Is looking for a receptionist/administration assistant
to join our friendly team.
To work a minimum of 20 – 37 hours per week.
Prior knowledge of EMIS Web would be an advantage but not necessary as full training will be provided.
Please send your CV and covering letter to the lead receptionist [email protected]
By no later than the 29th June 2021
There’s something charming and terribly British about championing the underdog.
This month, I wanted to shine on a light on what we call at Vineyards the ‘B-side wines.’ The flip-side wines that are not known as, or produced with, the ‘Big Hit’ grapes, but in our opinion offer a thrilling experience and something a little different to the norm.
These are the little gems that you’ll find on the shelves of a good indie wine merchant.
You see, there’s a couple of ways you can look at B-sides: you could question why somewhere along the line they have not climbed the charts and grabbed the number 1 spot, or you could see them as wines that are not commercial or made in a crowd-pleasing, pure money-making fashion, rather reflecting the personal interests or passion of the winemaker behind them.
The latter is our viewpoint – on the whole. Like many industries, there’s a spectrum from commercial appeal to a niche market. We love a niche wine at Vineyards, but the sweet spot for us is finding a wine with the right balance of ‘quirky’ and for the right reasons.
Being ‘out there’ for the sake of it is not a good enough reason. We like to keep an eye on how many variables in the same bottle are ‘beyond the norm’ so as not to overdo it.
So, when sourcing wines, we’re looking for ‘B-sides’ that perhaps are unusual grape varieties from a well-known region, or the complete opposite – well known grapes from unexpected wine regions.
From rare indigenous grapes to unusual wine production methods, we sample and source them all – if they pass quality control!
Like the ‘Big Hits,’ if the wine in the bottle is not well-made and value for money, it doesn’t make the cut.
The moral of this story is to highlight the fact that behind every number 1 hit is a brooding B-side with something extraordinary to offer.
Now that’s what I call wine.
Some of our favourite B-sides:
CHATEAU OUMSIYAT OBEIDY, MTEIN, LEBANON £11
Obeidy is an Indigenous grape variety to Lebanon – think a slightly fresher style of Viognier with hints of citrus. This wine has exotic, mineral flavours with hints of peach through to a lovely, whistle clean salty finish. It also has delicate honeysuckle notes and a wonderful silky mouthfeel.
Château Oumsiyat show respect for local tradition alongside modern techniques to create wines that are a fusion of Old World and New.
VIÑEDO DE LOS VIENTOS ‘NOTOS’ NEBBIOLO, ATLÁNTIDA, URUGUAY £14
Yes, that’s right, a much-loved Italian grape but produced in Uruguay and we must say it’s absolutely delicious!
Made in very small quantities (just 2000 bottles) from a boutique winery. Aged for 6 months in older, used oak barrels, so as not to take away from the fruit’s vibrancy, this has lovely fruit purity and varietal typicity,
something you will almost never find in a new world Nebbiolo.
UMBRELE SAUVIGNON BLANC, VILIE TIMISULUI, ROMANIA £8.50
The Cramele Recas Estate have put a huge amount of work into transforming into a
contemporary winemaking haven.
The vineyards are a combination of evolved plantings from 1447 with much more recent plantings.
Racy passion fruit, tangerine and gooseberry flavours are graceful and elegant, with a lovely zingy acidity. A ‘Big Hit’ grape variety from a lesser-known region.
Father’s Day is the 20th June this year – and as well as giving your dad another tie he doesn’t need or a new screwdriver (why DO dads get unreasonably excited about new screwdrivers?), why not post a message in your favourite digital magazine for the whole county to see?
But first – we know it’s a difficult day for some. If that’s you, head off now, this post isn’t for you. But before you go *gives your hand a squeeze* – I see you.
Laura x
Unlike last year we can actually meet up with our dads – HUZZAH! We can go shopping for a nice gift (do #ShopLocal where you can!). We can take them for a meal. We can even, finally, simply give them a tight squeezy hug. Oh the things we’ve missed over this last mad year. Why not surprise him with a unique message this Father’s Day too?
It’s totally free – we love to do the happy stuff. Just send us your special message to your dad, grandad or stepdad and we’ll publish them. All you have to do is fill in the form below and upload your message – you even add a photograph if you like.
Deadline is midnight Tuesday 1st, so you’ve not got long – use the form below to fill in your message.
*** Form now closed. All messages will be published in the June edition ***
Sundays from June 27.
Ilchester Sportsfield Fund weekly Charity Boot Sale restarts Sunday June 27.
Sellers: gates open 6.30am. Cars £5. Medium vans £10. Merchant/commercial vehicles £15. Trailers additional £5. Buyers: no access to stalls prior to 7.30am. Car entries £1 Pedestrians 50p. Dog friendly. Access off A37/A303 roundabout.
Mobile 07967 280754 (weekends only) or Facebook at Ilchester Charity Car Boot @ilchestercharitycarboot
Mel Mitchell is an experienced Personal Trainer, Kettlercise and group exercise instructor and sports massage therapist based in Sturminster Newton.
With the start of outdoor classes in April and with indoor classes resuming on the 17th May, I thought this a great opportunity to talk a little about group fitness.
