Simon Judge
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A New Vintage of Influence
The wine trade has long held public relations in high regard. With its roots in traditional media and its polished professionalism, PR has been a staple in shaping the industry’s image, securing column inches and spreading the gospel of good taste. Yet in recent years, a new force has emerged, reshaping how influence is both distributed and perceived: the influencer, or is it vinfluencer? Jason Millar’s article, In Defence of Influencers, raises a timely point about how language colours perception. “Influential” is a compliment, yet “influencer” is often said with an eye-roll. This semantic sleight-of-hand reveals deeper discomforts within the…
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Quinta de Foz de Arouce Red
Quinta de Foz de Arouce Red 2020 comes from the Beira Atlântico region of Portugal, produced by João Portugal Ramos, commonly known in the trade as JPR. This wine carries the IGP Beira Atlântico designation and is made from indigenous, hand-harvested Portuguese grapes, Baga and Touriga Nacional. It is matured for six months in second-use French oak barrels. It sits at 14% ABV. Baga remains a relatively underappreciated grape variety, often likened to Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo due to its thin skin and late-ripening nature. However, it produces wines with a firm, sometimes unyielding tannic structure, but here it’s been…
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25% Off Wine at Morrisons
Morrisons has 25% discount on 6 or more bottles of wine, More card price, £6 or more until 15 June 2025. See the recent press tasting for my picks.
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Tendrils
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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 11 June 2025 until 15 June 2025. See the recent Tesco tasting and Picks for tips on what to buy.
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Alcohol Doesn’t Completely Evaporate During Cooking
The Drinks Business has an interesting article that challenges the common belief that alcohol completely evaporates during cooking. While it’s true that heat causes alcohol to evaporate, the process is more complex than often assumed. Scientific tests show that depending on the cooking method and duration, a significant amount of alcohol can remain in food. For example, simmering for just 15 minutes may leave 40% of the alcohol, while even after 2.5 hours, up to 5% can still be present. This is not necessarily a concern for most, as alcohol can add depth, aroma and complexity to dishes in ways…
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Moillard Grivot Premium Chardonnay
Moillard Grivot Premium Chardonnay makes a statement with its wax seal and substantial, weighty bottle. It gives off a strong impression of luxury and quality, though some may view these touches less favourably from an environmental standpoint. The grapes are mainly sourced from vineyards in the Mâconnais, a region in the south of Burgundy that benefits from a warmer, sunnier climate. This allows for fuller ripening, and the vines, aged between 15 and 40 years, contribute depth and character to the wine. Fermentation is carried out entirely in oak barrels, with a mix of new and older wood to ensure…
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Marks & Spencer Classics No. 37 Shiraz
This wine is part of the M&S Classics range, a line that draws on trusted wine styles from celebrated regions, with an eye on quality and accessibility. This 2024 vintage is from South Australia and comes with a strong showing in this year’s awards, having earned a Silver from the IWC and a Bronze from the IWSC. Produced by Complexity Wines, it’s a blend dominated by Syrah (88%), with Petite Sirah (11%) and a small touch of Cabernet Sauvignon (3%), sitting at 14.5% ABV and matured in oak. This wine works straight from the bottle without decanting. At first glance,…
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Renewed Curiosity of Awarded Wines
Before I became so deeply involved with wine through this site, I used to rely heavily on awards as a shortcut when choosing new wines. They felt like an easy, reassuring way to make decisions without having to look too deeply into the specifics. When I began mentioning wine awards more actively on social media in connection with this site, I quickly discovered there’s a significant amount of industry scepticism surrounding them. Much of this comes from the fact that competitions only cover a small fraction of the wines available, so the absence of an award doesn’t necessarily reflect the…
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Wine e-Commerce on the Rise
I noticed a trend, at the London Wine Fair, that producers are increasingly selling directly via their own and wine platforms, and this shift is supported by recent data from IWSR, which projects that the global online alcohol market will exceed $36 billion by 2028. According to IWSR’s Ecommerce Strategic Study, covering 18 key markets including the UK, this represents a 20% increase in value over five years, indicating a move from the erratic pandemic-influenced period to more stable, sustainable growth. The study highlights that digital platforms now influence not only online but also offline alcohol purchasing decisions. Many consumers…
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Exceptional by Asda Grüner Veltliner
This Austrian white caught my attention at the Asda Spring 2025 press tasting. It stood out immediately in a strong line-up and I was keen to take a closer look before it hits the shelves. It’s already just picked up a Bronze at the IWSC and it’s easy to see why. Made by Markus Huber in Niederösterreich, this is a 2024 vintage at 11.5% ABV, using 100% Grüner Veltliner, Austria’s flagship grape. Grüner Veltliner often shows a balance of stone fruit character with a lively, spicy streak and this bottle delivers exactly that. There’s a lovely suggestion of ripe pear…
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The Real Reasons Why Gen Z Drinks Less
