Alpine Wines' Blog

What makes a good vintage? Generally speaking this depends on what you like. Taste, keep tasting, and taste some more (sorry…) A typical year in Beaujolais should produce wines of medium body, aromatic and fruity, with complexity emerging over the years. If the year does not allow for good ripening they can be overly fresh. […]

One of these varieties everyone should have heard of, but so few have. Syrah’s grandfather, or perhaps Syrah’s half sister, and gloriously Alpine. It should be one of the next big things. You meet that intriguing dark stranger. They might have stepped out from a Brontë novel but one set in Savoie. Though you could fall […]

Sometimes we have to stop selling a wine because there is too much variation from bottle to bottle. These often come into our home cellar. This happened with the Beaujolais Villages Les Larmoises 2007, taken off list 3 years ago after reports of a disappointing bottle. The Larmoises was a lovely old vines vineyard, which […]

How surreal it all feels. As I rewrite this update for the 10th time now, I still don’t know what to say. Like all of you I am worried. About family and friends, about suppliers and customers, and about the shape of the future.   Alpine Wines is run mostly from home and a specialised drinks […]

To pick up your order from us on the day, order by October 7th Three Wine Men, November 9th, Cambridge This will be our third visit to Cambrige – look forward to seeing you there! Book here To pick up your order from us on the day, order by November 4th Three Wine Men Cambridge, […]

We are increasing our trade show presence this year. Please come by and taste 2019 SITT Autumn: MONDAY 9th SEPTEMBER 2019, London WEDNESDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 2019, Manchester Swiss Delicacies, September 12 2019, London At the Guild of Fine Food. Information here Swiss Delicacies, September 12 2019, London At the Guild of Fine Food. Information here […]

A new selection for April based on what I loved in March – I even let Robb pick one! If you’re curious, here are my choices

On Tuesday we packed our bags and said goodbye to the little part of Vienna which had been our home. Our first stop was north of the city to the town of Sachsendorf where we visited the beautiful winery of Waldschütz. We have been importing Waldschütz wine for a few years and they keep getting […]

An open bottle will oxidise if left for half a day or so, sometimes less. What can we do about it?