MY LATEST BLOG POSTS...

And how much fizz do you really need for a welcome reception? A standard bottle of Prosecco is 750ml. From one bottle, you will typically pour around six glasses at 125ml, which is the hospitality benchmark. Alternatively, you might get five more generous 150ml glasses, or seven to eight smaller reception pours of around 100ml. When planning events, I always calculate on six glasses per bottle. It keeps numbers accurate, service consistent, and budgets under control. If

A little history, an honest review, and whether it deserves space in your glass Pink Prosecco looks as though it has always existed. It hasn’t. Officially known as Prosecco DOC Rosé, it was only approved in 2020. Which means the pink bottles lining supermarket shelves are a very modern development. So is pink Prosecco genuinely good — or simply a beautifully timed marketing move? What Exactly Is Pink Prosecco? Pink Prosecco is regulated by the Prosecco DOC Consortium,

When it comes to serving Prosecco, the glass shape matters more than most people realise. The right Prosecco glass enhances aroma, preserves bubbles and improves texture. So are you deciding between a flute and a tulip glass for Prosecco? Here is what you need to know. Why Glass Shape Matters for Prosecco Prosecco is typically made using the Charmat (tank) method. This production style preserves: Fresh fruit character Floral aromatics Light, lively mousse

One of the best times to visit Tuscany is April. The landscape is at its greenest, spring has arrived, vineyards come back to life and wildflowers carpet the hills. It is picture-postcard perfect. Days are warm rather than hot (15–20°C), ideal for walking, cycling, wine tasting and enjoying spring food such as asparagus, artichokes, fresh cheeses like Pecorino di Pienza, local olive oil and crisp salads. On a recent trip I stayed in Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage

I hosted a private networking evening for Rostrum at Lady of the Grapes, and what a night it was. Twenty-two guests, fully booked, surprising no on-the-day drop outs, and such a buzz that no one wanted to leave. The goal was simple: bring marketing leaders from law firms together, make introductions, and let conversation flow naturally over great wine and food. We tasted four standout wines: - Oxney English Sparkling: crafted by the brilliant Kristen, who swapped PR

The subject of women in wine has always fascinated me. Like many industries, the wine world was traditionally male-dominated, but this has changed dramatically in recent decades. Today, some of the most exciting wines in the world are being made by female winemakers, whose perspectives, creativity, and commitment to sustainability are shaping the future of the industry. When you open a bottle of wine, it’s easy to focus on the flavours in the glass. But behind every wine i

Valentine’s Day always stirs a particular excitement in me. It gives something of the thrill akin to a Jilly Cooper novel (I loved Rivals on TV last autumn!) – mysterious admirers, loving gifts and the promise of wine from my husband, or perhaps even a secret admirer! However, I do find that many British men don’t share in the excitement that women have for Valentine’s Day. Some British men, particularly those of a certain vintage, view Valentine’s Day as more of a chore t

Some corporate dinners feel transactional. Others stay with you. The difference is rarely the food or the venue. It’s the atmosphere around the table. When wine is used well, it shifts the dynamic. Not as the focus of the evening — but as the facilitator of conversation, curiosity and connection. Recently, I hosted a private milestone dinner in London for Hogan Lovells and Vodafone, celebrating a 10-year working partnership. Twelve guests. Senior. Relationship-led.

Last year, I hosted my largest event to date — a Wine Safari for 80 guests on the rooftop of Bank of New York Mellon. For the first time, I wasn’t pouring solo. I was joined by two brilliant women in wine: Corinne Seely, winemaker at Exton Park and former youngest female winemaker in Bordeaux Kirsty Woodgate, wine expert and long-time industry colleague Together, we led guests through a tasting journey of wines owned or made by women, from classic Margaux to sta

Ropes & Gray asked me to design a wine experience to mark 15 years of business in the UK, alongside the opening of new offices in Paris and Milan. This was a significant moment for the firm not just an anniversary. From the outset, the brief was clear: the wines needed to mean something. This wasn’t about showcasing prestige for its own sake; it was about telling the firm’s story through the glass. Elizabeth & Wine designed a tasting that mirrored the business journey:

