Sometimes, a little research can transform the way we drink wine. What looks, at first glance, like a world of intimidating prices and inaccessible bottles can often yield hidden treasures, if you know where to look. Nowhere is this more true than in Burgundy, and particularly in Gevrey-Chambertin.

Our regular columnist and consumer champion has shared advice on how people can embrace ‘Second hand September’ - and save money without compromising on style. Jane Hawkes says the campaign, which encourages people to avoid buying new clothes for a whole month, is a great opportunity to ditch ‘fast fashion’ and save money.

Completing a quick house sale can still be possible if a damp issue has been missed by a homeowner’s survey - as long as prompt action is taken. Hidden damp is one of the most commonly missed issues in basic surveys which are required to secure a mortgage. Whilst it may not be ideal, it is important to address this issue as soon as possible to avoid delays in the house buying process.

Maria Whitehead MBE, co-founder of Hawkshead Relish, has been recognised with one of the highest accolades in the food and drink world, the Golden Fork Award for Contribution to Food & Drink, presented by the Guild of Fine Food at last night’s Golden Fork Awards. The Golden Forks are held annually to celebrate the very best in food and drink from around the globe.

Cumbria & Manchester’s Lovingly Artisan Bakery has been crowned Artisan Food & Drink Business of the Year in the inaugural Artisan Founder Awards, hosted by the online publication and podcast The Artisan Founder. Launched this year, the Artisan Founder Awards were created to celebrate independent makers, creators, and founders who are shaping the future of artisan businesses.

A question I often get asked is: "How long does it take you to sort all the animals out?" This is a difficult question to answer and to be honest, I don’t actually know how to respond. I don’t have a set time limit and I have never timed myself doing certain chores. I suppose I could liken it to cooking.

Bus operator Stagecoach has teamed up with award-winning guidebook writer and photographer Vivienne Crow who shares her favourite walks this Autumn, and all accessible by Stagecoach bus. It’s the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, according to the poet John Keats, and what better way to appreciate it than with a walk in the Cumbrian countryside?

As summer begins to slip away and the evenings grow shorter, a lot of gardeners hang up their gloves, thinking September signals the end of vegetable planting. However, September brings a great chance to start new crops that will quietly bed in over winter, brave the chilly weather, and reward you with an earlier harvest next year.

It never ceases to amaze me how many ‘pet friendly’ cleaning products there are on the market that are anything but ‘pet friendly.’ As a smallholder sharing my home with four dogs it is extremely important to me to ensure that the products I use in my home are safe around pets. Often many products that claim to be non-toxic and safe to use around cats and dogs include essential oils.

Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) has announced the shortlist for its fourth annual Spotlight Awards, with Cumbrian chef and co-owner of the Black Bull, Sedbergh, Nina Matsunaga, named as a finalist in the Chef of the Year category. The BIH Spotlight Awards shine a light on exceptional talent from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds across the UK hospitality, food, and drink sectors.

The annual Feast Bowland week returns from the 15th - 20th September, offering a week-long celebration of the rich culinary heritage found across the Forest of Bowland. Enjoy guided walks, wanders, and foodie experiences, all while discovering the wild foods and distinctive dishes that make Bowland special.

Like its namesake—the vibrant wildflower whose growth is stimulated by fire—The Banksia has erupted onto Leeds' dining scene with incendiary effect. Nestled at the crossroads where Calls Lane and Swinegate meet Lower Briggate, this isn't just another Mediterranean restaurant.

As the UK experienced its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures regularly climbing to 30°c, and one of the hottest and driest summer seasons on record, gardeners are looking for plants that prove themselves as reliable stars in hot temperatures and that can thrive in challenging conditions.

Although I do enjoy going to the various country shows during the summer months I have never been brave enough to take any of my own livestock. This is mainly due to the fact that very few of my animals know how to behave themselves in public!

Finca Martelo, Rioja, 2019 If you love a Rioja that feels both classic and fresh, Finca Martelo 2019 is a real treat. It comes from the Torre de Oña estate in Rioja Alavesa, a beautiful old vineyard that sits high up at 630 metres. The vines are more than 60 years old, mostly Tempranillo with a splash of Mazuelo, Garnacha, and even a little white grape (Viura) for extra lift.

In a month in which a similar bee clasp to that of Napoleon’s housed at Levens Hall and Gardens went under the hammer in the auction room, the Cumbrian visitor attraction is urging visitors not to overlook the joys of its house. Many visitors find it difficult to tear themselves away from the glorious gardens to step indoors.

The shortlisted finalists for this year’s Baking Industry Awards 2025, (BIAs), the baking industry Oscars, were announced recently, and Northwest-based artisan bakery Lovingly Artisan, based at Plumgarth’s, Kendal, and at Altrincham Market, Manchester, discovered that they'd been shortlisted in the Craft Bakery Business of the Year category, alongside Biscuiteers, Cooplands, Dougies Goodies, Gr…

It's been a while since I've had Sunday lunch, and being back in Leeds, I was invited by a friend to visit the newly opened location of The Swine Bistro. I've been frequenting their establishments for some years now, from The Greedy Pig to The Swine That Dines, and was delighted to accept the invitation.

It's the summer holidays, so parents are looking for ways to entertain their families. But during the sunny weather, Dog Friendly Retreats is urging dog owners to take care. Sometimes, what’s fun for us can be unexpectedly dangerous for our four-legged companions.

I often try to think of ways to entertain my ponies and donkeys. I do this for several reasons. Regardless of what some people might think, equines do get bored. Constant grazing is not ideal for their sugar intake or, ultimately, their weight. Equines that do not ‘work’ can quickly get overweight if not exercised regularly.

Upcycling is a green and ethical approach to furnishing your home; why buy a new piece of furniture, which is probably made of MDF (considered to be carcinogenic) and isn’t made to last, rather than a lovingly made piece, that has stood the test of time, and has been upcycled and repurposed?

Mucking out stables is a daily job if your equines are not turned out. My Shetland ponies and miniature Mediterranean donkeys are stabled during the winter months and then turned out, weather dependent, for most of the summer. Some people prefer to ‘spot clean’ their stables, which means removing faeces and patches wet by urine and adding more bedding on top.

As a child I can recall passing the building in Lendal known as The Judges Lodging with my mother on our regular weekly trips into York. I was fascinated by the building and have been ever since. As I grew older, I wanted to know more about its history, and my mother, who loved delving into local history, explained its origins to me.

National Allotment Week (11th–17th August ) is just around the corner, with August being a great time for sowing and planting a wide variety of crops that will provide a fresh, nutrient-packed harvest well into the colder months and early next year.

A summer holiday is often the highlight of the year, but for every gardener, it can also mean worrying about your garden, plants and lawn whilst you are away. The expert team at British Garden Centres has put together a guide to ensure your garden is not only surviving but positively flourishing and remains healthy and full of life while you’re away.

This year has been one of the hottest and driest on record, and the smallholding has suffered enormously because of the lack of rain. Whilst it is nice to be able to go about my daily tasks without three layers of clothing and a set of waterproofs, it has been a huge challenge keeping all the animals comfortable in the soaring heat, and I have often found myself praying for rain!

Analysis from active foot care specialists, The Feets, reveals that Park Run participation has increased by almost 200% in the past 10 years, with more than 180,000 runners taking part each week across nearly 800 locations. The UK’s love for running is more than a trend – it's a nationwide movement.