Simon Judge
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Crémant Rising in Popularity in the UK
An article in Joe discusses a shift in the UK’s sparkling wine preferences, with Crémant emerging as a popular alternative to Prosecco. Despite Prosecco’s continued popularity, with Brits consuming around 130 million bottles annually and making up nearly 25% of Italy’s exports of the sparkling wine to the UK, the French sparkling wine Crémant is gaining traction. It’s made using the same method as Champagne but comes from regions outside of Champagne, making it a more affordable option. Crémant has seen a significant rise in popularity, with sales increasing by 51% at Waitrose and 47% for M&S Crémant de Bordeaux.…
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Wine With Chicken
Pairing wine with chicken offers versatility due to the wide range of preparation methods and flavours chicken dishes can encompass. The ideal wine pairing depends on the preparation and seasoning of the chicken. Here are some classic pairings to consider: The key to a successful pairing is balancing the intensity of flavours between the dish and the wine. It’s also about personal preference, so feel free to experiment with different wines to discover what combinations you enjoy the most.
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Co-op Online Rioja Tasting
Co-op has introduced an innovative online wine tasting series, granting members exclusive opportunities to engage directly with the winemakers responsible for their own-brand wine range. This initiative is designed to spotlight the exceptional talent behind Co-op’s wine selection and to educate members interested in expanding their wine knowledge. Each session, taking place monthly, will explore two seasonally selected wines, led by the winemakers themselves alongside a Co-op wine buyer. The forthcoming session on April 24th will feature Co-op’s Irresistible Rioja and Irresistible Rioja Blanco, with insights from Javier Murua and Chema Ryan of Muriel Wines. This initiative builds on the…
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The Challenges of Contemporary Wine Scoring
WineMag has an informative article by Jamie Goode, who wrote the Wine Science book, that looks into wine scores. Jamie notes a significant expansion in the wine criticism landscape, with numerous critics adopting the 100-point scale, except for a few like Jancis Robinson who opted for a 20-point scale. However, Jamie observes a narrowing in the scoring range over time, suggesting that what once required a wine to be decent to score 85, now such a score could be given to significantly lesser quality wines. He remarks on the inflation of scores, where what was once celebrated as a 90…
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Lighter Wines for Spring
Fiona Beckett in the Guardian Newspaper, discusses the shift towards lighter red wines suitable for spring, highlighting the changing preferences in wine styles towards lighter, fresher varieties. This change isn’t limited to traditional wine regions but is also seen in areas like Australia, South Africa and Chile. Even grapes typically associated with fuller-bodied wines, such as Grenache and Shiraz, are being produced in lighter styles. Fiona suggests looking for specific grape varieties known for producing lighter reds, such as Cinsault, Gamay, and Pinot Noir, and notes the influence of vintage, winemaking techniques and serving temperature on the wine’s lightness. The…
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Wine With Duck
Duck is rich, flavourful, and can be prepared in various ways, each influencing the best wine pairing. The right wine can complement the duck’s richness and enhance its flavours. Here are some suggestions: The preparation and accompanying ingredients of the duck dish are crucial in selecting the perfect wine. Consider the dish’s primary flavours and the weight of both the wine and the meal to ensure they complement each other.
