Chix's Top Tips

1 - Should we lie down a bottle with a screwcap? The simple answer is no. We store cork bottles lying down as the cork needs to be kept wet.  If the cork dries out it could expand, let air into the bottle and cause the wine to oxidise.

2 - Is it ok to store wine in the kitchen?   The kitchen is one of the worst places to store wine due to strong smells and varying temperatures which can have a negative effect on the wine.

3 - Are Syrah and Shiraz different grapes?   Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape, but from different locations in the world.  The name Shiraz is only used for the Syrah grapes grown in Australia, whilst in the rest of the world the grape is still known as Syrah.  The Californians have now adopted the Shiraz name for marketing purposes, but real Shiraz comes from the Aussies.

4 - Is it wrong to have red wine with fish?   Tannin in combination with oily fish can result in an unpleasant metallic taste so it is generally recommended to avoid red wines with fish.  However, low tannin reds such as Beaujoulais and Valpolicella are fine with meaty fish.

5 - Why is it good to drink red wine with red meat?  The tannin in red wine reacts with the fatty protein in red meat by breaking it down and therefore sotftening the effects of the tannin on the palate.  The higher the protein content the more the softening - this is why wines from high-tannin grape varieties such as Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon go well with roast meats, stews and steaks.

6 – What is the best way to let a bottle of red wine breath? *  It is not enough to simply open a bottle and leave the wine to breath before serving.  This does absolutely nothing to the wine as too little of the wine is in contact with the air for it to have any effect.  If the wine is to benefit from oxygen, it either needs to be carefully poured into a decanter or through an aerator such as the Vinturi.  This is one of my favorite new wine accessories and our top seller at the Surrey County Show.

7 - What does it mean when it says Methode Tradtionelle on a bottle of sparkling wine?   As you all know, you can only call a sparkling wine Champagne if it has come from the Champagne region.  However, if a bottle of sparkling wine has “Method Traditionelle” marked on its label it means that the sparkling wine has been made in the same method as Champagne.  All our French sparkling wines are Methode Traditionelle.

8 – What is the difference between spumante and frizzante sparkling wines?  Both these terms are Italian, and with Prosecco so fashionable you will come across these quite a lot.  Spumante means sparkling and frizzante means semi-sparkling.

9 – When chilling a bottle of wine should I add water to the ice in an ice bucket? * Fill the ice bucket with equal quantities of ice and water until it is three-quarters full.  This will ensure that the bottle is fully surrounded by iced water and the water is then able to transfer the heat from the bottle to melt the ice.  Air acts as an insulator and a bottle in ice alone will chill very slowly until some of the ice has melted.  Be aware that over-chilling can mask the flavours in white wines.

10 – Should all red wines be served at the same temperature? * It depends on the type of red wine.  Light-bodied red wines such as Beaujolais or Valpolicella should be served at 12 °C.  Medium or full bodied red wines such as Burgundy, Bordeaux or Rioja should be served at 17-18 °C which is sometimes considered as room temperature.  However, remember room temperatures vary all over the world and can change according to the season!

11 – What does the word 'Cuvée' on a bottle of wine mean? *  This simply means that the wine is a blend of grapes rather than just 1 grape.  For example, our delicious Cuvée Ferdinand is a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan.

12 – If the cork crumbles when I open a bottle of wine, does this mean that the wine is bad or corked? *  Even though a crumbly cork is a sign of concern, it doesn't automatically mean the wine is bad as it could just be a very old cork which is still working to its full potential while in the bottle.  However, it doesn’t mean that it is OK as the cork could be dried out and brittle which could potentially oxidise the wine.

Therefore, the only way to know if the wine is bad, is to smell the cork and the wine.  If you get a mouldy musty odour, then it has cork taint and is off.  If you can't tell from the smell, taste it.  If a white wine looks particularly yellow or a red wine seems to have a brown tinge, this will usually mean that it is oxidised.  If the wine still tastes good even if the cork has crumbled, drink it!

13 – Can I serve Champagne or sparkling wine in a normal wine glass?  * The best way to serve sparkling wine is in a tall flute.  This will display the sparkling quality of the bubbles to its best.  The low, wide open champagne glasses and normal wine glasses will cause the champagne to go flat much quicker.

14 – How about red and white wine, can they be served in the same type of glass? *  The visual appeal, body of the wine and play of the aromas are all factors in choosing the correct glass.  Red wines with strong bouquets should preferably be served in the larger bowled wine glasses as the greater exposed surface gives these heady wines a good opportunity to breathe without losing its aroma.  As these glasses are usually quite large, remember not to pour too much!

White wines should preferably be served in taller glasses with a narrower bowl.  This will allow the bouquet to concentrate.

15 - What does it mean when people talk about the finish? * The final impression a wine leaves in your mouth. A finish which lingers (long) is good, and one that barely exists (short) is not so good.

16 – What does it mean when people talk about a wine being well balanced? * Harmony among the wine's components - a balance of acid, alcohol, fruit and tannins.

