Wine on the Web

This British site by wine writer Andrew Jones has a good deal of high-quality, if not especially distinctive, content. However there are a couple of unique features that really distinguish it, including a talking-book section of wine reports that would be a boon for visually-impaired wine lovers. The site is clear and uncluttered, navigation is simple using the panel to the left of screen, and though a little gimmicky for my taste with half a dozen animations on some screens, loading speeds are acceptable. SPECIAL FEATURES Radio Postcard is a collection of audio reports on subjects like Vinopolis, the London wine theme-park, or on Champagne, recorded in the cellars of Charles Heidsieck. Jones files such reports for broadcast on a network of local radio stations and the quality of both audio presentation and content is excellent. Usually, there are interviews with winemakers or figures from the wine trade and Jones has an infectious enthusiasm for his subjects. These are entertaining for all, but undeniably useful for the visually impaired; you should play these files using the Windows Media Player or similar. A download button is provided for those who need a player, and the process is quite painless. Psion Users is the site's second unique feature. Here, those with the popular Psion personal organiser can download the database of tasting notes from the site to carry with them as they shop. The site has only a couple of hundred tasting notes, and many of these are for vintages no longer available in the shops, but it is still a clever and worthwhile utility. A-Z is an alphabetical list of tasting notes, almost all for everyday wines. There's a label image, tasting note and score out of 100, plus usually a nice little bit of background on the wine or winery. Features is a small collection of writings on subjects as diverse as ‘Norwegian Pinot Noir at latitude 60˚ North' to ‘Dom Perignon, the Champagne and the man.' These are full-length, fact-filled pieces that are interesting and entertaining. OTHER FEATURES Includes a Wine News page, with snippets of useful or amusing information, Vintage Charts for the world's major regions, and a small collection of rather disparate articles gathered under the heading Consumer Advice. There's a section of the site devoted to Beer and Whisky, and an opportunity to buy some wine .