Simon Judge
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Wales to Raise Minimum Alcohol Price to 65p per Unit
The Welsh Government has agreed to raise the minimum unit price of alcohol by about 30 per cent, increasing it from 50p to 65p per unit from October 2026. This policy, first introduced in 2020 under the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act, is intended to discourage excessive drinking by making very cheap alcoholic drinks more expensive. In practice that means bargain bottles, multipacks and large formats where the price has been kept low despite relatively high strength, including some stronger everyday wines (around 13.5% to 15% ABV) that are priced close to the lower end of the…
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Irresistible Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva
This Italian red comes from the Abruzzo region and is made by Botter for the Co-op. Montepulciano is the grape used here, not to be confused with the Tuscan town of the same name which is entirely unrelated. Being a Riserva and from the 2021 vintage, it’s been aged longer, likely in oak. This typically brings a fuller texture and subtle vanilla character, which is backed up by what’s written on the label. At first pour though, it underwhelms. There’s little aroma or flavour straight out of the bottle, which might lead some to dismiss it too soon. That would…
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Calvet Chablis
From the northern reaches of Burgundy near Auxerre in France, this wine is produced by Calvet, a well-known French wine house with over two centuries of winemaking heritage, now part of the Les Grands Chais de France group. Made entirely from Chardonnay, the sole grape permitted under the Chablis AOC, this is a 2023 vintage that has spent 8 to 10 months ageing on its lees in stainless steel vats, with regular stirring to build texture and complexity. It sits at 12.5% ABV. In the glass, it has a pale lemon colour. It benefits from being given a lot of…
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Blouge Wine
Blouge wine is an informal term formed from the French words blanc and rouge, used for wines that sit between white and red in style and colour. It most commonly refers to wine made by co-fermenting white and red grapes together (sometimes from vines grown in the same vineyard), producing a light, pale-red or deeper rosé-like wine that can combine red-fruit character with the freshness and lift associated with white varieties. In other words, it is not simply a finished white wine mixed with a finished red wine, and it is not the standard rosé method of brief skin contact…
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Arpeggio Nero d’Avola
This 2024 vintage comes from Cantine Settesoli, a Sicilian cooperative of 2,000 members. At 13% ABV, it is bottled at source and brought into the UK by Liberty Wines Ltd, one of the UK’s larger wholesaler-importers. The name Arpeggio refers to the musical technique where the notes of a chord are played one after another rather than all at once, creating a sense of progression and movement. The Nero d’Avola grape was first cultivated near the town of Avola, and its name reflects its deep, dark skin, meaning “Black of Avola.” The colour is slightly lighter than expected, bringing Pinot…
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A Toast to 105, Ron Thompson’s Red Wine Secret
Essex Live reports that Ron Thompson, a care home resident in Essex who has just turned 105, has joked that the secret to his long life is red wine, saying he does not understand what all the fuss is about. He marked the occasion with a weekend of celebrations, including a family gathering where he toasted with red wine and enjoyed chocolates while spending time with his great-grandchildren. Ron received cards from across the country as well as a message from His Majesty The King, which he now keeps alongside earlier royal messages. He was also presented with a certificate…
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Premium Wines and Sparkling Drive Resilience in a Declining UK Retail Market
DrinksRetailing is reporting that UK off-trade (retail) wine sales are under pressure, with total value down 1.8% year on year, mainly due to falling volumes despite higher average prices. Sparkling wine is holding up better than still wine, while red wine is declining most sharply, partly because of duty banding. Premiumisation is a clear theme. Wines priced at £7 and above are growing, while cheaper wines are seeing significant declines. A small number of brands are driving growth, most notably La Vieille Ferme, alongside Freixenet and Villa Maria, all benefiting from positioning in the £8–9 price range. Looking ahead, ongoing…
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25% Off Wine at Morrisons
Morrisons has 25% discount on 6 or more bottles of wine, More card price, £6 or more until 15 February 2026. See the recent press tasting for my picks.