February is the month of love, and for me, it’s also the month of bubbles. Sparkling wine has long been associated with celebration, but there’s more to sparkling wine than corks hitting the ceiling and froth spraying forth. Behind every great bottle, there’s often a woman winemaker quietly reshaping tradition with courage, craft, and grace.   This month, I’m raising a glass to two female winemakers who make fabulous sparkling wines and who’ve inspired me: Constance Delaire

One of the most underrated white wines in Italy — and a personal favourite of mine- is Vernaccia di San Gimignano. In a region globally celebrated for powerful reds, this historic Tuscan white quietly holds its own, offering depth, texture and remarkable ageing potential. If you’re searching for the best white wines of Tuscany, this is where I’d start. Expect aromas of lemon peel, ripe pear, crushed almonds and wild Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, it’s dry, structured

Ever wondered how many calories are in your glass of wine? 175ml red (14%) ≈ 175 calories 175ml white (12.5%) ≈ 150 calories 125ml Champagne (11%) ≈ 90 calories For context:One McVitie’s Digestive (plain or chocolate) is around 70–85 calories. Alcohol level and sweetness matter — not all glasses are created equal. Worth knowing, not worth stressing. So, what’s your favourite wine… and how many biscuits would you swap it for? Elizabeth x

We hosted a special tasting last month to celebrate Ropes & Gray LLP marking 15 years in London, and it reminded me why I love building events around a story. They were originally founded in Boston, and this year they opened new offices in Paris and Milan. So instead of choosing “nice wines,” we built the tasting around their journey: - An English sparkling to honour London - A French 2010 vintage to nod to Paris - An Italian 2010 vintage for Milan 2010 is, of cour

Think Tuscany is only for sun-soaked summers and golden wheat fields? Think again. A winter trip to Val d’Orcia reveals a quieter, moodier, more cinematic side of the region, one that feels deeply authentic, atmospheric and wonderfully unhurried. This UNESCO World Heritage landscape, famous for its rolling hills, cypress-lined roads and storybook hill towns, transforms in winter. Morning mist settles in the valleys, olive groves shimmer silver in low light, and sunset turn

Drinking less is no longer unusual – it’s the norm for many of us, especially at this time of year. Although, I must confess I never do Dry January as my birthday is on 16 January and champagne will always be poured - instead October is my sober month.  As of May 2025, 53% of UK adults reported enjoying a no- or low-alcohol drink in the past 12 months. The no/low market was worth an estimated £380 million at the end of 2024 and is forecast to more than double to £800 millio

Here is the full text from the article screenshots, organized into a single blog post format: ENGLISH WINES Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite shares her recommendations for brilliant English wines to enjoy this winter – from sparkling stars to supermarket favourites and hidden gems. ENGLISH wine just gets better and better. This summer’s warm, dry conditions have set the stage for a standout vintage and while we won’t be tasting the 2025 wines for a couple of years, all signs point

Winter in Montalcino and Montepulciano is a different kind of magic, softer, slower, and infinitely more atmospheric. If you’re considering a winter trip to southern Tuscany, particularly in the weeks leading up to Christmas, expect fewer crowds, mist-laced mornings and that low golden light photographers dream about. The medieval streets feel almost cinematic, with wood smoke curling into the cool air and church bells echoing across nearly empty piazzas.

This month, I would like to introduce you to two phenomenal women who are shaping the world of wine. In England, Canadian winemaker Cherie Spriggs has helped transform Nyetimber into a sparkling wine that genuinely rivals Champagne. Meanwhile, over in Western Australia, Vanya Cullen has redefined what it means to make Cabernet Sauvignon, crafting biodynamic wines of purity and power while caring for her land as a mother does her children.   Both women are powerhouses of the

Discover the best Burgundy wines to pair with everyday meals like pizza, popcorn, and Indian food. Expert Burgundy Pinot Noir and Chardonnay pairings for relaxed dinners and real life moments.

