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Opt for organic wines from cool climates such as Europe and avoid hyped up brands that are expensive and often unexciting.

Hundreds of bougies (massive candles) flickering between the vines in an attempt to raise the air temperature. The smell of kerosene lingering in the air.

Jacky Blot’s wines from Domaine de la Taille aux Loups are some of the best wines coming out of the Montlouis appellation.

It’s all systems go as growers prepare for a glacial weekend here in the Loire. Temperatures are set to drop below zero in the early hours tonight.

Domaine Filliatreau is having a ‘portes ouvertes’ on Saturday May 25th and Sunday May 26th. Pop in to taste good quality Saumur Champigny wines and I’m sure much more.

As we drive around the vineyards of Vouvray it’s easy to see who is respecting the environment and who is not.

Once again frost has struck the Loire valley. 2 nights ago growers lit the burners, turned on the aspersion and cranked up the hot air turbines.

This is a really delicious beetroot salad that comes from Ottolenghi’s book Simple.

Growers who choose not to use chemicals to control weeds underneath the vines ‘work’ the soil mechanically or occasionally use a horse.

Growers are rushing to get pruning finished as buds are already bursting. Young vines were at the wooly bud stage about 10 days ago.

We both prefer the dark meat, preferring the juicy, tender leg meat to the breast so last night I decided to spice up the remaining breasts! Here what you need to do make a lovely spicy mid-week dinner that requires little work and really hits the spot.