..strange name for a little touch of Italy in bayside Hampton. And more curiously, this new eatery has been set up by Alastair Dobbs, previously the sommelier at the Church St Enoteca.
OS presents a classic simple Italian menu accompanied of course with an excellent wine list. Bookings are advised as OS has become very popular

www.oskitchenandwinebar.com.au/
531 Hampton Street, Hampton 3188
+61(0)3 9533 192
Google map: bit.ly/zEjmw7

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Between Covent Garden and the Thames, down Villiers St off the historic Strand awaits Gordon’s Wine Bar. This is London’s oldest wine bar and must be one of the world’s best. Visiting Gordon’s is a unique experience of London’s history. Before becoming a wine bar in 1890, the building was home to Samuel Pepys and also an illustrious brothel or two. Outside, in Villiers St, the building now has the appearance of a deserted and condemned old building from Dickensian London and is often unrecognised by the most dedicated visitors. The only clue is the dusty original gas-lit lamp above the door, labelled “Gordon’s Wine Bar”. Take the narrow steps down into the unlikely darkness.
The bar has the appearance and feel of a dark basement untouched since Pepys left. Nicotine stained walls of tongue-n-groove boards, history-stained stone floors, and rickety tables and chairs under the low, brick-domed ceiling of the original wine cellars are not retro but original features. Candles light the reticent faces of illicit encounters. The staff are efficient and friendly and pull schooners and beakers of sherry, Madeiras, or port from the barrels stacked behind the bar. Excellent wines are also available by bottle or glass. Recently homemade food has been introduced, and the tables spill out into Watergate Walk to the side. But stay indoors to enjoy the uniqueness and excellence of Gordon’s Wine Bar, and drink deep the history of London.

www.gordonswinebar.com/
47 Villiers Street, London WC2N 6NE
+44(0)20 7930 1408
Google map: bit.ly/yoMnP7

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Fantastic event for all interested in great food, well cooked and for enjoying many different wines. I went last year and can still remember the great tastes. There was also a relaxed and happy atmosphere about the whole event.

www.northumberlandfoodandwinefestival.co.uk

7-9 October 2011
Tynedale Park, Corbridge, NE45 5AY
Google map: bit.ly/oBYTt3

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As the leaves begin to fall and recent summer activities become distant memories, we all seek some kind of indulgent escape to tide us over to the festive season.
The Northumbria Food and Wine Festival is one of the big gastronomic events of the North East calendar. This year, it has been organised by the successful and highly capable team at The Feathers Inn of Hedley on the Hill near Stocksfield.
The event is held at Tynedale Rugby Club on the outskirts of historic Corbridge, just outside Hexham off the A69. It will take place over three days featuring a host of wine tasting and buying experiences and live music PLUS the kind of classic British cuisine and culinary adventure chef Rhian Cradock is renowned for.
It's one of those occasions where you could dress smart-casual, take a civilised train journey and pontificate over bouquet and vintage without persecution. In the company of fellow wine lovers and extremely passionate vintners, you can indulge your tastes, explore some great local food, all in a picturesque, rural marquee-based setting.
Much in keeping with today's highly popular beer festivals, entrance includes tokens for wine samples and a commemorative tasting glass to take with you as you trot gracefully (or stagger) between tables.
This event could headline as part of a longer trip to Northumberland and will certainly live up to the region's reputation for taste, understated beauty and accessible culture.

northumbriafoodandwinefestival.co.uk
7-9 October 2011
Tynedale Park, Corbridge, NE45 5AY
Google map: bit.ly/oBYTt3

www.thefeathers.net
Hedley, Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7SW
+44(0)1661 843 607
Google map: bit.ly/oScxq5

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Northumbria is home to many of the country's surviving farms and food producers, and this new event - reckoned to be the biggest of its kind in the north east - gives them a showcase alongside the region's leading wine importers and distributors. Sounds like a recipe for a good day. One of the main exhibitors is the Feathers Inn at Hedley on the Hill, which is well known as the county's finest gastropub, having won the Good Pub Guide's Northumbria Dining Pub of the Year in each of the last four years under chef proprietor Rhian Cradock, who'll be running a pop-up restaurant. Essentially it's a sort of giant farmer's market combined with a wine festival. There's live music too, and it's all in floored and heated marquees, so a pretty weather-proof day out.

7-11 October 2011
northumbriafoodandwinefestival.co.uk
Tynedale Park, Corbridge, NE45 5AY
Google map: bit.ly/oBYTt3

www.thefeathers.net
Hedley, Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7SW
+44(0)1661 843 607
Google map: bit.ly/oScxq5

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Two minutes from the Old Town square but tucked away on a side street this place has everything - a restaurant, a wine bar, a café and a food shop.
On winter evenings it’s a lovely place to go with friends for wine of varying prices but consistently good quality. Many are available by the glass. During the summer, sit in the peaceful courtyard at the back of the restaurant for al fresco dining.
The evening menu is very good but the real bonus is the daily lunch menu - choose between two and three courses, with or without wine, and you will have change from 200CZK.
Expect European cuisine with a twist of Czech including duck, rabbit and dumplings.

