Latest news with #Jay
Spectator
12 hours ago
- Business
- Spectator
Grape Britain: English wine is having its moment in the sun
Our homegrown wine was, until fairly recently, regarded internationally as a bit of a joke. Peter Ustinov could quip that he imagined hell to be 'Italian punctuality, German humour and English wine'. Likewise, Lord Jay, serving as a diplomat in Paris, recalled the British ambassador rubbing up against resistance from the home side – let alone foreigners – as he sought to be an early advocate. The ambassador was hosting Edward Heath, President Giscard d'Estaing and the governor of the Bank of France for lunch: 'I remember [ambassador] Ewen Fergusson saying, 'Sir Edward, wonderful that you're here. I am tempted to serve you a delicious English white wine'. 'I hope, ambassador, that you'll resist that temptation,' was his reply.' But the situation has since been transformed. The 'British wine' of the past – mostly second-rate fortified wines made from imported grapes – has given way to more than 1,000 vineyards across the UK producing some world-class bottles. This week, The Trouble with Dreams 2009 by the winemaker Sugrue South Downs became the first sparkling wine magnum to be named one of the top 50 wines in the world at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The Sussex sparkling white was awarded Best in Show – an accolade champagne has never achieved in the 1.5-litre bottle format. And at a 'Battle of the Bubbles' blind tasting at London Wine Fair last month, the 2010 Nyetimber 1086 was the overall top scoring wine, with Gusbourne's 51 Degrees North 2016 in second place – beating off everything from Dom Pérignon and Ruinart to Krug and Bollinger. Champagne houses are buying up land in southern England to get in on the act. Patrick McGrath, CEO of wine specialists Hatch Mansfield, is the co-founder of one of them, having teamed up with Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger to plant in England. The estate, in Kent, sells under the name Domaine Evremond. Patrick tells me that there were differences between the continental climate of Champagne and our maritime conditions, but warmer weather has made southern England better suited to winemaking than ever. Taittinger is joined by Pommery whose decade-old partnership with Hampshire producers Hattingley Valley created Louis Pommery England. There have long been rumours that LVMH (owners of Moët & Chandon) is eyeing up investment opportunities. In 2023, California-based Jackson Family Wines bought 65 hectares of land in Essex's Crouch Valley. We have the climate to thank, with the sunnier and warmer weather attributed to climate change having driven the sector's development. This is a success story that would no doubt grate with Greta but refusing to make hay while the sun shines would be asinine. As silver linings go, it's a jolly good one. Though I suspect suggestions that Hull could become 'the new Bordeaux' by 2100 with climate change enabling cabernet sauvignon production to flourish as far north as Yorkshire may be a dream too far. Champagne houses are buying up land in southern England to get in on the act Wine is one of the great success stories of British food and drink in recent years, and viticulture is Britain's fastest-growing agricultural sector. While quantities produced are still relatively small, and the vast majority is therefore consumed in the UK, about 8 per cent is currently exported with the Scandis in particular being great fans. The UK is already a world leader in the luxury sector, and consumers are always on the hunt for the novel and exciting. The potential is obvious. The Establishment has embraced the new tipple. Chapel Down is already the official sparkling wine of England cricket, the Boat Race and Ascot. I am doing my level best to ensure all British embassies around the world are serving English sparkling whenever the occasion demands fizz, and to persuade Wimbledon to replace its long-running partnership with Lanson (the 'official champagne' of the Championships since 2001) with something English. Surely long overdue for the All England Club? It's reaching new heights in the air. BA has started serving prestige cuvée English sparkling in First Class, with offerings from Nyetimber, Gusbourne and Sugrue South Downs also on the list. The airline has been offering English in Business Class since 2023 and while it hasn't abandoned champagne entirely, its growing confidence in our homegrown product is clear. Ditto top restaurants in London where it's increasingly rare to not have at least one English on the wine list. Royal stardust helps: Cornwall's Camel Valley became the first English wine label to secure royal warrants from the King and Queen last year. Indeed, the royals were early champions: rosé brut from Chapel Down in Sussex was served at the Prince and Princess of Wales's wedding in 2011. Sparkling wine from Sugrue South Downs in Sussex has triumphed over champagne in the Decanter World Wine Awards [Sarah Weal] It's not all plain sailing. Production is volatile: last year it was just 6-7 million bottles, largely due to the cool and wet summer, compared with 2023's record harvest of 21.6 million. Cost can also deter some (though there are deals to be found: Aldi has its Winemaster's Lot English sparkling wine at £9.99 throughout English Wine Week, from now until 25 June). Champagne retains cachet and hasn't gone away. But those still snooty about our domestic product may like to know about the Englishman Christopher Merret. In 1662, in a paper presented the Royal Society, Merret became the first person to describe the method of adding sugar and molasses to wine to stimulate a second fermentation in the bottle to make it sparkling – a process we today call méthode champenoise. It's been suggested that British merchants were producing sparkling wine for several decades before Dom Pérignon and the rest of the French Champenois were doing so. Ooh la la. The French won't like that.
