Forget everything you think you know about American wine. Tucked away in the far corner of the country, the vineyards of the Pacific Northwest - Washington and Oregon - are quietly producing some of the world's most compelling and food-friendly bottles. This is a land of dramatic geographic contrasts, divided by the mighty Cascade Mountains, which creates two distinct, world-class wine cultures.
Welcome to the Hic! Blog. We hope you find the content, musings and rambling's of our resident Imbiber both enlightening and informative.
The Best of British Bubbles: Your Guide to English Sparkling Wine
There's a quiet revolution happening in the vineyards of Southern England, and the world is finally taking notice. Thanks to the same cool climate and chalky soils found across the Channel in Champagne, UK producers are consistently crafting world-beating sparkling wines defined by exceptional finesse, racy acidity, and complex, autolytic character. We're talking about more than just a novelty—we're talking about serious, age-worthy wines that are winning global awards and securing permanent spots on top wine lists.
This post dives deep into the history, the signature cool-climate style, and the standout producers who are proving that the future of premium fizz is closer to home than you think. Discover why now is the perfect time to explore the elegance and purity of English sparkling wine, and find your new favourite celebratory bottle.
Last-Minute Luxury: 5 Elegant Wine Gifts That Don’t Require a Decanter
Stop the panic. You need a gift that says "luxury" without requiring a wine cellar or hours of decanting. Well we have curated the ultimate list of 5 elegant, ready-to-pour bottles and spirits. Discover the secret to stress-free sophistication: from an approachable Cru Beaujolais red to a rare Petite Champagne Cognac. Give the gift of instant enjoyment, and check one major task off your list. Read the full guide now.
Hic! Gift Giving Wine Guide
Whether you're buying a wine gift for that special birthday, anniversary, wedding, holiday, or as a simple, thank-you, we have a number of gift giving options here at Hic! to give you inspiration.
From how much to spend, to the recipients wine preferences, there are a few vital points to consider when finding the perfect wine gift. Should you buy a bottle, or two, or a case? Well, don't be discouraged! We are here to help. Our gift giving wine guide covers all aspects, whether your gift is for the holidays, a special anniversary, birthday, house-warming or just a simple "Thank You!"
Quintodecimo | One of Campania's Finest...
We are pleased to introduce a new range of Italian wines to our portfolio from Quintodecimo, a winery producing some of the finest wines in Campania today. The Campania wine region of southern Italy can be seen as the "shin" of Italy's boot, anchored by its capital, Naples. Dating...
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Celebrating 31 Days of German Riesling
What is it? Fans of German wine will already know that Riesling (pronounced reece-ling) makes some of the finest white wines on the planet. It is a noble grape variety that is grown in all of Germany's winemaking regions and it comes in a variety of different styles. What...
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RECENT BEANS Freshly Roasted Coffee Available at Hic!
Here at Hic! HQ we are thrilled to be able to offer our customers freshly roasted coffee to take-away (or drink in) from the team at Recent Beans in Castleford. Recent Beans are artisan coffee roasters based at the Queens Mill, Castleford in West Yorkshire. They believe (and we...
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Matetic Vineyards - The Modern Face of Chilean Wine
Hic! welcomes Matetic Vineyards back to UK shores once again. HISTORY Matetic vineyards embody the pioneering spirit and vision of modern Chilean winemaking. This biodynamic project was founded in 1999 by the Matetic family, originally Croatian settlers who arrived in Chilean Patagonia in 1892. Having established themselves as farmers...
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Experince Private Shopping this Christmas at Hic!
**UPDATE - DECEMBER SHOPPING DATES NOW AVAILABLE** We are presently living in unprecedented times and consequently the normality of shopping this Christmas will likely test the patience of us all! You might think October is too soon to be thinking about festivities; however, their are many in the industry...
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Wine-Searcher Retailer Awards 2020
We are proud to announce that Hic! has scooped a trio of medals at the Wine-Searcher Retailer Awards 2020. There are over 32,000 stores listed on Wine-Searcher's global database and their Retailer Awards strive to acknowledge the very best stores that have truly excellent wine lists. Each month, Wine-Searcher...
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Thank You For Supporting the Help 4 Hospitality Charity
I just wanted to take this opportunity and say a BIG THANK YOU to all our wonderful customers for their support over the past 3 months in helping us raise funds for the hospitality industry. The government-mandated closures on 21st March 2020 had a resounding effect on the industry, resulting...
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HELP 4 HOSPITALITY & THE DRINKS TRUST
As you will no doubt be aware, the impact that the counter measures taken by government to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus has had a dramatic effect on the UK economy. The imposed shutdown of the hospitality industry has had a resounding effect with a reported 200,000+...
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A COVID-19 STATEMENT FROM HIC!
~~~ UPDADTED 28th MARCH ~~~ Although the recent government announcement that 'off licences' are included on the list of essential business and could remain open, we have decided to keep our retail premises closed to the general public until further notice. It is the safest option and one which...
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Brash Higgins | World Class Minimal Intervention Wines
Brash Higgins is the alias of Brad Hickey, a Chicago native whose wanderlust took him around the world, developing a love of wine and food on the way. On returning to the United States he ended up in New York where following a stint as a food writer, he...
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LISMORE | An Estate Not To Forget.
Less than 2 weeks before Christmas 2019, Samantha O’Keefe, owner and winemaker at South Africa’s Lismore Estate, lost her winery and family-home to fire. Originally from Los Angeles, Samantha took the plunge and bought her farm outside Greyton in 2000 in what was then an untested wine region of...
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Bashall Spirits | Preserving & Celebrating Heritage
Based in the idyllic village of Bashall Eaves in Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, Bashall Spirits has created a contemporary range of craft gins inspired by family recipe books that date back to the 1700s. Using these treasured hand-written Victorian and Georgian transcripts the family have been able to gain an insight...
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The BLUE Campaign - A Managed Approach to Re-Wilding the UK
Hic! is proud to support the Blue Campaign as part of its commitment in helping restore Biodiversity and Biomass across the UK. Adopting the roadside grass verge outside our property we have implemented a sustainable planting scheme with carefully selected perennial plants ideally suited for foraging pollinators. We've put together...
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François Cotat | Sancerre 2018
François Cotat is one of a small number of brave, individual and idiosyncratic winemakers striving to create wines of character and individuality. Located in the western portion of the Sancerre appellation, Chavignol has a unique type of soil called, in French, “terres blanches.” The region is essentially a chalk plateau...
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Jim Barry Wines | 2020 Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year
Congratulations to Jim Barry Wines who have just been named the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion Winery of the Year. Certain names resonate strongly within Australian wine history and Jim Barry is one of them. It was Jim Barry’s drive that helped shape South Australia’s Clare Valley as a benchmark producer...
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Refreshing Flavoured Gin Combos | A Perfect Summer Tipple!
We've added a trio of new and exciting flavoured gin's to our online range with some interesting flavour combinations that are delicious as part of your favourite cocktail, or equally wonderful enjoyed on their own. With two Royal Warrants and over 300 years of history, Berry Bros. & Rudd...
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