The new free report by Rabo Research explores why Generation Z appears to be consuming significantly less alcohol. Although this report is based on data from the United States, its insights are globally relevant. The cultural, technological, and economic forces shaping Generation Z’s drinking habits are not confined to national borders. Similar patterns are observable in other developed countries, including the UK, where young people are also drinking less than previous generations. Contrary to popular belief that this decline is driven by health concerns or image-conscious social media habits, the research identifies more structural causes. Firstly, much of Gen Z…
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Wine in Pubs is an Opportunity
I don’t visit UK pubs all that often, but when I do, I rarely find the wine experience enjoyable. Over the past year alone, I’ve been served red wine that had been stored next to warm lights, had small glasses filled nearly to the brim on multiple occasions and even came across a pub that didn’t have a wine list at all, just a few vague verbal suggestions. Mick Steward, writing for the London Wine Fair website, reflects on his reluctance to order wine in pubs despite his long career in the wine trade. He notes that while some pubs…
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Moillard Thomas Santenay Rouge
Moillard Thomas Santenay Rouge 2022 is a 100% Pinot Noir from Burgundy, aged for 12 months in oak barrels. It’s a wine that impresses straight from the bottle, needing no time to open up. For it’s vintage, the light colour shows a very slight touch of browning, correctly suggesting it leans towards a savoury style. There’s an immediate aroma of cherry and earthiness, with a subtle trace of caramel. The flavour continues in this vein, savory at its core, but with raspberry and cherry fruit giving it vibrancy and lift. Through the middle part of the taste, there’s a lovely…
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Catnip Wine for Cats
A New Zealand start-up, Muttley’s Estate, is aiming to turn the country into a commercial catnip producer with the development of a shelf-stable pet wine made from the herb. Catnip, which has been in New Zealand since 1870, is known to improve the mood of most cats and help ease anxiety in dogs. With rising global demand, especially in the pet and natural health industries, the market for catnip essential oil is expected to grow significantly, reaching around $400 million by 2030. Muttley’s Estate is believed to be the first company globally to produce a pet wine that can be…
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La Belle Angèle Rosé
La Belle Angèle Rosé takes its name from a figure of the early 20th century, a muse of the French Impressionists whose charm and elegance inspired many. Produced by La Belle Angèle Wines in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France, the bottle itself reflects a refined aesthetic and the producer’s website is very well presented – a rare case where I link as it’s very well done. This 2024 vintage, 12% ABV, blends Cinsault and Grenache grapes, sourced from the Gers and the Languedoc. The Cinsault brings a sense of freshness, while the Grenache adds richness and a deeper concentration. In the glass, it…
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Wildstone Roussanne
From the Chilean producer Luis Felipe Edwards, Wildstone is a wine that pays tribute to the rugged stone that emerges untamed from the landscape, carving its own way through plains and forests of Chile itself. The grapes for this white come from the Colchagua Coast, an area increasingly recognised for producing distinctive wines. I first came across this Roussanne last year at the Waitrose Autumn press tasting. It’s one of those bottles that might slip under the radar due to the Roussanne grape having a relatively low profile, especially outside of Rhône, France. In fact, even John, the highly knowledgeable…
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Risks Undermining EPR Goals
At the London Wine Fair on 21 May 2025, Harshal Gore from PackUK, an arm of Defra, provided an update on the ongoing developments around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). While acknowledging EPR as strategically sound, Gore admitted the scheme has suffered repeated setbacks. He pointed out that 2025 has marked significant progress, with the establishment of PackUK and the initiation of a new finance system managed by an external software firm. A collaborative approach with monthly meetings involving industry stakeholders has also been adopted to guide the project. Key updates include the release of a Recyclability Assessment Model (RAM), offering…
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Taste the Difference Crémant d’Alsace
Taste the Difference Crémant d’Alsace is made from 75% Pinot Blanc and 25% Pinot Gris from Alsace in France. This non-vintage wine sits at 12% ABV and undergoes its second fermentation in bottle, in the same way as Champagne, and is aged for 18 months on its lees. I first discovered it at the Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Press Tasting, where it stood out as one of my favourites thanks to its flavour and value. I decided to re-try it in a different context and correct a few earlier misconceptions. For starters, it’s clearly made by Cave du Roi Dagobert, as…
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My Top Wines at Any Price
This article is a companion piece to my earlier post on the top wines by value. While much of my website focuses on affordable wines and highlighting the best value options, this post takes a different approach. I regularly attend tastings focused on specific countries or appellations, not only to discover under-valued gems but also to calibrate my palate against top-tier wines. But what are the absolute best wines I’ve tasted, regardless of price? Perhaps you’re celebrating a one-off special occasion and want to experience something truly memorable. What should you go for in that case? Another way to frame…
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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