Author Archives: The Vintage Magazine

Objects of Desire is delighted to offer for sale two items of formal dress wear.

 

Vacheron and Constantin Pocket Watch and Garrards Art Deco Cufflinks and Buttons Set

 

There are few items that a gentleman can wear to discreetly show his style but an ultra slim gold pocket watch and

cufflinks with matching dress shirt buttons are all that is needed to reflect this and the elegance of the occasion.

 

The pocket watch is by Vacheron and Constantin, the oldest watch makers in the world, established in 1755.  The ultra slim case is 18 carat yellow gold with an 18 jewel manual wind movement, the silvered dial with elegant poker hands and subsidiary seconds dial.  The pocket watch is displayed within its original burgundy leather presentation case.

 

Diameter: 48 mm

 

These ultra slim pocket watches are rarely seen on the open market but there is one that we have found – please click HERE to view.

 

Objects of Desire is pleased to offer our Vacheron & Constantin Pocket Watch at a competitive price of £5,500.

 

Vacheron and Constantin Ultra Slim 18 carat gold Pocket Watch

 

Vacheron and Constantin 18 ct Gold Ultra Slim Pocket Watch

 

Back O Vacheron and Constantin Ultra Slim Pocket Watch

 

 

Movement of Vacheron and Constantin Ultra Slim Pocket Watch

 

Interior of presentation case for Vacheron and Constantin Ultra Slim Pocket Watch

 

Base of presentation case for Vacheron and Constantin Pocket Watch

 

 

Presentation Case for Vacheron Constantin Pocket Watch

 

The perfect complement for a formal occasion to an ultra slim pocket watch is the English, Art Deco, 18 carat gold, diamond and mother of pearl cufflinks with four matching dress buttons and two studs.  All presented in their original red leather and gold tooled case with Garrards Co Ltd, Goldsmiths and Crown Jewellers to H.M. The Queen printed in gold on the inside of the white silk covered lid.

 

Art Deco Diamond and Mother of Pearl Cufflinks Buttons and Collar Studs Set by Garrards

 

Back view of Art Deco Diamond and Mother of Pearl Dress Set by Garrards

 

Silk Lining of presentation box for Art Deco Dress Set by Garrards

 

Presentation box for Art Deco Diamond and Mother of Pearl Dress Set by Garrards

The case is in perfect order.

N.B. The original shirt button fixing loops are not gold

 

Price: £2,250

 

Of course these items can be purchased separately but if they were to be sold as the perfect evening wear set then we would accept £7,000.

N.B. There are two similar sets for sale which we have found but neither are by the well renowned jewellers, Garrards Co Ltd., and are therefore not of equal quality.  These sets are priced between £2,164 and £2,213.49 so we believe that £2,250 is a very fair asking price for this superior set, retailed by the Goldsmiths and Crown Jewellers to H.M. The Queen.

 

Please contact Chrissy Jarman for more information

 

E:  chrissyjarman@thevintagemagazine.com

 

Chrissy Jarman Features Editor of The Vintage Magazine

 

Chrissy studied at Southampton University where she gained a degree in Fine Art Valuation and worked for 16 years at Gerald Marsh Antique Clocks in Winchester, now known as Carter Marsh.

 

Following her departure from Carter Marsh she has been instrumental in the launch of The Vintage Magazine and the design of its website.  As well as being a contributing author she is the Features Editor of the magazine with special responsibility for Arts and Culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life on a Chalkstream by Simon Cooper

You see a great many corpses beside the road at this time of year as the animal hierarchy redistributes itself ahead of winter. 

Badgers are so commonplace as to not raise comment. Deer something to steer around. Grey squirrels inexplicably more frequent that you might expect. But the saddest of all for me are hares, the white, jagged broken bones of those strong rear legs poking out of that beautiful golden brown fur. So, knowing how the population is in decline, it made me sadder still when I read this week that myxomatosis, the disease that wiped out 99% of the British rabbit population when deliberately introduced in 1952, may have crossed over into the previously immune brown hare population.

Brown Hare

Hares have long been one of my favourite British animals. They are, a bit like otters, remarkably strong and large with a propensity to range far across large tracts of countryside doing their best to avoid people, conducting their lives out of the sight of humanity. For centuries they had made the empty downlands, where the greatest disturbance was a few sheep, their home. But in the post-war drive for more home food production, ploughs bit into land untouched by man since it was exposed by the retreating ice cover millions of year ago. The places they lived and the grassland they lived off has been disappearing ever since, the marginal habitat they are forced to inhabit polluted by agricultural chemicals.

Sound familiar? You’ll have read something similar to describe the plight of water voles, song birds and hedgehogs. In the case of hares it is estimated that the population has gone from something above 4 million a century ago to 800,000 today. The worry is that myxomatosis will all but wipe out the remaining hare population. However, as ever with these stories the headline may not tell the whole story: nobody is as yet certain that the unexplained deaths of hares in East Anglia are directly attributable to myxomatosis. In the 1930’s Australian scientists tried to deliberately infect brown hares with the myxoma virus but failed. There have been similar deaths in Spain but the evidence is inconclusive. In Ireland, where hares are relatively more populous but myxomatosis incidence is of a similar level to the UK, there have been no reported deaths.