Here are my go-to favourites — simple, sparkling and guaranteed to bring a little extra magic to your celebrations. 1. Poinsettia A bright, elegant classic with a wintery twist. You’ll need:• 25ml Triple Sec• 50ml cranberry juice• 75ml Aldi Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut or Prosecco• 1 fresh bay leaf Method:Add Triple Sec and cranberry juice to a flute, top with chilled fizz and garnish with a fresh bay leaf.Festive, refreshing and impossibly pretty. 2. Negroni Sbagliato

These three whites are brilliant examples of quality without the cost: versatile, crowd-pleasing and beautifully made. Perfect for holiday lunches, cosy evenings with cheese, or simply keeping a chilled bottle ready in the fridge for guests. Let’s explore them in more detail.

Sainsbury’s really delivers this season, and I’m a big fan of their own-brand ‘Taste the Difference’ range. The quality has been consistently impressive, especially for the price, and whilst it’s hard to pick favourites, here are three bottles that stand out. From beautifully aged English sparkling to small-production Pinot Noir and a generous southern French white, these wines feel crafted and thoughtful without stretching the budget. Three very different wines, each d

Supermarket wines are stronger than ever this Christmas, with brilliant value across sparkling styles if you know where to look. Two bottles stand out immediately: Veuve Monsigny Champagne from Aldi offers exceptional quality for under £15, with a style that feels far more premium than its price tag. Contevedo Cava is another reliable sparkling, vibrant, savoury and refreshing, ideal for festive parties and seafood or cheese boards. These are the kinds of bottles that make

A thoughtful, sustainable, and elegant wine without ever feeling stuffy or expensive. Bijou Pinot Noir — my festive fave: Feels luxe, subtle oak, fine tannins, red cherry. Perfect with duck, lamb stew, or a festive cheese board. The story behind Sophie Valrose: The range is named after a real-life hero — a vineyard worker in the Languedoc in the late 19th/early 20th century. Sophie didn’t just tend the vines; she fought for the rights of women in the vineyards at a tim

My current favourites… and honestly, they’re world-class. My Favourite English Sparkling: Weyborne Oriana Golden Spur The latest release from the talented wine maker Ben Abric at Weyborne. You can enjoy this as an aperitif, its lifted citrus, orchard fruit full of energy makes it fun to drink with smoked salmon bellinis all afternoon. It would be equally at home with grilled seabass because of the subtle oxidative winemaking adds depth and complexity to this wine with a s

Weyborne’s new Oriana Golden Spur is all about precision, place, and a little bit of magic and it was a privilege to be at the launch at Clarette restaurant last week, hearing Ben Abric and William Sharpley lift the veil on how this wine is made. £45 · weyborne.com Also at Hawkins Bros, Wine & Earth, Farr Vintners and Bibendum. What makes Oriana Golden Spur stand out?• Highest point of the South Downs National Park – a 25-acre single estate, entirely grown and made on th

10am Champagne on a Monday isn’t my usual start to the week… but for Laurent-Perrier, I’ll make an exception. 🍾 The tasting at 67 Pall Mall reminded me why this house remains one of Champagne’s most respected names — prestige without pretence.Four wines, all under £90, all excellent quality and widely available, which really surprised me! Constance Delaire, Laurent-Perrier’s talented oenologist from Bordeaux, led the session with warmth and passion– bringing to life the p

They can trigger symptoms like headaches, flushing, or restless sleep — especially if your body struggles to break them down. During perimenopause and menopause, fluctuating oestrogen levels can reduce your ability to process histamines, which is why wine sensitivity can increase. Histamines form during fermentation and ageing — particularly malolactic fermentation, which softens acidity in reds. That’s why aged reds often contain more histamines than young whites, rosés

Taste - Clotted cream, orange blossom, almonds, white pepper. Very full, rounded and flavour lasts forever.Where is it from? Bâtard-Montrachet is a great white Grand Cru in Burgundy's Côte D'or, France. Its vineyards are located on the slope beneath Le Montrachet, in the Côte de Beaune. Bâtard-Montrachet's soils are heavier than those surrounding it, made up of brown limestone and gravel, which pave the way for rich, nutty, honeyed and heady wines with good structure. Have yo

