Simon Judge
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Gen Z Drinking More Alcohol
Despite widespread cost-of-living pressures and a global trend towards alcohol moderation, younger legal-drinking-age consumers, particularly Gen Z, are increasingly re-engaging with alcohol, according to IWSR’s Bevtrac consumer sentiment tracker. Although overall spending on alcohol has declined across leading global markets, Gen Z’s participation has notably risen, challenging the belief that this generation is turning away from alcohol. Their consumption rates have returned to levels comparable to the general population, and they show a strong interest in trying different drink categories and going out more often than older cohorts. The March 2025 survey found a mixed global picture. India and China…
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25% Off Wine at Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has 25% off wine for Nectar loyalty card holders, sparkling and Champagne, 6 bottles or more, £6 or more (£7 in Wales), from 25 June 2025 to 29 June 2025. See the recent Sainsbury’s press tasting for tips on what to buy.
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Co-op Irresistible 30° Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir
I tasted this Pinot Noir as part of my awards25 series and it’s already made a strong impression, with a Gold at the IWC and a Bronze at the IWSC. It also previously won a Silver in the Pinot Noir Masters. The name 30° refers to its Chilean roots, highlighting the 30 degrees south latitude where the Casablanca Valley is located, produced by Viña Indómita. Viña Indómita is a prominent Chilean winery situated in a region known for its cool-climate wines and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. The estate vineyards benefit from coastal breezes and morning fog, which help to…
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Taste the Difference Bio Bio Chilean Pinot Noir
This was a real star from Sainsbury’s Spring Summer 2025 press tasting and I knew I had to revisit it properly on its own. Sourced from the Bio Bio Valley in Chile, this wine is made by Diego Covarrubias of Viña Indómita, a respected name in Chilean winemaking and a producer often praised by critic James Suckling. This Pinot Noir, from the 2023 vintage, has been aged for six months in French oak and comes in at 13.5% ABV. Aromatically, it opens with a savoury profile balanced by a huge burst of cherry, setting the tone for a dry yet…
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UK Tariffs Impact Spanish Wines
Reuters is reporting that Spanish red wine exports to the UK have dropped by 7.5% in value during the first four months of 2025, largely due to new British tariffs based on alcohol content. These changes, introduced in February, have hit Spanish wines hardest, especially reds, which typically contain more than 12.5% alcohol due to Spain’s warmer climate. This higher alcohol content now attracts significantly steeper duties, causing prices for UK importers to rise by around 20%. Spanish producers say this has made their wines less competitive compared to French and Italian exports, which have seen smaller declines of 6%…
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Tensions Between Wine Growers and Supermarkets
International Supermarket News reports on rising tensions between growers and supermarkets. It also highlights increasing cost of wine and shows how much more expensive it is in the UK compared to France. Aldi France has come under fire after its national wine buyer claimed wines priced as low as €1.99 are still profitable for growers. This triggered protests across south-west France, with farmers arguing that such pricing is unsustainable and threatens their livelihoods. Unions say selling Bordeaux for under €3 is below production cost and puts thousands of growers at risk. The controversy underscores wider concerns about unrealistic retail pricing,…
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North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2023
I first discovered this wine last year and it quickly became one of my top picks. It stood out not just in character, but as one of my outstanding wines by value. I had the chance to try the new 2023 vintage at the Asda Summer 2025 showcase, and while it still shone, I wanted to compare it more closely with the 2020 vintage. So here we are. The new vintage shows a touch less browning than the 2020, appearing slightly darker in the glass. It carries that same savoury, almost ‘twiglet’ aroma with striking intensity. On the palate, the…
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WineGB Awards 2025
The ninth edition of the WineGB Awards marked a significant milestone, with still wines surpassing sparkling wines in both entries and total medals awarded for the first time. Still wines made up 54% of the entries and won 161 medals, compared to 151 for sparkling wines. However, sparkling wines continued to dominate in terms of gold medals, claiming nearly two-thirds of them, despite a strong performance from still Chardonnays. The 2023 vintage was the most commonly submitted and successful, reflecting a strong year, with 88 medals awarded. The oldest wine entered dated back to 2009, highlighting the ageing potential of…
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Trade Associations Raise Urgent Concerns Over EPR Base Fees for Glass Packaging
Drinks Retailing is reporting that ahead of the announcement of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) base fees this week, a coalition of trade associations has written to Steve Reed, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, outlining significant concerns, particularly regarding the impact on glass packaging. The group, which includes the Scotch Whisky Association, Wine & Spirit Trade Association, WineGB, British Beer and Pub Association, British Glass, and UK Hospitality, highlighted that the current EPR structure would impose disproportionately higher costs on glass. Despite being infinitely recyclable and making up only 5% of the volume of containers…
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Quinta de Foz Arouce White
