Effi Tsournava DipWSET

One of the smartest buys for your cellar! Greece’s most age-worthy red will reward your patience. Sun-dried tomato topped with olive paste, embraced in a cloud of smoke and dark chocolate all sprinkled with a generous pinch of Mediterranean herbs all elevated by the vibrant acidity! Xinomavro heaven! #kiryianni #greekwine #naoussa #xinomavro #singlevineyard

Today started as a normal Saturday morning. You see I was not expecting to read the news that my first Vinocial producer, Paros Farming Community, was featured in Jancis Robinson MW article “It’s all Greek for me” in the Financial Times Magazine, in front of the milk aisle. A few customers had to ask me to go on the side because I stood still looking at my phone blocking their way to their milk needs. I immediately called Dimitris Mansolas, Master Vigneron of Paros Farming Community, who is also the half of Hetero Wines along with Maria Tamiolaki. He didn’t pick up. I had to change the aisle at least. I then run to the newspaper section, as I needed to make sure that what I read online is actually printed. I needed to pick a physical copy and see the words “ Paris Farming Community, Seiradi Mandilaria 2025 PGI Cyclades (12.4%) 2024 is £18 WoodWinters” printed with real ink! Finally, Dimitris calls back! I congratulate him, we cheer! Goosebumps! Established in 1929 as the Paros Cooperative and reborn in 2021 as Paros Farming Community makes “Wines for Curious Minds”. They make 8 labels with just the two indigenous, organically grown, grapes of the island; Monemvassia and Mandilaria. And today THE Jancis Robinson MW picked one of them for her Financial Times Magazine article. My Paros Paradox listed under Greek Legends! What a monumental day! Thank you ever so much Jancis for all your love and support for Greek wine! Congratulations Dimitris and Paris Farming Community Team! #parosfarmingcommunity #paros #greekwine #redwine #financialtimes

Manifestation works. You just need to visualise the exact moment you are working towards to a tee and never stop behaving like it hasn’t happened already. How do you like your wine? Château Canon 2025 received 99 Falstaff points by Peter Moser. #winelover #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #enprimeur #manifesting

Welcome to Great British Rosé Week! An incredible celebration of lipsmacking rosé, their producers and of course their stories who shape today’s local vinous history! Founder, Archie Patel, and Janina Doyle opened their arms and took us through a fabulous selection of rosé from Great Britain! An eye-opening and palate-tingling tasting! With the best dress code and prettiest cheeseboard setup! The Dancing Dutchess’22: founded by @wineawaytheday and @englishvineyards , 100% Pinot Meunier, only female-founded English wine brand without owned vineyard. Delectable! Greyfriars Rosé Reserve ‘22: why have I not been to their chalk cave cellar? One of the first to plant Champagne grapes. Great colour, very appetizing! Ambriel ‘Huzzah’ Rosé MV Big on regenerative viti with the MV 8 years on lees! Nodes to Hussar, Ambrosia and Gabriel. My new favourite?! Artelium Marers Sparkling Rosé ‘19: wine art and culture. Yes to all. Delicious! All Angels Sparkling Rosé ‘18: very intriguing Rondo-Pinot Gris blend. Sustainable Wines of GB certified. So flavorsom! Silver Reign Charmat NV: UK’s 1st a carbon negative vineyard, largest organic. Delightful! Albury ‘Silent Pool’ Rosé ‘25 organic/biodynamic. wildlife walk, sustainability focus. Very elegant! Carvers Hill Rosé ‘25 fabulous bottle, expressive and classy! Off-grid cabins in their woods - such a great idea! Otium “Deliquent” Rosé ‘25 ‘ex labore, otium’, slow life before it was trendy. Regenerative. Very pretty! Four Daughters Rosé ‘25 Four sisters, four best friends, four fingerprints. Strawberries and cream in a bottle. Balfour Nannette’s Rosé ‘25 sustainable, innovative and multi-awarded winery focusing on rosé! So charming! Charles Palmer Rosé ‘25 very low-lying vines, great colour and crunchy apple. Very pleasant! Great Wheatley Rosé ‘25 Duncan McNeil, top viticulturalist. All varietal wines. Crisp and versatile! Abingworth Hidden Verse Rosé ‘25 Vivacious with creamy palate! A grasshopper on the label nodding to the rich musical heritage. Blackbook “I’d rather be a rebel ” ‘22 Urban winery in Battersea with cult following. So expressive a

