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 £6 and over (£7 in Wales) from 6 March 2026 until 15 March 2026. See the recent Tesco tasting for tips on what to buy.
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Santa Lucia Chardonnay and Blue Agave Wine
This is a very different one, from Mexico. It’s a blend of Blue Weber Agave and Chardonnay, with the agave coming from Jalisco’s Highlands and the Chardonnay from Valle de Guadalupe. So what is agave? It’s a thick, fleshy, often spiky succulent plant, with leaves that radiate from a central stem. It’s the only plant used for producing authentic tequila. The “Weber” part of “Blue Weber Agave” is named after the botanist Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber, who is credited with deciding this was the best agave plant to use for tequila production. This wine a fairly dark colour in the…
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Nebbiolo Day
In early March 2026 I was at Nebbiolo Day in London, a showcase of 91 Italian producers with hundreds of wines, all made using the Nebbiolo grape. Nebbiolo is a northern Italian story, with the main wine areas being Alto Piemonte, Valtellina, Roero, Barbaresco and Barolo. It’s a grape with real detail and variation, including four different Nebbiolo clones, and it’s said that new Nebbiolo vines need around 10 years to really show their true complexity. I’m not especially interested in ageing wine, or even spending much time trying to predict how a wine will age, so I went looking…
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Welsh Wine Showcase
In early March ’26 I went to a Welsh Wine Showcase in London. It was a small, focused tasting with 7 producers showing 28 wines, with a few Welsh cheeses alongside. Despite the modest line-up, I came away with a higher-than-usual proportion of wines to be highlighted: St Hilary Sparkling White Wine 2023 11.5% £37.50From Cowbridge, this is a traditional method blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It comes from a low intervention, natural winemaker, with a natural ferment and no filtering or fining. It feels very Champagne-like, with a generous autolytic pastry character despite only 12 months…
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People’s Choice Wine Awards
The results of the 2026 People’s Choice Wine Awards are in. With consumer-friendly categories, the awards welcome wines from around the world across every packaging format and price point. Submissions come from a broad mix of sources, including importers, independent retailers, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and producers. Judging combines professional expertise with real consumer insight. Passionate wine drinkers taste alongside WSET students at all levels and experienced industry professionals. The expert panel includes leading buyers, sommeliers, importers, journalists, retailers, and wine communicators, creating a balanced and credible assessment of every entry. Here are the winners: Mindful Drinking: Alcohol Free (ABV less…
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Collin Bourisset Fleurie
This wine comes from a house established in 1821, based in and around the southern Burgundy to Beaujolais crossroads near Crêches-sur-Saône and La Chapelle-de-Guinchay. “The Authentic” on the label leans into a traditional character and you can feel it’s meant to echo the house’s history rather than chase trends. It’s Gamay grape, 2023 vintage, 13%, with an IWC Silver and 92 points, plus a hefty 97/100 from Club Oenologique. In the glass it sits pale to medium ruby, bright and inviting. The aroma is strawberry and raspberry at first, then rose petals float in and give it that Fleurie charm.…
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Understanding Rías Baixas
DO Rías Baixas is one of those wine regions whose identity is inseparable from landscape. The name itself comes from Galician and means “lower rías”, with rías being the jagged Atlantic inlets or estuaries that define the south-western coast of Galicia. In the official wine geography, the term is tied to five estuarine systems stretching south from the area below Santiago de Compostela towards Portugal, and that maritime setting is not decorative background but the foundation of the region’s climate, viticulture and taste. Geographically, Rías Baixas sits in Galicia in north-west Spain, mostly in the province of Pontevedra but also…
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Taste Spain London 2026
In February 2026, I attended a new event organised by the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in London. Taste Spain brought together Spanish food and wine in a lively showcase. The Spanish Deli featured cheeses, cured meats, olive oils, vinegars and other foods, while The Spanish Cellar focused on wine. The event included Spanish wine exporters seeking UK distribution and also gave established UK importers the opportunity to present their Spanish wine portfolios. As I usually cover Red Rioja and Ribera del Duero at their respective tastings later in the year, I mainly focused on other styles on this…
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Wines of Portugal’s Grand Trade & Press Tasting
In February 2026 I was invited to Wines of Portugal’s Grand Trade & Press Tasting in London, a wide-ranging snapshot of what’s happening across Portuguese wine right now. There were 59 producers and more than 570 wines, representing 11 different wine regions. Most wines were poured by the producers themselves, which made it easy to get context and detail alongside the tasting, though there was also a Free Pour Area. That section was organised around three themes: low alcohol wines, single-varietal expressions from some of Portugal’s lesser-known indigenous grapes and Portugal’s Sustainable Wine Growing Certification. I also attended a masterclass…
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World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection
Wine Industry Advisor reports that the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection has announced its 2026 results, marking the programme’s third edition. A panel of 29 sommeliers and wine directors from the World’s 50 Best Restaurants network, drawn from 17 countries across six continents and led by Kristell Monot of Mugaritz, blind tasted and debated to produce a final selection of 115 wines from 16 countries, positioned as a practical benchmark for on-trade wine lists. However, a Delicious article argues that Australia’s absence from the World’s Best Sommeliers’ Selection 2026 is both surprising and revealing, presenting the list as a strong but…
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Domaine du Clos Saint Martin Sancerre
This wine comes from the Loire Valley, produced by the Clément family near the hamlet of Amigny, just below the village of Sancerre. The Clément family have been winegrowers since 1560 and the estate is certified organic. This Sancerre is new and exclusive to Majestic, made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, sitting at 12.5% abv, from the 2024 vintage. It also received a gold medal at Challenge Millésime Bio. A tip, let it warm for 30 minutes from cold to get a lot out of this wine. In the glass the colour is pale lemon. The aroma brings intense nectarine and…
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Three Bowls Assyrtiko
This is the third wine in the Three Bowls series from Greece. For the wider story behind this new range, take a look at the Three Bowls Xinomavro. It’s the 2025 vintage, sitting at 12.5% ABV, made from the Assyrtiko grape. In the glass the colour is extremely pale lemon, almost clear, so very striking. From very cold it comes across with real precision. The aroma brings citrus straight away, alongside a sea salt minerality and a subtle herbal edge that keeps things interesting. On the taste there is a powerful citrus and mineral core that drives everything forward. It…
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25% Off Wine at Asda
Asda has 25% off wine, on £5.50 per bottle or more, 6 bottles or more, from 23 February 2026 until 1 March 2026. See the latest press tasting for tips on what to buy.
