Simon Judge

  • Increase in British Vineyard Buying Demand

    Increase in British Vineyard Buying Demand

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    Simon Judge

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    Barrons/Penta is reporting that the United Kingdom is witnessing a surge in interest in winemaking, positioning it as the fastest-growing wine region globally. This increasing interest has led to a significant demand for British wine estates. The southeast England is experiencing a spike in demand for vineyards and undeveloped land suitable for viticulture, from international…

  • Wine Diva

    Wine Diva

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    Simon Judge

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  • Pazzia Primitivo di Manduria

    Pazzia Primitivo di Manduria

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    This Primitivo di Manduria has gained a reputation, not just for its 4.2 rating on Vivino but also for being among Vivino’s the top 25 Southern Italy Primitivo wines in the United Kingdom at the time of writing this review. A previous 2019 vintage was a Bronze IWC winner. Decanter’s review of previous vintages, which…

  • Good Housekeeping Wine Awards 2023

    Good Housekeeping Wine Awards 2023

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    The Good Housekeeping Wine Awards 2023 uncovers great wines across various price points, styles and regions. The awards are backed by rigorous testing from the Good Housekeeping Institute, which has a long-standing reputation for evaluating the best in food and drink. For the inaugural awards, experts tasted wines from nine key wine-growing countries and assessed…

  • Field Blend

    Field Blend

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    A field blend wine refers to a wine made from two or more grape varieties that are grown together in the same vineyard, harvested at the same time and then co-fermented together. This is in contrast to wines where different grape varieties are grown in separate plots, harvested at different times, and then blended together…

  • 25% off Wine

    25% off Wine

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    Many of the UK supermarkets have periods where all wines priced £5 and over are subject to a 25% reduction. This used to occur only once annually, during the autumn, coinciding with the release of a new vintage. However, it now appears to happen around each significant holiday period. If you purchase from supermarkets then…

  • The Ultimate Christmas Drinks Workshop

    The Ultimate Christmas Drinks Workshop

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    Simon Judge

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    On 11 Dec 2023 7:00 – 08:00pm, for Wine Society Members, Emma Briffett and Catherine Housden from the Tastings Team will offer an online comprehensive guide on hosting the perfect Christmas drinks party. They’ll address challenges like determining the right amount of food and wine for various event styles. Additionally, they’ll recommend simple canapés and…

  • Who are WineGB?

    Who are WineGB?

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    The UK wine production industry has seen a remarkable surge in recent years, and at the forefront of this burgeoning sector is Wines of Great Britain Limited, commonly known as WineGB. Established on 1st September 2017, WineGB emerged from the merger of two key industry bodies: the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) and English Wine…

  • Liquid Therapy

    Liquid Therapy

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  • Pontarelli Toscana Rosso

    Pontarelli Toscana Rosso

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    This wine, IGT classified, is a blend of 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and a dominant 70% Sangiovese produced exclusively for Marks & Spencer. It undergoes a mixed fermentation process, utilising a combination of concrete, stainless steel tanks and large oak casks. This method is designed to enhance the wine’s fruit characters. Critics seem to…

  • Research into Words That Describe Wine

    Research into Words That Describe Wine

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    Simon Judge

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    There’s new research (PDF) from Maria Kana of Linnaeus University into the language used in wine reviews, particularly the adoption of standardised wine vocabularies like the Wine Aroma Wheel (WAW) and the Wine Lexicon of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET). The study aimed to understand how closely professional wine reviewers stick to these…

  • Terroir

    Terroir

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    ‘Terroir’ is a French term, steeped in sentiments, debates and controversy. Though it fundamentally translates to “a sense of place”, its meaning varies for different people. Terroir encapsulates the unique blend of both natural and human influences that endow wine with its distinct character. It speaks of everything from the soil’s constitution where the grapes…

  • 25% off Wine at Tesco

    25% off Wine at Tesco

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    Tesco has Buy 6 or more Save 25% Clubcard Price – Save 25% On Selected Wines When You Buy 6 + Bottles, until Mon 25/9/23.

  • Understanding and Using Wine Ratings

    Understanding and Using Wine Ratings

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    The world of wine can be a complex and sometimes intimidating space with countless varieties, regions, and producers, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This is where wine ratings come into play. They offer a guide to help navigate the vast landscape. However, it’s important to understand wine ratings to know why it’s possible you might…

  • Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, South Australia 2021

    Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, South Australia 2021

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    This wine from Marks & Spencer’s is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Merlot and 9% Syrah/Shiraz. It has mixed reviews on the M&S site but a relatively high score of 89 by Decanter and a more modest 3.4 on Vivino. Instead of traditional barrel aging, it’s matured with cheaper French oak staves for…

  • Pointillist Wine

    Pointillist Wine

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  • Orange Wine

    Orange Wine

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    Simon Judge

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    Orange wine is a type of wine made by fermenting white grape juice in contact with its skins for an extended period. This process is similar to how red wines are made, but it’s applied to white grapes. The extended skin contact gives the wine its characteristic orange or amber hue. The practice of making…

  • Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel

    Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel

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    Ravenswood, once a revered producer closely linked with the renowned winemaker and owner, Joel Peterson, has seen a series of transitions. Initially acquired by Constellation for $149 million, it was later bundled with other brands and sold to the large wine conglomerate, Gallo, in 2021 for $1.7 billion. It’s essential to note that while the…

  • The Oxford Companion to Wine

    The Oxford Companion to Wine

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    Simon Judge

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    The Oxford Companion to Wine has long been revered in the world of wine books and its fifth edition serves to solidify this reputation. This latest edition features more than 4,100 entries, providing comprehensive coverage of the subject. With the inclusion of more than 300 brand-new entries, readers are treated to fresh insights and information….

  • Italy Loses Wine-making Leadership to France

    Italy Loses Wine-making Leadership to France

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    Reuters is reporting on the decline in wine production in Italy. The wine output in Italy is expected to decrease by 12% this year (2023), falling below 44 million hectolitres. This significant drop is attributed to extreme weather conditions and fungal diseases that have adversely affected the vineyards. As a result of this decline, Italy…

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