Simon Judge
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25% Off Wine at Tesco
Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are over £5.50, from 21 May 2024 until 27 May 2024. There’s also an offer, only with Clubcard, from 28 May 2024 until 9 June 2024 of buy 3+, save 25% Clubcard Price. This is on the majority, but not all wines. Look carefully. I got caught out by this when I purchased 6 wines, two of which weren’t 25% off.
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25% off Wine at Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has 25% off wine, 6 bottles or more, £6 or more, from 22 May 2024 to 28 May 2024.
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Cabalié
If you spend any time on Instagram browsing wine-related posts, in the UK, you’ll almost certainly come across this wine, often advertised by Laithwaites with an enticing offer to lure you into making your first purchase. But is it any good? This Languedoc-Roussillon red has a respectable 4.1 rating on Vivino and ranks #2 in the Top 25 Languedoc-Roussillon Red wines in the United Kingdom. The previous vintage even scored 5 stars at the Concours International Gilbert & Gaillard. Made by master winemaker Hervé Sabardeil, this wine follows the centuries-old style beloved by Roman centurions. It’s a blend of Grenache,…
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The Paradoxes of Dealcoholised Wine Production
In the DrinksBusiness, an anonymous wine producer criticises the growing trend of dealcoholised wines, arguing that the process is energy-intensive, costly, and significantly alters the wine’s original qualities, resulting in a product that lacks flavour and structure. The producer contends that the necessary additives to recreate the wine’s taste and stability are unnatural and environmentally detrimental. They believe dealcoholised wine contradicts the essence of traditional winemaking, which values natural transformation and environmental respect, and question why consumers would choose such products over non-alcoholic alternatives. There’s also the risk that consumers might indeed turn to beverages that were never alcoholic in…
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Asda Spring Summer Showcase
In May 2024, Asda held a press tasting showcasing a variety of wines, perfect for Spring and Summer days. While the focus was primarily on wines ideal for warmer weather, there were also a few bold reds to complement BBQs. One of the highlights of the event was the re-launch of the Wine Atlas range, featuring five new wines. This range is designed to offer different and high-quality wines at an affordable price, with bottles priced between £6 and £7. Although keeping costs low is Asda’s key aim, quality is not compromised. In 2023, Asda wines were recognised with an…
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M&S Spring Tasting
In May 2024, M&S held their Spring Tasting press event, showcasing over 130 wines. This year saw the launch of some new wine labelling and a fresh focus on competitive pricing. In April, M&S dropped the prices on 100 wines, shifting their strategy towards everyday trusted value with fewer monthly promotions. The selection at the event was impressive, offering a wide variety of excellent wines. Generally, choosing any wine from M&S usually means picking a great example of its type. However, some wines stood out, for me, for being a bit different and/or having an exceptional taste: Silver Frond Sauvignon…
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Wines from Spain Tasting
The 36th Annual trade/press tasting of Wines from Spain took place in May 2024, featuring UK importers and Spanish wineries. The event showcased over 245 Spanish wineries and 789 wines. A highlight of the event was the Cava de Guarda Superior Masterclass, led by Master of Wine Peter McCombie. This session explored aged Cava and its potential food pairings, with food provided by Iberica Restaurant. Given the large number of wines, my initial tastings were focused on those already represented in the UK market. However, towards the end, I explored some wines seeking distributors, allowing for unexpected discoveries. These are…
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Soil Affects Wine Taste, But Not How You Might Expect
The idea that the soil in which grapevines grow affects the taste of wine is a long-standing and popular belief in the wine industry. This notion, often referred to as a constituent of terroir, suggests that the unique characteristics of the soil, impart distinct flavours and aromas to the wine. However, the scientific correlation between soil composition and wine flavour is not as straightforward as might be traditionally thought. Recent research has begun to challenge the direct influence of soil types on the taste of wine, particularly regarding the concept of minerality. Minerality in wine is often attributed to the…
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Understanding Spanish Wines
Spain is one of the world’s largest wine producers, consistently ranking within the top three countries, with an annual production that typically exceeds 30 million hectolitres. The country’s vast vineyard area, the largest in the world, allows for a wide range of wine styles, influenced by the varying climates and soils across different regions. The Spanish wine industry is a major player in international markets, exporting approximately about half of its total wine production. These exports reach over 100 countries, with significant volumes shipped to France, Germany, the USA and the UK. The UK is one of the leading importers…
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Cabernet Sauvignon Masters Winners
The Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2024 took place on 17 April 2024 at The Thomas Cubitt in London. Renowned for its rigorous judging process, this prestigious event draws on the expertise of seasoned wine judges, ensuring that only the finest wines receive awards. Each wine was evaluated rigorously, with the standout entries being awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals. The competition highlighted exceptional wines across various price ranges, including an affordable category for wines under £10: Gold Medal Winners: De Bortoli Wines, Winemakers Selection – 2022, South Australia, AustraliaViña Santa Helena, Santa Helena Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon – 2023, Central Valley,…
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Duca di Castelmonte Zibibbo
I discovered this wine at the Lidl Italian and Iberian Wine Tours tasting and subsequently purchased for deeper exploration. Zibibbo, better known globally as Muscat of Alexandria is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines in existence, a heritage that lends an intriguing depth to this wine produced by Carlo Pellegrino in Sicily. Initially, my re-encounter with this wine was underwhelming as the flavours did not immediately resonate as remembered. However, the true character of the wine emerged once it had warmed up considerably, revealing an aroma rich in strong floral notes, notably honeysuckle, accompanied by an exotic array of…