Myxomatosis is spread by the rabbit flea that carries the virus, infecting the rabbits by biting as they hop from one host to the next; mortality once infected is close to a 100% as the rabbits go blind, lose fur to ulceration and the body organs shut down. As you might imagine in the close confines of a warren the fleas are easily transferred, so populations are rapidly wiped out. Hares however live a different life which suggests myxomatosis would not so easily take hold.

Brown hares prefer the solitary life, living in very exposed habitats so they may use their acute sight and hearing to avoid their primary predators – foxes and raptors – by running at up to 45mph, which is faster than a horse. Unlike rabbits hares live in the open, creating ‘forms’, small depressions in the ground among long grass. Here they spend their day moving out to feed in the open at night. Tender grass shoots, including cereal crops, are their main foods. Breeding takes place between February and September with the young, known as leverets, born fully furred with their eyes open who are then left by the mother in forms a few yards from their birth place. Once a day for the first four weeks of their lives, the leverets gather at sunset to be fed by the female, but otherwise they receive no parental care. This avoids attracting predators to the young at a stage when they are most vulnerable. They don’t live particularly long lives, 3 to 4 years is the norm, with disease and predation the two major causes of death.

This difference in lifestyle, and in the absence of any firm evidence, has suggested by some that the culprit may be rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) which first emerged in China in the 1980’s. It has since spread around the globe first reaching Britain in 1992 when the domestic rabbit infected the wild population. But RHD is more virulent than myxomatosis wiping out 10m rabbits in 8 weeks when the virus escaped quarantine on the 20km2 Wardang Island off the south coast of Australia in 1995, spread as it is by contamination and the wind.

So for the moment, despite many assumptions, we don’t really know what is happening. The University of East Anglia, along with the Suffolk and Norfolk Wildlife Trusts are trying to gather dead hares for analysis but it is all certainly very odd. One report was of six dead hares in a single field; for a solitary mammal that would be quite a conclave. I suspect we have a while to go before we get to the bottom of this particular problem but even when we do it won’t change the truth: disease or no disease, we are gradually, just a little at a time, destroying the British countryside that we purport to love.

 

A 50th celebration

 

Barry Welham at The Mill

 

 

 

 

Two weeks ago I was so pleased to host a very special lunch at Nether Wallop to celebrate the 50th anniversary of fly fishing at The Mill.

The guests of honour were Renée Wilson, widow of Dermot Wilson, and their son Fergus. As Renée said to me they were initially hesitant at accepting my

invitation; neither had been to The Mill since 1982 and the thought of a return stirred up all kinds of memories. But as it turned out we all had the most wonderful time reminiscing about Dermot, the wonderful camaraderie of the customers and the whole madness of the venture he set his family on.

Charles Jardine, back then a perm-haired recently graduated art student, joined us as he had been the resident trainee guide/instructor under the guidance of the irascible Jim Hadrell. Barrie Welham, a long time friend of Dermot and Renée was there, producing a copy of the 1971 Trout & Salmon (cover price 17.5p!) which featured the British record rainbow trout that he had just captured from The Mill lake. Neil Patterson, he of Chalkstream Chronicle fame, read a letter that Dermot had written to him apologising, in the most charming of words, for inadvertently taking credit for a pattern Neil had invented. Richard Banbury showed us where his desk had been in the days when Orvis took over The Mill from Dermot and Renée.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We rounded the day off unveiling a blue plaque that I hope will remain for many decades as a fitting tribute to a great man.

Diane-Bassett.-Richard-Banbury.-Fergus-Wilson.-Renee-Wilson.-Charles-Jardine.-Barrie-Welham.-Neil-Patterson

Diane Bassett, Richard Banbury, Fergus Wilson, Renée Wilson, Charles Jardine, Barrie Welham and Neil Patterson


A troika of greats

 

I was very touched as Renée Wilson handed me a gift wrapped package by way of thanks for the day. As I undid the wrapping in her very understated way she said, ‘These are just a few bits and pieces from Dermot’s collection I thought you might like.‘ I was overwhelmed when she told me the provenance of each of the three items.

Dermot Wilson fishing items

The first is one of Dermot’s very own reels. As the original UK Orvis dealer he was very loyal to the brand who, you might be surprised to hear, actually made all their high-end reels in the UK as late as the 1980’s.

Renée tells me Dermot was a bit obsessive, tagging everything, hence the label. The reel still has the leader from the last time he fished.

The net was a gift from the legendary Lee Wulff, he of Gray Wulff fame, who was a regular visitor to The Mill.

The final item is a fly box full of flies that were tied by Ernie Schwiebert an American angling literary colossus. He was a great friend of Dermot, the box a gift from him to Dermot when they fished together in Montana.

Schwiebert is not so well known in the UK but though I never met him I owe him a huge debt. He wrote a two volume master work on trout in which, as a schoolchild, he enraptured me about the chalkstreams. They were so much the weft and weave of my upbringing that it took an outsider to show me how very special they were.

The quality of his writing is without measure. Let me quote from a speech he gave in 2005, shortly before his death. It is the very definition of why we fish.


Ernest Schwiebert

 

“People often ask why I fish, and after seventy-odd years, I am beginning to understand.

I fish because of Beauty.

