2024-03-28 15:20
Brandishing Spears
British Asparagus Day falls on 23rd April (also Saint George's Day) and is a call for celebration in its own right. Whether our atypically wet Winter will diminish output… Read More
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Yapp Brothers Wine Blog
yapp.co.uk/blog
Yapp Brothers Wine Merchants - News, updates and musings from the world of french wine. Yapp Brothers are award-winning UK wine merchants with over 40 years
2024-03-21 17:54
Top Tips For Your Next City Break – Sydney
Why?
The Harbour City (Australia's largest with a population of over 4,600,000 people) enjoys a breathtaking oceanic location, a warm and su… Read More
2024-03-01 16:38
Lamb Boulangère
As the days lengthen and crocuses start to appear and blossom adorns the trees, I take solace in the fact that the season is turning and, let's face it, things are goi… Read More
2024-02-19 09:32
David Chandler:
"In an absolute first for this podcast, our wine-loving friends spend several minutes drinking something that isn't actually wine. This deviation from tradition… Read More
2024-01-26 15:56
Shakshuka
Shakshuka is a restorative North African dish believed to be of Tunisian origin. It is quite quickly and easily prepared and makes for a tasty lunch or light supper dish. There are… Read More
2024-01-25 14:37
Yapp Brothers is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its 55-year history. Established in 1969, the company will shortly be moving to new premises after five decades in Wiltshire… Read More
2024-01-03 15:04
Kefir-ly Cultivated
Last Summer, traversing la belle France on holiday, we stayed the night with our old friends Fred and Laurence Filliatreau in their delightful home, set amongst vines, at… Read More
2023-12-01 12:48
Seasonal Snackage Package and Festive Libations
In the run up to Christmas we always invite a few friends and neighbours round for drinks. Experience has taught us that people like a definit… Read More
2023-11-16 10:18
David Chandler:
"Jason's well-known for keeping a tight ship, but like the egalitarian oenophile we know him to be, he's not averse to granting other mariners of the wine dark… Read More
2023-10-31 10:46
Chicken with Chorizo, Chillis, Onions, Peppers and Garlic with Rice
I've come across a few recipes that are very similar to this, but I devised this version years ago and I like it because t… Read More
2023-10-23 14:08
Since childhood I've been an avid Francophile. Clearly, that is due, in no small part, to parental influence but I think it goes further than that. We spent almost all of our family holidays… Read More
2023-09-29 13:52
Scallop and King Prawn Ramen with Vegetables and Rice Noodles
This recipe evolved during the pandemic when I was looking for food that was healthy, easy to prepare and versatile. You can swi… Read More
2023-09-20 16:20
David Chandler: "
The Bordeaux region may be home to some of the most famous and long-lived wines in the world and play host to any number of celebrated appellations, but, says… Read More
2023-09-01 11:17
Greasy Beans
For as far back as I can remember I have enjoyed travelling in France. A significant part of that pleasure has been in partaking of the rich variety of food and wine available a… Read More
2023-08-10 10:07
Restaurant Review – 'La Voile Bleue', Les Halles, Angoulème, France.
By long-established family tradition, we enjoy regular holidays in the backwaters of the Dordogne which prov… Read More
2023-08-10 10:07
Restaurant Review – 'La Viole Bleue', Les Halles, Angoulème, France.
By long-established family tradition, we enjoy regular holidays in the backwaters of the Dordogne which prov… Read More
2023-08-08 11:40
David Chandler: "In this episode, Jason and David sample a sextet of wines devoted entirely to one 'grately' underrated grape, prized by none other than Cardinal Richelieu, (l'… Read More
2023-08-01 14:05
Several Summer Salads
While I am not known for being overly-enthusiastic about salads, after much recent nutritional advice from well-informed observers, such as Chris van Tulleken and Tim S… Read More
2023-07-21 16:29
David Chandler: "As far as David is concerned, it’s as German as wearing socks in your sandals and equally as appealing, but in this episode, Jason plies him with five co… Read More
2023-06-30 15:26
Lamb steaks with New Potatoes and Pea Shoot and Mint Salad.
