Semi-retired Guardian wine writer, still actively writing on Eat This Drink That on Substack and https://xitter.cf/t.co/8b5qi04xw0

Bristol
Joined January 2009
Congratulations to the winner of the Spirits Writing Award: Oisin Davis @OisinTweets. This award was judged by Fiona Beckett @winematcher and sponsored by Powerscourt Distillery @PowerscourtDist #IFWA24
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14 years ago I joined a special school with the label PMLD stuck on me and was given a sensory curriculum. This week I started University at @BathSpaUni studying Creative Writing! #TeachUsToo #LiteracyForAll
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The best I’ve seen so far xitter.cf/TheKiffness/status/183…
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Still one of my favourite typos
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You might of missed this over the weekend; it’s a great reminder of Irish winemakers and the influence of Irish in wine making further afield. Fiona (one of our awards judges) has a great list here ✨🍷 @LesDeuxCols @64_Wine @roisincurley @mcguiganwines @Whelehanswines
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Alexa, show me the most perfect tweet about Trump ever committed to public record.
Replying to @Politidope
It's almost impossible to believe he exists. It's as if we took everything that was bad about America, scraped it up off the floor, wrapped it all up in an old hot dog skin, and then taught it to make noises with its face.
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📢 So delighted to share this, a SS raffle fundraiser in aid of @PracticalAction ⭐ Buy a £3 raffle ticket for a chance to win an annual subscription to one of 50+ bestselling newsletters ⭐ Don't miss the early bird ticket bundles! 📩 Link in bio 🗓️ Ends 8/3 🙏🏽 Pls share, TY
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Sensational pairing of cheese and sake @WSETschool Envisioning the Future of Sake: Mature Gouda and Daruma Masamume, Gifu 10 year. This brilliant pairing by Hugo Meyer Esquerré and Natsuki Kimuya brings out the coffee note in both. We’re at Greek yogurt and honey level combining
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A reminder that both France and Spain have 10% VAT on food in restaurants, unlike the UK’s 20%. Spain goes further with 10% VAT on restaurant wine, compared to 21% VAT on wine in shops. Spain has wine lists that UK restaurateurs/customers can only dream about. France better too. – at Mérignac, France
For all those out there who keep telling me that Hospitality should "pay their way and asking for a VAT cut is unrealistic" A vat cut to 10% in Hospitality would cost c£4bn (HMRC) - FACT Tax generated by Hospitality in 2022 was c£54bn (UKH) - FACT Hospitality generates enormous amounts in tax to fund public services. We still will - FACT However we have to be here to do that. - FACT It will just be 50bn rather than 54bn, which will reduce annually to nothing through increased tax returns so Hospitality will end up paying the same but through Corp Tax rather than VAT tax (the irony!) - as shown in Europe! - FACT Cutting Taxes generates taxes! - FACT 10% of something is better than 20% of nothing. - FACT If you want to argue with me argue the facts. #hospitality #cutvat Sign ✍️ change.org/p/lower-vat-to-10… Send 📝 ukhospitality.eaction.org.uk…
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Sublime
MP blames Toby Jones & ITV for not making #PostOfficeScandal drama sooner.
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Off to #Valencia at the end of the month. Anyone got any good restaurant recs/places I shouldn't miss? Thanks in advance...
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Celebrating 21 years of the 44 group with our January sale next week. Specials food and drink menu at 2002 prices
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To tie non with International Aszú Day on December 10, Hungarian wine expert Caroline Gilby champions Sweet Tokaji and its gastronomic versatility by showing how different restaurants pair it with all manner of different food. Click the-buyer.net/people/on-trad…
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Tarte Tatin: The classic French dessert has a fascinating history. But which wines pair best with this simple but delicious dish? bit.ly/3rZFQNT via @worldoffinewine & @joannasimon #wine #food #foodpairing #winepairing
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Should be worth a read…. @JancisRobinson
Sneak peek of this weekend's cover 🍷 Look out for the story on Thursday at on.ft.com/3P8ooze
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Over on our Insta; want to know more about our #WineWriting judge @winematcher and our Wine Writing Award partner @Whelehanswines?🍷❤️
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Superb explanation of how from 1st August the government will be hitting wine drinkers with a significant tax hike - building on a rate of taxation that was already extremely high in comparison to all of our nearest neighbours.
The Govt were right to alert us at the start of July. ‘On 1 August 2023, the Alcohol Duty system will become much simpler, taxing all alcoholic drinks based on their alcohol by volume (ABV)’ It’s not ‘much simpler’ so here’s A guide to the UK duty hikes on wine A very long🧵
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Remarkable look at wine drinking habits for the French over the last 30-odd years ⬆️ Rose ⬇️ Red
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Similar energy here in restaurant where i’ve just filled the toilet rolls and hand soap dispensers
Fantastic energy in the room for the opening reception at the 40th @IDUAlliance conference. Let’s back democracy against autocracy everywhere we find it.
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Buy the wine to drink and share, for in that resides the most significant gift of wine. If you want to invest, buy bricks instead. Eben Sadie's 'humble request' on The Sadie Family website.
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