This is the companion wine to the previously reviewed red from the same estate. It originates from Portugal’s Beira Atlântico region and is produced by João Portugal Ramos, often referred to in the wine world as JPR. The vineyards are owned by the Count of Foz, who happens to be Ramos’s father-in-law. This white is made from the Cercial grape, usually spelled Sercial when grown on Madeira. While it’s known there for producing the driest style of Madeira’s fortified wines, on the mainland it’s usually part of a blend, adding freshness and structure. It’s quite rare to find a varietal…
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Majestic 45th Birthday Sauvignon Blanc Gros Manseng
Majestic 45th Birthday Sauvignon Blanc Gros Manseng is one of two special blends created exclusively for Majestic’s anniversary, with the aim of offering a bold yet versatile wine that exceeds expectations for its price. When I first saw it, it gave off a modest impression and I didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. But on tasting it, it quickly became clear that a lot more thought and care had gone into this wine than the packaging lets on. Created by Majestic’s Head Buyer, Matt Fowkes, in collaboration with long-standing producer partners, the blend captures the essence of what Majestic…
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25% Off Wine at Tesco
Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are £6 and over (£7 in Wales), from 17 June 2025 until 14 July 2025. See the recent Tesco tasting and Picks for tips on what to buy.
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Decanter World Wine Awards 2025
This year’s Decanter World Wine Awards, the world’s largest and most respected wine competition, saw wines from 57 countries judged by a historic panel of 248 international experts, including a record 22 Master Sommeliers and 72 Masters of Wine. From over 16,000 entries, 50 coveted Best in Show medals were awarded (just 0.3% of entries), along with 137 Platinum and 732 Gold medals, signalling a notable rise in overall wine quality. The longstanding Value Gold Top List also expanded, now featuring 30 wines under £15, up from 20 last year, a clear indication of both excellence and affordability gaining recognition.…
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Old Vine Conference
In mid-June 2025, I attended the Old Vine Conference trade and media wine tasting in London. The Old Vine Conference works to raise awareness, deepen understanding and build support for the global old vine movement. It champions the development of a recognised global category for wines made from old vines, lending structure and momentum to what is sometimes an underappreciated sector. This year’s event was billed as one of the most extensive tastings of old vine wines worldwide, with representation from a remarkable array of countries including France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Lebanon, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile,…
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Sichel Sauternes
This one is a bit different as it’s a wine I’ve held onto for 10 years. Normally, I focus on wines that are ready to buy and drink straight away. I don’t usually store or age bottles. But this one’s got a story behind it and it’s taught me a thing or two, particularly about declassified wines. It was part of my wine journey in 2015. Back then, my wife and I, sometimes with friends or family, attended tastings run by Arthur Till. Arthur had retired slightly early after a successful career in senior management for the European arm of…
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Blondel Champagne Premier Cru
I first discovered this Champagne at an Asda tasting, where it immediately stood out to me. I was keen to try it again, particularly as I’ve found that some Champagnes I’ve enjoyed at tastings have often not lived up to expectations when revisited later. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case this time. Produced by Blondel from a single block of vines in the village of Ludes, located on the northern side of the Montagne de Reims, this wine comes from a site classified as Premier Cru. It borders some of the region’s most renowned Grand Cru villages, including Mailly-Champagne, Verzenay and…
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Bellingham Old Vine Chenin Blanc
Bellingham Old Vine Chenin Blanc stood out when I first discovered at a Sainsbury’s press wine tasting. It is new to their range and was easily one of the highlights of the event. Once found only in independent wine merchants, it has now found its way onto supermarket shelves, making it more accessible. The wine comes from South Africa and carries a rich history. Bellingham’s legacy began back in 1693 with Hollander Gerrit Janz van Vuuren and his French Huguenot wife. A more modern chapter began in 1943, when Bernard and Fredagh Podlashuk took over the neglected estate. They revived…
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Reflections on Large Wine Tastings
I’ve been to a lot of large wine tastings over the years, and this post is a reflection on their merits rather than a commentary on the individual events themselves. By large, I mean tastings that include at least 100 wines, though some can offer many hundreds and even 1000s. My typical flow of such events involves working through whites, then rosés, followed by reds. Within each category, wines are usually presented in order of increasing body, which often, though not always, aligns with increasing price. In general, I taste each wine just once, though occasionally I’ll revisit a wine…
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Champagne Cage
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Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Ventoux
This is a red wine that captures the character of the southern Rhône’s Ventoux appellation, an area defined as much by its striking scenery as its distinctive wines. Towering over the region is Mount Ventoux, an iconic landmark known to cycling fans worldwide as a legendary stage finish of Le Tour de France. This 2022 vintage, 14.5% ABV, is a blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Carignan, a combination that brings together rich fruit, spice and structure. The wine begins with a lovely red fruit aroma, delicately laced with a hint of caramel. It’s a very inviting and beguiling aroma that…
Pick Lists
Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20
Did You Know?