Lamb is a perfect summer meat, as it's light and flavourful. New potatoes are in season right now, and they're an ideal accompanim… Read More
2023-06-12 10:44
David Chandler: "Time was when rosé, was like the viola of the wine world; a faintly embarrassing, Barbie-pink hybrid, neither red enough nor white enough to be taken se… Read More
2023-06-01 15:11
Panzanella is an Umbrian and Tuscan salad using old bread, tomatoes and onions, and frequently features chopped cucumber and fresh basil. It is traditionally dressed with a mixture of olive… Read More
2023-05-25 11:25
At Holm
Our friends, and frequent dining companions, Paul and Ashleigh had long been extolling the virtues of chef-patron Nicholas Balfe, who had firmly established a successful career in th… Read More
2023-05-16 11:27
Top Tips for Your Next City Break – Copenhagen
Why?
Copenhagen is a coastal, visitor-friendly, contained capital, where good English is (almost) universally and willingly spoken, with… Read More
2023-04-27 10:12
Spears of Destiny
The U.K. asparagus season is necessarily short officially running from Saint George's day, which is also 'National Asparagus Day' on the 23rd April until 21st June. Most su… Read More
2023-04-03 16:23
David Chandler: "If there's one thing David has learned from Jason during their many Adventures In Wine podcasts, it's that you simply can't have too many favourites. Favourite… Read More
2023-03-30 15:42
A Gastronomic Meander in the Marais
I love Paris and enjoy travelling by the Eurostar, and require very little persuasion to decamp to the City of Light for a few days of culture, cuisine an… Read More
2023-03-20 15:02
L'Entente brasserie, Paris
To Paris, with Tom, for a challenging but enjoyable whistle-stop run of meetings and tastings at Wine Paris, a sizeable but well-organised wine fair that is the st… Read More
2023-03-01 12:18
We are delighted that our new 2023 wine list has now gone to press, and is ready for mailing out to our customers this week.
Despite some difficulties with glass shortages and complication… Read More
2023-03-01 11:32
Fried Pork Chops in Cider with Hasselback Potatoes & Brussel Sprouts
When I have a day to myself, I enjoy a spot of leisurely food shopping and try to innovate, compiling a dish that is… Read More
2023-02-22 10:25
Beckford Canteen – Bath
One of my and Mrs Yapp's preferred pastimes is visiting new dining establishments, preferably before we've read or heard much critical feedback from other peopl… Read More
2023-02-07 11:27
David Chandler: "With Valentine's Day very much on their minds, Jason and David get fizzical with no less than eight Crémants from the eight Crémant regions of Fr… Read More
2023-02-01 11:17
Moules Marinière
There is currently much concern regarding the sustainability of lots of seafood and the impact of over-fishing and climate change. Happily, one type of seafood is sim… Read More
2023-01-05 10:37
Sardine Spaghetti Sauce
This recipe was taught to me, and served to me, by Pippa’s niece Ursula who is a resourceful and inventive force in the kitchen and a welcome visitor. This vers… Read More
2022-12-09 17:39
David Chandler: "Caught up in the Christmas rush? Of course you are! Need wine? Of course you do! In this seasonal edition, Jason and David selflessly taste six wines that have… Read More
2022-12-01 17:03
Roast Chicken with Roast Potatoes and Fine Beans
When our sons were younger (OK when we were all younger) I used to enjoy playing the role of paterfamilias and I would order a large, free ra… Read More
2022-11-24 11:57
David Chandler: "In this brutally honest edition, our aging adventurers in wine, in acknowledgement of their advancing years, doff their battered pith helmets to Jason's son, W… Read More
2022-11-14 13:40
The second post in our series about investing in wines focuses on some key considerations if you invest in wine.https://www.yapp.co.uk/blog/investing-in-wine-part-1/"Part 1 listed five reaso… Read More
2022-11-11 12:46
Five reasons for investing in wine.
