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Simon Judge

  • Duca di Castelmonte Zibibbo

    Duca di Castelmonte Zibibbo

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    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…

  • Free Wine Goes Unclaimed for 3 Months

    Free Wine Goes Unclaimed for 3 Months

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    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…

  • London Wine Competition Winners

    London Wine Competition Winners

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    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…

  • Global Trends in Wine Preferences

    Global Trends in Wine Preferences

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    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…

  • Italy in a Wineglass

    Italy in a Wineglass

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    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…

  • Visual Cues in Wine Advertising

    Visual Cues in Wine Advertising

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    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…

  • Exploring Sustainability Trade-offs in Non-Alcoholic Wine Production

    Exploring Sustainability Trade-offs in Non-Alcoholic Wine Production

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    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…

  • Morrisons Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

    Morrisons Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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    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…

  • Laithwaites – Try 4 Wines for £6 Including Delivery

    Laithwaites – Try 4 Wines for £6 Including Delivery

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    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…

  • The Influence of Wine Descriptions

    The Influence of Wine Descriptions

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    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…

  • The Bordeaux Experience

    The Bordeaux Experience

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    On 1st May 2024, the inaugural event of Vins de Bordeaux’s new global campaign, ‘The Bordeaux Crew’ came to London, designed collaboratively by the region’s winemaking community. This initiative was supported by the Bordeaux Wine Council (CVIB) and aimed to engage both the wine industry and enthusiasts. The event showcased a curated selection of over 100 Bordeaux wines, ranging from modern interpretations to classic vintages. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the diverse portfolio of Bordeaux wine through various activities staged throughout the venue. Among the activities were pop-up talks, providing insights into Bordeaux’s winemaking traditions and innovations. A unique…

  • Tight Wine

    Tight Wine

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    Tight refers to a red wine that is not quite expressive in aroma and flavour when it is initially opened and tasted. This term is often used to describe younger red wines. Tight wines generally have high acidity and tannin levels that haven’t yet integrated smoothly with the wine’s fruit and other components. Over time, as the wine matures, either in the bottle or after being decanted, it can open up, meaning the flavours and aromas become more pronounced and harmonious. Essentially, a tight wine is one that needs a bit more time to reveal its full character.

  • Mud House Win a Holiday Competition

    Mud House Win a Holiday Competition

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    Mud House is collaborating with Coolstays with a new promotional campaign, ‘Taste a World of Adventure’. Fifteen lucky Mud House customers will win a significant getaway package that includes £1000 in spending money. Additionally, one hundred customers will have the chance to win a premium backpack made from recycled materials. Participants can enter the competition by scanning a QR code found on the product packaging or through digital channels and by completing a form on a dedicated microsite. The campaign is supported by dynamic in-store displays and online content, including collaborations with influential travel figures Jess and Charlie from @the.travel.project.…

  • Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Tasting

    Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Tasting

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    Sainsbury’s hosted their press wine tasting event in May 2024 in London, offering a selection of 70 wines. The focus was primarily on white, sparkling, and rosé wines, along with a limited number of mainly lighter reds, curated to complement the Spring and Summer seasons. The event also highlighted some of Sainsbury’s mid-strength wine range, which the supermarket says is leading the market. This range is part of a growing trend towards lower alcohol by volume (ABV) wines, reflecting increased consumer interest in this category. These are the wines that stood out for me:(Prices are obviously subject to change and…

  • 25% off Wine at Morrisons

    25% off Wine at Morrisons

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    25% discount on 6 or more bottles of wine, £5 or more, until 6 May 2024.

  • Majestic Spring Press Tasting

    Majestic Spring Press Tasting

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    The Majestic Spring Press Tasting took place in April 2024, in London, revolving around the tag line “There’s a story behind every glass”. This event was notable not just for the wines themselves but also for the impressive detail in the thick, 209 page tasting notes booklet, covering the 101 wines. This tasting included the latest additions to the Majestic range, including significant changes to their ‘Definition’ range where new wine producers have been swapped in to enhance quality. Additionally, Majestic has begun supplying to the hospitality sector and has acquired Vagabond Wines, a move that aligns with their strategy…

  • Real Wine Fair

    Real Wine Fair

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    On April 29, 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the trade/press day for the Real Wine Fair in London, an event that brought together 180 organic, biodynamic, and low-intervention producers. With a staggering array of 900+ wines, this fair was a vibrant showcase of some of the world’s most talented artisan vignerons. Although it was impossible to visit every producer’s stand or taste all the wines, I made a large effort to try as much as possible. However, I must have missed many great wines. The low-intervention approach taken by producers often results in wines that are not necessarily…

  • Electronic Tongue vs Humans

    Electronic Tongue vs Humans

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    A new study evaluates the effectiveness of an electronic tongue (e-tongue) compared to human sensory panels in detecting faults in Riesling wine over a 42-day storage period. Riesling wines either unmodified (control) or inoculated with specific microorganisms known for spoiling wine were assessed every seven days using both the e-tongue and a sensory panel. The e-tongue detected changes in wine chemistry due to microbial action significantly earlier than the human sensory panel, identifying changes from day 7 onwards while the sensory panel only detected these changes from day 35. The e-tongue’s ability to detect differences without sensory fatigue offers a…

  • Understanding Bordeaux Wines

    Understanding Bordeaux Wines

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    Located in the southwest of France, Bordeaux is renowned for its vast vineyards and historically significant châteaux. As the largest French region for quality wine production, Bordeaux’s influence stretches across centuries, shaping the taste and expectations of wine enthusiasts around the world. The Bordeaux wine industry is comprised of approximately 5,000 winemakers and 29 cooperative wine cellars, collectively employing over 60,000 people. The 2023 harvest yielded 3.8 million hectolitres, equivalent to about 512 million bottles of wine. The composition of the wines produced in 2023 was predominantly red, accounting for 81% of the total production. Dry white wines represented 11%,…

  • 25% off Wine at Sainsbury’s

    25% off Wine at Sainsbury’s

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    Sainsbury’s has 25% off wine, 6 bottles or more, £6 or more (£7 in Wales), from 29 April until 5 May 2024.

Pick Lists


Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20

TipS – Infographics


Buying | Menu Ordering | Labels | Drinking | Storing | Pairing

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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