Everything about our sport is beautiful. Its more than five centuries of manuscript and books and folios are beautiful. Its artefacts of rods and beautifully machined reels are beautiful. Its old wading staffs and split-willow creels, and the delicate artifice of its flies, are beautiful. Dressing such confections of fur, feathers and steel is beautiful, and our worktables are littered with gorgeous scraps of tragopan and golden pheasant and blue chattered and Coq de Leon. The best of sporting art is beautiful. The riverscapes that sustain the fish are beautiful. Our methods of seeking them are beautiful, and we find ourselves enthralled with the quicksilver poetry of the fish.

And in our contentious time of partisan hubris, selfishness, and outright mendacity, Beauty itself may prove the most endangered thing of all.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiz

 

The usual random selection of questions to confirm or deny your personal brilliance. As ever it is just for fun with the answers at the bottom of the page.

 

1)     What is the Latin numeral for fifty?

2)     Who are on the rear of the current £50 note?

3)    In what year did Queen Elizabeth II celebrate her 50th year on the throne?

 

 

Simon Cooper of Fishing Breaks

Simon Cooper simon@fishingbreaks.co.uk

Founder & Managing Director

www.fishingbreaks.co.uk

Simon Cooper is the founder and managing director of Fishing Breaks the leading agent for chalkstream fishing in England. He has over 120 miles of river under his control, across eight counties and twenty rivers.  Fishing is mostly let by the day and if you want advice on which to choose Simon regularly fishes every beat under his care, living by the company motto time is precious. use it fishing.  It is not a bad job!

 

 

Quiz answers:

1)      L

2)      Matthew Boulton and James Watt, 18th century makers of steam engines

3)      2002. Makes you feel old ……..

 

 

 

Slovenia boasts a rich cultural heritage. Known for its spectacular Postojna Karst Cave and the fairy-tale like Lake Bled, yet this country has so much more to offer.

Surrounded by Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia, this mountainous country has historically been the crossroads of Slavic, Germanic, and Romance languages and cultures. Over half of the territory is covered by forest so when you are going to Slovenia by plane, make sure you get a window seat in order to enjoy the view of magnificent mountains dotted with lush and rolling green valleys.

Rolling Hills in Brda Slovenia

The Lush Rolling Hills in Brda

 

Slovenia is also a paradise for foodies and wine lovers. Just flip through this mouth-watering online magazine called ‘Taste Slovenia,‘ published by its tourism board, featuring all the regional Slovenian cuisines and you might already want to book a flight!

Wines are equally exciting. Slovenia has a very long history of winemaking and grapes are mainly grown in three wine regions: Primorska (west), Posavje (southeast) and Podravje (northeast).  In 1823, the Archduke Johann of Austrian ordered “all noble vine varieties that exist” to be planted on his property in Maribor, Podravje. Since then, many international grape varieties, such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Riesling, Pinot Noir were introduced to inland Slovenia.

The westernmost Slovenian wine region, Primorska, is the most important amongst the three. There are around 6,490 hectares of vineyards in the region. Being close to the Italian border, you can no doubt sense the Italian influence.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Goriška Brda (or ‘Brda’) in the north of the Primorska region, which is right across the Italian border. Though in fact, it is very difficult to know the real border line, Brda can probably be seen as a continuation of Collio Goriziano region across the border in Friuli, Italy.

A view from Ljubilana Castle in Slovenia

A View from Ljubljana Castle

 

Coming from the capital city Ljubljana by car, it takes around 1.5 hours to reach Brda.  Not long after leaving the motor way, you will find yourself in Italy, driving around somewhere in Udine!  But then, all of a sudden, you will see a verdant countryside and notice a tiny sign saying “Slovenia,” you know you are back in the country again.

My destination was the biggest wine cooperation in Slovenia, Klet Brda, in the village of Dobrovo. Driving pass some picturesque villages surrounded by undulating hills and vineyards, it is easy to see why Brda is dubbed “Slovenia’s Tuscany”.

 

Klet Brda Wine Cellar and Klet Brda Rebula Sparkling Wine and Krasno Wines

Klet Brda’s Wine Cellar and Bottle of Klet Brda Rebula Sparkling Wine and Krasno WInes

 

Being the biggest in the country, Klet Brda works with around 400 wine growers and only processes and produces wine from grapes grown in the region.  They have an impressive range of wine, white, red, rosé and sparkling, made from familiar grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Bianco, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon etc.  Not to forget also some local specialties such as Rebula (Ribolla Gialla in Italian) and Pikolit (Picolit in Italian).

Rebula is an ancient white grape variety from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, typically with light body, hint of floral and has refreshing acidity but can also be made in various styles. Here in Brda, the best Rebula are grown in the higher slopes to allow them to develop the flavours slowly but also to retain the acidity. Additionally, they make a special blend of Rebula and Sauvignon Blanc just for the UK market and can be purchased through Majestic Wine.

 

Pikolit Dessert Wine from Slovenia

Dessert paired with Pikolit Dessert Wine from Slovenia

 

 

 

Pikolit is another local specialty in the Italy-Slovenia border.  It is a white grape and became famous throughout Europe in the 18th century when Conte Fabio Asquini started to export the wine bottled in exquisite hand-made Murano glass and sold at a high price.  It is said that even the Pope liked it at the time.  However, the variety was almost extinct due to the phylloxera epidemic in the late 19th century.  Luckily some survived through it.  The plantings of Pikolit remain quite small in Slovenia.  Klet Brda has around 2 hectares and uses it to make a fantastic Pikolit dessert wine that has floral, peach, dried apricot and acacia honey aromas but sadly not yet available in the UK.