Taste with me the Thamnus Wines range at Table 31 at Tim Atkin MW Best of South Africa event! A hidden gem nestled in a remote corner of the Overberg where P.J. Greyer, Thamnus viticulturist and winemaker, who had worked with the Moueix family in Pomerol, selects the very best of fruit making about 10,000 bottles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from these north-facing, cool-climate vineyards! These are incredible wines of remarkable energy and expression than no doubt will excite and surprise you! #thamnuswines #southafrica #southafricawine #timatkin #londontasting

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

Repeat after me… Did you know that the first ever sparkling wine was an “accident”? The very cold Champagne winter paused the alcoholic fermentation while the warmth of spring revived the yeast in the bottle and boom! A most attractive effervescence was trapped in the bottle and the light bubbles filled the glasses of some very surprised Champenois! #champagne #motivationalreels #krugchampagne #champagnelunch #krug

The Vintage Politics Podcast by the amazing Abbie Bennington is out! Congratulations Abbie, what a phenomenal concept! It was amazing to join you at the launch party and so lovely to see so many of the trade to be celebrate with you! “Vintage Politics is a new visual podcast by journalist turned wine educator Abbie Bennington, filmed at The Savoy and the prestigious HIDE in Mayfair. Episodes feature prominent journalists and politicos like Jon Sopel, Anna Foster, Nick Robinson, Jo Coburn and Dom Joly who sit down over their favourite wines to share career highlights and personal life stories. Think Desert Island Discs or Off Menu but with wine!” #Vintagepolitics #winepodcast #winetasting #abbiebennington #politicspodcast

How have Escape Rooms not caught up with the irresistible charm of a Bordeaux cellar? Do I need to go back to Bordeaux or shall we create one here in London? Early sign-ups available in the comments below! #winetourism #bordeaux #bordeauxwine #escaperoomfun

Happy International Women’s Day! The 2026 Theme is ‘Give to Gain’. The road to forging gender equality is long but we can achieve it through abundant giving. But how do you learn how and what to give? The role of impactful people you meet along the way shapes your standard of how we all collectively grow. I love giving my time, connections and voice. I love celebrating others’ achievements and open doors! I love supporting those just starting or want to get to the next level of their path. I wouldn’t be able to do so if I hadn’t come across some very giving people along the way! Thank you! ❓How can you give❓ Give mentoring: Lily Dimitriou has given me so many insights, support and direction through so many years. Immensely grateful of having a mentor of her calibre. Give voice: Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon is such an active supporter of education and growth. Give opportunities: Sarah Knowles MW gave me my first ever wine digital marketing job and showed me how wine buyers work. Queena Wong created the Rauzan-Ségla x Curious Vines Bordeaux Education Award that completely shifted of how I see Bordeaux as part of my career path. Curious Vines empowered women in wine in a plethora of ways! Give role models: What would Jancis do is a question I think about often. Of course, I don’t know Janis Robinson OBE, ComMA, MW@that well but I am always inspired by her kindness, openness and confidence. Give access: Christine Allen opened up her arms and not only introduced me to her personal and wine trade network but also showed me how Brand Managers work. Give knowledge: Mark Bingley MW has been incredibly generous both with his personal time and his knowledge during my career! Give recommendations: Libby Brodie has continuously recommending other women for articles, talks, panels, hosting opportunities and more including me. Give introductions: Donald Edwards invited to me to the Wine Bloggers Cup in 2011. I entered a room filled with people I only had been reading about up to this point like Anne Krebiehl, Tina Gellie, Joe Wadsack. Absolutely starstruck. #CuriousVines #GivetoGaininWine #IWD2026 collaboration CommunityOverCompetition

If you haven’t seen Dancing Dutchess featured in Vogue and haven’t tried it yet, it’s my duty to inform you that you will do a little dance after your first sip! This 100% Pinot Meunier English Sparkling made in the traditional method is too delicious bursting with aromas of crunchy berries and sensation-tickling bubbles! Made by the amazing @wineawaytheday and @englishvineyards ✨ #dancingdutchess #englishsparkling #rosé #englishrosé #englishwine

Make a short story long and I’ll bring the wine! #bestfriends #winelover #femalefriendship