CATEGORIES

AGEING GRACEFULLY

Matured for at least 10 years in oak casks, XO Cognac is one of life’s affordable luxuries. Laura Foster explains how it’s made and recommends top XOs to buy

BILLECART-SALMON, CUVEE NICOLAS FRANCOIS 1959 Champagne, France

DECANTER WINE LEGENDS

Andrew Jefford

‘The jolts of 2020 have been an education – the lesson is care’

2020: the year that was

2020: the year that was Celebrity wines, counterfeit SuperTuscans and paper bottles. We look back at Decanter news coverage from a year to remember – and not just for Covid-19. Compiled by Chris Mercer

Anniversary Buys: The Decanter Guide

Whether you’re toasting an 18th birthday with a birth-year Bordeaux or marking a golden wedding anniversary with a 50-year-old fizz, major milestones deserve a magnificent wine to match. Anthony Rose went in search of the best bottles to help your 2021 celebrations go with a bang

Christmas BABKA WREATH

Put a festive spin on this chocolate classic with cherries and pistachios

Meringue magic

Whip up this vegan twist on a meringue pie using the power of aquafaba

KERALAN COMFORT

This month, Olive’s Indian cooking expert shares a light but deliciously creamy chicken curry

GET IT RIGHT PEAR TARTE TATIN

This classic French dessert reaches perfection with beautifully ripe British pears

FESTIVE SPREADS

Easy get-ahead one-pots with mix ’n’ match toppings, so everyone can make it their own

COOK everyday

Clodagh McKenna shares six recipes that are perfect for midweek meals

BAKING brilliance

Edd Kimber shares his expert tips for creating showstopping cakes and bakes. This month, a warming winter bundt cake

5 Of The Best Things To Eat

Eat & Escape

21 Reasons To Be Cheerful

How Britain’s food community came out fighting in a tumultuous year for the hospitality industry

Love Your Leftovers

Deputy food editor Adam Bush shares smart ways to make the most of surplus Christmas ingredients

THE GREAT BRITISH CHEESEBOARD

Support the British artisan cheese industry with this special festive selection, chosen by cheesemonger Jay Hickson

Just for starters

From inventive canapés to pass round with pre-dinner drinks, to sit-down starters you can make ahead of time, there’s something for every occasion here

SWEET & SPICY HAM

Wow your family with our showstopping glazed ham. The ginger is almost toffee-like, the meat stays juicy, and the clementines add a pop of colour

Glamorous puds

If you're searching for a festive finale to dinner, look no further! These desserts are easy to make ahead and guaranteed to please

Spiced and iced Christmas trees

Get the kids busy baking these treats

MY SINGAPORE

This vibrant city-island-nation can be something of a sensory overload, with the humid climate, multiple languages spoken and a plethora of gastronomic options. Resident Ch’ng Poh Tiong is the ideal local guide

ROYAL TOKAJI, NYULASZO ASZU 6 PUTTONYOS 1993

Tokaj, Hungary

RIVER CRUISES: world's best for wine lovers

There’s something especially relaxing about gliding through a vine-covered landscape on the smooth waters of a river or canal. Lewis Nunn highlights five great options to combine your love of the grape with a superb boat-based escape

MY TOP 10: SINGLE QUINTAS

Visitors to the region are invariably stunned by the beauty of Portugal’s Douro Valley, with its deep but serene river and dramatically terraced slopes. Richard Mayson selects 10 great Port properties and explains what makes them and their wines so memorable

WOMEN OF CHAMPAGNE

A woman, in charge of production at a Champagne house? Not so long ago, the idea would have raised many an eyebrow in this traditional region. Happily the wine world has moved on and female chefs de cave and consultants are firmly in place at some of the most prestigious producers. Anne Krebiehl MW highlights the work and philosophies of eight of them

THE STANDISH WINE CO

Born with Barossa in his blood, the studious work of this publicity-shy winemaker has propelled his wines quietly to the top of the Australian ranks, with his powerful yet detailed Shiraz styles winning fans among wine lovers and collectors alike. Sarah Ahmed reports

A WORLD OF WHISKY: FIND YOUR STYLE

The whisky scene is more exciting than ever before. So where do you start if you want to find your perfect dram? Richard Woodard introduces the main production areas and eclectic styles on offer, with recommendations of bottles to try from Scotland, Ireland, Japan, the US and beyond

Marketwatch

All the important fine wine investment news

Andrew Jefford

'The fruit is the fulcrum through which all the other elements must pass’

A month in wine

All the important issues affecting you across the globe, compiled by Chris Mercer