Forbes
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Enhypen Reaches New Career Highs With Its Latest Era
Enhypen scores its biggest U.K. chart hits yet with 'Bad Desire (With or Without You),' as it debuts ... More inside the top 40 on two singles tallies. INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 19: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Heeseung, Jay, Sunoo, Sunghoon, Jungwon, Ni-ki and Jake of ENHYPEN perform at Sahara Tent during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 19, 2025 in Indio, California. (Photo byfor Coachella) Enhypen has ranked as one of the biggest names in K-pop around the world for half a decade now. The group has been steadily growing its fanbase in Western markets after breaking out and becoming superstars in South Korea. It took the vocal troupe several years to reach the United Kingdom's music charts, but with each passing project, the group becomes bigger and bigger. Enhypen lands a new hit song in the U.K. this week with 'Bad Desire (With or Without You).' The track debuts on both the Official Singles Downloads and Official Singles Sales charts, opening at Nos. 20 and 21, respectively. As 'Bad Desire (With or Without You)' debuts, Enhypen earns its first top 40 hit on both of those purchase-centric tallies in the U.K. The tune brings the K-pop favorites to a new high point, outpacing 'XO (Only If You Say Yes)' by more than 20 spaces. Enhypen has now collected five total hits on both the Official Singles Sales and Official Singles Downloads charts. The K-pop group first landed on these lists in April 2024 with 'Sweet Venom, and since then, the outfit has appeared with ' XO (Only If You Say Yes),' 'No Doubt,' 'Lucid,' and now 'Bad Desire (With or Without You).' So far, every one of those tunes has managed just one turn on the tally. 'Bad Desire (With or Without You)' serves as the lead single from Enhypen's new EP Desire: Unleash. That short set appears only on the Official Album Downloads chart in the U.K., where it soars to a new high of No. 31 after debuting at No. 80 last frame, a position it hit after a shortened tracking period of availability. Enhypen had been collecting placements on the Official Album Downloads list for years before scoring a hit song. The group launched on the downloads-only tally in December 2020 and has thus far scored six bestselling releases, with its newest arrival landing somewhere in the middle in terms of peak position.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
MAFS star reveals she's finally dating again two years after heartbreaking split on the show
MARRIED At First Sight UK star Jay Howard is dating again after her heartbreaking experience on the hit E4 dating show two years ago. When on the show in 2023, Jay was paired up with , and things seemed to be going well for the pair before their show axe. 8 Jay has revealed that she is dating again Credit: instagram/@jay_howard 8 The stunning MAFS star showed fans her process of getting ready for a first date Credit: instagram/@jay_howard 8 mafs-star-reveals-s-finally-1004085668 Credit: instagram/@jay_howard 8 She could be seen in the video clinking glasses with her date Credit: instagram/@jay_howard 8 Jay said it went 'really, really' well Credit: instagram/@jay_howard The couple were during a fierce bust-up. But now Jay has moved on from Luke and seems to be happier and more confident than ever. In an upbeat new video shared on Instagram, Jay could be seen getting ready for a first date in her bedroom. "Come with me on a first date," she penned at the start of the caption. Read More about MAFS In the video, Jay could be seen getting ready as she applied her makeup and then put on her outfit. She then updated viewers from the bar before meeting her date, and then again mid-way through the date. Jay even got her date to film her for Instagram, before they sat down and clinked glasses. The former reality star then told fans that the date went "really, really well". Most read in Reality She got candid in the caption, writing: "I've been let down a few times recently which has really knocked my confidence, but turns out there are still some good ones left and I actually had a really wonderful time…" Fans were quick to comment on the video clip, with many reacting to the news of Jay dating again. MAFS star reveals she's turned to fat jabs in desperate bid to lose weight "Hope it goes well beautiful he is one very lucky guy xx," said one. "Hes lucky to be dating such a gorgeous , lovely lady. hope it goes well," penned a second. A third then wrote: "Aww Jay. you truly are a gorgeous woman inside and out! And you deserve all the happiness in the world. "Any man would be so bloody lucky to have you!! Sending you all the love and happiness in the world." While one of her friends said: "There better a date 2 need someone to take you off my hand. Love this for you hen x." And a fifth added: "We need an update jay." "Do you now haha," Jay replied, complete with a string of eye emojis. In February 2024, Jay opened up to The Sun about her split from ex Luke. "I agree with us leaving at the time that we did because the altercation between Luke and Jordan shouldn't have happened," she explained. "At the time I would have liked to have completed the experience with Luke but on reflection I'm grateful that I didn't because it showed me that not every relationship is meant to last and that me and Luke weren't right for each other." After leaving the show Jay and Luke went on holiday but she says things between them quickly changed when they returned to their respective hometowns. Jay continued: "When we left the experiment we went on holiday, everything was good and we were really strong but then things changed when we came home. "He went back to Essex and I came back to Accrington. I felt like he changed and he couldn't be bothered to put in the effort." 8 Jay Howard and Luke met and got married on MAFS in 2023 Credit: Channel 4 8 The pair sadly didn't last Credit: Channel 4 8 Jay is now dating again, and fans are begging for an update Credit: jay_howard
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
MAFS star reveals she's finally dating again two years after heartbreaking split on the show
