St. Valentine’s Day! What an exploited occasion! Since Chaucer wrote: “For this was on St. Volantynys Day, Whan eury bryd comyth there to chese his make” (For this was on St. Valentine’s day, when every [...]
Author Archives: Greville Havenhand
About Greville Havenhand
Greville Havenhand came from a teetotal family but was introduced to good (and bad) wine by Oxford dons in the 1950s. Travelling the world as a BBC documentary maker and editor he grew to appreciate the versatility of wine and wine makers. On taking early retirement he acquired his Wine and Spirit Education Trust qualifications. For the last ten years Greville has led wine tours to France, he regularly gives tutored wine tastings and lectures to wine societies and is a contributing editor to wineontheweb.co.uk. He is an active member of the Dulwich Wine Society.
French Independent Winemakers come to London
But aren’t all winemakers independent? Hardly. Think of all the big international brands like Jacob’s Creek, Blossom Hill and E & J Gallo. In France consider the large co-operatives like Cave de Lugny and Cave [...]
Enjoy the New Year with Wine
Greville Havenhand looks forward to New Year drinking There is always loads of advice on what to drink with your Christmas turkey- I have offered plenty myself in various publications over the years- but what [...]
Wine List or Whine List?
Restaurant wine lists can be informative, interesting or infuriating.
They can be set out in many ways – a mere list in price order, different sections devoted to a country or region or to a wine style such as crisp white or fruity red. All have their place but rarely do they suit everyone.
There is one local restaurant that has a list of around thirty wines that has not changed for at least ten years. It does not show vintage
Dulwich Wine Society in Touraine
Each year, round about Easter, the Dulwich Wine Society goes on a vineyard trip. 2010 saw them in the Touraine. Greville Havenhand helped organise it. The Touraine is one of the most underrated wine areas [...]
The Wine Families of America
The Wyeth Family Exhibition inspires Greville Havenhand to consider the family wineries of California. The remarkable Wyeth Family exhibition made me think about American families not only in art but in politics, business and, of course, wine. There was [...]
Tastes from the Unexpected
“Always look for the unusual, the unexpected in life, be it art or anything else”
Greville Havenhand takes a tortuous route to write about what he has been tasting recently.
Paul Nash? Paul Nash? I often try to connect these vinous musings to some Dulwich Picture Gallery exhibition but how could I connect Paul Nash with wine? Then my mind wandered back more than fifty years.
Women of Wine
In keeping with the “Celebrating Women Month” Greville Havenhand considers the role of women in the world of wine.
I have mentioned this before in these pages but there is a misconception that wine is a male preserve. Far from it – think of Jancis Robinson, Jane MacQuitty, Serena Sutcliffe etc. These, expert though they are, are not winemakers, nor do they run wineries.
Some of the top rated winemakers in the world are women and others run major wine establishments. This may be a feature of the modern era, but it is not new.
