Simon Judge
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Independent Wine Retailer Trends
There’s an interesting article at Drinks Retailing News on independent wine retailer trends. Wine remains a key focus for independent UK drinks retailers, with France and Italy once again ranked as the most popular countries of origin, followed by Spain. Areas of growing interest have shifted, with Greece topping the list, closely followed by Portugal,…
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Villarei Albariño
This 100% Albariño comes from Val do Salnés, the oldest subregion of Rías Baixas in Galicia, Spain. The coolest and wettest area in the region, Val do Salnés offers ideal conditions for slow grape maturation, helping to preserve the natural aromas and vivid flavours that define this wine. Villarei Albariño is aged for six months…
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On Bulk Shipping and Bottling
Andy Neather has written a thought-provoking article about Bulking Up, the role of bulk wine in the UK wine industry. At Encirc’s bottling plant in Cheshire, huge volumes of wine are imported in bulk from countries like Australia, Chile and the US and bottled locally. This method now accounts for at least 40% of wine…
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Lidl Spring Wine Tours
In early April 2025, I was invited to Lidl’s press wine tasting event in London, where they showcased a selection of wines set to be released as part of their upcoming Wine Tour series for May, June and a few from July. In addition to these limited-time wines, several offerings from Lidl’s core range were…
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Understanding Champagne
Champagne, the world’s most celebrated sparkling wine, has captivated connoisseurs for centuries with its effervescence, complexity and prestige. This sparkling wine has evolved from humble beginnings to become a global symbol of celebration and luxury, with a rich history, distinctive production methods and diverse styles that continue to evolve to meet contemporary challenges and tastes….
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The Definitive Champagne Tasting
On the first day of April 2025, I attended The Definitive Champagne Tasting, a two-floor event held at the Tate Modern in London. Organised by the UK’s Champagne Shippers’ Association, it marked the first generic Champagne trade tasting in London since 2018. With 51 producers represented, including Champagne houses, cooperatives, and growers, the event featured…
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Château des Jaume ‘Infusion’
Château des Jaume Côtes du Roussillon Villages ‘Infusion’ is a wine from one of the renowned estates of the Roussillon region in France. Located near the village of Tautavel, the vineyard sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees mountains, producing wines that reflect this unique terroir. This 2022 vintage comes in at 14% ABV…
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Selling by Glass vs Bottle, Due to EPR
An article by Freddie Joosten in Drinks Retailing News outlines the upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, which takes effect in April 2025 and will change how wine and spirit businesses handle packaging waste costs. Under EPR, companies must pay the full net costs of collecting and recycling all packaging types they use. This includes…
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Tesco Spring Summer Tasting 2025
In March 2025, I went to the Tesco Spring Summer Press Tasting in London, where a large line-up of 152 wines was showcased, including 19 new wines. One of the most notable developments was Tesco’s move towards greater sustainability in its wine packaging. Working in collaboration with the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) and various suppliers,…
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Alain Grignon, Réserve Vieilles Vignes Carignan
Sourced from old vines, some over a hundred years in age, in the village of Limoux, within the Languedoc region of southern France, this 2023 vintage wine is a great example of 100% Carignan. However, the age of the vines is a crucial factor here. ‘Vieilles Vignes’ means ‘old vines’ that help lend the wine…
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25% Off Wine at Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has 25% off wine for Nectar loyalty card holders, sparkling and Champagne, 6 bottles or more, £6 or more, from 25 March 2025 to 30 March 2025. See the Sainsbury’s press tasting for tips on what to buy.
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25% Off Wine at Tesco
Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are £6 and over (£7 in Wales), from 25 March 2025 until 30 March 2025. See the Tesco tasting and Picks for tips on what to buy.
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Fleurs de Prairie Sparkling Rosé
Fleurs de Prairie Sparkling Rosé takes its name from the wildflowers that flourish across the Languedoc vineyards in the South of France. It is produced by the family-owned Les Grands Chais de France Groupe, the makers behind recognisable names such as JP Chenet and Calvet. The packaging makes an immediate impression by eschewing a traditional…
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Low-priced Gems at Aldi
David Williams, in The Guardian Newspaper, explores the challenge of finding quality, affordable wine amidst rising costs, especially due to duty increases and inflation. As mainstream regions become pricier, supermarkets are sourcing from less familiar areas, often presenting these bottles as “hidden gems”. Aldi, in particular, stands out with its “Unearthed” line and other well-priced…
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Drinks Retailing Trends Report
The latest Drinks Retailing Trends Report offers a comprehensive snapshot of the UK wine sector, with a particular focus on the top-selling wine brands and emerging trends. Among still wines, Yellow Tail now holds the top position with sales of £222.8 million, marking a 9.8% increase over the previous year. It overtakes Hardys, which experienced…
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UK Vineyard Visits
Wine tourism is rapidly becoming a major trend in UK travel, with over 1.5 million visits to vineyards and wineries recorded in 2023, marking a 55% increase from 2022. In response, WineGB has released the Visit a Vineyard Guide 2025 (pdf), a comprehensive resource promoting the diverse and distinctive experiences available across the country. There…
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Amandla Signature Chenin Blanc
Amandla Signature Chenin Blanc comes from the Western Cape, South Africa, and is made by an innovative all-black, all-female team, led by winemaker Praisy Dlamini and viticulturalist Ruth Faro. The name “Amandla” translates to “power within us,” a fitting tribute to the passion behind this wine. I have seen this Amandla promoted a lot but…
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Blueprint Australian Shiraz
Waitrose Blueprint Australian Shiraz was a must-try for me because it was a finalist in the People’s Choice Wine Awards in the Red, Own Label category. The Blueprint range from Waitrose is designed to showcase great-value examples of classic wines from around the world, selected for their quality and their faithful representation of both style…
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How the Wine Industry is Evolving to Stay Relevant to Gen Z
IWSR is reporting that wine markets are increasingly reliant on drinkers aged 55 and above, as younger legal drinking age consumers are drinking wine less frequently. In Australia, for instance, the number of 18–24-year-olds consuming wine at least monthly halved between 2010 and 2023. This trend presents a challenge for wine producers trying to engage…
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200% US Tariffs
The European wine industry is facing a significant threat following US President Donald Trump’s warning of a 200% tariff on EU wine imports. Trade bodies on both sides of the Atlantic have expressed alarm, warning that such a move would devastate European wine producers and severely disrupt the transatlantic alcohol trade. Ignacio Sánchez, secretary general…
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