 

 

 

 

Quercus Pinot Bianco from Slovenia

 

 

 

Klet Brda has made some stunning Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco from their Quercus, Krasno and Bagueri ranges. Both are full of characters and expressive. Pinot Grigio is flavoursome, not the lighter style as their Veneto counterparts in Italy.  Pinot Bianco here is opulent on the palate.  It’s dry and refreshing with green apple and grapefruit flavours but also very food friendly.  Krasno Pinot Bianco can be found in Majestic Wine and Quercus Pinot Bianco is available through hundreds of Young’s Pub in the UK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Klet Brda is open to tourists and wine lovers who love to try their wine. Tastings can be booked through their website .

Apart from wine tastings, don’t forget to visit the charming fortified village of Smartno, Dobrovo Castle, and to appreciate a panoramic view of Brda from Gonjace Tower.

And of course, make sure you enjoy lots of local wine and food!

 

Where to stay

 

The view from Hotel San Martin overlooking Smartno in Slovenia

Hotel San Martin 

They have a fantastic restaurant in the hotel and you can enjoy the striking view of the village Smartno from here.

 

 

Where to eat

 

 

Grad Dobrovo Restaurant

Address: Grajska cesta 10, 5212 DOBROVO V BRDIH

*They are right inside the Dobrovo Castle, offering regional cuisines.

Tuna capaccio in Primula Restaurant in Nova Gorica in Slovenia

Primula Restaurant 

Address: Soška cesta 40, 5000 Nova Gorica

*This is a fish restaurant by the river in Nova Gorica. Make sure you go to the roof terrace to enjoy the view before you go for the meal.

 

 

 

 

Leona de Pasquale wine correspondent for The Vintage Magazine

 

Leona de Pasquale DipWSET, The Vintage Magazine’s Wine Correspondent

Originally from Taiwan, Leona has been working in the wine industry for more than 10 years as freelance wine writer, translator and educator. She wrote and translated for Decanter Magazine (Chinese Edition in Taiwan), Le Pin Magazine in Hong Kong and is the UK & Europe Correspondent for the most influential wine and spirits magazine in Taiwan (Wine & Spirits Digest). She is also the translator for The World Atlas of Wine, American Wine and Natural Wine. She obtained her WSET Diploma in 2016.

 

Blackmore Borley Limited

 

 

                                 The Bespoke Lloyd’s Insurance Broker

 

The Vintage Magazine is delighted to welcome Blackmore Borley Limited as a Platinum New Business Member and its favoured insurance broker.

Their Private Client team specialises in personal insurance solutions for those individuals who require a more bespoke product when protecting their valuable assets. They work closely and discreetly with their clients to understand their needs in order to provide independent and expert advice across a wide range of personal products. These include UK and overseas homes, motor, classics cars, fine art, jewellery, wine, travel, private aviation and yachts. To ensure that they provide the best coverage, they only work with the UK’s leading specialist insurers.

Their skilled specialists take the time to understand their clients’ needs and simplify the complexity of insurance so that they can deliver innovative and high quality solutions.

 

They are the broker of choice for many businesses and individuals, across a range of disciplines and industry sectors and are committed to building long-term relationships between their clients and their insurers.

 

For further details please contact Ricky Downs at rdowns@blackmoreborley.com or 0207 929 4616 or visit www.blackmoreborley.com.

 

Blackmore Borley Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FSR 311926

 

Blackmore Borley Private Client Brochure

 

Blackmore Borley Private Client Brochure

Blackmore Borley Brochure Private Client

Blackmore Borley Brochure Private Buyer

blackmore Borley Brochure Private Buyer

Blackmore Borley Private Client Flyer

 

Blackmore Borley Private Client Flyer

 Blackmore Borley Private Client Flyer

                                                         Blackmore Borley Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FSR 311926

 

 

 

 

King JOhn Inn Tollard Royal

The King John Inn at Tollard Royal in Dorset is one of the growing numbers of gastro, or bistro pubs with enough rooms to accommodate a shooting party, and good enough food and wines to make a team of guns and guests want to have dinner and stay there on the night before a shoot.  The King John Inn is just one of many such pubs.

Tollard Royal is a charming village with a 14th Century Church in the middle of what must surely be one of the largest concentrations of good shoots in a small area anywhere in the south of England.

Other ‘gastro’ pubs and notable establishments along the Dorset Wiltshire border include the Beckford Arms, near Tisbury, the Lamb Inn at Hindon,  Howard’s House Hotel at Teffont Evias, and the Museum at Farnham.  All these pubs have created comfortable and stylish accommodation and provide superb food and friendly service for frequent shooting parties during the season.

For instance the King John Inn at Tollard Royal has no fewer than 70 shooting parties per season thus providing a very welcome and substantial contribution to its turnover and profits.

Assuming an average spend of £200 per head, for dinner,  bed and breakfast with an average of 10 guests per party, this creates income of £2000 per shooting  party, which  multiplied  by 70  shooting parties per annum generates a  staggering £140,000 of income that otherwise would not exist.

It is therefore easy to understand why an increasing number of local Pubs are ‘raising their game’ and improving and upgrading their facilities to attract this lucrative market, creating a welcome source of income for the trades people engaged in these ‘up-grades’.