Havelská 500/25, Praha 1
+420 226 006 122
www.uzavoje.cz/cz/
Nearest metro: Mustek
Google map: bit.ly/krtkqp

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Independent wine importers and retailers Vera and Robert certainly know their stuff when it comes to vino, and when it comes to entertaining their guests. During the week this wonderfully cosy yet very modern wine bar is frequented by office workers (Karlin, where Roberts is situated is a burgeoning business district). However, on Friday evenings and weekends Roberts is also open to locals seeking (high) quality wine at affordable prices. Roberts offers a very wide range of wines, really tasty nibbles to accompanying them (the best pecorino romano I've had in Prague, or elsewhere), friendly and knowledgeable service and an in-bar wine shop. Oh, and very comfy sofas that make a quick visit utterly impossible.
Book a table ahead as Roberts often closes at the weekend (but is very happy to stay open for small groups).

www.vrimports.cz/
Sokolovska 61, Karlin, 186 00 Praha 8
+420 608 738 093
Google map: bit.ly/iWYm1s

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Take a day trip to Montalcino, a medieval walled town set high on a hill. Spend the morning wandering around its narrow streets and squares before going to sample the world famous Brunello wine. The most atmospheric place to do this is in the Enoteca La Fortezza, situated inside the 14th century fortress that dominates the skyline. The stone vaults are filled with excellent wines and you can also buy local prosciutto, salami and pecorino cheese. Glasses of Brunello start at about €4 and the friendly staff are happy to help if you need some advice on which wine to choose.

Piazzale della Fortezza, 9
53024 Montalcino Sienna, Italy
+39(0)577 849211
www.enotecalafortezza.it
Google map: bit.ly/lqadvU

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What a brilliant destination for an affordable weekend getaway. A super-smart rail link from the airport takes you into the city centre for a couple of euros, and everything's in walking distance from there. In fact, wandering around this beautiful city is the best way to discover the amazing murals of blue and white painted tiles (azulejos) - don't miss those in the Cathedral cloister. After a stroll through the ungentrified medieval quarter of the Ribeira, cross over the feat of ironmongery that is the Dom Luis bridge to sample the lifeblood of this region - the deservedly famous port wine. The oldest of the wine cellars which throng the quayside is Croft which was established here in 1588, the year of the Spanish Armada. A visit to their vaults is unmissable - watch out for the bats - followed by a complimentary glass of their finest nectar. Tchim-tchim as they say!

www.goporto.com
Porto Cathedral, Terreiro da Sé.
Croft Cellars, Rua Barão de Forrester 412, Gaia. www.croftport.com
Google map: bit.ly/eroP0I

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Had a fantastic long weekend in Bordeaux recently and spent a day touring vineyards with Caroline of Bordeaux Uncorked.
It felt like the obligatory thing to do (when in Rome, etc) but the wealth of local knowledge and personal service provided by Caroline really made the whole trip for us. I don't think we would have had access to many of the vineyards on our own and having Caroline greeted everywhere by first name made us feel like we were visiting old friends, with very impressive chateaux and wine cellars!
Highlights of the trip: Chateau Figeac and it's ancient cellars. Also recommend lunch in the courtyard at L'Envers du Décor in Saint Emilion.
In Bordeaux itself, pay a visit to Max Bordeaux - a must if you love wine but restricted by budget. Here you can taste some of the most expensive wines by the (small) glass. Taste the liquid gold of Chateau Yquem for under €15? Not a problem. Thanks Bordeaux Uncorked!

www.bordeauxuncorked.fr

Max Bordeaux
14 Cours de l'Intendance, 33000 Bordeaux
+33(0)5 57 29 23 81
Google map: bit.ly/i7bsv6

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Bock Bistro is a great restaurant serving traditional Hungarian cuisine with the perfect local fine wine to accompany the food. József Bock, one of the founders, is a legendary wine maker so you can be sure of the quality of the reds on offer here.

1073 Budapest, Erzsébet körút 43-49
+36 1 321 0340
www.bockbisztro.hu‎
Google map: bit.ly/fucwW5
Tram 4 or 6 to Király utca
www.bockbistro.hu

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A great excursion from Lima is a visit to the desert city of Ica and the nearby oasis, called Huacachina. There are numerous hotels around the oasis to suit different budgets, as well as several restaurants.
From Huacachina you can ride in a sand buggy over the dunes, or, my preferred activity, you can visit the local vineyards and pisco distilleries. Pisco is a kind of Peruvian non-aged brandy, which is something of a national icon.
Your hotel in Huacachina should be able to organise a tour to visit three or four local vineyards and distilleries where you can sample Peruvian wine (surprisingly delicious), pisco and pisco sour.
There are modern mechanised and artisan distilleries, you should visit one or two of each on the tour.

Ica is a four hour bus ride from Lima. From Ica, a taxi to Huacachina should take 15 mins and cost a few dollars.
Google map: bit.ly/i62C6l

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My husband and I stayed at Villa Kamenica for a week and loved every minute of it! We were in the garden apartment which came with its own private patio, stone oven and beautiful views of the amazing gardens. Tomislav, Zeljka, Duje (their cute puppy) made us feel welcomed, showed us all the best beaches, and gave us great wine! Tomislav showed us the fish market and cooked an superb dinner every evening. By the end of the week we felt like family and were very sad to leave our paradise.

