From Blog To Book

Photo: Annie @ Mammasaurus

A few weeks ago, I spoke at the Henley Literary Festival, along with fellow blogger Maggy from Red Ted Art about our experiences of blogs becoming books. Someone asked what made us start a blog on the first place. I burbled away but thinking about it afterwards, I’m hoping the following reasons were in there somewhere. First, there’s the creative buzz of putting fingers to keyboard and writing a post. I might do it with half an eye on GBBO, but nevertheless, I love doing it. Then there’s the humour. There are so many blogs that make me practically spit wine over the keyboard on a regular basis. Which, when the tiredness that comes with having young children actually hurts, really helps. And there’s the power to change; I know people who have done amazing things through their blogs, raising awareness, money or spirits (not in the booze sense). This blog won’t change the world, but hopefully it changes the wine rack on a regular basis. I’ll get to the point.

Current white in the fridge: Esk Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2012, £9.99, Laithwaites
This bottle was a gift from Laithwaites, the wine sponsors of the Henley Literary Festival, and it’s a while since I’ve had a smart bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Not because there aren’t any – au contraire, there are lots – but there’s also so much cheap NZ SB, it’s sometimes hard to get past it. In fact, I tried an old favourite a few weeks ago, Jackson Estate, and vowed to return more often. This one is a gem – all gooseberry fruit with a nettle-fresh tang. Proper old skool Kiwi Sauvignon. Needed nothing more than chat and crisps. 

Current red in the rack: Tesco Simply Cotes du Rhone, £16.99, Tesco
I know, it’s a bag in box. But just imagine it was called cask wine – like it is in most other countries that sell them – and it sounds better, right? This one is properly, properly good stuff. And the real boon is that coming from a 3l box it will keep fresh for weeks and is less energy-hungry than the equivalent wine in a bottle (making and transporting glass produces more carbon than transporting wine in bulk and boxes). This is a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah and for a box, it rocks. All juicy bramble fruits and spice. 


Peace out, winos x