Fine wine prices have tended to perform well in periods of uncertainty and high interest rates - quickly shrugging off dips after both the financial crash… Read More
2022-10-31 15:06
Cheese Board
A foodstuff to which I have an enduring penchant and has received insufficient attention on this website is cheese. Happily, I like many different types from many different plac… Read More
2022-10-17 15:55
'Adventures In Wine' podcast, episode 25 – 2020 Vintage Viognier
David Chandler: "This time, Jason's and David's oenological explorations centre upon one small and very s… Read More
2022-09-29 12:15
Roast Cod with Cherry Tomatoes, Puy Lentils and Green Beans
A simple, quick and healthy dish, ideal for the changeable weather of October - and avoids piling on too many calories before more… Read More
2022-09-26 10:55
'Adventures In Wine' podcast, episode 24 – Investing in Wine
For this special edition of Adventures in Wine, David hunkers down with Tom Ashworth over a single (yes, you r… Read More
2022-09-01 10:12
Corsican pork chops - Cotelettes de porc Corse
Slow-cooking is the key to this delicious pork chop dish that appears in Nicolas Stromboni's evocative 'Corsica: The Recipes' (Smith Street Boo… Read More
2022-07-29 16:37
Ful Mudammas
I am grateful to my son Alfred, who is a more questing and resourceful cook than I am, for teaching me this recipe for an inexpensive, healthy and popular dip that is traditiona… Read More
2022-07-07 09:46
'Adventures In Wine' podcast, episode 23 – 2021 Vintage
David Chandler: "Glass is getting more expensive, cardboard's getting costlier, fuel prices are going through the… Read More
2022-07-01 11:46
Salad Days
Salad season is upon us and I love salad. I especially like salad that contains additional exotic ingredients such as croutons, eggs, anchovies, mozzarella, tuna fish, prawns, cho… Read More
2022-06-22 11:08
Our founder Robin Yapp started our corkscrew collection incrementally and somewhat incidentally in the 1970s and we have extended it over the ensuing decades with contributions from colleagu… Read More
2022-06-01 11:54
Salade Niçoise
Our youngest son is back from his final term at university and has been trying to kill off his dissertation like the most lackadaisical of executioners. He is vegan, wh… Read More
2022-05-03 10:34
Salmon Fillets with Masala Sauce, Basmati Rice and Green Beans
The inspiration for my masala sauce comes from Madhur Jaffrey's excellent 'Curry Easy' that was published in 2010 and proved a… Read More
2022-04-21 13:17
One of the most pleasurable parts of my vocation is getting the chance to visit some of our winemakers in situ. Although sadly curtailed over the past couple of years, these visits are inval… Read More
2022-04-12 13:37
Burgundian Bonhomie
After almost two years of enforced isolation three of our sales team made a whistle-stop trip to Burgundy last week to sample some new bottlings, secure some much needed… Read More
2022-03-31 10:43
Roast Lamb with Gratin Dauphinois and Brussel Sprouts
Whilst I always aim for a minimum of fuss when cooking I am sufficiently enamored of gratin dauphinois to think it merits an additional… Read More
2022-03-08 15:01
Top Tips for Wedding Wine Planners
With three-quarters of weddings postponed in 2020 and a mixed picture last year, 2022 is set to be the biggest year for nuptials since 1982. Three (out of… Read More
2022-02-28 16:33
Stewed Beef with Mashed Potato and Celeriac and Watercress
Happily, I'm now at an age when I seldom need to refer to texts for stalwart dishes. I rely on a combination of knowledge accrued f… Read More
2019-10-01 13:01
Poulet au Citron. Now that my beloved (and vegan) progeny have departed to their seats of learning and the proverbial nest is empty (and tidy!) I look forward once more […] Read More
2019-09-13 15:03
As a keen oenophile and Francophile I have an enduring interest in the celebrated ‘Grands Vins’ of Burgundy, Bordeaux and the Rhône as well as less well-known wines from th… Read More
2019-09-13 14:57
We’ve had great fun collaborating with our good friend and ‘artist in residence’ David Chandler over the last few months as he has been working on the illustrations for our… Read More
2019-09-03 16:21
