Wine & Travel | Wine Destinations, Vineyard Visits & Experiences | Elizabeth & Wine | Bespoke Global Events | Wine Writer & Corporate Wine Tastings

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Wine & Travel.

I’m a wine specialist with a love for the places, flavours, and experiences that bring wine to life. From London’s hidden wine bars and restaurants to the rolling hills of Tuscany, I focus on stories that connect people, food, and wine — whether it’s pairing a local dish with the perfect bottle, exploring a destination vineyard, or uncovering the magic of a Champagne house.

Whether you’re in the city of London, have hopped on a plane to Europe, or are exploring the rest of the world of wine across the globe, I guide audiences, from curious wine lovers to seasoned travellers, in discovering the full richness of wine as part of lifestyle, travel, and culinary adventures, through writing, tastings, and curated experiences.

“Travel and wine are inseparable... The best experiences always combine place, plate, and glass. From a sunlit vineyard in Tuscany to a hidden wine bar in London, it’s the food, the people, and the wine together that make an experience truly unforgettable.”
— Elizabeth Hawthornthwaite

Oriana Golden Spur X Clarette

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

Laurent-Perrier - 10am Champagne on a Monday

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

The Best Wine l've Ever Had

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

Lobster Rolls, Negronis & Wine Bars Worth Visiting in Soho

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

Angelina, Dalston: Why Everyone’s Talking About This Wine-Led Restaurant

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.

Would You Pay €550 to Eat Mould? Inside the World of Mugaritz

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

A Modern Classic: Dining at Kentish Town’s Parakeet

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

3 Places You Need to Visit in London for Great Food and Wine

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 | Château Sainte-Marguerite at Canopy by Hilton

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

Moscato d’Asti: Italy’s Light, Fizzy Secret

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

ROKA, Charlotte Street, London

Have you been to ROKA? I had the pleasure of visiting ROKA, the flagship Japanese restaurant on Charlotte Street—right in the heart of vibrant Fitzrovia. This part of London is always hustling and bustling, and it’s easy to see why ROKA is nearly always fully booked most evenings. It’s been a destination venue for nearly two decades, and for good reason! The atmosphere is high energy yet casual, with an open-plan kitchen where you can watch the talented chefs at work—it ad

Outstanding New Addition to Borough Market: Camille, London

London is definitely having a Gallic moment when it comes to the restaurant scene and @camille_se1 is an outstanding new addition to...

Visit Epice in Franschhoek: A Culinary Journey Through Spice

If you find yourself exploring South Africa, make a beeline for Epice in Franschhoek, a destination celebrated for its unique approach to fine dining. Charné Sampson, the remarkable woman behind Epice, is not only the chef and owner but also a self-taught culinary artist who previously honed her skills as a sous chef at La Colombe. Charné's cooking philosophy stems from a deep reverence for her grandmother's treasured cookbook. This influence is palpably woven into her dishe