Dutch belt out their return to Eurovision with violins
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Metro
5 hours ago
- Metro
I can't stand when people put ice in their wine — it's so uncouth
Hands down, the question I get asked most often as a drinks writer is: 'Can I add ice to my wine?' Some see it as an inexcusable faux pas, the wine equivalent of blowing your nose into a napkin at a fine dining restaurant. Others are calling it 'Vin Piscine', aka 'swimming pool wine'. This is after the southwestern French trend of serving white or rosé in a large round glass filled with so much ice, it looks like the wine is taking a dip in a pool. In my opinion, this chic name has given ice-droppers a get out of jail free card to avoid looking uncouth. A few of my mates slip ice cubes into their wine when they think I'm not looking. They used to have the decency to look embarrassed, now they say, 'ahh, Vin Piscine!' But it's not just them – even some drink experts do it. Master of Wine and Wine Consultant to Aldi supermarkets, Sam Caporn, admits that she started off 'an ice denier', but then something happened to change her mind. 'A friend came over for dinner and we tried out rosé both without and then with ice, and I was a convert! 'Ice in rosé is one of my guilty pleasures, don't knock it until you've tried it!' You've probably gathered that I'm an ice-in-wine snob. As I see it, plonking a melty iceberg into a glass of carefully crafted wine is a form of vandalism; like watching someone slowly key a vintage Aston Martin. You see, as the ice thaws, it dilutes the wine and reduces the concentration of the beautiful flavour expression, throwing off the carefully curated balance of acids, aromatics and texture. You might as well top up your glass of Château Petrus with Coke Zero – it's basically the same thing. This isn't just me throwing ice out of my pram though, Dr Ian Whitehead, a flavour scientist who has more than 20 years' of experience in the industry, agrees that for higher-quality wines, it's a no-no. He tells Metro: 'There's no doubt that adding ice changes the experience, often not for the better – especially with higher quality bottles. If you value craftsmanship and intended flavour of your wine, skip the ice and use smarter chilling methods.' One of the chilling methods Dr Whitehead is referring to is an ice bucket filled with cold water, ice and salt (to fast-track the chilling process). Or, you could always pop a bottle in the freezer, wrapped in a wet paper towel for 25 minutes. Having said all that, there are a few exceptions to the rule. If you're drinking a fruity, off-dry white or rosé on a really hot day, adding a couple of ice cubes is acceptable. Why? Because slightly dilute, cold wine wins over warm wine, as it's closer to how the wine was intended to be served. Typically, wines with more sweetness work best with ice-chilling, as Dr Whitehead explains: 'Sugar is a flavour buffer, in sensory science, residual sugar (unfermented sugar left in the wine), counterbalances both the acidity and dilution, allowing the wine to retain an impression of body and fruit even when significantly chilled.' With that in mind, sweet or off-dry wines are the ideal match for ice, think Moscato d'Asti, Demi Sec Champagne, German Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Californian blush wines. These have higher sugar levels and bolder aromatic flavour compounds to counter the dilution. Do yourself a favour and avoid heavily-oaked Chardonnays or ultra-dry wines like Picpoul de Pinet, Pinot Grigio or Provence Rosé. Ice will turbo-chill them, drown out their delicate fruit flavours and put their acidity and bitterness on blast. As luck would have it, I'm currently on holiday near Toulouse where Vin Piscine was born. And while I was at a Leclerc supermarket, I noticed a wine called Rosé Piscine. You couldn't miss it, cases of the stuff were stacked up in a gigantic tower display. But here's the kicker, its strapline is, 'ABSOLUMENT AVEC LES GLACONS' (in caps), translated as 'ABSOLUTELY WITH ICE' Boom. I was triggered. But I ended up buying a bottle. I taste tasted Piscine Rosé against a dry rosé from Lidl, Chevalier de Fauvert Syrah Rosé. Both were unchilled (this was important) and ice free. Piscine Rosé was instantly off-dry with pronounced flavours of cantaloupe melon, apricot and peach, while Lidl's was significantly dryer with delicate notes of nectarine and tangerine. After adding two medium-sized ice cubes to each glass, I tasted them to assess the immediate effect. Piscine Rosé had been softened in flavour, still delivering melon and stone fruit flavours while Lidl's had all but disappeared, leaving a muted aroma and only a lightly fruity acidity on the palate. Having waited for five minutes for the ice to partially melt, Piscine Rosé had soft and refreshing nuances of melon and peach, while Lidl's had turned into acidic-tasting water. In conclusion, this experiment was a win for Piscine Rosé. Wines that are built for ice accompaniment must start off naturally more pronounced in sweetness and fruit flavours, with less zestiness to them to stand up to turbo-chilling and dilution In addition to picking the right wine, it's also important to use the right kind of ice in your drink. More Trending Bigger ice cubes melt more slowly and defer dilution. As, by contrast, 'finely crushed ice is the fastest route to watery wine,' explains Dr Whitehead. He also cautions us to pay attention to the type of water we use to make the ice, warning: 'Ice made from hard water will harm the flavour more than soft water, while