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Buying Wine by the Case: How Much Do You Actually Save?

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  Same wine. Same vintage. Two different prices. That is the quiet reality of buying wine by the case, and once you see the numbers side by side, it is difficult to unsee them. Most people assume case buying is for restaurants, weddings, or serious collectors. In practice, it is simply the cheaper way to buy the wine you already drink. Here is the short answer before we go further. On wines we offer in both formats, the case price usually works out around 10% to 25% less per bottle than buying singles. Take the Calusari, Pinot Grigio, Feteasca Alba, Viile Timisului, Romania, 2025 (Case) . The case of 6 x 75cl is £52.95, and the page lists it at £8.82 per bottle. The same wine bought as a single bottle is £9.95. That is £1.13 saved on every bottle, or £6.75 across the case. That Calusari is made by Cramele Recas in Romania's Viile Timisului region, blends Pinot Grigio with Feteasca Alba at 12% ABV, sits under screw cap, and is marked vegan and vegetarian friendly. It is a useful be...
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How to Choose Belgian Beer: Trappist, Lambic & Strong Ale

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  Belgian beer has a habit of catching people out. A bottle no bigger than a soft drink can holds more alcohol than a glass of wine, and it can taste of fruitcake, fresh cherries or dry champagne rather than anything on a standard bar tap. That is exactly why it is worth exploring. Once you know the three big families, choosing gets simple, and a bottle like Chimay Bleu at £5.15 shows just how much flavour 330ml can hold. This guide explains what Trappist, lambic and strong ale actually mean, which Belgian breweries to look for, and what to buy first. It draws on the Belgian range stocked by The Fine Wine Company, an independent merchant at 119 High Street, Portobello, Edinburgh. What makes Belgian beer different? Belgian brewing is led by yeast. Instead of chasing hop bitterness, most Belgian breweries let their house yeast create the flavour, which is where the pear, banana, clove and peppery spice notes come from. Two other habits set it apart. Many beers are bottle-conditione...
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Lebanese Wine Guide: Château Musar, Bekaa Valley & What to Try

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  Lebanese wine has quietly become one of the most interesting corners of the wine shelf, and the reason is simple. Lebanon grows two white grapes almost nobody else does, Obaideh and Merwah, which have adapted to Lebanese conditions over centuries and give whites you will not find anywhere else. The easiest way in is still the country's most famous red. Château Musar 2018 comes from the Bekaa Valley, blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault at 14% ABV, and costs £47.95 for a 75cl bottle. This is a friendly UK guide to everything behind that bottle. We have put it together drawing on years of helping customers at our independent shop in Portobello, Edinburgh, and it covers Lebanon's three key regions, the grapes worth knowing, and five wines to try from our range of more than twenty Lebanese bottlings. What makes Lebanese wine different? Two things set Lebanese wine apart. The first is those indigenous white grapes, which we come back to in detail below. The second is...
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Cognac vs Armagnac: Which French Brandy Should You Sip?

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Cognac and Armagnac are the two great French brandies, and choosing between them is one of the most enjoyable decisions in the drinks cabinet. Both are made from grapes, both are aged in oak, and both are meant to be sipped slowly rather than rushed. Yet they come from different regions of France and taste noticeably different. If you have ever stood in front of a shelf wondering which one to pour, this simple guide will help you decide with confidence. Here is the short answer before we go further. Cognac is generally smoother, lighter and more polished, which makes it the easy first step for most people. Armagnac is fuller-bodied and more characterful, and tends to win over drinkers who already enjoy a bit of depth in their glass. You can explore both in our own Cognac collection , and the good news is that there is no wrong answer here, only a matter of personal taste and the mood of the moment. What is the difference between Cognac and Armagnac? Both are grape brandies distilled f...
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