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Lucale Primitivo Appassimento
This wine by Masseria Borgo dei Trulli comes from low yielding vineyards in the communes of Avetrana and Manduria, in the Province of Taranto in southern Puglia. It is 100% Primitivo. The label says Appassimento, which is usually the traditional Italian method where harvested grapes are dried for weeks or months, often on mats in ventilated rooms, to concentrate sugars, acids and flavour. However, this wine takes a different approach. In late August, when the grapes have reached perfect maturity, a special technique called il giro del picciolo, the twisting of the stem, is applied to around 50% of the…
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UK’s Top Restaurant Wine Lists Revealed
The finalists for the sixth Star Wine List of the Year UK awards have been announced, which recognise the country’s best restaurant and bar wine lists. The 2026 competition attracted a record number of entries and 66 venues were selected by an expert panel of Masters of Wine and sommeliers. Winners will be revealed on 23 March 2026 at an invitation-only ceremony in London, and the international category winners will go on to a global final in Sweden later in the year. The finalists come from across the UK, although London dominates, and include previous gold-star winners returning to defend…
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Three Bowls Rosé
This is the second of three reviews of the Three Bowls range of Greek wines. See the previous review of Three Bowls Xinomavro for the background on this new range. This one is 2024 vintage at 12.5%. It is 60% Xinomavro and 40% Assyrtiko, from vineyards in Naousa, Imathia, an interplay of these two landmark Greek varieties. In the glass it has a lovely pale gold colour. The aroma is expressive, with strong strawberry, tomato leaf and rose petal. On tasting, it is dry and savoury, red fruit to the fore, lively acidity and a very subtle tannic grip. Sweetness…
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Salvio Ribera de Duero
This wine is produced by Dominio de Elbio, a new Ribera del Duero project from well-known winemaker David Gonzalez, recognised for his work across Bodegas Chivite, Viña Salceda and Gran Feudo within the Perelada stable. He was included in the Master Winemaker Top 100 2025, and brings meticulous attention to detail in the winery, with a clear focus on precision viticulture. The vineyard is located in the renowned magic triangle of La Horra, Anguix and Roa in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. The wine is predominantly Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), complemented by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for…
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Three Bowls Xinomavro
This is from a new wine range created in house by Maltby & Greek and developed in collaboration with a select group of contemporary Greek winemakers. This is the first I tried, with a Rosé Xinomavro Assyrtiko and a White Assyrtiko also to follow. The range is designed to showcase the country’s most important grape varieties in a clear, contemporary way. The name ‘Three Bowls’ comes from an ancient Greek text by the comic poet Eubulus, who describes the effects of wine through a series of bowls, ‘krater’, the ancient drinking vessels, and the wisdom of limiting oneself to just…
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Piccini Collezione Oro Chianti Superiore
Piccini Collezione Oro Chianti Superiore by Piccini. Collezione Oro translates to Gold Collection, and the range represents their more refined, region expressive wines that showcase both tradition and innovation. Chianti Superiore is a sub category of the Chianti DOCG, requiring stricter quality standards, slightly riper grapes and lower yields compared to base Chianti. The 2024 vintage is made from 85% Sangiovese and 15% Merlot. Fermentation takes place in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, with gentle extraction techniques ensuring a graceful expression of tannins and vibrant fruit. The wine is aged for eight months in concrete vats and comes in at…
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Introducing Wine Headlines: Daily Industry News
I’ve recently launched a new website, wineheadlines.com, which offers a broader range of news drawn from across the wine industry. It’s intended for anyone with a professional or personal interest in wine, and caters to a wide readership that includes consumers, PR professionals, retailers, importers, producer organisations and winemakers themselves. This new site emerged as an offshoot of winedrinker.co.uk, the site you’re currently visiting. While researching stories for this site, both for its content and out of personal interest, I regularly sift through a high volume of industry news and press releases from multiple sources. Many are have poor or…
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Did You Know?
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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