heavily chlorinated tap water with give you a literal 'swimming pool wine', and not in a good way.' Evian it is then… If you count yourself a purveyor of the finer things in life, Metro's Drink Up column is where you need to be. Immerse yourself in the world of good drink, fronted by industry expert Rob Buckhaven – a place for readers to whet their whistle with the latest and greatest in the world of drinks. From unpacking the best supermarket wines from Aldi, Tesco and Lidl, to introducing audiences to the wallet-friendly Cremant out-bubbling the fanciest of French Champagnes (or the best wines to drink after sex), and finding out what it's like to go on a bar crawl with Jason Momoa, this is a haven for those who love to celebrate. Stay ahead of the curve as Rob plucks from the vines the wines of the season and the spirits you need to know about; speaking with experts and mixologists while unpacking the latest concoctions, finding the best non-alcoholic options for those looking to moderate, discovering the best food pairings for your drops, and going up against the latest TikTok chatter to demystify the liquid landscape. What are the best drinks to take to a summer picnic? Wine that you should never serve at a wedding And, truly, how should we be storing our wine? Read More. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ View More » MORE: The common pub habit that marks you out as a 'nightmare' punter MORE: I stumbled across the best bar ever in Europe's newly-crowned 'safest city' MORE: Where to sip on mini cocktails in London Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Wales Online
8 hours ago
- Wales Online
Strictly Come Dancing's Dianne Buswell's secret career she's kept hidden for years
Strictly Come Dancing's Dianne Buswell's secret career she's kept hidden for years Strictly Come Dancing star Dianne Buswell has had an impressive career on the BBC dance show, and she's also been dating a celebrity Strictly Come Dancing's Dianne Buswell (Image: Daily Mirror) Dianne Buswell's last Strictly Come Dancing partner Chris McCausland quipped she was "over the moon" to be matched with him as it guaranteed an early departure - yet the pair won the Glitterball Trophy. The partnership's routines captivated audiences throughout this series. The Australia-born professional has established herself as a viewer favourite since joining the BBC One dancing contest in 2017. Recognised for her effervescent character, striking locks and spectacular choreography, she's twice come within touching distance of claiming victory. Throughout her stint on the programme, Dianne has also discovered romance with one of her celebrity contestants, and the pair remain together. Early life growing up in Australia and secret career Dianne was born on May 6, 1989, hailing from Bunbury in Western Australia. She commenced dancing aged five following observations of her siblings performing in the dance studio, reports the Manchester Evening News. She subsequently participated in contests representing Western Australia across National and International Ballroom and Latin competitions, achieving four-time Amateur Australian Open finalist status. She and sibling Andrew claimed Western Australian Open Adult New Vogue championship titles in 2008 and 2010. Strictly Come Dancing's Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell (Image: BBC) Article continues below Aged 18, she was selected for Australian television programme So You Think You Can Dance, securing a position amongst the top 20 female contestants in Australia from thousands of hopefuls. This paved the way for Dianne to join the internationally acclaimed and critically lauded stage production Burn the Floor. Following a global tour with the production, she headed back to Australia to become a professional dancer on the television programme Dancing with the Stars. It wasn't long before Strictly Come Dancing beckoned. However, she pursued another career path alongside her dancing that numerous fans remain oblivious to. Prior to becoming a professional dancer, Dianne worked as a hairdresser in her homeland of Australia. She's said: "I had two dreams, dancing and becoming a hairdresser – I'm thrilled to have achieved both." During her appearance on Michael McIntyre's The Wheel on BBC One in 2022, she selected hair as her specialist topic. When questioned about her choice, she explained: "I was a hairdresser. I had my own salon and then I went to dancing." Strictly Come Dancing and week four curse Dianne's inaugural Strictly celebrity partner Reverend Richard Coles failed to impress the judging panel, departing the 2017 series in week three. Whilst she reached the grand final in 2018 alongside Joe Sugg, her journey wasn't quite as lengthy in 2019 with radio presenter Dev Griffin, as the pair faced elimination in week four. Dianne encountered identical misfortune with pop star Max George in 2020, and in 2021, she was partnered with comedy performer Robert Webb, who was forced to pull out in week four owing to health issues. In 2022, she partnered with radio DJ Tyler West, but their journey ended in Blackpool during week nine. In 2023, she reached the final with Eastenders actor Bobby Brazier, but they were pipped to the Glitterball Trophy by Coronation Street's Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola. Dianne and Chris won last year's Strictly (Image: PA) Dianne later expressed her gratitude for being paired with Bobby, stating that dancing with him had been a "win" for her. She shared on Instagram: "I used to be so obsessed with winning a sparkly trophy constantly