• Ghost approves real ale revival
	IT seems entirely appropriate that a brewery should have a resident ghost – adding to the spirit of the liquor, perhaps enjoying the amount that evaporates, and substantiating the belief that tipple can transport you paradise. The brewery in question is at Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, established there since 1840, under new management from 1998 and now moving into the modern marketing world with a new Beer in a Box delivery system. The beer is a real ale, none of your gaseous lager, made to an age-old recipe using the finest hops and a natural spring water than flows through the brewery. Ventnor Gold is a honey tasting beer made from a single hop, English Goldings.  Wight Spirit is the other beer available boxed, named after the brewery’s resident ghost, a light but strong ale that combines hops and malts to create a smooth bitter.  Both are available in 18 and 36 pint kegs, packaged in boxes, which may be ordered for next day delivery anywhere in the UK by contacting www.sales@ventnorbrewery.co.uk The ghost, we are told, is friendly enough, wears Victorian dress and seems to approve of the recent revival of the brewery’s fortunes, though not of a consignment of cider that was brought in.  He is attributed with smashing the flagons:  Clearly a real ale  fan.

IF you’ve got to start thinking about Christmas in July and August then tasting a variety of tipples being aimed at the festive seasons helps restrain a ‘Bah, Humbug”.

And we can give a timely reminder that there are some fine English wines out there, notably from the Three Choirs Vineyard in Gloucestershire.  Anyone who studies wine will know that English varieties have long since shed their jokey image and gone on to win international awards and be taken seriously in the outside world.
Three Choirs has chalked up its share of such accolades, for still and sparkling wines, and they also, we were surprised to discover, make a satisfying beer, Whittington’s, in a microbrewery at their vineyard.

Christmastime is the one period of the year when Sherry enjoys a revival in its fortunes. Once a favoured drink of the middle classes, its sales have languished in recent years but now Harveys Fino is being given a marketing push.  This dry, clean, straw-coloured sherry is suggested as a versatile companion to shellfish and seafood and savoury dishes, as well as an aperitif.

Already fans of full blooded red Rioja, we welcomed the opportunity to try a white Rioja again – not so well known in the UK but just as enjoyable.  This one came from Campo Viejo, their Viura 2005, a nice apertif and very reasonably priced at £4.99

For those seeking to avoid spirituous liquor, there is a UK bottled water, Willow Spring, the only one to contain salacin (nature’s precursor to aspirin) and calcium as natural ingredients. 

Providing the lowdown on where to go to sample some of the world's best wines, a new book just out by award-winning wine writer Robert Joseph combines his knowledge of wine with advice on wine regions to explore. 'The Wine Travel Guide to the World' includes over 300 wineries around the world, where to stay, local restaurants and much more. Published by Footprint Travel Guides, in cooperation with New Zealand's leading wine producer Montana, it is priced at £19.99