Armagnac - A Quick History: Brandy country circles the port of Bordeaux, with Cognac based in the Charente to the north-east of the city whilst Armagnac lies in Gascony to the south-west. The latter region formed part of Aquitaine (hence England) from Henry II's ascent to the throne in 1154 until the end of the […] The post Armagnac 101 appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

"The world of no- and low-alcohol wines continues to innovate, offering intriguing flavours without compromising on quality." Patricia Stefanowicz - thedrinksbusiness.com     As flavour-hungry wine merchants, we are always on the lookout for complex, soothing lower-alcohol drinks after a long day of tastings. Such 'palate smoothers' and 'de-discombobulators' need to fulfil a number of […] The post Grown-Up No- and Low-Alcohol Drinks appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

Reasons to be cheerful! OK, so it's chilly and long, but January is a month full of charm and opportunities for positivity. Hearty walks through snow-dusted countryside to hygge retreats, Three Kings Day (Epiphany) with a galette de rois treat from the boulangerie, Burns night, the Yapp Brothers' Christmas party (like most of the wine […] The post Food and Wine Matching – January 2025 appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

"I remember when we couldn't shift this for love nor money on the shelf for £25!" exclaimed the owner of one of London's most reputable independent merchants recently when baulking at the market price of one of our most sought-after wines from the Northern Rhône. I've heard this lament in different forms so many times […] The post ‘Taxi for Simon!’ Next cab off the rank – Domaine de Montcalmès appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

"Nowhere can match the Loire's range of styles, from light, crisp Muscadets to raspberry-rich Chinons." Fiona Sims - Decanter.com Like many of the world's famed wine regions, the wines of the Loire valley owe much to the influence of the river and its tributaries - Allier, Cher, Indre, Vienne and Maine, among others. From its […] The post Spotlight on the wines and dishes of the Loire appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

Sautéed Chicken Livers with Shallots, Anchovies and Marsala I was taught this recipe by an old family friend who was an intuitive cook who seldom weighed anything. It works quite well on crostini as a starter for 4 people but also serves as a main course for 2 with some crusty bread or rice to […] The post Food and Wine Matching – October 2024 appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

"Provence is a country to which I am always returning, next week, next year, any day now, as soon as I can get on a train." Elizabeth David - 'French Provincial Cooking' (1960) Provence is home to some of France's oldest vineyards (dating back to Roman times) as its 3,000 hours of sunlight annually provide […] The post Spotlight on the wines and dishes of Provence appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

Cod and Red Lentil Curry This cod and lentil curry is quite simple to prepare and makes for a tasty and wholesome midweek supper. You could use a different white fish, or even salmon, but this version was well-received by my household.   Ingredients: (Serves 2 to 3 people) 275g of line-caught cod loin - […] The post Food and Wine Matching – September 2024 appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

    David Chandler: "In this episode our two, garrulous gringos of the grape get a grip on Grenache, which makes the grade in a great many wines, though its graduation from the grottiest of gripe waters to the graceful grandiosity of Châteauneuf-du-Pape isn't greatly grasped. Grin with gruntled glee as our grandee of the […] The post ‘Adventures In Wine’ podcast, episode 38 – ‘Glorious Grenache’ appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more

Salad Days Whilst I am usually fairly apathetic about salads, my interest in them has been growing of late. This is partially due to more clement weather facilitating more al fresco eating and also because I have been growing of late and I am determined not to go up a jeans size, which will necessitate […] The post Food and Wine Matching – August 2024 appeared first on Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants ..read more