Simon Judge
-
UK Wine Buying Trends
There’s a new issue of Drink Retailing that contains data from a revealing study of 2000 UK adults, conducted by IPSOS in October 2023. A notable 29% of respondents reported a decrease in their alcohol purchases compared to the previous year, signalling a potential long term shift in consumption habits. However, 16% of individuals have…
-
Neo-Prohibitionists Reshaping Global Alcohol Policy
Wine Business Monthly has an in-depth piece by Felicity Carter on How Neo-Prohibitionists Came to Shape Alcohol Policy. In January 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a startling declaration, stating that there is ‘no safe level’ of alcohol consumption, thereby placing light alcohol consumption under the spotlight as a significant public health concern. This…
-
Cava All-Time Sales Record
Cava has achieved a new sales record, reaching 252 million bottles, marking a growth of 1.09% from the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by a 4.02% increase in domestic sales, despite a slight 0.25% decrease in international sales. The decrease in foreign markets was attributed to economic challenges, including inflation in Europe and…
-
Sainsbury’s Valpolicella Ripasso
The 2020 vintage, made from a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone and Croatina grapes. This wine is described on the bottle as “juicy ripe cherries, rich and complex,” due to the Ripasso technique. However, my experience with this particular bottle was somewhat unexpected. While the wine is ok, Instead of the anticipated concentrated fruit notes,…
-
Database of My Picks
I have updated my picks to include not just the very top wines from my reviews but also the best wines from my tastings. It’s initially sorted by price but you can change this by tapping on the £ column. You can also filter by country, type (sparkling/still), colour (red, white, Rosé) and supplier using…
-
25% off Wine at Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has 25% off wine, 6 bottles or more, £6 or more, from 23 March to 30 March 2024.
-
The Wine Society Press Tasting
The Wine Society held a press tasting event in March 2024, in London, showcasing a curated selection of about 100 wines. This introduced the newest wines and vintages within their core range, alongside a special 150th range designed to commemorate the Society’s 150th anniversary. These are the wines that particularly stood out for me together…
-
Wines of Portugal Tasting
This event held in London, on 20 March 2024, brought together an impressive 60 producers showcasing 600 wines from 11 distinct wine regions of Portugal. The tasting highlighted the rich vinicultural diversity of Portugal, a country with a wide array of over 250 grape varieties. A highlight of this tasting was the inclusion of a…
-
25% off Wine at Waitrose
Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced £6 or over from 20 March to 2 April 2024 inclusive.
-
Ellis Wines Portfolio Tasting 2024
The Ellis Wines Portfolio tasting, themed ‘A Taste of the Future’, was held at the Royal Opera House in London on 18th March 2024. As a historic importer and wholesaler, Ellis Wines has been curating an exceptional selection of wines from across the globe since 1822, priding itself on being an independent, family-owned business dedicated…
-
25% Off Wine at Tesco
Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are over £5.50, from 19 March 2024 until 25 March 2024.
-
New Post-Brexit Wine Duty Bands Unworkable?
Jack Simpson from The Guardian newspaper reports on the concerns of UK wine industry about post-Brexit tax changes set to increase the complexity of alcohol duty, leading to higher wine prices for consumers. The new system, effective from February 2025, will introduce 30 tax bands for wine, replacing the previous single band. This change, which…
-
How the Vivino Community Affects Consumer Wine Choice
A new study Factors influencing wine ratings in an online wine community: The case of Trentino–Alto Adige (PDF) by Giulia Gastaldello, Isabel Schäufele-Elbers, and Günter Schamel explores the dynamics behind consumer ratings of wine on Vivino, a leading online wine community. It examines how various factors, including wine attributes like geographical indications, brand, and a…
-
25% Off Wine at Asda
Asda has 25% off wine, on £5.50 per bottle or more, 6 bottles or more, until 11:59pm on Monday 1 April 2024.
-
Aldi Spring Summer 2024 Press Tasting
The Aldi Spring Summer 2024 Press Tasting took place in March 2023, in London. This event presented a diverse selection of 99 wines with options for those seeking low and no-alcohol alternatives, catering to the growing demand for healthier lifestyle choices. Additionally, the event featured some wines with innovative packaging, underlining Aldi’s efforts to stand…
-
Wines to Elevate Easter Weekend Celebrations
In Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, Marianna Hunt presents a list of eight wines to enhance an Easter weekend, accompanied by suggested food pairings. These selections span from sparkling rosés to rich reds and dessert wines, suitable for various dishes and preferences.
-
Understanding Portuguese Wines
Portugal’s winemaking heritage is not only shaped by the country’s extensive range of climates and terroirs but also by the passionate commitment of its winemakers to both innovation and the preservation of centuries-old practices. In 2020, Portugal solidified its position on the international wine stage as the 10th largest exporter by volume and 11th by…
-
Malolactic Fermentation
Malolactic Fermentation (MLF) is a common process in the production of many most wines and a few white wines. During MLF, malic acid present in the wine is converted to lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria, which helps in reducing the wine’s acidity and contributes to a smoother, creamier mouthfeel. For white wines, MLF is…
-
Australia’s Battle Against Overproduction
The Independent Newspaper is reporting that Australia’s wine industry is facing severe challenges due to a significant oversupply of wine, driven by declining global demand, especially for lower-priced red wines which are a major product of the country. Australia, the world’s fifth largest wine exporter, found itself with over two billion litres of wine in…
-
The Evolving Landscape of Rioja Wines
In the Guardian Newspaper, Fiona Beckett discusses the evolving landscape of Rioja wines, highlighting a shift towards new styles that offer more fruity, less oaky notes in reds and introduce a breed of floral whites. This change comes as a response to declining sales in the UK, despite its historical popularity. Innovations include higher altitude…
Recent
Tags
25% Off Wine Aldi Amarone Argentina Articles Asda Australia Award Awards25 Bibendum Biodynamic Bizarre Blog Books Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon Carménère Cava Champagne Chenin Blanc Chile Climate Change Coop Decanter Duty English Wine EPR Europe Events Food France Glossary Greece Headaches Health Hungary IGT Italy IWSC Jeroboams Laithwaites Legislation Liberty Wines Lidl Low Alcohol M&S Majestic Malbec Merch Merlot Morrisons Naked Wines News New Zealand Ocado Offers Old Vine Organic Past Tastings Pinotage Pinot Grigio Pinot Noir Port Portugal Prices Primitivo Prosecco Regulations Reviews Ribera del Duero Riesling Rioja Ripasso Rose Sainsbury's Saperavi Sauvignon Blanc Shiraz Sicily South Africa Spain Sparkling Supermarkets Sustainable Tax Terroir Tesco The Wine Society Unrepresented USA Valpolicella Virgin Wines Waitrose Wanderlust Welsh Wine What to Buy Wine Art WineGB WIne Glasses Zinfandel