thinking about that moment and what it would feel like. But what I have realised [is] dancing with this wonderful human is that the win and the sparkle is everywhere if you want it to be." so grateful"Last night, Bobby and I danced with so much joy, passion and emotion that my heart was bursting with happiness and pride and there was our win!". Struggles with eating disorder Dianne has previously spoken candidly about her struggle with an eating disorder that made her "terrified" to dance. Speaking on This Morning, she revealed her obsession over food and over-exercising. She admitted: "You wake up in the morning, and the first thing you think of is, what am I going to eat? How many calories are going to be in that? How much do I need to exercise to burn off those calories?"so grateful"It literally is like a planned thing in your mind that doesn't go away. And that's when you start to go, "Oh, this is a problem because I'm not thinking of anything else." She also discussed the pressure to maintain a certain weight as a dancer, and how the "weekly weigh-ins" at her dance company were utterly 'terrifying' for her as a young girl. She added: "I think it comes from when I was quite a young girl. And obviously growing up in the dance world, you're taught to look a certain way and you see all these other beautiful girls dancing. You kind of want to look like that and want to be winning like they are. "And they look a certain way so I feel like I should look that way. So I think it was it was something from a really young age." She managed to overcome her struggles and has shared her experiences in the book Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate, hoping to support others facing similar challenges. Finding love with Joe Sugg (Image: Joe Sugg/Instagram) Dianne and YouTuber Joe Sugg confirmed their relationship after being partners on the 2018 series of Strictly, where they reached the final. She told the Express that she never anticipated finding love on the show. She said: "I feel like all the stars aligned with Joe because we're just literally such similar people in so many ways. We're very different in ways too, but just our personalities just click so, so well. "I always think it's so weird how we met and I feel like everything was just aligned in the right place, right time for both of us. It was pretty special." She revealed they still dance together, although his memory of the routines is a bit hazy. She said: "When we're at home and a nice song comes on the radio or something, I definitely go like, 'Oh do you remember this Joe - that song that we danced to on the show?'"so grateful"And Joe will be like, 'I can't remember any of that now,' but then I'll re enact the whole dance and he'll be like, 'How do you do that?' So yeah, we still do have a joke around." Dianne moved into Joe's flat in 2019, with the content creator revealing that he gave her a card which read, 'So I have officially invited you to live in my humble abode with me. Do you want to move in with me? Yes or no. Circle your choice. All my love, Joseph. '" She accepted, telling fans on Instagram: "I said yes.... of course. Then I whispered to him do you realise how messy I can be!" The couple later relocated from London and now reside in a country house in Sussex. Father's cancer battle Strictly Come Dancing's Dianne Buswell and her dad, Mark (Image: Dianne Buswell Instagram) Dianne has confessed that her home in Australia sometimes feels very distant now that she's settled in the UK with Joe - but has said she loves life told the Express: "One weird thing, I suppose, is that I just go, 'Wow, I'm actually so far away from where I was born'. Then I think, 'Oh my god, like, of all the places I now am living! The UK is a full 24 hour plane ride away from my hometown. And obviously my family are all so far away from me. But I must say, I do love the UK and I do love all the people here and I love my job here so, yeah, I really enjoy the UK." Following the conclusion of Strictly's 2023 series, Dianne returned home to visit her family, particularly her father Mark, who was undergoing a six-month chemotherapy programme for an undisclosed cancer diagnosis. Dianne described him as her "hero", applauding his resilience and positive attitude throughout his treatment. She posted a compilation on Instagram showing him during his hospital stay, including the emotional moment he rang the bell to mark the completion of his treatment. She posted: "To my daddy you did it 6 months later and 12 rounds done. I am so so PROUD of you it's been a tough road but you have always done it with a smile and a thumbs up. I know you were scared and I know it was not easy but you have done it." During an earlier stage of Mark's cancer battle, she expressed the challenges of being thousands of miles from home, posting: "I wish so much I could be there right now and just cuddle you. You're my hero and you have made me realise we all have so much more strength then we think." During Strictly's 2024 launch programme, Dianne announced that her parents would be travelling from Australia to support her on the show in November. Why signature red hair is her 'comfort blanket' Dianne is recognised for her vibrant red locks and reveals she was captivated by hair styling during her explained she was "fascinated with colour" and would cut, style and dye her Barbie dolls' hair, sharing with the Press Association: "I actually remember for Easter most years, my mum would ask which Easter egg I wanted and I just really wanted hair colour, so mum would buy me a box hair colour instead