Black Hand Wine

14/11/2024

Beautiful drive to work this morning… truly the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”! 🌞🍷🔥🥂

13/11/2024

Ooh the drama… Paddy McGuinness going past Three, Cornmarket on his tiny yellow chopper earlier today!

02/11/2024

Please write to your local MP and ask them not to implement Rishi Sunak’s disastrous Duty rises in February. Some great reasons for Labour to abandon this dreadful idea - which will make most wine unaffordable to anyone not lucky enough to drink subsidised wine - in the article below:

The Autumn Budget offered a mixed picture for the drinks industry, with the incoming increase in non-draught duty leaving a bitter taste for many in the sector.

31/10/2024

Another sneaky little tax rise… wine duty will be going up on February 1 after all:

Autumn Budget: The British government has announced that it will increase tax on wine and spirits in line with inflation from February next year.

22/10/2024

I increasingly think we are being governed by neo-puritans… people who pretend to care about your health but are really only concerned about control, making money and raising taxes. It seems I’m not the only person who wants to reassure you that drinking good red wine in moderation is still beneficial for your health, whatever our joyless leaders may try to tell you - cheers!

With anti-alcohol rhetoric on the rise, it’s time for the drinks trade to start defending wine’s role in society, stresses physician and vintner, Dr Laura Catena.

11/10/2024

A purchase from every trader in the shop… James and Robin make Christmas shopping look easy! Ps don’t look Donna! 😂



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08/10/2024

So farewell to … hard to believe I spent nearly a decade working there, every day a laugh. The brainchild of maverick genius Adam Ferguson, there would never have been a Black Hand Wine shop without his vision, encouragement and help. Stuffed full of characters, rogues and some really lovely customers, Adam turned Brunswick Yard into an oasis of civility and culture. Pretty sure there was nowhere else you could watch Lovejoy on the big screen while buying a blue oar and a case of fine wine! Apologies to all the lovely antique dealers whose photos I couldn’t locate but this post is a huge thank you to you, Adam, Becky, Ash and the Yard Kitchen team and everyone who made - and still make - the Yard the fantastic place it was and is. Tomorrow is the start of a new chapter for Black Hand Wine, Withnail Books, Katie Mawson art and knitwear and Martyn’s Cabinet of Curios… here’s hoping it’s every bit as much fun as the last one - cheers! 🥂

04/10/2024

New shop, old shop, new shop, old shop! We’re getting there… hopefully see some of you on Wednesday, October 9 at 3, Cornmarket CA11 7DA when we open, or later that week. No photos of my section as I’m sorely lagging behind the other two but at least the cellar is now full - cheers! 🥂

29/09/2024

Cheers - here’s to the end of a challenging and intense 2024 vintage! Am certain there will be some great wine from Burgundy 2024 but not in any huge quantities. Back to Cumbria now to start moving the shop to our new location at 3, Cornmarket, Penrith, all this week… hope to be moved in and trading by October 9. Will be joined by and so very exciting - watch this space! Farewell La Belle France and a grand merci to Romain and all the team for their hard work and hospitality… a bientot!

28/09/2024

What a team; Romain, Momo, Yann, Jaurice (and his gloves!😂), Tipat, Jean-Gui, some random British bloke and the boss of us all, Jade the winery dog. PS she’s driving!

28/09/2024

La Paulée: the traditional end-of-vintage party is usually somewhere between a Bacchanalian rave and a civilised gourmet meal with incredible food and wine. Ours was definitely the latter which is just as well… most serious vintage injuries are picked up at the former! It’s a domaine’s way of saying thank you to the equipe (team) for all their hard work - cheers!

27/09/2024

Not everyone was lucky enough to get all their grapes in before the rain struck… these legends were covered in heavy clay mud, soaked to the skin and carrying around 60-70kg of Chorey-les-Beaune Chardonnay grapes each time to fill the trailer through the heaviest rain…bon courage mes amis ! 💪🥂

26/09/2024

Here are a few of the more important tools of the trade… feel free to ask if you don’t recognise one or would like to know more!

22/09/2024

No grapes today so just Romain, Tipat and I digging out, pressing, plunging, doing the pigeage, checking densities and cleaning up… reckon we definitely earned our morning cassecroute! Off for a shower now! 😂🍷🍇

21/09/2024

Momo’s bar is probably the most important piece of equipment in the winery… all the digging and heavy lifting means we have to work very hard to keep hydrated - cheers! 🍻🍺

13/09/2024

Cold mornings, some light exercise, a bit of sunshine and the odd 10am beer… it must be harvest time in Burgundy!

06/09/2024

Last day in the shop before I leave for Burgundy to get my hands (and feet!) black. And last day trading at The Yard too - sniff! Be lovely to see you before I head off… if not, come to the new shop at 3, Cornmarket in mid-October… I’ll keep you posted - cheers! 🍷🥂

03/09/2024

Last week at The Yard before I go winemaking in Burgundy. Will be moving into a new shop when I return at the start of October. Fear not, it’s in Penrith (3, Cornmarket CA11 7DA). Hope to see you all this week before I go - cheers! 🥂🍇🇫🇷