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Hazel Macrae

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It’s the big 12 for our amazing little man!❤️
#preteen

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Was this the ever-gorgeous @libbybrodie looking worried she’d miss out on the koji-marinated chicken “schnitty” at fab lunch @milkbeachlondon yesterday? Or was she just wanting more of the rather good pinot grigio (not a phrase I use often, tbh), one of the range of wines from @oxfordlandingwines on show, introduced by the ever-entertaining @matthewjukes

She needn’t have worried, for there was heaps of very good Oz-style food, most wolfed before any pics could be taken, and loads of these very pocket-friendly wines made by @hillsmithfamilyestates who’ve been making wines in South Australia since 1874, all from their own fruit, so really know what they’re doing. All are £7.50 a bottle and a liver-friendly 10.5%, the exception being this smashable, as they say these days, chilled Juicy Red, a sangiovese/tempranillo blend at a still pretty modest 12.5%. They’re really good wines at this price point, widely available from @sainsburys @waitrose @tesco and others, and a reminder for those of us who’ve rather taken our eyes off Australia recently that it’s still a source of top-value wines.

A lovely lunch with lots of chums, including @hannahguinness, my editor at @olivemagazine, who I haven’t seen IRL for far too long.

Thanks to @hazel_macrae @elizabethlilycook and @astridtravelling from @spritzmarketing for the invitation, and the team at Milk Beach for such great food and service on such a sweltering day 🙏😎🥵

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3 weeks today our Spotlight on South Africa launches!!!!! ✨🇿🇦🚀 The @thewinesociety1874 team can hardly wait. I can hardly wait (bet you guessed that). But wait we must…

Featuring 50 producers and over 100 wines - including a host of UK (and a couple of global) firsts - this Spotlight aims to illuminate the Cape’s thrilling wine landscape and to invite EVERYONE to get stuck in.

Through the incredibly delicious, diverse and resolutely authentic wines in the selection, we are trying to tell the story of some of the huge shifts we’ve seen in the last fifty years in South Africa’s wine industry, the turning points - and the pioneers and revolutionaries - which, and who, have brought us to the present moment, to 2026, where the Cape is now undeniably one of the most exciting AND finest wine-producing countries in the world.

We hope with all our hearts that members love this selection - as the campaign’s manager, the indefatigable @katiso said the other day, “a lot of soul and love went into this from the team” (and it’s a big team - there’s a lot of people behind the scenes)! ❤️

As well as six thematic releases of wines over three weeks, we will be publishing brilliant exclusive pieces from @malulambert (whose evocation of the unique magic of the Hemel-en-Aarde gives me goosebumps) and @timatkinmw (whose historical account of the roots of South Africa’s New Wave is fascinating) - and a couple from me, too (on Chenin, of course, and on the Swartland Revolution).

So, this is officially your 3-WEEK WARNING… ‼️

➡️ In the meantime, you can read ALL ABOUT what you have to look forward to at the link in my bio (and start saving your pennies)…

📸: @newtonjohnsonfamilyvineyards by @tea.cunniffe (whose photography has brought South Africa - in all its vivid and dramatic glory - to life for everyone at Stevenage HQ)

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I was given this vintage @thewinesociety1874 list last night by one of the committee members of The Red Herring Wine Club, before presenting an 8-wine tasting of South African wines at the beautiful @panterandhall gallery on Pall Mall.

It’s completely fascinating to have a flick through this now, on my commute to our Stevenage HQ, and browse the wines we were selling almost forty years ago.

Naturally - though also purely by chance - I opened it right on the South African reds page which featured a grand total of two wines, one from Stellenbosch and one from the Swartland (special shout-out to @meerlustwine who remain a pillar of our portfolio today). There were no South African whites in this list. But there was a Medium Dry ‘Sherry’ which is so fun to see!** (This isn’t the full range we were carrying so there may have been more South African wines.)

One month ahead of our first ✨Spotlight on South Africa’s fine wine✨ which features over 100 wines (and yet only represents a FRACTION of the exciting wines being grown in the Cape today), this was a very tangible reminder of just how far South African wine has come in a relatively short time! 💪

I didn’t take a single photograph last night but these are the wines I showed, to give a small snapshot of South Africa’s contemporary output:

@ionawines Sauvignon Blanc 2025
The Society’s Exhibition Chenin Blanc 2023 made by @chrisalheit
@zwartwaterwines Estate White 2024
@rustenbergwines Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2023
@vanloggerenbergwines Geronimo Cinsault 2023
@ralldonovan Syrah 2023
@kanonkopwineestate Estate Pinotage 2015
@kanonkopwineestate Paul Sauer 2022

🇿🇦🍷💫

**Our 2026 Autumn range sees the return of a South African sherry style to The Wine Society, with @saldanha_wine_and_spirit_co Pale Dry 🤩

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The Wine Society’s Press Tastings are always a thrill! Every time I attend one I notice a spring in my step and this time was no different!