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Feuerheerd’s Anchor Wine Reserva Douro
Barão de Vilar has introduced this 2020 vintage wine that intrigues from the outset, not least due to its unusual packaging. The decision to wrap the bottle in a different paper-over-glass certainly catches the eye, but this novelty might wear thin as it obscures how much wine is left. Made from a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tempranillo grapes, this bottle carries the promise of a deep flavoured and refined flavour profile. With an alcohol content of 14.0% ABV, the wine undergoes fermentation in stainless steel tanks before being aged for 12 months in barrels that once nurtured…
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Wine With Milk
An article in Better Homes & Gardens discusses a unique and controversial drink trend on TikTok, mixing red wine with milk. It highlights the origin of this trend, with one of the early proponents being creator Sunny Vasconcelos, who encouraged others to try it. The trend gained more attention after music producer Benny Blanco shared his experience trying ‘red wine milk’. Various versions have emerged, including mixes with dairy-free and sweetened condensed milk, the latter being like to Brazil’s Espanhola cocktail. Drinks writer and hospitality consultant John deBary acknowledges the appeal of the combination, explaining that red wine’s acidity, sweetness,…
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Sainsbury’s CVNE Rioja Gran Reserva
The 2016 vintage Gran Reserva, produced for Sainsbury’s by CVNE Winery, is a CVNE variant that stands out even among the winery’s diverse Rioja selections available at Sainsbury’s and other retailers. This particular wine is made from a blend of Tempranillo Graciano, and Mazuelo grapes hand-picked from CVNE’s own premier vineyards and is 14% ABV. Having previously enjoyed the CVNE Gran Rioja Reserva from the previous 2015 vintage, which was great yet somewhat lighter in body than anticipated, I found the Sainsbury’s CVNE 2016 vintage to present a more substantial body, straddling the line between medium and full-bodied. The aroma…
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Wine With Roast Meal
Pairing wines with a roast meal can elevate the dining experience significantly, whether you’re serving roast beef, pork, lamb, or chicken. The key is to match the intensity and flavours of the meat with the appropriate wine. Here are some classic pairings to consider: General TipsConsider the Seasoning: The herbs and spices used in the roast can influence the wine pairing. For instance, herbaceous seasonings go well with wines that have herbal notes, such as a Sauvignon Blanc or a Cabernet Franc.Sauce Matters: If your roast is accompanied by a sauce, take its flavour profile into account. Rich, creamy sauces…
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Dorset Wine Festival 2024
The inaugural Dorset Wine Festival is set to dazzle wine aficionados and epicureans alike on the 5th and 6th of October 2024. Hosted within the historic grounds of Highcliffe Castle, this premier event promises an exploration of the globe’s most exquisite wines. Over 50 esteemed wine exhibitors will be making their way from every corner of the world, each bringing a slice of their unique viticulture and heritage to the heart of Dorset. But it’s not just the wine that will be drawing crowds. The festival is a celebration of culinary excellence, featuring a mouth-watering array of food from some…
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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 found themselves buying more alcohol than they did a year ago, illustrating a different response to contemporary circumstances. Interestingly, a significant majority, 66% of those surveyed, confirmed that they consume alcohol at least on a weekly basis, indicating that, for many, drinking remains a consistent…
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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 move aligned with the influence of temperance groups, which have managed to introduce abstinence-based policies into global health discussions. This phenomenon can be traced back to 2015 when dissatisfaction with the European Union’s lack of progress in developing effective alcohol policies led over 20 public…
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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 decreased sales in the United States. Javier Pagés, President of the D.O. Cava Regulatory Council, praised the resilience of Cava amidst economic and geopolitical challenges. He highlighted the domestic market’s recovery and Cava’s consolidation in international markets, despite the downturns faced by competitors. Particularly notable…
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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, the wine exhibited a more pronounced leather aroma and taste, contributing to a heavier effect. This characteristic suggests a stronger influence of oak than fruit, making it more suitable for pairing with food, red meat, rather than enjoying on its own. This was further confirmed…
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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 the drop downs above the table. To learn more about a wine, tap on the link under the ‘More’ column. This opens the review or tasting in a new window. The new window opening for each wine is overkill, but I found if opened in…
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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.
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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 with my notes: Black Chalk Classic English Sparkling 2020andBlack Chalk Rose 2020These English Sparkling wines from Hampshire, from a classic Champagne blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes have an ABV of 12.5% and have been aged for at least 18 months on…
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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 Masterclass ‘Hidden Gems’ led by Dirceu Vianna Junior MW. This session looked into the under-appreciated grapes of Portugal, shedding light on the potential and uniqueness of lesser-known varietals. The variety of grapes, terrains and winemaking methods in Portugal results in a vast diversity of wines…
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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.
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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