Simon Judge

  • Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting

    Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    In September 2024, I attended the Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting, an event in London showcasing an impressive array of wines from Hatch Mansfield’s portfolio. This agency focuses on wines crafted by independent, family-owned winemakers. Their portfolio includes well-known names such as Taittinger, C.V.N.E, Villa Maria and Errazuriz. Their wines can be found at many…

  • Villa Maria Seaspray Sauvignon Blanc

    Villa Maria Seaspray Sauvignon Blanc

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    Simon Judge

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    Villa Maria’s Single Vineyard Seaspray Sauvignon Blanc is a standout wine from the eastern coastline of the Awatere Valley, a cooler and windier sub-region of Marlborough, New Zealand. This area is known for its slow-growing season, which allows the grapes to develop an intense concentration and depth of flavour. The 2021 vintage of this wine…

  • Virgen del Galir Val do Galir Godello

    Virgen del Galir Val do Galir Godello

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    Simon Judge

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    Virgen del Galir Val do Galir Godello 2023 is a white wine from Valdeorras in Galicia, Spain. Produced by Bodegas Virgen, which was purchased by CVNE, a notable name in Rioja, back in 2018, this wine reflects the region’s traditional winemaking techniques. The wine has gained recognition, with a solid 91 points from Robert Parker….

  • Viña Pomal 106 Barricas

    Viña Pomal 106 Barricas

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    Viña Pomal, famously associated with Winston Churchill as his reputed bodega of choice, offers its 106 Barricas Rioja Reserva 2019 as a limited edition tribute. The name ‘106’ pays homage, originally in 2010, to the 106th anniversary of the winery’s first harvest in 1904, with only 50,000 bottles produced for this exclusive edition. The wine…

  • Aldi Autumn Winter Wine Tasting

    Aldi Autumn Winter Wine Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    In September 2024, I attended the Aldi Autumn Winter Press Wine Tasting, where 98 wines were showcased. It was a great opportunity to experience the variety and quality of Aldi’s wine offerings as they continue to establish themselves as a major player in the UK market. In fact, Aldi recently became the third-largest wine retailer,…

  • Rising Corkage Fees to Upwards of £100

    Rising Corkage Fees to Upwards of £100

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    Simon Judge

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    The BBC has reported that Corkage fees, the charges diners pay for bringing their own wine to restaurants, are rising in London as establishments try to maintain profitability. Traditionally around £12 to £15 per bottle, some venues now charge upwards of £100. This increase is driven by inflation and rising costs, such as energy bills…

  • Label Design Influence on Consumer Attitudes Toward Organic Wine

    Label Design Influence on Consumer Attitudes Toward Organic Wine

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    Simon Judge

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    New research ‘healthy = (un)tasty’ intuition concerning colour in organic wine labels explores how the colour of organic wine labels influences consumer perceptions, focusing on the associations with healthiness, tastiness and purchase intentions. The research investigates the effects of red versus green labels on these consumer attitudes. The study confirms that organic labels generally create…

  • Three Domaine Bousquet Malbecs

    Three Domaine Bousquet Malbecs

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    Simon Judge

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    I first came across Domaine Bousquet Malbec at the London Wine Fair, where I singled out Bousquet Gran Malbec, having won a Gold in the Drinks Business Malbec Masters. Here, I explore the winery further, along with its range of sister wines. The Bousquet family, originally from Carcassonne in southern France, have four generations of…

  • Should Rosé Wines Be Darker?

    Should Rosé Wines Be Darker?

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    Simon Judge

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    New research on The effect of rosé wine colours on expected flavour and tastiness explores how different shades of rosé wine influence consumer perceptions, particularly regarding flavour expectations and tastiness. The study involved an experiment with 601 French rosé wine consumers, focusing on five shades of Rosé de Provence wines. It investigated whether slightly darker…

  • Fine Wine Tasting

    Fine Wine Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    In September 2024, I attended a Fine Wine Evening at my local Majestic in Woking. It was a consumer tasting event, expertly presented by Andrew from Majestic Woking. Andrew, who is soon to move to Majestic Edinburgh, showcased his knowledge throughout the evening, offering insights into the selection of fine wines. The evening began with…