17 – Chix’s perfect Christmas morning… *A glass or 2 of J & L Charlemagne 1921 sparkling wine, a subtle blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with fine persistent bubbles. It has a hint of citrus and honey with hazelnut and brioche and is perfectly balanced with a long delicious finish. A fine match with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs!

18 - While pairing wine with food, is there a certain order the wines should be served in? * It is traditional to first serve lighter wines and then move to heavier wines throughout a meal. Additionally, white wine should be served before red, younger wine before older, and dry wine before sweet.

Having said that, I think it is ok to break the rules occasionally as you might want to start with foie gras which would be served with a Sauternes or another sweet wine and you may want to end with our fabulous cognac infused Sparkling XO, which is a 99% sparkling Chardonnay with an added twist of 1% XO cognac. Delicious with dessert, especially Christmas pudding!

19 – What does it mean when people say they can see legs in the wine glass? *“Legs” is an over used wine tasting term. It refers to the streams that are seen on the side of the glass after swirling (also called tears).  Wine is comprised mostly of water and alcohol and since alcohol has a lower surface tension than water, it evaporates faster and the water flows away from the alcohol.  The legs are more apparent with wines that have a higher percentage of alcohol.

There is a common misconception that wine with more legs is of higher quality than one with less.

20 - What do the terms Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva on a bottle of red wine mean?  *These are Spanish terms that determine how long the wine has been aged before it is released.  Crianza red wines must be at least 2 years old and aged a minimum of 6 months in small oak casks before release.

Reserva reds must have been aged in both bottle and cask for a minimum of 3 years, of which a minimum of 1 year must be in oak cask.  Gran Reserva reds are more rare as they are only produced in exceptional vintages.  The wine must be at least 5 years old, with at least 2 years in wood and 3 years in bottle before release.  Reserva and Gran Reserva wines are often aged for much longer than the minimum requirement.


21 - Some wine labels have "vieilles vignes" written on them.  What does this mean? *
Vieilles vignes literally means "old vines" in French.  This is not a regulated term and there is no official or legal definition of "vieilles vignes" enabling wine producers to add the term to a label as they wish even if the vines are not very old.

22- Does the Malbec grape originate in Argentina? *
Although Argentina has made Malbec popular, this delicious inky black grape originates from Cahors which is a small town in the Lot in South West France.  The Malbec grape has robust tannins and is one of six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine.

23 – What does it mean if a bottle of Champagne says Blanc de Blancs or Blanc de Noirs? *
The three main grape varieties used in Champagne are Chardonnay (white), Pinot Noir (red) and Pinot Meunier (red).  A large percentage of Champagnes are a blend of either Chardonnay and Pinot Noir or sometimes all three.  The rest are Blancs de Blancs which means that the Champagne is 100% Chardonnay or Blancs de Noirs which means the Champagne is made from 100% red grapes.

24 - What does it mean when people talk about the first growths or premier grands crus classes? * This is a Bordeaux classification created in 1855 and was given to the top wine producers in Bordeaux.  These are Chateau Lafite-Rothschild (Pauillac), Chateau Haut-Brion (Pessac), Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (Pauillac), Chateau Latour (Pauillac) and Chateau Margaux (Margaux).  The only change in this classification was in 1973 when Chateau Mouton-Rothschild was promoted from 2nd growth to 1st growth. 

These wines are delicious and probably the most expensive in the world, so if someone offers you a glass never say no!

25 – How should I hold a wine glass? *
The ideal way to hold a wine glass is by the stem. If you put your hand around the glass this will warm up the wine, which hopefully should not be necessary if the wine is served at the correct temperature!

26 - Is cork or screwtop better for the environment? *
Contrary to popular belief, natural cork stoppers are the most environmental closure for a wine bottle. A cork oak tree can last hundred of years. Portugal is the largest cork producing country.

27 – When I pour a glass of bubbly why does it sometimes go flat? *
There could be a few reasons for this to happen. First of all, the best glass to drink sparkling wine from is a flute, but please make sure that they are always absolutely clean with no residue from your washing up liquid. If you have not rinsed the glass enough this can affect the bubbles. The lack of bubbles or the the bubbles disappearing quite quickly can also be due to the quality of the bubbly or Champagne.

One way to detect quality is to look at the size of the bubbles, the smaller the better and to check how the bubbles are moving in the glass. With a good quality sparkly the bubbles will move in straight columns rather than in all directions.

28 - How long does it take for a newly planted grapevine to produce grapes good enough for wine? *
It takes at least four years before grapes from a new vine can be used to make wine. As the vine gets older, the grapes will produce better and more complex wines.

29 - I have heard people talking about Pecorino as a wine but I thought it was a cheese! *
Most of us know Pecorino as a hard salty cheese from Italy. What you may not know is that Pecorino is also a grape that has made a comeback over the last ten years, from Abruzzo and Marche in Italy and it makes a stunning white wine. We will be importing some delicious Pecorino wine from Abruzzo in the next few months.

30 - What is the difference between natural wine and organic wine? *
When people refer to organic wine, it usually means that the wine has been made from organically grown grapes. Natural wine, however, is also made from organically grown grapes but with as less intervention as possible. These wines are unfiltered and have very little or no sulphites and are never mass produced. Try our Mas d'Intras range of natural wines...delicious!

