Mind your language! Parmi les vignes (Among the vines)
Mind your language Ed Merrison Mind your language Ed Merrison

Mind your language! Parmi les vignes (Among the vines)

Mind Your Language is a new Vininspo! series in which we look at words and phrases taken from European languages and universally adopted in the English-speaking wine world. This gives a guide to pronunciation, precise meaning and application. With a look at the roots of words (etymology), a flirtation with the formation of words (morphology) and a bit of linguistic tongue-in-cheekiness, this also gives a chance to keep expanding our web of understanding as we navigate the incredibly rich global winescape. Not only that, it will also go some way to increasing comprehension for English speakers discussing wine with people with another mother tongue.
This short episode looks at various French terms that arise in and around the vines.

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Know your étiquette! Rioja Reserva
Education, Know your étiquette, Spain Ed Merrison Education, Know your étiquette, Spain Ed Merrison

Know your étiquette! Rioja Reserva

With Jerez in Andalucía, Rioja is Spain’s oldest Denominación de Origen dating back to 1925. It shares with Calalunya’s Priorat the distinction of being the only Denominación de Origen Calificada. For many, it’s name is interchangeable with the term Spanish red wine.
There’s no doubt that its number one status has been challenged and that it’s had to respond to criticism of certain aspects of tradition.
Telmo Rodríguez is one of those special producers moving things forward - here and elsewhere in Spain - by being sensitive, skilful and intelligent in looking back.
Here, though, is a chance to peer behind the label to get a basic handle on the region via a very tasty 2014.

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