A Report on the economic, environmental and social contribution of shooting sports to the UK by Public and Corporate Economic Consultants (PACEC) identified the following:

  • 480,000 people shoot live quarry in the UK
  • shooting supports the equivalent of 70,000 full time jobs
  • Shooters spend £2 billion each year on goods and services
  • Shooting is worth £1.6 billion to the UK economy
  • Shooting is involved in the management of two-thirds of the rural land area
  • Two million hectares are actively managed for conservation as a result of shooting
  • Shooting providers spend £250 million a year on conservation
  • Shooters spend 2.7 million work days on conservation.

Historically the larger and longer established shoots are on estates that often had houses designed, or extended, to accommodate the large shooting parties of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and in some cases these are reserved for the exclusive use of their owners and their guests.

However, roving syndicates are more likely to stay in the local pub or small hotel where they receive a warm welcome and good service, and this all adds to the camaraderie of dinner the night before a shoot and at breakfast the next morning, and the anticipation of a great day ahead.

As far as the owners of these shoots are concerned the visiting guns provide much needed income for the estate but also for the teams of loaders and beaters who are crucial to a successful days shooting.

There are few things more appealing to a sociable soul than the shared experience of a friendly shoot in beautiful countryside on a beautiful day, but the first impression of the pub or hotel where you have arrived after a long journey is dictated by the warmth of the welcome you receive.

When we arrived at the King John Inn, it was  nearing the  end of its Sunday Lunch session, and the place was crowded with tables demanding their bills, but the efficient staff, led by Paolo Corgiolu, ably supported by Kate took good care of us, and made us very  welcome, despite the other pressures on them.  They quickly found  us a  table for a late lunch, and we  ordered two ‘starters’ from the main menu, chosen since we were saving our appetites for supper,.  Two glasses of wine appeared without delay and we could begin to relax and take in our surroundings.

 

King John Inn dining area and bar

The simple wooden tables in the dining and bar area

The place had a good ‘vibe’ or dare I say, ‘trendy’ feel similar to that found in London.  I struck up a  conversation with a couple on an adjoining table by admiring their Cocker Spaniel and I asked  if he  shot  with  it, only to discover  that he had a gun on an Army Shoot at the Central Ammunition Depot at Bramley, near the  Duke of Wellintgon’s home at Stratfield Saye which my late father ran for several  years in the late fifties, and on which I  know another current member, namely Andrew Speed.  ‘Speedy’ to  his  friends, was the Adjutant  at Sandhurst, and is now living in a  ‘grace and  favour’ house in Horse Guard’s Parade from whence he organises  all the  ceremonial events, including  the  Trooping of the Colour at Her Majesty’s Birthday parade.

This is proof, if it were needed, of the small world the shooting fraternity inhabit!

Anyway, after our modest but excellent lunch,  we retired to our very spacious double room with a King-size bed and a beautiful marble floored ‘en-suite’ bathroom with free standing roll top tub and separate shower with enormous rose.  This is the largest of the eight bedrooms available at The King John Inn, five of which are in the main building and three others in a converted barn opposite.  All are beautifully decorated with antique pieces mixed with modern touches to create rooms in which you just want to linger.

 

Te King Suite at The King John Inn at Tollard Royal

The King’s Room Suite

Bedrooms at King John Inn Tollard Royal

All of the rooms are dog friendly at a modest extra charge of £15.00

Read more…

 

We were recommended to try Villa di Geggiano by a friend who knows Chiswick well and things were looking good when we found a parking space just around the corner from the restaurant, a unique experience in London, particularly on a Saturday, and put us in a good mood for our lunch.  At the moment Villa di Geggiano is only open for lunch at weekends and for dinner during the week from 6 pm but we were told that this may change when the days start to warm up and the terrace and gardens can be made full use of – they obviously know their market and when customers want to visit.

Chiswick is not an area that we are familiar with so had not known about the struggling restaurants that had tried and failed on these premises.  Some may have predicted that Villa de Geggiano too were doomed but they had not reckoned with the expertise of the Bianchi Bandinelli family.

Their background is from the highly desirable Chianti region of Tuscany, which is already a firm favourite place with the English, so much so that it is fondly referred to as Chiantishire.  The original Villa di Geggiano, after which the restaurant is named, has been run by the family for over 400 years over which they have maintained and developed the Tuscan estate, each generation taking up the mantel to preserve the legacy.

Villa di Geggiano has been running since 2014 and so far all is going well.  A combination of Italian flair and a love of fine food and wine makes for a winning recipe.

Certainly our first impression was very promising – the restaurant has a lovely large terrace at the front which in the summer would be a welcoming ‘watering hole’ on the way home after work.

Villa de Geggiano in Chiswick terrace

 

Once inside we were greeted warmly by the general manager, Lukasz Borowski  who directed us to the lounge for a pre-lunch drink.  What confronted us was a very elegant room with an eclectic collection of antique, modern and quirky decorative pieces – nothing anodyne about this room and definitely a talking point whilst relaxing over a pre-lunch drink.

