Articles by Justin Roberts
Justin (and his wife Lucy) voted for sun and living with a move to Spain in 2005. Born in Zimbabwe in 1972, Justin reached Spain via Argentina, South Africa and after a fairly long stint in the UK. Wine was never far away: Hazy childhood memories of parents and grandparents quaffing Portuguese wines bought in Mozambique, growing up a bit and being allowed a glass of Argentine red reduced a peg or two with soda water and then moving onto South African wines as a university student. After years being daunted by the selection at his local UK wine shop Justin realized he didn't really know anything, so WSET courses culminating with the Advanced Certificate followed. Fortified and sweet wines are a passion, especially Sherry. Follow me on Twitter at JustinJerez or email me at justin@catavino.net.
Recently, the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia (or Catalunya) voted to ban bullfighting; which consequently, provoked me to write an article. Since moving to Spain in 2005, I have attempted to understand the “corrida de …
The WSET Diploma fortified wine exam was nailed down earlier this year. The next exam is sparkling wines so I have been sticking to the bubbly stuff since then. Not much else has made it …
The Jerez “Fiestas de la Vendimia” or harvest festival, which first happened in 1948, is in full swing at the moment. This is one harvest festival which is worth a visit, especially if you are …
About 3 years after bagging the certificate – I have no idea how the time flew by so fast – I finally signed up to the WSET diploma late in 2008. My first two …
The first place to start a sherry tour at the London International Wine Fair is at the official stand. This year, the Sherry Institute had set up a long bar-style stand. Lined up along this …
The British have a unique national constitution: It’s unwritten. One result of this is a Monarchy, without power, but with some fairly weird and wonderful plug-ins and add-ons. Some people say this is all a …
This has been going around the rumour mill for some time, but it’s now official. Vinoble, the biennial fair specialising in sweet and fortified wine, has been put out to tender by the Jerez town hall. …
When I first saw the pointy hats, it was slightly unnerving. For most people, the associations are obvious. Thankfully pointy hat wearing in Jerez started way before the Klan was formed, so nothing to do …
Last week I made the hour-long trip from my home in Jerez to Gibraltar to meet friends at the airport there. I am always up for a trip to this interesting and some might say anachronistic …
Editors Note: Our Correspondent Justin Roberts had the chance to do something both Gabriella and I wish we could have. Living in Jerez, he made a quick trip over to Bodegas Tradicion to give you …
Near the 14th of February, there is always the temptation to crack open a bottle of pink Champagne as inspiration for a post – but that’s all been done before, so I was keen to …
OK, if you’re wondering about the title, then that’s what they call Old Pulteney, and if you’re still wondering, keep reading.
On a trip to Scotland last week to meet my new nephew I could not …
There’s a new-ish (born November 2006) kid on the London independent wine merchant block. A couple of weeks before Christmas, I went to check it all out. The unique thing about The Sampler is their …
Things have been pretty chilly here in Jerez, with record low temperatures in recent days. There has been snow all over Spain, even in places that don’t often get it. One way I like to …
If you find yourself feeling a little peckish in El Puerto de Santa Maria, then I suggest you take yourself off to a little bar called, El Brillante. It’s on Calle Doctor Muoz Seca (aka …
Hello, Justin here.
Recently I took part in a sherry tasting where the subject of bottle-aged sherries came up. Now the dogma is Fino and Manzanilla do not age and should be drunk as soon after …