A recent event at the Farm Shop on Audley Street was a perfect reminder of how much craft and care sits behind truly good food and wine.  Hand-cut charcuterie, farmhouse cheeses, and a line-up of bottles that sparked real conversation around the table. We started with Gusbourne’s Blanc de Blancs 2019, made by Mary Bridges, who became Head Winemaker at 30. It’s a gold-winning wine with serious pedigree (it was poured at Buckingham Palace during the London Olympics), and

Another brilliant Elizabeth & Wine tasting - this time with Kingsley Napley, exploring how thoughtful food and wine pairings can transform a table. We began with the cooler, more elegant cousin to Prosecco: Castelveder Franciacorta Rosé from Italy. From there, Samantha O’Keefe’s barrel-aged Sauvignon Blanc from Lismore (South Africa) brought texture and depth (a real standout). Our journey continued through Beaujolais with Nicole Chanrion’s vibrant Côte de Brouilly 2019

South Africa is still a best kept secret in wine.  Some of the most exciting bottles on the shelves come from the Cape and they offer serious value. Two things make the region special for producers - diverse soils and the unique climate which shaped by two oceans, the cool Atlantic and the warm Indian which brings dry heat, fresh air, and intense sunlight. Samantha O’Keefe is a South African winemaker whose story is just remarkable. Sam was raised in San Francisco, where

My summary around No and Low is that it's a really exciting movement that’s here to stay. We all want to drink in moderation, especially as we move into the festive season, and now, finally, there are options that make that easy. It’s completely normal to order a non-alcoholic drink in a bar. No awkwardness, no side-eye. And the best part? The quality is catching up fast. I spent October tasting across the No & Low spectrum — from alcohol-liberated wines to mid-strength blend

Throwback to a recent corporate wine tasting at Allen & Overy. With 10 new team members joining the firm, we spent the afternoon building confidence around wine — breaking down the jargon, decoding tasting notes, and exploring how food and wine pairing actually works in practice. We covered questions that come up again and again at corporate events and client dinners: • What wines work best with spicy food? • What should you serve with lamb (beyond simply “a red”)? • How

Last week was a milestone moment for Elizabeth & Wine. I hosted a Wine Safari on the rooftop of BNY Mellon for 80 guests — and for the first time, I wasn’t leading solo. I was joined by two incredible women in wine: Corinne Seely – winemaker at Exton Park, once Bordeaux’s youngest female winemaker Kirsty Woodgate – fellow wine expert and long-time industry friend Together we delivered my most ambitious tasting yet: 13 wines celebrating trailblazing female winemakers fro

Lobster rolls and Negronis in Soho. Moi is high-energy, stylish restaurant restaurant with a cool vibe. Upstairs, an open kitchen and wood-fired grill set the scene. Downstairs, the Listening Room shifts the mood with low light and music-led energy (soon to open). The food is knockout: Sicilian prawns, lobster rolls, melt-in-your-mouth pork. Japanese precision meets the best of British produce, every plate built on quality and flavour. The cocktail list is playful, t

The talk of the town… Angelina on Dalston Lane where Italian flavours meet Japanese precision, led by Head Chef Daniele Cotugno. Order the smoked Negroni, then enjoy Sicilian prawns, tomato salad, fried courgettes, a whole fish for two (£34) and the best tortellini in London. The wine list leans confidently Italian, which I love and enjoy Pinot Bianco from Alto Adige. Service is spot on — I’ve never had a menu explained so clearly, right down to how many dishes to order.