 

lounge at Villa de Geggiano in Chiswick

 

lounge at Villa de Geggiano in Chiswick

 

lounge at Villa de Geggiano in Chiswick

 

Presented with a list of traditional Tuscan cocktails from which to choose, it is unfortunate that we elected to drive to the restaurant or more precisely that  I had been voted designated driver.  If this had not been the case I would have loved to have tried a Passion fruit martini or Tuscan Devil both reasonably priced at £8.00.  Perusing the impressive wine list there are 8 from the Villa’s own vineyards made predominately with the local Sangiovese grape.   In fact it is believed that the Bianchi Bandinelli family were the first to introduce Chianti to our shores as early as 1725.

 

Villa de Geggiano restaurant in Chiswick

 

The actual restaurant is quite large, serving a hundred diners in the main room and there is a private dining area at the front of the building .   The large skylight floods the whole room keeping the interior bright and although we did not see it, the restaurant stretches further back to another garden at the back – in warmer weather this will be another lovely al-fresco dining experience away from the busy main street. .

The eccentric decor is repeated in the dining room with a mixture of pendant lights and a strangely green felt covered tree structure – we’re still wondering why even now!

Notwithstanding such eccentricities, the service and meal were par excellence.  In fact I can confidently state that I have not had a better three course meal.  It being lunch time I chose lighter options and started with Burrata con Caponatina di Melanzane, which lived up to its meaning in Italian, buttery – a delicious mixture of mozzarella and cream balanced against the light spiciness of the aubergine ‘stew’.  Robert had his favourite Tuscan dish which he always orders when it’s in season, Vitello tonnato  – this time the thin cuts of veal loin with tuna were accompanied with a saffron sauce, apples, celery and baby gem – he assured me this was no disappointment.

For our ‘secondi’ I chose the pan fried Monkfish with samphire, datterini tomatoes and celeriac cream – it is no exaggeration to say this was simply delicious – the fish was perfectly cooked and the other ingredients balanced the dish, particularly the use of the speciality datterini tomatoes with their added sweetness and seasonal samphire.  Robert went off-piste with the special of the day, Pasta with lobster – being true italians, this also was exceptional.  Not really needed but we had side dishes of small roast potatoes with rosemary and garlic and some spinach enlivened with chilli.

Finally we could not resist the puddings, I had the vanilla panna cotta and hazelnut foam and Robert an apple semifreddo and jelly with white chocolate and crumble.

Naturally a restaurant of this standard is not cheap but Villa di Geggiano is overall good value as the food was exceptional.  Our starters were £8 and £12 respectively and our main courses £25  and puddings at £7 each.

Four years on and Villa di Geggiano is still going strong and I’m certain that there are many more treats in the pipe line to offer their customers.

So don’t just leave this gem to the locals – a specific trip to Chiswick is well worth the effort.  Villa di Geggiano is a special place and the closest you will get to Tuscany in the middle of Chiswick.

I hope that they have broken the curse of 66-68 High Street Chiswick – they certainly deserve to.

 

Chef and kitchen staff at Villa de Geggiano in Chiswick

The skilled kitchen team that produce the magic

 

 

 

Chrissy Jarman Features Editor of The Vintage Magazine

 

Chrissy studied at Southampton University where she gained a degree in Fine Art Valuation and worked for 16 years at Gerald Marsh Antique Clocks in Winchester, now known as Carter Marsh.  Following her departure from Carter Marsh she has been instrumental in the launch of The Vintage Magazine and the design of its website.  As well as being a contributing author she is the Features Editor of the magazine with special responsibility for Arts and Culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audi Q5

 

If the Audi Q5 is not looking in showroom gleaming condition that is because it has been doing what its designed to do.  In this case it has been driven around the country lanes of the South Downs to visit some of the wonderful shooting country for which the Cowdray Estate is renowned, including the famous ’chalk-pits’ drive at Cocking.  Be assured that the Navarra Blue paintwork with black leather Alcantara sport front seats is a very pleasing combination, in fact the Audi Q5 delivers on the ‘looks front’ in abundance.

Audi have combined clean elegant lines on this 2017 model, having made it slightly larger than the previous version and added more technology – there’s a head up display, adaptive LED headlamps and the Virtual Cockpit.  However, larger doesn’t mean heavier – in reality due to the use of aluminium throughout the body work this Audi Q5 is 90 kgs lighter resulting in better performance, braking, handling and efficiency.

Better efficiency by way of fuel consumption and lower CO2 has been achieved by their latest development of the company’s famous all-wheel-drive system.  It works by allowing the engine to drive just the front wheels most of the time. When the extra grip from all-wheel drive is needed due to changing conditions, power is sent to the rear wheels via two clutches – one mounted to the car’s gearbox, the other to the rear axle.  This takes only 200 milliseconds for power to flow to the rear and shift the engine’s torque between all four wheels to keep you pointing in a straight line.  Not only does this help improve fuel economy but it helps reduce unnecessary wear and tear on the engine and gearbox.

So all this is good for everyday driving but as mentioned earlier, we put the Audi Q5 through its paces off road and the efficiency and comfort was improved by engaging the optional air suspension which allows you to raise the ride height.

These new technologies seem to have worked as the 2017 Audi Q5’s combined MPG is officially up by 16%, while CO2 emissions are down by 15% – all this and better acceleration to boot.

