preserve of natural wine bars and Parisienne bistros? In general, we tend to serve red wine way too warm anyway. The commonly suggested temperature is 'room temperature', which is recommended as being between 16 and 18 degrees. Somehow, this idea that 'room temperature' falls around those two numbers is as dated as the aristocratic classes who likely decreed it. Sixteen degrees was probably achievable in their draughty, poorly-insulated country piles – it definitely isn't in our stuffy, central-heated homes. But why do we even chill wines in the first place, whatever their colour? If you've ever tried a warm white wine, it might deliver a lot when you're smelling it, but when it comes to actually drinking it, it tastes muted, flat, lacking any real sense of definition and is flabby and dull. The process of chilling wine actually enhances the acidity and aromatic compounds, bringing your glass to life and delivering far more pleasure. It's like the wine's standing up and paying attention. Of course, not all reds are suited for time in the fridge. I would avoid overly chilling big, heavy reds with high tannins, such as cabernet sauvignon or malbec – the cooler temperatures can highlight an astringent note. Instead, look to the lighter grapes with good acidity and light tannins that are naturally bright and juicy. Grape varieties such as pinot noir, gamay, youthful grenache, frappato from Sicily, zweigelt and xinomavro are all happy fridge-dwellers. And always remember: when it comes to wine, whatever the colour, it's easier to warm them up in the glass than cool them down in the bottle, so don't be too afraid of over-chilling them. Want to give it a try? Here's some affordable inspiration to chill down in the fridge for 20 minutes or so: The Interlude Pinot Noir, Australia, 2024 Available from Co-op, £8.65, 11 per cent ABV Don't over-complicate this uncomplicated wine. It's super simple. Think raspberries and a lick of cinnamon spice, and chill it down for an easy BBQ summer sipper. Le Chouchou Syrah, Gerard Bertrand, France, 2023 Available from Waitrose, £9.75 (RRP £12.75, on offer until 1/7/25), 11 per cent ABV I asked a French friend for a translation of 'chouchou', and she said it's a cute term for someone you like, such as a teacher's pet, or a cute friend. And this wine definitely has a cutesy character about it. A blend of grenache, syrah and cinsault, it's like a posy of pretty scented flowers, bright red cherries and an uplifting freshness – a gorgeous wine for a summer's day. Dangerously moreish, too. Xinomavro Jeunes Vignes, Thymiopoulos, Greece, 2022 Available from The Wine Society, £13.95, 13 per cent ABV Xinomavro reminds me of a cross between pinot noir and nebbiolo. It's an indigenous grape native to Greece, and, in its youthful flourish, is perfect slightly chilled. Delivering heaps of crushed raspberries, juicy dark plums, supported with aromas of wild thyme and rosemary, it has beautiful depth and real character. The lively acidity ties together this bright and energetic wine wonderfully. Lentsch Zweigelt, Burgenland, Austria, 2022 Available from Waitrose, £10, 12.5 per cent ABV An utterly charming expression of this Austrian grape that is perfect with a little chill. Think morello cherries, ripe plums, fresh raspberries and an earthy spice note too. It's brimming with vibrant fruit, and delivers a lot of wine for a tenner. Chateau Picoron Tattarrattat Rouge, France, 2023 Available nationwide, including Highbury Vintners, £22, 13.5 per cent ABV Merlot has lower tannins than its Bordeaux brother, cabernet sauvignon, and here, it's quite simply bursting with vitality and energy. This medium-bodied wine delivers a glassful of soft red plums, sour cherries, wild strawberries and brimming acidity. Made using carbonic maceration – a technique more commonly associated with Beaujolais – the grapes are placed in whole bunches into vats which are then sealed and filled with carbon dioxide to remove the oxygen. This means the grapes ferment within themselves, causing the skins to split and release their juices. Tannins and extraction of colour normally remain low, and what you're commonly left with is a gorgeous, soft and fruity wine. Lovely.
