When you pass the port this Christmas (to the left, naturally) or warm an after-dinner glass of Cognac between your hands, you will be savouring the result of several centuries’ worth of fine-tuned production. In many cases, the ancient processes behind the creation of vintage wines and spirits are still very much part of local life in their homelands, from festivals in the community to toast the grape harvest, to a three-month celebration of the distillation of Armagnac brandy that is currently in full flow in south-west France. Many of the eponymous home regions of classic wines have become famous tourist attractions in their own right – take Champagne or Bordeaux in France or Tuscany’s Chianti... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week … [Read more...] about Get in the Christmas spirit: what property to buy where our favourite festive tipples are made
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Children’s author Jeff Kinney: ‘Getting used to being rich took me five years’
Jeff Kinney, 47, is an American writer, cartoonist, producer and game designer who created the bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid children’s books, a series about a middle-school weakling called Greg Heffley. The first book was published in 2007 and became an instant chart-topper. The 13 books in the series are now available in 59 languages. Kinney lives with his second wife, Julie, and their two sons in Plainville, Massachusetts, where they own a bookshop. What was it like to grow up in your family? I grew up in a middle-class home in the suburbs of Washington DC. My father worked as an analyst at the Pentagon; my mother was a pre-school teacher and early childhood educator. She eventually got... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week … [Read more...] about Children’s author Jeff Kinney: ‘Getting used to being rich took me five years’
Inside Beaulieu, the stately home that takes Christmas extremely seriously
While many stately homes go into hibernation in winter, the lights are ablaze at Beaulieu Palace House in the New Forest. Each year, the staff spend weeks decking every room with twinkling Christmas trees and garlands of seasonal foliage. The pièce de résistance is the 120ft Norway spruce in the hall, with a star atop that almost brushes the rafters. “It’s taking Christmas trees to extremes,” says Mary Montagu-Scott. Her ancestor, the 1st Earl of Southampton, bought the house from Henry VIII in 1538 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In the grounds, there is also a scented fire garden, singing trees, and a tunnel festooned with 100,000 lights. Montagu-Scott, who grew up at Beaulieu Palace... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per … [Read more...] about Inside Beaulieu, the stately home that takes Christmas extremely seriously
Get your home winter-ready now, or risk losing thousands
Homeowners who fail to winter-proof their houses could face thousands of pounds in extra bills if adverse weather like last winter’s cold snap disrupts their water supply, experts have warned. Bitter snow storms brought in by the “Beast from the East” in February left 60,000 customers with no water for more than 12 hours; many had to wait days to be reconnected. The Consumer Council for Water, an industry watchdog, said four in 10 customers affected received no communication at all from their water company during the incident. Water companies have warned that it is homeowners’ responsibility to look after the supply pipes on their properties and have urged them to prepare their plumbing for plunging... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week … [Read more...] about Get your home winter-ready now, or risk losing thousands
Vile Christmas con that cost Lillian every one of her planned presents
All scams are rotten but ones that target vulnerable people at Christmas really are the pits. So I’m grateful to a reader called Lillian, 84, who has alerted me to a particularly vile con that she fell victim to. While it is too late to help her, she wants to send a warning to others so that they avoid being sucked in too. Lillian received a letter and a promotional flyer in January from an outfit claiming to be a Christmas present saving fund. The flyer explained that to join the scheme you simply had to pay a set amount each month and, come November 1, choose from a list of presents which would be posted to you. All your presents for less The scheme highlighted three supposed benefits. Participants would earn interest on the money they paid in, prezzies on the list would be discounted at 20%-45%, all gifts would be wrapped and conveniently delivered straight to your door. Lillian liked the sound of this because she had just got through a Christmas where she had … [Read more...] about Vile Christmas con that cost Lillian every one of her planned presents