31 - Terroir is a hot topic. What does it mean? *
Terroir is a sense of place expressed in a wine, which may include the effects of a unique combination of climate, soil, aspect, slope and even local grape varieties, yeast cultures and winemaking practices.

32 - People often say a wine is "earthy", what do they mean? *
The term "earthy" is usually used to describe a variety of European wines. These wines have aromas and flavours that are very similar to the earth, soil or rock. Try our fantastic range of Mas d'Intras reds which are made with natural methods and taste deliciously earthy. Especially our  Cuvée Ferdinand!

33 - What is sediment? *
During the ageing process of red wine there is often a by-product that occurs, which is completely natural, called sediment. Although it is totally natural and harmless it can give a muddy and bitter flavour to the wine. This usually occurs in wine that has been lying down in the cellar. The best way to ensure that it is served correctly, and to avoid any sediment into the glass, is to stand the wine up for a couple of days prior to opening. Before serving, make sure you decant the wine leaving the last bit in the bottle as this will contain the sediment.

34 - What is the best way to remove red wine from a carpet? *
As a known hazard of the job(!) I have spilt wine on my carpet too many times. The good news is that I have discovered a great product that removes the stain with no work at all. Grab a bottle of Sainsbury's Carpet & Upholstery cleaner with active oxygen, spray it on the spill and the stain will be gone in a couple of hours without any discolouring at all. It is amazing and yes, unfortunately tried and tested by me!

35 - I have heard that some wine shops and bars use a wine preservation system - what is it? *
A wine preservation system enables open bottles of wine to stay as fresh as if just opened for at least 3 weeks by replacing the oxygen with nitrogen gas. Hix & Buck wine bar at Hideaway Jazz Cafe will be installing an Enomatic preservation system, the first in Streatham, which will enable customers to sample and drink really good quality wine by the glass.

36 - If I order a bottle of wine in a restaurant or bar and think it smells a bit musty, is it ok to send it back? *
Absolutely! Ideally the waiter or bar person should always smell the cork before serving the wine as it is usually possible to tell from the smell of the cork whether the wine has cork taint. Unfortunately this doesn't happen in every establishment, although food will rarely be served without the chef tasting it first. My advice, learn what a wine smells like when it is off and send it right back if it has been served and doesn't smell or taste right!

37 - I am thinking about what to cook for an Autumn roast, any recommendations? *
Chix’s new favourite home cooked roast is guinea fowl. It is much tastier than chicken, really easy to cook as long as you don't dry it out and not very expensive. There are lots of recipes on line, but one of her favourites is the River Cafe Cookbook Easy guinea fowl with fennel. It is truly scrumptious. Try it with our delicious Italian Vermentino, or if you fancy a light red, our very yummy Merlot will partner perfectly. Both wines are part of our Autumn case special offer. Click here for details.

38 - Is it true that not all dessert wines go with chocolate? *
Yes, chocolate desserts are one of the hardest to pair with wine, but when you do it right it is sensational. Red dessert wines, such as a Banyuls or Passito, are great but just as good are big red wines full of fruit and tannin. Try one of our new Italian reds Rosso dei Fauri, a stunning Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, to pair with your favourite chocolate or chocolate dessert. You won't regret it!

39- Should I drink white or red wine with my Christmas Turkey? *
There is no hard and fast rule, but often with white meat it is better to drink a good white or if you prefer to drink red then a light red is more preferable. Try our Italian white St Cecilia Trebbiano d'Abruzzo or one of our delicious new Italian reds, Ottobre Rosso Montepulcianno d'Abruzzo. Both are in our Christmas Day special offer case.

40- What should I serve with a red sparkling wine? *
At the London Wine Show a lot of people were surprised that they liked our new delicious semi sparkling red – Graffio Nero Rosso Frizzante. However, they were not sure what they could serve it with. It is great as an aperitivo served with salami, cured meats or cheese but I also recently served it with a slow cooked bolognese and it was delicious. It is round with a great balance of fruit and tannin and must be drunk chilled in a flute. It is quite a treat!

41- During the winter, I always find that when I open a bottle of red wine at home it is often too cold *
During the winter, I always find that when I open a bottle of red wine at home it is often too cold. It is quite hard to get a bottle of wine up to 18 °C even if your home is nice and warm. It does often depend where the wine is stored as to how cold it is to start with, so if you are storing wine in a cellar or a very cool part of your home, it is a good idea to plan what you are going to drink a couple of days in advance and bring it into a warmer part of your home. Although, please never put the wine on the radiator or near the fire to warm it up!

42 - I don't have a decanter but I need to let the wine breathe. *
A trick I learnt from my best friend's father, who is a wine connossieur with a fabulous wine cellar, is to quite simply pour the wine into a jug and back into the bottle. This allows a good amount of oxygen to go through the wine and is ready to serve immediately. It works everytime although if it has sediment you need to be a bit careful! Alternatively, if you are throwing a dinner party and want to wow your guests, our Luigi Bormioli decanters are beautiful and will look great on your dining table as long as you pour the wine into the decanter at least a couple of hours in advance of serving it. Sante!