The flavor of wood varnish in wine

Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) is a not-for-profit organisation, born out of the lack of representation of Black, Asian and minority groups at all levels of the hospitality, food & drink industry. Founded by Lorraine Copes in 2020, its mission is to accelerate racial equity in the industry.  The Spotlight Awards is the first of its kind for BIH, aptly named as it will shine a spotlight on businesses and individuals from Black, Asian and minority backgrounds by recognising their talents. Not ...

Severe drought in northern Italy has led to the country’s government declaring a state of emergency in several regions, including Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto. Funds of €36.5m (£31m) would be made available to these regions for drought relief, the government said. Agriculture body Coldiretti said last week that the Po river, which flows across northern Italy to the Adriatic Sea, was almost unrecognisable. Drought in the Po Valley threatened around 30% of n ...

What to drink now… Mimosa Perfect for spring brunch, the Mimosa is a mix of equal parts Champagne and orange juice. The cocktail is attributed to Frank Meier, head bartender at the Paris Ritz, who served the first Mimosa in 1925, though the recipe appeared elsewhere in France at the same time. Either way, it’s a twist on the British Buck’s Fizz, invented in 1921 at the Buck’s Club in London, which used more Champagne and could include gin. Avoid vintage fizzes or special cuvées: a classic ...