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MARRIED At First Sight UK star Jay Howard is dating again after her heartbreaking experience on the hit E4 dating show two years ago. When on the show in 2023, Jay was paired up with Luke, and things seemed to be going well for the pair before their show axe. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 8 Jay has revealed that she is dating again Credit: instagram/@jay_howard 8 The stunning MAFS star showed fans her process of getting ready for a first date Credit: instagram/@jay_howard 8 mafs-star-reveals-s-finally-1004085668 Credit: instagram/@jay_howard 8 She could be seen in the video clinking glasses with her date Credit: instagram/@jay_howard 8 Jay said it went 'really, really' well Credit: instagram/@jay_howard The couple were axed from the process after Luke punched fellow groom Jordan during a fierce bust-up. But now Jay has moved on from Luke and seems to be happier and more confident than ever. In an upbeat new video shared on Instagram, Jay could be seen getting ready for a first date in her bedroom. "Come with me on a first date," she penned at the start of the caption. In the video, Jay could be seen getting ready as she applied her makeup and then put on her outfit. She then updated viewers from the bar before meeting her date, and then again mid-way through the date. Jay even got her date to film her for Instagram, before they sat down and clinked glasses. The former reality star then told fans that the date went "really, really well". She got candid in the caption, writing: "I've been let down a few times recently which has really knocked my confidence, but turns out there are still some good ones left and I actually had a really wonderful time…" Fans were quick to comment on the video clip, with many reacting to the news of Jay dating again. MAFS star reveals she's turned to fat jabs in desperate bid to lose weight "Hope it goes well beautiful he is one very lucky guy xx," said one. "Hes lucky to be dating such a gorgeous , lovely lady. hope it goes well," penned a second. A third then wrote: "Aww Jay. you truly are a gorgeous woman inside and out! And you deserve all the happiness in the world. "Any man would be so bloody lucky to have you!! Sending you all the love and happiness in the world." While one of her friends said: "There better a date 2 need someone to take you off my hand. Love this for you hen x." And a fifth added: "We need an update jay." "Do you now haha," Jay replied, complete with a string of eye emojis. In February 2024, Jay opened up to The Sun about her split from ex Luke. "I agree with us leaving at the time that we did because the altercation between Luke and Jordan shouldn't have happened," she explained. "At the time I would have liked to have completed the experience with Luke but on reflection I'm grateful that I didn't because it showed me that not every relationship is meant to last and that me and Luke weren't right for each other." After leaving the show Jay and Luke went on holiday but she says things between them quickly changed when they returned to their respective hometowns. Jay continued: "When we left the experiment we went on holiday, everything was good and we were really strong but then things changed when we came home. "He went back to Essex and I came back to Accrington. I felt like he changed and he couldn't be bothered to put in the effort." 8 Jay Howard and Luke met and got married on MAFS in 2023 Credit: Channel 4 8 The pair sadly didn't last Credit: Channel 4
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Jay Slater detective addresses murder theory people are 'totally obsessed' with
Mark Williams-Thomas, who has worked on some of the world's most high profile missing persons cases, has issued a blunt message to people who have become "totally obsessed with Jay's death" A former British police detective has shared his final thoughts on the Jay Slater case and issued an important message to people who have become "obsessed" with the case. Jay is believed to have gone to an Airbnb apartment in the early hours, and then subsequently vanished and was reported missing on June 18. His body was found in a steep and inaccessible area by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard near the village of Masca on July 15. Shocking new details and eyewitness testimony has emerged about the Jay Slater case - including his last conversation with a friend before he went missing on the Spanish island of Tenerife. The new details have been shared by investigator Mark Williams-Thomas in a two-part podcast. In the podcast Mark says the key to knowing why Jay, 19, ended up in the north of the Spanish island of Tenerife, far away from his accommodation, was easy to understand. A post-mortem found Jay had consumed alcohol and drugs in the hours before he fell down a ravine. An inquest into Jay's death was adjourned after his mum Debbie plead for more witnesses to come forward. She said: "We want these people to be sat in front of us, because our son went on holiday and didn't come back, so there's questions we need to ask." Now, Mark has issued a final message on X addressing the murder theories many people still seem to believe in. Mark Williams-Thomas took to X to post a final video on the Jay Slater case, he captioned it: "Why are some people unable to accept that Jay Slater died as a result of a tragic accident? The significance of the location is ignored by many of these people , but it is at the heart of the case." In the three-minute video Mark says: "I know the family have seen a lot of the materrial generated by those who have become totally obsessed with Jay's death determind to make it a murder, accused most of the people at some stage of wrongdoing. I'd like to say to people who put those posts up, please consider thee family before you say things, and the friends, because they are really hurtful." Mark has been sharing updates on X for a number of weeks now and sadly he has been subject to some online hate. He called out online trolls this week who branded him a "laughing stock" and and "absolute disgrace". Sharing the DM Mark captioned the post: "Never have a problem engaging with anyone - hence why my DM's are open - but if you are rude I won't. @Dispirito49 takes rudeness to another level …."