Joining a class can be a great way to start your fitness journey. It can help build a foundation and knowledge of exercises for you to take with you to the gym or home workouts if you wish.
Executing exercises with proper form is important both to prevent potential injuries but also for the muscles to reap the most out of each exercise.
Taking part in a fitness class means you are benefiting from being under the watchful eye of the instructor who will help you maintain proper form.
Classes are also a great way to get a workout in without the worry of planning your own program. Each class is well structured with a warm up, balanced workout and a cool-down.
Group fitness is a great motivator, and helps yourself and others around you to push harder. In my experience as a fitness instructor everyone has a competitive side which often surfaces during class!
A bit of friendly competition is a pleasure to watch and I love the camaraderie that comes with it.
You can be standing next to a complete stranger and yet you are egging each other on, supporting each other through the workout.
As someone who also takes part in group fitness, I often find I get more out of a workout when surrounded by other class members than I do by myself.
Nervous about joining a group class?
Don’t be. It is a natural feeling to be anxious. I remember being sat in my car with sweaty hands and heart racing. As soon as the class started, I was put at ease, and came out feeling great, having met some great people in the process.The growing popularity of fitness classes has meant that there is something out there for everyone. Whether you are looking for a high energy cardio-based class or something gentler such as Yoga or Pilates, there are a variety of local classes around run by fantastic instructors!
Always happy to answer your questions – send them to me on [email protected]
We are looking for a new patient service team member’s to join our dedicated team to work across our busy GP practice
For information about the role and to apply, please click on the link below.
https://www.blackmorevalesurgery.co.uk/vacancies
Or for more information please contact Laura Grant on [email protected] or call 01258 474513
Recently I was honoured to be the subject of the ’20 Questions’ Hot Seat on Dorset Biz News. Obviously space is limited on these things, and I did rather ramble on in my answers, so only a portion of my responses could be published. But… most of my working life hasn’t been local, and lots of people who read the magazine are naturally curious about me as editor.
Firstly – the obvious: lives in Sturminster Newton, married to Courtenay, and we’ve four kids aged 14 to 22. Before editing The BV, I ran LittleStuff, an award-winning magazine website for parents of teenagers.
So to satisfy your noses, here y’go: the full and unedited version of Laura’s 20 questions…
To start ASAP.
Full time job at Britford Trout Farm and Avon Valley Carp.
Must be able to drive.
On site accommodation included in job offer.
We have our own trout hatchery together with our own broodstock which produce 400 tonnes of trout per year. We also grow on our own carp for selling to fishing lakes.
Please send any messages and CVs to Jack at [email protected]
As I sit here, for the first time, I’m tempted to say ever, I’m faced with writers’ block.
We are all fed up to the gills with Covid in as much as it has become part of our daily lives and, because of the strange times in which we are living, there is no one major political theme or story dominating.
So, this month I thought I would provide just some pithy, perhaps comment-inducing observations as a series of bullet points. But first, let me just remind you that if you are North Dorset constituent in need of help or advice I am available via email – [email protected] or 01258 452585.
We are continuing to run virtual Advice Surgery with a choice of telephone or Zoom/Teams. Please just shout if you need anything.
So here are the unconnected random snippets:
• We must direct a lot of our energy and Overseas Aid resourcing to help countries who need it to vaccinate their people as India is painfully demonstrating. There is no point, and certainly no benefit to the UK, to have huge numbers of our fellow man, and their countries, on perpetual Red Lists with some
sort of Pariah Status. The World Health Organisation must take a lead in co-ordinating this and provide, when the breathing space to do so is created, to produce better international plans for dealing with future Pandemics. Covid caught the world off its guard. It cannot happen again;
• Another big ‘shout out’ to our educators and school support staff. My three daughters are just so happy to be back in a classroom and with their friends. The vigorous safeguarding and protections I have seen in place has meant that a return to school for all has not meant a rise in infection rates;
• A cheer of encouragement to our high streets, who with ingenuity, pluck and doggedness have ridden the lockdown wave and are now open. This week, I was jolted by the surprise as to how much I had missed mooching around a book shop. Let us remind ourselves that our shops are open and use them;
• The proposals of Dorset Council for the future of St Mary’s Shaftesbury has my full and active support. Access to specialised packages of education and support for children with disabilities has been a common issue in my postbag. The Council provided great foresight in purchasing the site (even when the local government purse is under pressure). It was the right thing to do and will provide first class opportunities for those across the County who need it. It also has the promise of being a national beacon of excellence and innovator of best practice. I cannot overemphasise how overjoyed we should all be by what is being considered;
• My daughters and I have been helping out friends over recent weeks with their lambing. There are highs and lows and the persistent frosts haven’t helped. As new life thrives and occasionally dies (the ravages of fox and crow should really be seen by all) it is always a timely reminder as to the challenges of livestock farming and how much we owe our farming community;
• Perhaps it’s because I’m Welsh but football has never really been my thing. If someone could explain to me in simple terms the recent ESL football saga I’d be obliged (email address below).
To follow my latest news in the constituency and Parliament you can follow me on Twitter @Simon4NDorset; Facebook is Fb.com/simonhoarenorthdorset; or my website is at simonhoare.org.uk.
Or you can email me direct on [email protected]
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