  • Tenuta Di Trinoro Tasting

    Tenuta Di Trinoro Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    In early September 2024, I attended a tasting lunch in London hosted by Benjamin Franchetti, the owner of Tenuta di Trinoro, a renowned estate known for its Super-Tuscan wines. The estate was founded by Benjamin’s late father, Andrea Franchetti, who defied expectations by creating a world-class Super-Tuscan from scratch, without any outside help. Although Tenuta…

  • WineGB Trade and Press Tasting

    WineGB Trade and Press Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    The WineGB Trade and Press Tasting, in early September 2024, offered an impressive selection, showcasing over 300 wines from 80 producers. The event featured individual exhibitor stands, regional vineyard association stands and themed tasting tables. English sparkling wine has reached an exceptional level of quality, frequently rivalling and occasionally surpassing some of the finest Champagnes….

  • Swig Autumn Portfolio Tasting

    Swig Autumn Portfolio Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    Swig is an online retailer founded by Robin Davis, 25 years ago, which has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s best independents. They also supply some of the UK’s top restaurants and independents, and in 2021, Decanter Magazine awarded them Best Midsize Online Retailer. In September 2024, I attended the Swig Autumn Portfolio…

  • Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Wine

    Consumer Attitudes and Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Wine

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    Simon Judge

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    New research (pdf) looks into how age influences consumer attitudes and their willingness to pay for sustainably produced wine. The research is based on a survey of approximately 2,500 wine consumers across seven countries: the United States, South Africa, Netherlands, Italy, France, Chile and Australia. The study finds that younger consumers, those aged 18 to…

  • Cork vs Screw Cap

    Cork vs Screw Cap

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    Simon Judge

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    There’s a great new in-depth article at Food and Wine on Screw Caps vs Corks. The debate between corks and screw caps in the wine industry revolves around tradition, functionality and consumer perception. Corks, traditionally used in wine bottles, are praised for their ability to help wines age and develop complexity due to their porous…

  • Babylonstoren Sprankel

    Babylonstoren Sprankel

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    Simon Judge

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    The Babylonstoren Sprankel 2018, from the Western Cape, offers an intriguing alternative to traditional Champagne. It’s part of the growing selection of Cap Classique wines from South Africa with over 260 producers and more than 400 different cuvées. South Africa now produces an impressive 11 million bottles annually and the Sprankel is a great example…

  • Italian Wine Tasting

    Italian Wine Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    In July and August 2024, when press tastings were sparse, I decided to host a few wine tastings at home. For this third tasting of the Summer, I invited PR agencies, importers and retailers to submit Italian wines. I also included a few wines recommended by participants from previous tastings, as well as a blind…

  • Whites Mellowed by Age

    Whites Mellowed by Age

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    Simon Judge

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    There’s new research on how bottle aging affects the sensory characteristics and quality perception of various dry white wines, specifically those made from Alvarinho, Arinto, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Bianco grape varieties. A panel of experienced tasters and students assessed the wines using dark glasses to prevent colour bias, focusing on various sensory attributes such…

  • Caliterra Tributo ‘Single Vineyard’ Carmenère

    Caliterra Tributo ‘Single Vineyard’ Carmenère

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    Simon Judge

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    Caliterra Tributo ‘Single Vineyard’ Carmenère 2020 is a wine that caught my attention during a Hatch Mansfield tasting, and it has been a pleasure to explore it further following subsequent purchase. Produced by Caliterra Winery, a brand owned by the Mondavi/Errazuriz partnership, this wine is a fusion of modern winemaking techniques with Chile’s rich heritage….

  • Pairings for Beef

    Pairings for Beef

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    Simon Judge

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    Jancis Robinson writes in the Financial Times Newspaper (might have moved behind paywall by the time you read this) on finding the perfect wine pairings for beef, exploring a diverse array of wines from around the globe. Wines include: Tasting notes can also be found on the Purple Pages of JancisRobinson.com.

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Did You Know?

In 2024, the UK was the second-largest export market for Champagne globally, after the United States. More

Local UK bottling of wine which 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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