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Simon Judge

  • Research Into What Causes Minerality

    Research Into What Causes Minerality

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    There’s new research by University of Reading’s School of Agriculture on Minerality in Wine: Textual Analysis of Chablis Premier Cru Tasting Notes. The concept of minerality in wine, often used to describe the sensory qualities of high-quality white wines from cooler regions like Chablis, has been subject to much debate and analysis. Minerality is typically associated with descriptions like gunflint, wet stones and seashells, suggesting a link with the terroir’s geological and soil composition. However, the literal interpretation of minerality as a taste of the soil’s inorganic components has been contested. A comprehensive study analysed over 16,000 Chablis Premier Cru…

  • Wine on a P&O Cruise

    Wine on a P&O Cruise

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    I recently embarked on a short P&O cruise, primarily for a holiday rather than to scrutinise their wine offerings. However, I couldn’t help but take a few notes. The quality of wine on cruises can be unpredictable, with underqualified staff and seriously overpriced bottles due to the captive audience. However, P&O stands out from the typical cruise line experience. Predominantly serving UK customers and despite owned by the US-based Carnival Corporation, P&O offers a refreshing divergence from the usual US-centric wine selections found on other lines. While the standard, limited, wine offerings in the P&O bars and restaurants are mostly…

  • 25% Off Wine at Asda

    25% Off Wine at Asda

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    Asda has 25% off wine, on £5.50 per bottle or more, 6 bottles or more, until 11:59pm on Monday 6 May 2024.

  • 25% Off Wine at Tesco

    25% Off Wine at Tesco

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    Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are over £5.50, from 23 April 2024 until 6 May 2024.

  • Affordable and Lesser-Known Bordeaux Wines to Try

    Affordable and Lesser-Known Bordeaux Wines to Try

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    David Williams, writing for The Guardian newspaper, highlights a range of lesser-known and more affordable Bordeaux wines as the famous wine region prepares to showcase its 2023 vintage. Here are the wines he mentions, along with their prices and suppliers: Château des Antonins Bordeaux Blanc 2022 – This white wine offers a blend of tangy grapefruit, herbiness, and creamy weightiness. It is priced at £11.90 and available from Noble Green Wines. Chosen by Majestic Claret 2022 – A red Bordeaux that features refreshing plum succulence, priced at £10.99, or £8.99 if bought as part of a mixed case of six…

  • Wine With Cheese

    Wine With Cheese

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    Pairing wine with cheese offers a symphony of flavours that can elevate both the wine and the cheese to new heights. The key to a successful pairing is balancing intensity and harmony in flavours and textures. Here’s a general guide to get you started, but remember, these are guidelines rather than strict rules. Exploration and personal preference play significant roles in finding your perfect pairings.

  • Portuguese Wines That Offer Unique and Delightful Flavours

    Portuguese Wines That Offer Unique and Delightful Flavours

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    Susy Atkins, from the Telegraph Newspaper, highlights five Portuguese wines that offer unique and delightful flavours, diverging from common varietals like Malbec or Chardonnay. These wines, originating from various parts of Portugal, showcase the rich diversity and potential beyond the well-known ports and rosés. Here’s a summary of the wines along with their prices and suppliers: Animus 2021, Douro – A red table wine made from the same red grapes used for port. It features juicy red plums and a hint of violets with a rounded texture. This wine is priced at £6.49 from Aldi. There’s also a more structured…

  • Co-op Irresistible Provence Rosé

    Co-op Irresistible Provence Rosé

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    Produced by Les Maîtres Vignerons de Vidauban wine cooperative in the Côtes de Provence, this winery has been crafting wines for over a century. The 2022 vintage has 13% alcohol by volume and is vegan-friendly. This wine is distinguished by its delicate pale pink colour. The aroma is of small red fruits complemented by subtle floral notes, creating an inviting bouquet. The taste has a very fruity flavour profile that harmoniously combines with a pleasing acidity, making it very well balanced. This balance makes it versatile, pairing well with a variety of dishes including salads, pizza or spicy pasta dishes.…

  • Wine With Spicy Food

    Wine With Spicy Food

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    Pairing wine with spicy food can be a interesting exploration of flavours if done thoughtfully. The key is to choose wines that balance the heat and enhance the dish’s flavours without overpowering them. Here are some recommendations that harmonise with spicy cuisines: When pairing wine with spicy food, it’s generally best to avoid high-tannin reds or overly oaky whites, as these can intensify the sensation of heat. Instead, opt for wines with lower alcohol levels, good acidity and some residual sweetness to balance the spice. Each dish and wine pairing offers a unique experience, so feel free to experiment.

  • JPR Alicante Bouschet

    JPR Alicante Bouschet

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    If you come across this particular Portuguese wine at the Coop, its modest label and unfamiliar name might not immediately catch your eye. Alicante Bouschet is a varietal developed in the late 19th century by vine breeder Henri Bouschet. Henri crossed one of his father’s hybrids with the Grenache (or Garnacha) grape, resulting in an early-ripening variety with red skin and red flesh, termed a Teinturier red, which is rare. This type of grape, sometimes referred to simply as Alicante, typically provides bold flavours and has a deep colour making it useful for blending with wines to make them darker.…