Audi Q5 dashboard

  • Audi Q5 2.0 TDI 190 Quattro S tronic

Having driven many Audis it is reassuring to find the Multi Media Interface (MMI) is very much the same across all models although with added sophistication on the higher spec cars.  On this Q5 there is a large central screen with a controller on the central console and a control pad with adorning buttons enabling easy navigation through the myriad systems – definitely need to read the owner’s handbook to discover all its functions!

Read more…

Recently I went to Stockholm for a long weekend.  I am not sure if it was due to the cold weather, my habits or just unconsciously trying to stay professional even whilst on holiday, I found myself constantly in search of a decent wine in the supermarket to go with my dinner, but to no avail, nothing was found. The only thing I could see in any supermarket was terrible-looking non-alcoholic wines or beer. I did come across a wine shop on a Saturday afternoon, but guess what, it was closed at 3pm. Coming from the UK where you can buy booze 24/7, I was in shock. Who would close a wine retail shop at 3 pm on a Saturday?

Then my wine-professional-self kicked in. Suddenly I got it. For years, I have learnt that the Scandinavian countries have government regulated alcohol monopoly in place. Now I realize how it works. The Swedish government operates a monopoly on the alcohol retail sales. Anything above 3.5% ABV will need to be sold through the 430 plus government-owned “Systembolaget” wine shops.

Originally, everything, including the import and export, production and both on and off-trade alcohol sales, was controlled by the government. However, in 1995, when Sweden joined the EU, they were allowed only to retain its retail sales monopoly on alcohol. Therefore, nowadays it’s possible for business to import and sell wines to restaurants directly. But to buy wines to enjoy at home, you will need to go to Systembolaget.

As a result, my trip in Stockholm ended up with only a glass of Spanish wine, three times the usual price I would pay in the UK, from Ribera del Duero in a restaurant. But at least it was really delicious!

Museum of Spirits in Djurgarden Stockholm

Museum of Spirits in the island of Djurgården, Stockholm – Photo credit@Spiritmuseum

It seems like Stockholm might not be an ideal destination for wine travel then. However, to my surprise, I found a little gem in the island of Djurgården amongst all the major tourist attractions. It’s a boutique style Museum of Spirits (SpritMuseum – dedicated to alcoholic drinks, not ghosts). Small it might be but it is modernly decorated and equipped with a tasting room, a bar and a restaurant. I went into the special Champagne exhibition first where you could learn everything about Champagne.

Aroma pumps in Museum of Spirits In Djurgarden Stockholm

 

More Aroma pumps in the Museum of Spirits

Aroma Pumps

Just when I thought that this museum was disappointingly tiny, I turned into the main spirits section and was totally blown away. Admittedly, it is not massive. But I was extremely impressed by the well thought through layout and various aroma pumps that are on display.  Aromas of all major spirits such as Cognac, Whisky, Calvados, Bourbon are there for you to sniff. Then more astonishingly, the aromas of many rare ingredients for spirits making, for example, wormwood, which is for making Absinthe is there too for you to smell. Being a wine and spirits educator myself, I have been dreaming of such a ‘classroom’ to show students how those ingredients smell like.  Apart from the aroma pumps, there are different sections where you can learn about spirits making in an interactive way. Even the sometimes difficult to understand distillation process has been made easier to understand by the beautiful animated film that is on show.  In short, this is heaven for people who like to learn more about spirits in a very engaging way.

Slow baked hake with burned onion puree and pickled onions by chef Petter Nilsson

 

 

 

 

 

Apart from the main exhibition sections, there is also a bar and a restaurant called The Dining Room headed by Chef Petter Nilsson who spent 15 years in Paris at the acclaimed neo-bistro La Gazzetta which he co-owned.

Delicious ingredient-focused, season-specific Nordic dishes are served here. After learning all about spirits, admiring the seasonal collections, it is definitely a treat to settle down and enjoy a beautiful and nourishing Nordic meal here. Not to mention that the view from the restaurant is picturesque, which is a bonus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Museum of Spirits in Djurgarden Stockholm

SpritMuseum: Djurgårdsvägen 38-40, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden.   Photo credit@Spiritmuseum

Current exhibitions:

 

·         CHAMPAGNE! – Until 30/10/2018

 

·         SWEDEN: SPIRITS OF A NATION – Until 31/12/ 2018

 

SpritMuseum: Djurgårdsvägen 38-40, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden.

 

https://spritmuseum.se/en/

 

Leona de Pasquale wine correspondent for The Vintage Magazine

 

Leona De Pasquale DipWSET, The Vintage Magazine’s Wine Correspondent

Originally from Taiwan, Leona has been working in the wine industry for more than 10 years as freelance wine writer, translator and educator. She wrote and translated for Decanter Magazine (Chinese Edition in Taiwan), Le Pin Magazine in Hong Kong and is the UK & Europe Correspondent for the most influential wine and spirits magazine in Taiwan (Wine & Spirits Digest). She is also the translator for The World Atlas of Wine, American Wine and Natural Wine. She obtained her WSET Diploma in 2016.

At Landford Stone we’re lucky enough to work on some truly breath-taking projects in properties across the South-West. There is no greater joy for us than the reward of seeing the highest quality natural stone taking pride of place in beautiful properties.

Natural stone is much more than simply a ‘worktop’ or ‘flooring’ material, it is, to us, a ‘natural masterpiece’, a geological work of art that not only brings the outside world indoors but brings with it both character and charm. Each individual natural stone slab is unique in its patterning and colouring, which is why we encourage all our private customers to visit our yard to hand-select the slab that is perfect for their project.

