Every January London’s streets become a training track for the Christmas over indulgers and crazy London marathon runners. After April the pavements are cut some slack but come May a swathe of women take to the streets. Have you noticed? They’re all a similar age, all desperate to tone up & lose some weight and all sporting a diamond or three on their left hand. Beware the Bridezilla’s!

It’s a horrible term isn’t it? Bridezilla. A cross between a bride and an oversized gorilla, ………

The last of the summer wine…. is it that time of year already? My bikini has yet to see the light of day & my consumption of rosé hasn’t peaked since Christmas, yet the *crunch* of pink screwcaps opening, which has long signalled the sound of the summer wine, has been unusually quiet this season. Surprisingly though I’ve realised I’ve not actually missed it.

Amongst the wine trends I’ve been enjoying over the last few weeks – including a renewed interest in chilling red wine (hands up those that heard me on the radio talking about that one?!) and the rise and rise of the delicious wines of Portugal (more on that next time) – a general nonchalance towards the nations favourite summer wine had passed me by. ………

I cannot get enough of London at the moment! It helps of course that the sunshine makes everything look amazing but it’s not only the capital that’s looking good it’s the people wandering around it that are looking fabulous too. Have you noticed? Take a look when you’re next having a sneaky cappuccino to drink-in. Every other woman I see looks like she’s just stepped out of the pages of a magazine. Floaty floor length skirts, ankle tie sandals, short jumpsuits, long jumpsuits, bold florals, nude shirts, colour blocking minis all of which are complimented by immaculately painted toes. Of course. You’ll see what I mean when you’re next on the tube, glance down long enough to enjoy the rainbow of colours fit to brighten up the dullest of journeys but look away before you home in on fake tan smears! It’s the beginning of June, we’ll have it perfected by July!

The ease at which so many women have embraced this seasons trends is testament to the fantastic job of the high street and online retailers who have made fashion so affordable and accessible that it’s almost impossible to get it wrong. In wine terms however there are very few retailers that manage to communicate this year’s wine trends and simultaneously inspire people to go out there and try them.

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There’s definitely some change a foot in the wine world but I’m yet to put my finger on it. For starters the last two wine events I’ve been to didn’t have a white clothed trestle table in sight. You see! Take Moët and Chandon who this week launched a ‘ground breaking new champagne’. The biggest Champagne brand sold in the UK in terms of volume, loved and loathed in equal measures by the wine trade for its success and longevity as much as for its sheer volume of sales. And it’s now loved and loathed by me for its ability to bring a slice of St Tropez chic to a noisy roof terrace overlooking Hyde Park Corner as much as for its creative use of the term ground breaking. ………

Seems odd to be talking about New Year when ours is such a distant memory but this week marked new year celebrations for one of my favourite countries in the world; Thailand.  Mr B and I spent our NYE on a beach in Costa Rica this time and despite being soooo far away from home it was interesting to see that over there they celebrated much in the same way as us; fireworks, booze and parties with friends.

Thailand however does things a bit differently. Having officially changed their New Year to 1st January to coincide with the Western world the traditional festival (13th – 15th April) is still regarded as a national holiday and sees them celebrating by firing gallons of water at each other! Originally believed to cleanse the soul, it’s since become a playful celebration of “water wars” – even police officers get involved!

Unfortunately it’s been a bit too chilly in London this week to get out the water pistols so we had to cleanse our souls in a slightly different way. ………

The rediscovery of fashions past is ever present. My March issue of Elle magazine tells me we should bid adieu to 80′s shoulder pads whilst preparing to (re)embrace the 70′s flare. In wine terms things don’t move quite so quickly but there are definitely some trends this season that you should look out for. Here are my top 3 wine style tips for Spring 2011….

Riesling:
Aromatic whites have their time and place. I’ve recently gone off Gewurztraminer, for example. Riesling on the other hand I can’t get enough of. Elegant and delicate, never lacking intensity, sometimes dry, sometimes sweet. It’s like one of those floral print jumpsuits you can’t decide whether to love or loathe… it may not be to everybody’s taste but find the right one and you’ll feel like it’s been made for you. ………