Wine With Jimmy

Wine With Jimmy Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Wine With Jimmy, Food consultant, 71 Townmead Road Fulham, London, London.

It’s the all-important infectious enthusiasm and passion for the world of wine that enables Jimmy Smith to communicate to his audience in a relaxed, welcoming and fun way.

11/06/2026

🇺🇸 Discover Virginia Series 🇺🇸

Part 2 with Kirk Wiles: Why Virginia is expanding in the UK and other markets and why we should all be drinking Virginian wine.

Distinctive. Quality. Exploratory. 🍷

🏡Paradise Springs Winery is located in the historic town of Clifton, the winery was founded in 2007 by Kirk Wiles and his family on land that has been in their lineage since a 1716 land grant from Lord Fairfax. The name “Paradise Springs” is rooted in local history. Kirk views their winery, the closest to DC, as a ‘gateway winery’ into Virginia but discusses the importance of marketing Virginia outside of their own backyard.

Make sure you check these guys out as Virginia ROCKED IT at the this year. Import Virginia if you don’t already - I know a ready made market at school and that wants to drink it!



10/06/2026

🇮🇹 Chianti Classico series 🇮🇹

Fontodi Part 1 .agr.fontodi

Interviewing Giovanni Manetti of Fontodi, and president of the Chianti Classico organisation (consorizio). Here he discusses the location in Chianti, Panzano, and the various geology across the village.

🪨The Fontodi estate is located within the celebrated Conca d’Oro (“Golden Shell”), a natural south-facing amphitheater considered one of the finest vineyard sites in Chianti Classico. The combination of high-altitude vineyards, excellent sun exposure, well-drained galestro (schist-rich), albarese (clay-limestone) and pietraforte (calcareous sandstone) soils, and a favourable microclimate provides ideal conditions for cultivating Sangiovese.

🏡The modern history of Fontodi began in 1968 when the Manetti family, historically known for their terracotta business, acquired the estate. Under the leadership of Giovanni Manetti since the 1980s, Fontodi has become one of Tuscany’s most respected wineries. The estate has embraced sustainable and organic viticulture, focusing on low yields, meticulous vineyard management, and minimal intervention in the cellar to express the unique character of its vineyards. The winery is certified organic and has long been recognized as a leader in environmentally responsible wine production.

🍷 Fontodi produces a diverse range of wines, but it is best known for its world-class Sangiovese-based reds from the heart of Chianti Classico in Panzano in Chianti. Along with their Chianti Classico, they produce their iconic Flaccianello della Pieve, Vigna del Sorbo and Terrazze San Leolino.

09/06/2026

Some lovely feedback that makes it all worth while building the portal for Wine With Jimmy. Nice to be called a legend 😊

Have a wonderful day all!

09/06/2026

🇮🇹 San Gimignano Series 🇮🇹

San Gimignano gained its fame through its towers, resulting from a rivalry between two economically powerful families living in the town building better and higher towers to show their economic stability and power. By the end of the Medieval period, this trend had caught on, with every wealthy family building their own tower, resulting in 72 towers total. Although many towers were cut down or destroyed during World War II, 14 remain. The Torre Grossa, standing at 54 metres, is the tallest tower in San Gimignano. The tower’s construction began in 1300, built to enrich the town and become its symbol whilst functioning as a military watchtower and a civil bell tower. Visitors can climb the 218 steps to the top where they will be met with panoramic views over the town and the Tuscan countryside, making for a great photo opportunity 📸

07/06/2026

🇺🇸 Discover Virginian wine 🇺🇸

Williamsburg Winery Part TWO with Mike Weatherly

🥚’Working with Albariño and Sheldon the Egg’ 🥚

Here I talk to Michael Weatherly of in the Tidewater area of Virginia about the Virginia Peninsula AVA and the focus on Albariño. I especially ask him how Albariño is cultivated in Virginia, to reduce disease pressure, and also dive into to the topographical diveristy of this beautiful state.

🏡Williamsburg Winery, located on the historic Wessex Hundred farm in Virginia’s Tidewater region, was established in the 1980s by entrepreneur Patrick Duffeler and his family, the winery helped pioneer the modern Virginia wine movement and played a significant role in elevating the reputation of Virginia as a serious wine-producing region.

📰The historical significance of the Williamsburg Winery extends far beyond modern viticulture. The land itself is tied to some of the earliest attempts at winemaking in colonial America. In the early 1600s, English settlers near Jamestown were instructed under the “Twelfth Acte of 1619” to plant grapevines in hopes of establishing a wine industry in the New World. Although those early colonial efforts failed, the Williamsburg Winery embraces and commemorates that heritage through both its architecture and wine names.

✅The winery was instrumental in promoting recognition for this distinctive grape-growing region, the Virginia Peninsula AVA, in the Tidewater area including the historical Williamsburg, which benefits from a maritime climate, long growing season, and conditions somewhat comparable to Bordeaux.



06/06/2026

☀️Combatting climate change in grapegrowing ☀️
🇮🇹 In Gaiole, Chianti Classico 🇮🇹

Grape-growing anti-UV netting shields vines from intense sunlight in warm-hot grapegrowing zones. These high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or woven polypropylene nets are becoming a more regular feature as they reduce UV light by up to 20% when they are planted on the south-facing side of the grapevine.