Villa Kamenica and Komiza are true gems! It was the BEST place we have ever stayed!

Villa Karmenica
Pavlinoviceva 15,
21485 Komiza, Croatia
www.villa-kamenica.hr, from €35 a night.
Google map: tinyurl.com/37b94hr

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A little bit of Denmark in America. Complete with a windmill, traditional Danish bakeries a plenty, a Hans Christian Andersen museum and even a replica of the Little Mermaid. Stay at the Viking Motel or Royal Copenhagen Inn, and gorge on over-sized Danish pastries for breakfast (well, this is America). Sample robust Danish fare such as frikadeller (meat balls), medisterpølse (sausages) and roedkaal (red cabbage) in one of the many restaurants (most of them done up as replicas of wooden Danish buildings), then indulge in a bit of shopping - you can get anything from Danish chocolate to Danish fashion, or even a pair of good old-fashioned wooden clogs, for half the price of what it would cost you back in Copenhagen!

Solvang was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish educators who travelled west to escape the harsh winters in the midwest. The town lies at the heart of wine country, and parts of the Oscar-winning film Sideways, about a couple of wine-loving friends travelling around California, was filmed here.

Best time to visit? September, when the hordes of tourists have left, and the Danish Days Festival (18 September 2010), now in its 73th year, is in full swing.

www.solvangusa.com
Google map: tinyurl.com/38apt63

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Anyone contemplating a trip to a French wine producer will be able to identify independent producers who operate under the umbrella of "Vignerons Independant",

I have visited a few of the many producers around Beaujolais, they are fiercely independent and are rightly proud of their wines. They may not speak much English and their wine will not necessarily be cheap, but it will be different from the standard wines produced by the negociants and the experience is worth it.

Bear in mind that the producers are understandably keen to sell and your reception will depend on your perceived willingness to buy.

Also consider when you buy, if you buy in summer on the way out your wine is likely to suffer from prolonged exposure to heat.

Some villages run annual Foire aux Vins, if you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of one it should be worth a visit, it is a long time since I visited Vouvray but I have very happy memories of the Foire which is held over a week-end every August, enquire at the local tourism office or perhaps the Guardian could produce a definitive calendar. I would be happy to assist with any research on the ground!

www.vigneron-independant.com/tourismeetvins/?langue=fr

Google map: tinyurl.com/37ugpng

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An ethical, eco-friendly Welsh International Restaurant & Cocktail Bar.

24 Churchill Way, Cardiff City Centre, CF10 2DY
029 2034 3424
www.dizzyllama.co.uk
near Queen Street Station

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Domaine de Ris is the only remaining vineyard in Touraine du Sud and is owned and run by Gilbert and Ghislaine Sabadie. They produce six types of wine – reds and whites plus a sparkling white. We thought their Jeugneur Celiment is a lovely red.

37290 Bossay-sur-Claise, Indre-et-Loire Centre
Tel : +33 2 47 94 64 43
Google map: tinyurl.com/y7h8z39

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We were vineyard virgins staying in a friend’s holiday house in Autignac. Unable to resist the attractively simple sign for Domaine La Croix Belle we drove gingerly into the courtyard. Although unplanned and uninvited the vineyard owner’s hospitality that day totally won us over. We said “au revoir” with some choice cases. This gem of a find, especially for such novices, has since become a legend with our friends – on every visit the holiday-home owners now fill their boot at La Croix Belle.

34480 Puissalicon
www.croix-belle.com
+33 4 67 36 27 23

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The Beaujolais is a French region well-known for its wines, but we were amazed by how its beautiful hilly landscapes remain largely unknown to the wider public. We hardly passed any other walkers all week on our self-guided walking holiday. We went with High Point Holidays – a new company - who have created a circuit with lots of interest with chateaux, beautiful villages, secluded valleys and breathtaking ridges. The greatest surprise was the variety of the landscapes over such a relatively short distance as we walked between guesthouses. The walking was never difficult, but included enough up and down to make you feel like you had earned your dinner (and wine.
We also got to walk through the vines and try the local wines in our small guesthouses, some of which were set on vineyards. Each guest house had its own particular character where we received an amazingly warm welcome. A special mention must go the Ferme de Planay, a lovely restored farm set deep in the hills which is full of rustic charm. Laurent and Valerie made our stay extra special with lovely home cooked dishes.
This tour was in the north of the Beaujolais which passes through the classic wine region.
We liked it so much we may do their other tour in the south of the Beaujolais. So watch this space.

www.highpointholidays.co.uk
contact@highpointholidays.co.uk
Beaujolais tour starting from Ferme de Planay. Pickup from Lyon train station

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This small and cosy bar serves a large choice of cocktails, wine and spirits. For those who get hungry I recomend the tapas - and for those who want to smoke the choice of cigars.

Gneisenaustrasse 58
10961 Berlin-Kreuzberg,Germany

www.paulaundben.de

+49 30 28 03 44 00

U-Bahn: U7 | station: Südstern

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