I have previously praised Rukmini Iyer’s ground-breaking ‘The Green Roasting Tin’ for the variety of its recipes and their ease of execution. That said, Ms Iyer, like most… Read More
2019-08-01 08:15
Veg Every Day A recent trip to visit my octogenarian progenitress in Devon found her enthusing about a newly-acquired cookery book, the latest addition to an extensive library that dates [&h&hell…Read More
2019-07-18 10:51
1. Did you have a seminal wine tasting experience that made you want to pursue a career in wine? On Christmas Eve 1954, my first Christmas in long trousers, at […] Read More
2019-07-09 13:25
Extremely costly wines are, unsurprisingly, often also very rare but it would be a mistake to conflate rarity and value. Bordeaux’s ‘First Growths’ command eye-wateringly h… Read More
2019-06-28 11:13
For various reasons my household is consuming much less meat these days but meaty fish, like tuna or swordfish, is a welcome ingredient when any committed vegetarians are absent. Griddled [… Read More
2019-05-30 09:21
To celebrate the end of exams and the school year I will be breaking out the barbecue in June for some relaxed entertaining at home. I favour a barbecue with […] Read More
2019-05-23 15:07
1. You are an Italian whose career has revolved around French cuisine. To which country’s wines do your personal tastes lean? Italian wines are wonderful but for depth and diversity [… Read More
2019-05-17 11:13
We’ve had great fun collaborating with our good friend and ‘artist in residence’ David Chandler over the last few months as he has been working on the illustrations for our… Read More
2019-04-26 10:23
Aspire to Asparagus When this sceptred isle is finally expunged from the map of Europe, we can take solace in the enjoyment of our native asparagus. The season runs from […] Read More
2019-04-15 09:40
Sotheby’s 3-day auction in Hong Kong at the end of March smashed the record for a private owner collection, achieving sales of $30m. It got close to reaching the heights […] Read More
2019-03-28 12:41
One of my default dishes at Easter time is ‘Lamb Boulangère‘ or ‘Épaule d’Agneau Boulangère’ to give it its full French title. It can be pr… Read More
2019-03-20 15:39
1. Did you have a wine tasting epiphany or was it a vocation that developed over time? My parents were fond of saying that I learnt about wine ‘at their […] Read More
2019-03-18 18:00
We’ve had great fun collaborating with our good friend and ‘artist in residence’ David Chandler over the last few months as he has been working on the illustrations for our… Read More
2019-03-01 10:33
Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Fusilli, Chilli and Garlic Serves 4 adults Early March is hardly the most bounteous moment in the British culinary calendar but it is a time to […] Read More
2019-02-19 17:26
As a wine lover, you’ve probably heard of La Grange des Pères, Mas Jullien, Domaine de Montcalmès or Mas de Daumas Gassac. They’re all located in the north of the [… Read More
2019-02-06 12:14
We’ve had great fun collaborating with our good friend and ‘artist in residence’ David Chandler over the last few months as he has been working on the illustrations for our… Read More
2019-01-31 11:15
Mussels in Brussels A recent trip to Brussels reminded me just how restorative a steaming bowl of moules can be. We had been toiling the streets for hours in the […] Read More
2019-01-21 16:45
Why? The capital of Belgium is the host city of the European Union as well as numerous international organisations making it a vibrant, multi-cultural metropolis with much to offer visitors… Read More
2019-01-10 15:52
Yapp Brothers celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It’s hard to believe that half a century has passed since Robin Yapp (then a full-time dentist, now turning 80) ventured forth… Read More
2018-12-31 17:25
T. S. Eliot may have deemed April the ‘cruellest month’ but my vote goes to January. Having had the welcome Winter distractions of Christmas and New Year one is left […] Read More
2018-12-18 22:01
1. As a journalist, you critique many types of wine but what are your personal preferences? One of the privileges of writing The Sunday Times wine column is that I […] Read More
2018-12-10 16:30
