Simon Judge

  • Saperavi Grape

    Saperavi Grape

    , , , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The Metro newspaper recently shed light on the ‘Saperavi’, a grape that originates from Georgia, between Eastern Europe and West Asia. Saperavi bears a striking resemblance in taste and character to Cabernet Sauvignon but with a twist. It also has the warming spice and rich texture reminiscent of a hearty Argentinian Malbec. What sets Saperavi…

  • Reducing Wine Consumption Through Serving Size

    Reducing Wine Consumption Through Serving Size

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    New research titled ‘Impact on wine sales of removing the largest serving size by the glass‘, published in PLOS Medicine, explores the effect of reducing wine serving sizes on wine sales. The study, conducted across 21 licensed premises in England, used an A-B-A method to compare wine sales during periods with and without the availability…

  • Unusual Varietals

    Unusual Varietals

    , , , , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Fiona Beckett from the Guardian newspaper has an article on Obscure Wines to Liven up Jaded Palates. She explains how unusual varietals of wine are currently popular, as seen in selections from high-street retailers. Wines from regions not traditionally associated with specific grapes are gaining interest. Examples include Italian varietals like Sangiovese from Australia, Grüner…

  • Understanding Australian Wine

    Understanding Australian Wine

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Despite Australia’s immense size, only about 145,000 hectares, about 0.02% of its landmass, is dedicated to vineyards. For comparison, the vineyard area is roughly equivalent to the combined regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, in France. Australia’s wine regions, numbering over 65 and hosting more than 150 grape varieties, are scattered across various states including New…

  • Ways Out of the Wine Crisis

    Ways Out of the Wine Crisis

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    A new report titled Ways out of the crisis, commissioned by ProWein, from Geisenheim University, based on a survey of over 2,000 wine industry members, highlights several key challenges and trends. Economic factors are the primary concerns in the industry. Cost increases, global economic downturn and decreasing wine consumption are significant threats, with 73%, 59%,…

  • Champagne Industry 2023 Retrospective

    Champagne Industry 2023 Retrospective

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Recent data has highlighted a notable shift in the Champagne market for the year 2023. Following three years of exceptional performance, Champagne shipments have reverted to pre-pandemic levels, with a total of 299 million bottles shipped, marking an 8.2% decrease from the previous year. The industry witnessed a significant slump in 2020 with an 18%…

  • Extra Special Uco Valley Malbec

    Extra Special Uco Valley Malbec

    , , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    This Argentinian Malbec from the Uco Valley in Mendoza, a 2020 vintage produced by Bodega Norton, Argentina, was awarded a Bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2023. The wine has aromatic scents of violets and liquorice on the nose and displays a typical Malbec purple hue. Its French oak ageing and 14.5% alcohol…

  • Greasy Fingers Luscious Red

    Greasy Fingers Luscious Red

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The 2022 vintage of the new Greasy Fingers range from Pernod Ricard UK is a new addition to a portfolio that includes familiar names such as Campo Viejo, Brancott Estate and Stoneleigh. This wine is shy about its origins and the offering is more about branding – the country, Australia, is written very small on…

  • Charmat Method

    Charmat Method

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The Charmat method, also known as the tank method or cuve close, is a sparkling wine production technique used to create effervescent wines like Prosecco. This method takes its name from its inventor, Eugène Charmat, a French winemaker who developed the process in the early 20th century. In the Charmat method, a still base wine…

  • Worn Wall Wine

    Worn Wall Wine

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

  • AI-Assisted Wine Discovery

    AI-Assisted Wine Discovery

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Last year, the BBC highlighted the growing trend of AI-powered wine recommendation apps, such as FinpåVin, which are changing the way people select their next bottle of wine. However, Sippd, a notable application in this field, has recently shut down, raising doubts about the necessity of such technology for simplifying the process of choosing wine….

  • Vines in a Cold Climate

    Vines in a Cold Climate

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    ‘Vines in a Cold Climate’ by Henry Jeffreys is an exploration into the world of viticulture in the United Kingdom. Cleverly titled as a nod to Nancy Mitford’s “Love in a Cold Climate,” the book looks into the complexities and nuances of establishing a successful vineyard in a climate traditionally considered unsuitable for wine production….

  • Canyon Springs Old Vine Zinfandel

    Canyon Springs Old Vine Zinfandel

    , , , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The Canyon Springs Old Vine Zinfandel 2020 is bottled and cellared by the rather elusive Eagle Rock Vineyards, as I couldn’t find much about them online. However, with a commendable 3.9 score on Vivino, it’s clear this wine is popular among tasters. At first, the wine greets you with an inviting bouquet of red berries….

  • Pét-Nat

    Pét-Nat

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Pétillant Naturel, commonly known as Pét-Nat, is a unique style of sparkling wine. The term translates from French to “naturally sparkling,” and this wine is notable for its ancient method of production. The Pét-Nat method, also referred to as Méthode Ancestrale, dates back to the early 16th century in Limoux, South France, originally used by…

  • La Toile Vierge

    La Toile Vierge

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    La Toile Vierge, a French wine, comes in both red and white varieties. Despite being classified under the seemingly modest Vin de France appellation, these wines transcend their classification, proving that sometimes, greater freedom for the winemaker can yield better results. The red variant is based on Grenache and is medium bodied. It is highly…

  • Wine and Eggs Diet Ineffective

    Wine and Eggs Diet Ineffective

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    The ‘wine and eggs’ diet has recently been highlighted as the most ineffective diet in a survey of 2,000 British dieters. This diet, which made a comeback on social media after originally appearing in Vogue magazine, suggests a daily intake of three to five eggs and a bottle of wine. It scored a 50 percent…

  • Le Zeitgeist Trident

    Le Zeitgeist Trident

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Le Zeitgeist Trident 2022, created by winemaker Eric Lanxade, is a representation of the terroir found in the French Pyrenees. Rated 3.7 on Vivino, this wine benefits from the alluvial river plains that contribute to its minerally rich soils. These conditions, coupled with the cooling influence of the Pyrenees, create an ideal environment for the…

  • Young Britons Lead the Surge in Low and No Alcohol Drinks

    Young Britons Lead the Surge in Low and No Alcohol Drinks

    , ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Harpers is reporting revealing insight into the changing habits of UK drinkers. The latest YouGov poll, conducted in partnership with the Portman Group, has highlighted a significant shift towards low and no alcohol beverages, particularly among the younger generation. The survey, now in its sixth year, shows that nearly half of the 18-24 age group,…

  • Turning Winery Wastes into Wealth

    Turning Winery Wastes into Wealth

    ,

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    There’s new, interesting research from the University of Aveiro, Portugal, into the waste products, wine residues, from creating wine and how they can can be re-used to provide for more sustainable production. Wine residues are a complex mix of grape stalks, pomace (the solid remains of grape pressing), lees and wastewater. They are not just…

  • Very Red

    Very Red

    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

Follow

Recent

Tags

25% Off Wine Aldi Amarone Argentina Articles Asda Australia Award Awards25 Bibendum Biodynamic Bizarre Blog Books Bordeaux Bulgaria Cabernet Sauvignon Carménère Cava Champagne Chardonnay Chenin Blanc Chile Climate Change Coop Decanter Duty English Wine EPR Events Food France Furmint Glossary Greece Headaches Health Hungary Italy IWSC Jeroboams Laithwaites Legislation Liberty Wines Lidl Low Alcohol M&S Majestic Malbec Marketing Merch Merlot Morrisons Naked Wines News New Zealand Ocado Offers Old Vine Organic Past Tastings Photography Pinotage Pinot Noir Port Portugal Primitivo Prosecco 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