of an Easter egg." Her path to the striking red hue she's now famous for didn't happen overnight, as she remembered: "I always liked an undertone of red but when I went bright red for a dance show, something clicked.I felt different – more fiery, more passionate. It changed the way I danced." She believes her striking colour has enabled her to distinguish herself in her dancing career, especially on Strictly: "It's given me that extra pizzazz and confidence. People recognise me as 'the red-haired girl', and it's become a part of my identity. "Maybe one day I'll go back to a more natural shade," she admits, "but right now, it's hard to part with the red. It's more than just a colour – it's my comfort blanket." She added: "I've had red hair for about ten years now. I'm a hairdresser by trade, though I haven't done it in a salon for many, many years. But when I was hairdressing, I literally had every single colour you could imagine. "I had blonde, I had black, I had brown, I had black with red stripes, I had black with blonde streaks – it was just like that hairdresser thing where you're just constantly changing the colour of your hair. Article continues below "And then, when I started dancing on stage, I went from jet black to honey blonde. And then I got bored – so I put a red dye over it one day and was like, 'I kind of like this', and it stuck. "Everyone was like, 'Oh my god – red really suits you and works with your eyes'. Then since I went on Strictly Come Dancing, I've been known as the girl with red hair.
The Guardian
8 hours ago
- The Guardian
My Cultural Awakening: Years & Years helped me accept my bisexual identity
I first discovered Olly Alexander, of Years & Years, by accident. I was teaching English as a foreign language in South Korea, and I showed a video of a BBC Glastonbury roundup on the projector as part of the lesson. I remember glimpsing an incredibly cute blond guy on stage, and being transfixed. I knew immediately that he was gay because the way he moved was unashamedly fluid and graceful. He was doing a pirouette. The clip was so short there wasn't even a mention of the name of the band, so I had to do some detective work. I Googled something ridiculous like 'bleached hair gay man Glastonbury 2015' and trawled through hundreds of search results until I found him. I was 24 and out as bisexual, but I had never done more than kiss a man. I grew up on the west coast of Ireland, and while my area was relatively liberal, we still used the F-slur regularly and referred to anything remotely crap or weak as 'gay'. At school, I liked girls enough to distract myself from the fact that I also liked boys – but by the time I was in my final year of university, I wasn't able to ignore my feelings for men any more. I told friends and family I was bisexual, but I did it in an almost aggressive way. My attitude was: 'I'm bisexual and if you have a problem with that, I don't want to hear about it.' Looking back, I think I was being defensive: I didn't want to discuss my sexuality because I wasn't entirely comfortable with it yet. It made me feel vulnerable to accept that I was interested in men because it messed with my sense of masculinity. I am still often perceived by strangers as straight. When I did develop a crush on a boy, growing up, it would be a macho lad who liked football and girls. Discovering Olly Alexander was seismic for me because it was the first time I fancied a man who was openly gay in his presentation. In the weeks after I found Olly online, I listened to Years & Years' debut album, Communion, on repeat. In a few songs, Olly refers to his love interest as 'boy', and I remember listening out for that word and feeling electrified by it. I was taking taekwondo lessons in my spare time, and I suggested to my instructor that we put Communion on in the background while we trained. Because it's a form of combat, taekwondo is a hypermasculine sport, but it is also elegant and feminine in the sense that it is like a dance. Listening to that music while doing those moves made me feel as if I was pulling together the two parts of my own nature, and finding some balance between the masculine and the feminine. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion At the point in the session when we were doing a particularly high-intensity kicking routine, the song King would start playing on the record – which is all about being desired by another man on a night out. My instructor loved the record too, although he was a very traditional South Korean man, and from small comments he had made I could tell he was casually homophobic. He had no idea that he was enjoying an album about gay men in the club. The music unlocked something in me. I began to pursue boys and go to gay first sexual experiences with men happened at precisely the same time as I was discovering Communion. When I listen to Shine now – which is about the magnetic feeling between two men – I still get this feeling in my stomach. It's difficult for me to disentangle the feeling of desire from the excitement I feel when I hear the opening bars. I started dating my first boyfriend around the time Years & Years' second album, Palo Santo, came out, so Olly Alexander's music doesn't just sound like lust to me. It also sounds like love. Anonymous Did a cultural moment prompt you to make a major life change? Email us at You can tell us how a cultural moment has prompted you to make a major life change by filling in the form below or emailing us on Please include as much detail as possible Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first.