Starting strong with the Society’s NV Champagne that is Jo mystery how it made it to the 2025 Champions! Fantastic complexity and richness, this was fermented in small oak barrels and at £36.50 is an absolute must-buy!

Next up was the Vadio “Perpetuum Desde” 2007 Brut from Barirrada which completely delighted and surprised me! With a Fino Sherry edge (the wine was made using the solders system!). Since 2007 when the grapes went into barrel, every year they added the new vintage and also took out a percentage to bottle. The result is this fine fizz including 18 vintages! Superb! £23.50

I have added the rest of my notes on the slides but a tasting note can’t accurately describe the level of energy and excitement there is always in the room. The Buyers’ presence make the experience extra special as they share stories from their trips and how the found each producer!

#thewinesociety #finewine #wine #springwine #summerwine

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A full compliment of buyers for this weeks press tasting expertly hosted by Gemma, Hazel and Hannah at the lovely menier penthouse in my pre-baby stomping ground SE1.

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What do you give the port-maker who has everything? His very own category of port, the oldest ever, of course. My column in @thetimesluxury - out today, in print - tells the story of this gorgeous 80-year-old from @grahams_port - the packaging reminiscent of 17th-century decor - now available (in tiny quantities) to those of us not born in 1944. Second photo is Anthony Symington, fifth generation of @symingtonfamilyestates, whose patriarch Peter was the port maker in question. They have opened @matriarca.porto, a restaurant and wine club in Porto now, too. In today’s @thetimes with thanks as always to @kate.reardon and @lisa.grainger #Port #DrinkMorePort

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One day to go until The Wine Society’s first ever Fine Wine Spotlight: Spain…
…and I’ll give you some highlights of what to buy.

Launching tomorrow, 28 July, the Spain Fine Wine Spotlight is the first in a rolling calendar of regional fine wine campaigns. Led by Wine Buyer Harriet Kininmonth and Wine Director Pierre Mansour, this series of staggered releases will include over 50 new wines. @thewinesociety1874

Spoiler alert: you’ll find rare and mature Rioja — both classic and new styles — single vineyards, and beyond Rioja, gems from Ribera del Duero, Galicia, and more.

This is just my humble pick — there are loads more gems and good finds. Save this post to remember what to get, and drop me a DM if you need help choosing. Cheers!

#finewine #thewinesociety #winesfromspain #spanishwines #spanishwines #rioja #riberadelduero #winelover #winelovers #winegeek #winegeeks #riojaalta

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Ready. Steady… Glow!

A favourite pre-Christmas tradition. Just so good!
#rhswisleyglow #elliotdoessmile

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In Bruges (2024).
A little surprise festive city break to celebrate some big birthdays this year.
#wafflesbeersmoulesfriteschocolate #wintergloedbrugge

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And then, he was ten!🎂❤️
#timefliessofast #ignoretheremovalboxes

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What a treat it was to attend The Wine Society’s 150th Anniversary tasting in Edinburgh. So many great producers and wines to enjoy.

Very special to see the legendary Flying Scotsman Norrel Robertson MW again after many years (or dare I say decades!)

Look out for his Manda Huevos Carramainas Macabeo – made upon a request from his wife the lovely @sharonelizabethwade - fabulous old vine Macabeo/field blend made in a Burgundian style - a steal at £15!

Three drinks from Three Spirit – all naturally alcohol-free & delicious - I don’t normally say that 😉. Very interesting selection of plant-based botanicals – @threespiritdrinks is certainly one to look out for.

One of the stand out sparklers was certainly The Wine Society’s 150th Generation Series Cap Classique from @simonsigwines

Also The Grapesmith Die Kluisenaar – fabulous Marsanne dominant white – only 5 barrels are made each vintage!

Another treat was seeing @martinheidsieck from @pol_roger and tasting a trio of spoiling Champagnes – we’re looking forward to welcoming Martin at #Fizz Feast this year.

Finally, super special to attend @m_chapoutier masterclass with @martin_champ Amongst others my favourites were Le Méal Blanc 2000 and Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne 2018 - no surprise there!

Also fascinating to taste M.Chapoutier’s Hemispheres White & Red. Quite unique - one blend of (same grapes) made in Australia & one in France then the two blended & bottled in the UK…..with a great resulting wine in both cases!

Thank you @thewinesociety1874 for coming to Edinburgh for this momentous occasion

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