For €550pp, would you EAT MOULD? 2 Michelin stars… but you’re eating with your BODY PARTS?! Yup. Fine dining, but definitely not as you know it. This is Mugaritz — where finger food takes on a whole new meaning and body parts might just be part of the cutlery. This is not your candlelit, foie-gras-and-fine-silver affair. Mugaritz is deliberately disorienting. It’s part performance, part philosophy, part “wait… did I just eat mould?” Expect dishes that ask questions, not jus

The very FIRST EVER Wing Woman Wine Club! We had our first Wing Woman Wine Club last week and the vibes were electric. Sunshine, stripey tops, glasses in hand. Everyone logged on right on time. Everyone had their cameras on. Blue and white seemed to be the unspoken dress code, and I loved every minute of it. There were 20 people signed up, and 9 brilliant women on the call, which, for a first outing, felt like the perfect number. Intimate, fun, high energy. Someone

You don’t just walk in and take charge like it’s your personal dining room. No, no. You follow the host. Always. Handbags? Not on the table, darling. Ideally next to you and even better if you handbag is given it’s on seat. Napkin? Straight to the lap, neatly folded — never crumpled. NEVER. Bathroom break? Drape your napkin on the chair. It’s all in the art of elegance — and yes, your napkin speaks volumes. Elizabeth x

Don’t just pop the cork back in and hope for the best… My TOP TIP: pour the wine into a small jar once you’re halfway through the bottle — Remember, when it comes to wine, oxygen is the enemy!Less oxygen = fresher wine.This way, it’ll keep for up to a week in the fridge. Elizabeth x

The Parakeet is an open-fire fuelled beauty of a pub in Kentish Town with ex-Brat chef Ben Allen at the coals. Kentish Town is food critic Giles Coren’s local ‘hood, so you need to be on your game to succeed here. The Parakeet opened a couple of years ago and it became something of an instant classic. The building is split into two very distinct sections - the pub for drinks and the dining room for food. I loved the art in the dining room and the use of greens and moody

Brutto35–37 Greenhill Rents, Clerkenwell, EC1M 6BNThe last restaurant created by the legend Russel Norman and it’s a masterpiece. It’s a relaxed Italian trattoria meets New York City dark moody lighting! With insanely good food from light snacks, pasta and T-bone steaks, very cool vibes with a bar when you want to leave the table and epic £5 Negroni’s. Tollingtons Fish Bar365 Tollington Road, Finsbury Park, N7 6DNA transformed old fish and chip shop into a Spanish-sty

Where to sip wine this summer in The City – check out the @chateausaintemarguerite collab at @canopybyhilton. If you’re looking for a new go-to after work or Thursday lunch spot in the sun, I’ve found a gem for you! Canopy by Hilton has become my latest wine stop, largely thanks to a beautiful collaboration with one of my favourite rosé producers: Château Sainte-Marguerite from Provence, France. Situated at 11 Minories, just a short walk from Liverpool Street and Leaden

Non-alcohol drinks aren’t just for teetotallers. In fact, 78% of people buying them to drink. This market’s growing 8% each year — not because we’re saying no to wine, but because we’re saying yes to options. What are your non-alcoholic go-to drinks? Elizabeth x

Why do we abbreviate Bourgogne to ‘Burgundy’—but never do the same for Champagne, Bordeaux or Loire? It’s time to give Bourgogne the same respect we show other French wine regions—by calling it by its proper name.

I’ve always been intrigued about how non-alcoholic wines and drinks are made and was lucky enough to visit @joerggeiger.uk recently in Germany to find out more. ✨ 1. They can be complex and more than fruit juice. 2. They can be aged in barrels. 3. They can be made with up to 100 different ingredients. 4. They’re made with the same care and creativity a chef puts into a recipe. 5. They’re made with fruit trees up to 180 years old. 6. They’re produ

The Italians know how to lead the good life and in the 1870 with the grape Moscato they started to make a light, fizzy, white wine. Perfect for elevenses with lemon sorbet, afternoons with fruit tart or long lunches. I've enjoyed a Moscato d 'Asti on many a trip to Piedmont. I love this wine because its only 5.5% in alcohol (normal is 12%) is light, fruity and sweet so easy to drink on its own. Elizabeth x

This sun-drenched pocket of southern France is crafting wines with soul, not just sunshine in a glass. Tucked between the Mediterranean and the Pyrenees, Roussillon is redefining what it means to be a “southern French wine.” Elegant reds. Crisp whites. Old vines with serious pedigree. Q: Is Roussillon part of Languedoc? A: Roussillon proudly stands on its own — wedged between mountain and sea, with one foot in France and a wink to Catalonia. Q: Are the wines all simple