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Free Wine Goes Unclaimed for 3 Months
The BBC is reporting that a think tank called Tax Policy Associates conducted an experiment to see if anyone would read their privacy policy by offering a free bottle of wine hidden within the terms. The offer was added in February and went unclaimed for three months until May. The head of the organisation, Dan Neidle, who has experience in reporting high-profile tax cases, shared the update via a tweet. This stunt highlighted his view that privacy policies are often overlooked, despite being a legal necessity for any business handling personal data, as mandated under the UK’s GDPR rules. Neidle…
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London Wine Competition Winners
The London Wine Competition is an annual event that recognises and rewards wines based on their quality, value for money and packaging. The competition is designed to provide consumers with a clear guide to the best wines available in the market, judged through a meticulous evaluation process. Wines are scored on a 100-point scale, and those that score 90+ points are considered exceptional. The 2024 winners have just been announced. The top winners were: Best Wine of The Year 2024: CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS FAT CAT TAWNY, Australia.Best Winery of The Year 2024: JUSTIN VINEYARDS & WINERY, USA.Best Wine of…
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Global Trends in Wine Preferences
Wine Australia’s new market bulletin, based on 2023 IWSR research, reveals that grape variety continues to significantly influence consumer wine choices, ranking as a top two factor in seven out of ten key markets. These markets include Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, and China. In contrast, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore rank grape variety as the fifth most important factor, with preferences there leaning towards wines that complement food or promotional offers. The bulletin highlights a strong preference for red wines, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot being the most popular in most markets. Shiraz, however, has…
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Italy in a Wineglass
Italy in a Wineglass, by Mark Millon, offers readers the rich tapestry of Italy’s history through the lens of its winemaking tradition. Millon, with his impressive tenure of over forty years as a wine writer, not only brings a wealth of knowledge to his writing but also a passionate reverence for his subject. His previous works, including “The Wine Roads of Italy” and contributions to “Oz Clarke’s Wine Companion Tuscany,” have established him as an authoritative voice in the field. The story spans 6,000 years, beginning with ancient Sicily and traveling through to the present day. Millon guides us through…
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Visual Cues in Wine Advertising
New research explores the impact of visual cues on consumer perception and purchasing decisions in an e-commerce environment, specifically within the context of online wine sales. The authors conducted a series of experiments using both hedonistic (represented by a glass of wine) and utilitarian (represented by grapes) visual symbols to determine their effects on various consumer response metrics, such as product attitude, taste perception and purchase intentions. The study concludes that the inclusion of a hedonistic cue, such as a glass symbol, significantly enhances consumer perceptions of taste and overall product attitude. This suggests that visual representations that evoke sensory…
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Exploring Sustainability Trade-offs in Non-Alcoholic Wine Production
New research titled “Balancing Gains and Losses—A Research Note on Tradeoffs in the Case of Non-Alcoholic Wines in Germany,” authored by Frederik Nikolai Schulz, Alexander A. Kugel, and Jon H. Hanf, in Germany, explores the increasing significance of non-alcoholic wines . It highlights the dynamic market development of these products in recent years and addresses the lack of literature on their sustainability impacts across ecological, economic and social dimensions. The authors identify trade-offs where positive aspects in one sustainability dimension often come with drawbacks in another, such as the increased use of resources in alcohol removal processes versus the economic…
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Morrisons Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
My wife recently pointed out an article in the Metro that praised Morrisons Villa Verde Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2022 wine as providing the quality of a wine that could be double or even two and a half times its modest price of £6. This piqued my curiosity, particularly because I’ve repurchased a different, slightly pricier, £7.75, The Best Organic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2021 from the same store. Both wines are produced for Morrisons by Citra Vini Soc., the largest winegrowing cooperative in Abruzzo, comprised of about 5,000 family-run vineyards. This cooperative is renowned for its quality, having been ranked among the world’s…
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Laithwaites – Try 4 Wines for £6 Including Delivery
Laithwaites is offering a mixed case of mini 187ml bottles at a special price of £6 with free delivery, allowing customers to sample four of their bestselling wines. The selection includes Cabalié, a popular, full-flavoured red wine from southern France; Il Papavero, an Italian red known for its juicy cherry notes and supple tannins; La Belle Saison, a French Sauvignon Blanc with citrus and tropical fruit flavours; and Barón de Barbón Blanco, a white Rioja noted for its subtle notes of grapefruit, lime, and spice. This mini Taster Case provides a convenient way to try different wines without committing to…
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The Influence of Wine Descriptions
New research looks into the impact of verbal descriptions on wine tasting experiences, focusing on two types of wine—Riesling and Muscat Bailey A (MBA). The study included 46 participants divided into social drinkers and wine experts. They were presented with wines accompanied by different descriptions and asked to evaluate various attributes such as palatability, sweetness, acidity and expensiveness. The findings reveal that verbal descriptions indeed influenced the participants’ perception and evaluation of the wines, though the effects varied between social drinkers and experts. For instance, the description containing a ‘petrol’ note for Riesling led social drinkers to perceive the wine…
Pick Lists
Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20
Did You Know?
Nearly a third (32%) of UK consumers say they have already used AI for alcoholic drinks advice. More
Among socially active wine buyers, 37% have bought a wine recommended online. More
In 2026, 72% of consumers now think wine knowledge is essential to appreciation, up 20 percentage points on 2025. More
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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