✅ This leads to a reduction in grape sugars, delaying ripening, and leading to wines with mitigated alcohols, in a world where sugars and alcohols are rising. This is important for better balance in the final wine. These can also be combined with anti-hail protection, which is another increasing weather pattern occuring in vineyards due to the creation of more extreme weather events of climate chaos.

❓Have you seen this technique before? Where?

Edit: In the video I meant to say ‘hail’ instead of ‘frost’ - I am only human! 🤣

05/06/2026

🇮🇹 Vernaccia di San Gimignano series 🇮🇹

Hello! Over the next few weeks I will posting a number of educational videos on Tuscany’s premier white, Vernaccia from the medieval tower-studded town of San Gimignano. After two visits in two years, tasting at the Regina Ribelle wine festival, and visiting numerous producers, I feel I have a great hold on whats hot from this DOCG.

🏰 San Gimignano is one of the most popular towns in Tuscany, renowned for its well-preserved medieval architecture and iconic skyline. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre offers a glimpse into the region’s rich history; once an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. Since its independence in 1199, the noble families who controlled the town built 72 towers, symbols of their wealth and power. Today, only 14 of the original towers have survived, maintaining the town’s impressive skyline and providing enchanting views over the surrounding vineyards and olive groves. It is no wonder San Gimignano is so popular with visitors, providing the perfect example of medieval architecture, going on to influence the Florentine, Sienese and Pisa styles from the 12th to the 14th century.

🍇 The local white wine here is the enchanting Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, often’s called Tuscany’s premier white wine. Stay tuned for more about this classic grape variety.

✅ Have you ever visited this gorgeous town? What are your views on the region? The wines?



04/06/2026

🪨 I’m here in the Chianti Classico DOCG region 🪨

Time to talk about two major soil types (and there are many others such as Macigno): Galestro and Albarese

The Galestro is a type of flaky, shale-schist-like marlstone that is highly prized in the Chianti Classico region. It is composed of limestone and clay, providing excellent drainage while retaining enough moisture to support vines through the dry Tuscan summers. Its typically greyish-brown is colour depending on the content of iron. It is particularly conducive to growing Sangiovese grapes, the backbone of Chianti Classico wines, as it encourages deep rooting and produces wines with strong tannins and minerality.

The Alberese is another key soil type in Chianti Classico and more frequent. Alberese is a hard, compact limestone that can be found in areas surrounding Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and others. This soil imparts a distinct minerality to the wines, often giving them a sharper, more refined structure. Alberese soils are less fertile than clay-heavy soils, which leads to lower grape yields but higher concentration of flavor in the grapes.

Once again there are many other soil types, but these two are certainly the ‘Rolling Stones’ of the Chianti Classico region 🤘🏼

Filmed at in Radda in Chianti (Classico)




02/06/2026

🇺🇸 Discover Virginian Wine 🇺🇸

with Aubrey Rose - Part 2

Southern Virginia Lake Affect and Key varietails

⛵️Nestled along the shores of Lake Gaston in Southern Virginia, Rosemont of Virginia Winery benefits from a unique microclimate created by one of the region’s most significant natural features. The expansive waters of Lake Gaston help moderate temperature extremes throughout the year, creating what is commonly known as the “lake effect.” This natural phenomenon reduces the risk of damaging spring frosts, tempers the intense heat of summer, and extends the growing season into the fall. As a result, grapevines experience more consistent conditions for growth and fruit development. As Aubrey mentions, the weather patterns fold around the lake meaning it can reduce overall rainfall on the vineyards planted close to the lake.

🍇For Rosemont’s vineyards, the proximity to Lake Gaston contributes to balanced ripening, enhanced fruit quality, and the development of complex flavors that reflect the distinctive terroir of Southern Virginia.

✅In addition Aubrey talks about the importance of Cabernet Franc and others such as hybrids and PIWIs (fungus resistant varietals)

Part of my series capturing the real buzz of at this year’s

31/05/2026

What an iconic wine! The Premier Trie Moelleux ‘Le Haut-Lieu’ Vouvray 1989.

THE HUET STORY: Victor Huet survives WWI and is told to retire due to likely shell shock and respiratory issues from mustard gas. He retires… into winemaking(!) in the Loire buying a domaine with his wife Constance. His son, Gaston, is born in 1910, who has his own child and who is preparing to take over the winery in 1938 and then WWII breaks out in 1939. He say goodbye to himis wife, and his daughter who is just 9 months old. Gaston is conscripted as an officer into an artillery unit, is captured on the retreat to Dunkirk with his men, and then spends 6 years in Oflag IV POW camp.

Gaston, and the others, struggle to survive in the camp, on the brink of starvation and boredom. Along with Andre Cazes they create a wine tasting by smuggling in 700 bottles of wine from France by bribing the SS guards. This keeps all of the POWs going and the date was set for the 24th January 1943. They celebrate, with a small glass of wine each (or any receptacle).

Oflag IV is liberated by sword-wielding cossacks, and Gaston walks all the way home to the Loire from Silesia. He weighs just 40kg on his return. Watch the video to find out what happens when he sees his daughter, now nearly 7 years old.

🍷What an unbelievable wine. Sweet but still fresh, with perfect balance and softness. There is still fresh life in the wine, but laden with spices, dried fruit, minerality. Effortlessly complex, and the 1989 is widely considered Huet’s second best vintage after the 1947.

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