  • Waitrose Spring Tasting

    Waitrose Spring Tasting

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    In April 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a press tasting hosted by Waitrose in London, featuring new lines and vintages. The event presented just under 100 wines, of which I sampled the majority. Among the highlights were the new additions to the own brand ‘Loved & Found’ range, which originally launched in 2019. This collection, priced under £10, encourages both winemakers and customers to explore lesser-known grape varieties. These Loved & Found wines not only offer a taste of the unusual but also support the innovative efforts of winemakers who embrace the challenge of creating something different. There…

  • Wine With Beef

    Wine With Beef

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    Pairing wine with beef opens an array of possibilities, as the robust flavours of beef dishes pair wonderfully with many red wines, enhancing both the meal and the wine. The best pairing, however, depends on the preparation and seasoning of the beef. Here are some general recommendations: The key to a successful pairing is balancing the intensity of flavours between the dish and the wine. For leaner cuts or preparations with less fat, a wine with lower tannins and a more delicate flavour profile can be ideal. Conversely, richer, fattier beef dishes often call for a wine with more body…

  • Lidl Spring and Italian Wine Tours

    Lidl Spring and Italian Wine Tours

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    In April 2024, I attended a Lidl wine tasting in London, which showcased wines planned to be introduced during the Spring and Italian wine tours in April and May 2024, respectively. Additionally, a selection of wines from Lidl’s core range was also being shown. Wine Tours at Lidl feature wines presented in wooden crates, each marked with ratings. A particular wine from a tour is generally available for up to two months, but it could sell out more quickly if it becomes popular. The idea behind these tours is to regularly update the selection, promoting variety and motivating customers to…

  • New UK Wine Funding Comes with Dubious New Reforms

    New UK Wine Funding Comes with Dubious New Reforms

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    The UK government has launched the Future Winemakers’ Scheme with an investment of £1.5 million to support the burgeoning domestic wine industry, focusing on the education and training of future viticulturists and winemakers. Announced by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay at the WineGB conference, this initiative aims to cultivate skilled professionals to sustain and expand the industry’s rapid growth over the past two decades. The scheme is part of a broader effort to streamline regulations and enhance support for the sector, which currently employs around 2,300 full-time and 8,300 part-time workers, with expectations of a 50% employment increase next year. The…

  • La Gioiosa et Amorosa Rosea NV

    La Gioiosa et Amorosa Rosea NV

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    La Gioiosa et Amorosa Rosea NV was a great surprise gift at a recent dinner party, which is how I came to try this different wine. Produced by La Gioiosa, a prominent name in Italian wine known particularly for its Prosecco, this rosé variant offers a twist on the traditional. Helmed by winemaker Valerio Fuson, this wine features a modest alcohol content of 11% ABV and draws its name from the cheerful local motto, ‘Marca Gioiosa et Amorosa’, translating to ‘march with joy and love’. The wine enjoys a high rating of 4.0 on Vivino. Unlike typical Prosecco, the label…

  • Marques De Valido Gran Reserva Rioja

    Marques De Valido Gran Reserva Rioja

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    The Marques De Valido Gran Reserva Rioja 2014 comes from a family winery operated by a father, son and cousin team. This is a Gran Reserva, which is typically only made in the finest vintages and spends two years maturing in oak barrels followed by another three years in the bottle. This wine has an impressive 4.1 score on Vivino. The 2014 vintage features a new bottle label and a slightly higher alcohol content of 13.5% ABV, than previous vintages. The wine has a lighter colour than I expected, also displaying more red than brown hues, which wasn’t expected given…

  • New Research Adds to the Story of Wine and Health

    New Research Adds to the Story of Wine and Health

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    Up to recently, there has been an intriguing relationship between culture, diet and health outcomes, particularly focusing on the Mediterranean diet and the historic and cultural significance of wine. The concept of the French Paradox played a central role in this narrative, highlighting the seemingly contradictory observation that the French population enjoys a lower incidence of coronary heart disease despite a diet high in saturated fats. This phenomenon garnered widespread attention in the 1990s and has became a focal point in discussions about diet and cardiovascular health. Central to the French Paradox is the role of moderate wine consumption, especially…

  • Italian Whites for Food

    Italian Whites for Food

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    Fiona Beckett in The Guardian Newspaper discusses how Italian wines, particularly white wines, are specifically crafted to complement food. It highlights that Italian wines often lack overt fruit flavours or excessive oakiness, maintaining lower alcohol levels to enhance rather than overwhelm simple, seasonally focused dishes. The article notes the appeal of Italian whites due to their subtle flavours and relative affordability, and suggests that these characteristics make them particularly suitable for drinking in spring. Here are five Italian white wines recommended in the article: Unearthed Castellore Custoza 2023 – £9.99 from Aldi. It is described as smooth, fresh, creamy, and…

  • Wine With Sweet Course

    Wine With Sweet Course

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    Pairing wine with sweet courses, such as desserts, is a great way to enhance the overall dining experience. The key is to select wines that complement or contrast the flavours in the dessert without overwhelming them. Here are several wine options to consider for various types of sweet courses: Tips for Pairing:

  • Free Booze Cruises

    Free Booze Cruises

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    French wine shops Calais Vins and Olivier Vins have collaborated with P&O Ferries to offer British citizens complimentary ferry trips to Calais for wine purchases. This partnership allows customers who spend €300 or more at these stores to receive a free return day trip from Dover to Calais, with a three-day return trip available for purchases of €700 or more. Calais Vins has reported a notable increase in British customers despite the changes to alcohol import limits following Brexit. Previously, UK residents could bring back unlimited amounts of alcohol for personal use from the continent. However, post-Brexit regulations now restrict…

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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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