We’re thrilled to be able to showcase a recent project, completed at the end of 2017, at a magnificent Chandler’s Ford home. The incorporation of a trio of natural stone materials – granite, limestone and marble, has really delivered both an air of sophistication and wow-factor in this impressive home.

This particular project not only involved a full kitchen worktop installation with striking limestone flooring but also an absolutely jaw-dropping marble entrance hall, staircase and first floor landing.

Magnificent Marble

Arabescato Corchia Marble Entrance Hall

 

Arabescato Corchia Marble

The marble we used for this stunning staircase is Arabescato Corchia, originating from Italy. Arabescato is a white marble with striking grey veins that certainly add a touch of luxury to any project! The individual tiles for this project were pre-cut in Italy from matching slabs, transferred over to their new British home and painstakingly fitted by our expert flooring team. The Arabescato Corchia is complemented by a contrasting Nero Marquina, dark marble inset/border (originating from Spain). The bespoke treads and risers were manufactured at Landford Stone’s factory.

Marble is a winning material when it comes to elegant flooring. It has been used for thousands of years, from Ancient Egypt to Ancient Rome and Constantinople.

Marble is of course a higher priced natural stone which conveys an air of grandeur. It is incredibly hard wearing and represents an investment, contributing to the resale value of your property.

Landford Stone Staircase

 

 

Granite and Limestone in a bright modern kitchen

 

Kinawa White Granite and Baobab Ebony Limestone Kitchen

 

Kinawa WHite Granite Baobab Ebony Limestone

 

This stunning kitchen features our 30mm Kinawa White granite worktops with pencil edge detailing, as well as a bespoke shaped granite kitchen island with incorporated breakfast bar /sitting area.  Kinawa White granite has been hugely popular over the last 5 years and it is easy to see why!

 

Kinawa White Granite Kitchen Island

 

One of our most popular light granite materials, Kinawa, features beautiful grey patterning throughout and looks equally brilliant in both modern and traditional kitchens – this versatility is definitely a contributing factor in its popularity.

 

Kinawa White Granite Windowsill or shelf

 

In this kitchen we also installed a large up-stand behind the work surfaces that runs seamlessly into a windowsill. This added feature of an incorporated windowsill or shelf is a very popular detail and a fantastic way of showing off a bit more of your natural stone.

 

10mm thick Baobab Ebony Limestone Tiles

 

The kitchen flooring is 10mm thick Baobab Ebony limestone tiles, supplied by our major flooring partner Ca’ Pietra and installed by our experienced flooring team.

 

Kinawa White granite Baobab Ebony Limestone kitchen

 

 

CONTACT DETAILS:-

Giles Lane,
Landford,
Salisbury,
Wiltshire
SP5 2BG

Phone: 01794 324232

We were introduced to Louise Waldron, the founder of Snow Finel Ski Wear and couldn’t help but be impressed not only with her, but with her range of ski wear.   She certainly has spotted a gap in the market for quality thermals, layers and accessories but without the very high price tags of those up-market brands which we aspired to but somehow couldn’t quite justify.

Made from the finest Merino wool and styled with an understated good taste and stamped with her own unique detail, we’re sure that Snow Finel Ski Wear will  be recognised in the same way that a flash of red on the sole of a shoe is unmistakably, Christian Louboutin.

Now is an excellent time to visit the Snow Finel website as there are some timely offers for this season! (Just click on the photos or logo to go to the site and view  the  whole fabulous collection)

We asked Louise to tell us her story which we are delighted to share:-

Snow Finel Ski Wear

 

I started Snow Finel quite simply because I couldn’t fine anything I wanted to wear!   I was lucky enough to own lots of lovely ski jackets and ski pants but when I stopped for those long lunches or apres ski drinks I was rather embarrassed about the scruffy old fleece and T-shirt combos.

After visiting lots of factories in the Uk and persuading three of them to work with me, I started in 2013 with a small range of ladies jumpers and hats. I launched at the Spirit of Christmas Fair and attended a small number of small fairs.

Having been well received I realised that stylish thermals and mid layers were lacking in the marketplace.  My aim was to create  stylish, coordinating layers which looked fantastic on and off the slopes.

Snow Finel Ski Wear mid layer tops

The range has grown to include base layers, mid layers, gilets, leggings and a range of accessories for men and ladies.

Snow Finel Ski Wear Mid Layer Top

Merino Wool Mid Layer with Contrasting Zip and matching Cashmere Hat 

 

I design all the garments myself and have everything manufactured in the UK. I felt very strongly about this as I want to support British industry.

All the garments are made from high quality merino wool.  Merino has fantastic qualities as a fibre to wear for sport.

  • It naturally regulates the wearer’s body temperature.
  • It wicks moisture but doesn’t cool the wearer.
  • It retains heat but you won’t ever overheat in it!
  • An added bonus is it never smells.

The business is growing organically, I am proud of the products that are designed for skiing but are worn by anyone who enjoys sport. The quest for new products and colour ways makes the design process exciting, as does trying out all the samples on the slopes to ensure they perform well.

Snow Finel Ski Wear Mens Top Layer

Men’s Top Layer in Merino Wool

 

Snow Finel Ski Wear Made in UK