What Makes a Good Networking Event? Lessons from a Taylor Wessing Wine Series Most client events are pleasant. Very few are memorable. The problem isn't effort or budget — it's that the same familiar formats rarely give guests a reason to properly engage with each other, or with the firm hosting them. People arrive, exchange pleasantries, drink something perfectly nice, and leave without having had a single conversation they'll remember on Monday morning. One of the most

I had the absolute pleasure of hosting a daytime Women in Property event at Stem & Stem recently. A 2:30 to 5:00 pm gathering felt like such a refreshing change, and the afternoon sun streaming through the windows created the perfect backdrop for relaxed conversation over a thoughtfully curated selection of wines. With 45 remarkable women in the room, including guests from Cynergy Bank, the energy was palpable. Conversations flowed effortlessly, connections were made, and

Certain travel experiences feel quintessentially Italian. Drinking espresso standing at a bar. Wandering sun-drenched piazzas at golden hour. Ordering a plate of pasta so good that you immediately start planning your next trip back. And then there’s discovering a wine window in Florence. Tucked into the walls of historic palazzos across the city, Florence’s famous wine windows, known locally as buchette del vino, are one of Tuscany’s most charming traditions. I finally f

It's the moment of the year I love when the new vintage starts arriving on shelves and the spring has sprung. The 2025s are here, and there is a lot to get excited about. Provence rosé is back in force. Two of my favourites have just landed: the new Mirabeau, which keeps getting more refined year on year, and Château Léoube — quietly one of the most beautifully made rosés in Provence, organic, coastal, and a long way from the supermarket pink shelf. If you've been buying t

English sparkling can rival Champagne. Here’s why. For the longest time, the idea that English sparkling wine could rival Champagne was unthinkable. But it has happened! Last year, Nyetimber’s Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum was crowned Champion Sparkling Wine at the International Wine Challenge — the first time in the competition’s history that the top prize has been awarded to a wine made outside Champagne. The decision followed a blind assessment of more than 1,000 sparkling

The oldest wine I’ve ever tasted was a 1996 Vorberg from Cantina Terlan, nearly 30 years old, and it was, without exaggeration, one of the most remarkable white wines I’ve ever experienced. Still incredibly alive. Still vibrant. Still completely compelling. Taste: Textural, nutty, melon, honeydew. Voluptuous, layered, and bright. The kind of wine that makes you stop mid-sip.

It’s May… which means one thing: rosé season is officially ON. As soon as the weather shifts in the UK, search trends spike for rosé wine UK, summer wine ideas, and how to chill rosé without watering it down, and honestly, I get it. There’s nothing quite like that first proper glass of rosé in the sunshine. This is the season of long afternoons, garden tables, picnics, and easy entertaining. And rosé fits it all perfectly: chilled, vibrant, and completely unpretentious.

Budburst at Weyborne Estate marks one of the most important moments in the English wine growing season — the point where the vineyard fully awakens after winter dormancy. It’s the beginning of the growing cycle for English sparkling wine, when the first green shoots emerge and the vineyard starts its quiet transformation towards harvest. I recently visited the estate at exactly that moment. The vines were just beginning to push through, with soft green growth appearing acro

At almost every tasting I host, someone tells me they’ve given up red wine because it gives them a headache. And in most cases, it isn’t red wine as a whole that’s the issue — it’s the style of red they’re drinking. Why red wine can cause headaches: If red wine gives you headaches, it’s usually linked to three things: • Higher alcohol – many fuller-bodied reds sit at 14.5% and above• Higher tannins – that drying, gripping texture in your mouth• Individual sensitivity – e

If you love wine, you need to try sake like this. Sake cocktails in London are one of those experiences that completely change how you think about sake. If you are used to wine, this is an easy and exciting step into something lighter, more aromatic, and unexpectedly elegant. At Sticks'n'Sushi, sake is treated with the same care as wine. The result is sake cocktails that are crisp, floral, lifted, and beautifully balanced. They are not heavy or overpowering, instead they

Sometimes the easiest way to talk about money is with a glass of something good in hand. That was the thinking behind Pensions & Prosecco — an intimate evening we hosted at Rostrum in London, designed to make pensions feel a bit more approachable, and a lot less overwhelming. We kept it small. Just 20 guests. I was joined by finance journalist Katie Binns and Kellands Chartered Financial Planners, and together we created something that felt relaxed, open, and genuinely u

This is the kind of restaurant you tell your friends about immediately, especially if you love bold flavours, Thai food in London, and standout Borough Market restaurants. Tucked into the heart of Borough Market, Kolae brings the fire and intensity of Southern Thailand to London in the most unforgettable way. This is not subtle dining; it is food with confidence, heat, and personality in every single dish.

One of the things I’ve learnt travelling through Tuscany is that the most interesting stories are rarely the loudest ones.They sit slightly to the side.Just beyond the well-known names. In Val d’Orcia, between Brunello di Montalcino and Montepulciano, that’s exactly where I found them. This part of southern Tuscany is everything you imagine it to be, rolling hills, cypress-lined roads, soft winter light, but it’s also where a quieter shift is happening.Less about prestige.

Three pink Proseccos genuinely worth pouring. Rosé Prosecco is no longer a novelty. Since the approval of Prosecco DOC Rosé in 2020, pink Prosecco has secured a firm place on British tables — from supermarket shelves to smart receptions. But as with all trends, quality varies. Here are three rosé Proseccos I rate not because they are pink, but because they are properly made, balanced and enjoyable to drink. Kylie Minogue Prosecco Rosé Celebrity wines can be hit or mi

Skiing the Dolomites isn’t just about the slopes, it’s about where you eat, drink, and soak up the mountain atmosphere. The food scene in the Dolomites is just as memorable as the skiing itself, with everything from high-altitude fine dining to lively après-ski spots that turn into late afternoon parties. Here is my ultimate dining guide for eating and drinking in the Dolomites and Alto Badia.

If you are wondering about Prosecco calories, the short answer is this: a standard 125ml glass of Prosecco contains around 80–90 calories. But the exact number depends on the style — from Brut to Dolce — and the residual sugar in the wine. Let’s break it down clearly. How Many Calories in a Glass of Prosecco? For a 125ml glass (the standard serving size in the UK): Brut Prosecco: 80–85 caloriesExtra Dry Prosecco: 85–95 caloriesDry Prosecco: 95–105 caloriesDolce Pro

When it comes to corporate events, the wine isn’t the point. It’s what happens around it. At Elizabeth & Wine, I design corporate wine tastings that make people feel comfortable, engaged, and able to connect quickly — whether that’s clients meeting for the first time or teams coming together after a long day of meetings. These are not technical tastings. They’re structured, well-paced experiences that work in real corporate environments. A recent event with Hogan Lovell

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.

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,

International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate progress, reflect on change, and raise a glass to the women redefining industries around the world, including wine. Eight years ago, I founded Elizabeth & Wine with one simple mission: to look behind the label and celebrate the talented winemakers shaping the bottles we love. What started as curiosity has become a long-term journey into the people, places, and craftsmanship behind every glass. Over time, one thing has bec