We’ve had great fun collaborating with our good friend and ‘artist in residence’ David Chandler over the last few months as he has been working on the illustrations for our… Read More
2018-11-30 16:38
Festive Fayre With a recently confirmed vegan in our household we’ll be eating less meat this Christmas but I’m a traditionalist and won’t be forgoing a turkey. I like to [… Read More
2018-11-21 14:56
Francophiles who are admirers of 20th Century modernist architecture should plan a city break to Marseilles and marvel at Le Corbusier’s ‘Unité d’Habitation’ a… Read More
2018-11-09 16:38
My eldest son Alfred turned 20 this week and we marked the occasion and a visit home with a bottle of Gigondas 1998 from Domaine Saint Gayan. Fortunately, Alfred was […] Read More
2018-11-01 16:26
As alluded to in September’s ‘Food and Wine Matching‘ I have recently been having to extend my repertoire of vegetarian dishes which has been a steep learning curve. Of all… Read More
2018-10-22 15:45
We embarked on our annual Autumn trip to the Rhône in good cheer, swapping English wind and rain for the promise of glorious clear blue skies and an ambitious itinerary. […] Read More
2018-10-02 09:14
Tray Facile With my eldest son heading off to university I have been trying to extend my (and hopefully by proxy his) repertoire of simple, healthy and inexpensive weekday dishes. […] Read More
2018-09-26 14:36
We’ve had great fun collaborating with our good friend and ‘artist in residence’ David Chandler over the last few months as he has been working on the illustrations for our… Read More
2018-09-20 09:34
1. You are the youngest Master of Wine in the world. At what age and why did you decide you wanted to become an MW? It was always in my […] Read More
2018-09-03 14:20
Vegging Out Somewhat to my surprise my heretofore meat eating son Will recently announced his intention to adopt a vegetarian diet being commendably concerned by questions of sustainability… Read More
2018-08-17 10:44
“Savvy Rhône fans whose tendency is to drink reds on the young side will find plenty to like in 2014, a vintage that bears comparison, stylistically, to 2012 and 2006 […] Read More
2018-08-09 15:37
1. Did becoming a chef naturally foster an interest in wine or did that develop independently? I’d say parallel or in tandem. Cooking gave me access but I think the […] Read More
2018-07-31 11:49
‘Le Pique-nique’. Silly ‘Franglais’ aside a picnic can be a thing of joy in the more clement months but they can also be disastrous. Planning is key and my mantra [&h&hell…Read More
2018-07-18 17:01
I recently joined Yapp after a number of years servicing the good and great of London’s restaurants for rival merchants. What first attracted me to this company was the vibrant [&helli&hell…Read More
2018-07-12 10:48
We’ve had great fun collaborating with our good friend and ‘artist in residence’ David Chandler over the last few months as he has been working on the illustrations for our… Read More
2018-07-03 10:05
Salad Days [Season 2 Transcript ‘Bossy Boots’, October 2000] • SpongeBob: “Two… sa-lads. Never heard of it. I got to stay hip. I don’t want to end up like… Read More
2018-06-20 10:35
1. Are you foremost a journalist or presenter or both? Excellent question, no idea. I love writing my weekly column in The Mail on Sunday, appearing most weekends on BBC1 […] Read More
2018-06-12 16:40
To the Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden on Monday to host our ‘Stars of Southern France’ Masterclass focusing on the wines of Château Simone, Domaine de Trévallon, D… Read More
2018-05-31 13:47
The Father of Invention. I have a limited repertoire of about 25 different dishes that I can knock up quickly to feed our family of four after finishing work, grabbing […] Read More
2018-05-25 16:40
We’ve had great fun collaborating with our good friend and ‘artist in residence’ David Chandler over the last few months as he has been working on the illustrations for our… Read More
2018-05-17 16:31
1. What drew you to a career in wine journalism and what was your first ‘break’ in wine writing? Originally I went into the wine trade as a graduate management […] Read More
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