Rías Baixas wines reached more than 107 countries in 2025 and exports represented 31 per cent of the denomination’s total sales. More
Light Strike Can Cause Wine Degradation in Just One Day. More
People actively adjust their wine choices depending on who might see them. More
In the UK, 73% of Alcohol is Bought From Retail Rather Than Hospitality. More
UK wine production reached 124,377 hectolitres that year, meaning the UK accounted for roughly 0.05 per cent of world output. More
For Crémant, grapes must be harvested by hand and the wines must undergo at least nine months’ ageing before release. More
In 2024, the UK was the second-largest export market for Champagne globally, after the United States. More
Local UK bottling of wine represents about 40% of imported wine. More
Around 1% of people, typically severe asthmatics, have a sulphite sensitivity. More
A large 80% of Australian wine arrives in the UK in bulk. More
Only about 0.02% of Australia’s landmass is dedicated to vineyards. More
In 2024, New Zealand produced only 1% of the World’s wine. More
In 2024, the US imported 37% of World production of Pinot Grigio and the UK was is in second place at 27%. More
In 2024, the UK was South Africa’s largest export market, with 40% of total exports. More
In 2024, the United Kingdom imported 22.3 million bottles of Champagne, a decline of 12.7% compared to the previous year. More
Larger Champagne producers source grapes from as many as 80 different vineyards throughout Champagne. More
Champagne houses and growers collectively produce around 300 million bottles annually. More
In 2025, the Champagne region was home to about 2,124 Champagne houses and approximately 19,000 growers. More
Provence is one of the leaders in the conversion to organic viticulture, with 61% of vineyards certified. More
8% of the South Africa’s grape production is Fairtrade-certified. More
Up to 80% of wine aroma compounds come from grape skins. More
Glycerol is the third-largest component of most dry wines after water and alcohol which is why they so often feel ‘smooth’ or ‘silky’ in the mouth. More
Humans are more than 400 times more sensitive to bitter than sweet. More
Humans can detect the earthy molecule geosmin at about 100 parts per trillion and camels are so sensitive to it they can locate damp ground from roughly 50 miles away. More
During the phylloxera crisis of the nineteenth century, 90% of Europe’s vineyards were destroyed. More
In 2025, for La Vieille Ferme, also known as “The Chicken Wine”, sales surged by 49.4% to £110.8 million. More
In 2025, in the UK, Yellow Tail held the top position with sales, marking a 9.8% increase over the previous year. More
In 2024, the UK was the second-largest wine importer in volume and value. More
In 2024, the UK was the fifth-largest wine-consuming country globally. More
In 2025, global wine consumption continued its downward trend, estimated at 214.2 million hectolitres, the lowest since 1961. More
In 2025, online alcohol sales had a 20% increase in value over five years. More
In 2025, the number of UK vineyards rose to 1,104 and wineries to 238, with land under vine expanding to 4,841 hectares, a 510% increase since 2005. More
Moët Hennessy alone commands nearly 46.66% of the Champagne market, with the top three producers together holding about 61%, and the top five controlling over 72%. More
In 2024, the Champagne market was worth roughly €3.92 billion. More
In the marketing year 2023/24, white wine accounted for roughly 55% of Spain’s output, whereas red and rosé together made up about 45%. More
In the UK, 92% of wine is consumed within 48hrs of purchase. More
The majority of wines, 95%, use commercial rather than wild yeast. More
Between 0.5 and 10 litres of water, per litre of wine, are needed for cleaning during winemaking. More
Machine harvesting can achieve up to 100 tons of fruit per day vs 1 ton for a human. More
In Germany, 2025 was the smallest wine vintage since 2010. More
The majority of vineyards, 90% in 2019, are farmed with heavy chemical interventions. Only 6% are organic. More
90% of low and coastal areas in south Europe and California will no longer be able to produce good wine by the end of the century. More
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