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Lidl Winter/Spring Wine Tours
At the beginning of February 2026, I was invited to a press tasting in London, where a selection of wines was presented from Lidl’s February Wine Tour, currently available, as well as forthcoming releases for the March and April Wine Tours. Alongside these were a number of bottles from their core range, providing a broader view of what’s on offer. Lidl’s Wine Tours usually run for about two months, offering a limited window to pick up these bottles while stocks last. Many of the more popular choices tend to sell out rapidly, which is all part of the retailer’s strategy…
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Calvet Fleurie
This 2023 vintage is made from 100% Gamay, with an alcohol level of 13.5 percent. The wine has been aged on fine lees for 10 months in stainless steel. The colour is a pale purple. The aroma is full and expressive, with intense strawberry and raspberry, alongside rose petals. On tasting, it is silky and perfumed with red fruit and a delicate texture, followed by an impressive mid taste lift of fruity sweetness. In terms of sweetness, it is actually dry, as I will explain later, with light but clearly discernible tannins. One thing I should mention is that, unlike…
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Hallgarten & Novum Portfolio Tasting 2026
This trade tasting took place in early February 2026 at the iconic Old Billingsgate in London, with a selection of over 900 wines served, in most cases, by the producers themselves. This year’s event marked the second major tasting since Hallgarten & Novum became part of Coterie Holdings, following its acquisition in January 2024. The group now also includes Lay & Wheeler and Coterie Vaults, a fine wine storage and logistics specialist. Founded in 1933, Hallgarten & Novum has long been known for its focus on premium wines tailored to both the hospitality sector and retail outlets. Over the past…
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Great Western Shiraz
This wine first caught my attention at the Asda Autumn/Winter press tasting, where I made a mental note to revisit it off the supermarket shelf. When it recently appeared on promotion, I didn’t hesitate to pick up a bottle. This is mix of 97% Shiraz with small amounts of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Viognier, from the 2023 vintage, with a moderate 13.5% abv. It comes from Victoria, Australia, a cooler climate region that lends a very different expression compared to the usual jammy examples of this grape. It matured for 12 months in large and small French oak barrels.…
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Understanding Wine Bottle Closures
Wine bottle closures sit at the awkward junction of tradition and engineering. They have to create a seal, survive transport, tolerate temperature swings, open cleanly at the table, and stay out of the way of the wine’s aroma and flavour for months or decades. At the same time, closures carry powerful cultural meanings. A natural cork can signal tradition and ageworthiness, while a screw cap can signal modernity, convenience, and sometimes, perhaps unfairly, “cheapness”. Understanding closures properly means treating them as a controlled interface between wine and the outside world, where tiny differences in oxygen movement, chemical interaction, and mechanical…
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UK Ministers’ Alcohol Labelling Plans Alarm the Drinks Industry
The FT is reporting that UK ministers have triggered fresh unease in the drinks and hospitality sectors as they move ahead with discussions on possible new alcohol labelling rules, while also preparing to reverse course on the prospect of higher business rates for pubs in England. The Department of Health and Social Care is due to meet more than two dozen alcohol producers, retailers and trade bodies, including Diageo and groups representing beer, pubs, wine and spirits, to talk through the early-stage proposals and gather evidence on likely impacts. Industry leaders fear the government could mandate prominent health warnings on…
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Bodeguero Rioja Blanco
This wine from producer Ciadores de Rioja comes from a family-run bodega located just six kilometres from Logroño, right in the heart of the Rioja appellation. It’s estate bottled, not bulk bottled as many wines at this level tend to be, a requirement for all wines from Rioja at present. Made from Viura grapes, the 2024 vintage sits at 12% ABV. It opens with a lovely aroma of melon and apple, while the taste brings a refreshing mix of citrus and apple with a clean, fresh acidity. It pairs effortlessly with food, roast chicken worked brilliantly in my case. While…
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ZONIN Annual Portfolio Tasting
In January 2026 I was invited to ZONIN1821’s portfolio tasting, an event that combined structured masterclasses with the opportunity to explore the range more informally via a walkaround tasting. A key part of the event for me was a food and wine matching masterclass, which offered useful insight into how different styles performed alongside carefully chosen dishes. ZONIN1821, is one of Italy’s most established wine businesses, with a history that stretches back to 1821. The company was founded in Gambellara, in the Veneto, and while it remains family owned, it now operates on a genuinely international scale. At the heart…
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Australia and New Zealand Trade Tasting 2026
This was the second ever joint New Zealand and Australia tasting, bringing together more than 1,000 wines from 240 producers. The line-up spanned 57 regions across Australia and New Zealand and covered 30 different grape varieties, offering a broad snapshot of what the two countries are doing right now. New “Sommelier Selections” feature tables added a useful shortcut through the ubiquity, showcasing wines nominated by working sommeliers. There was also a notable contingent of producers actively looking for a route into the UK, with 130 new wines poured by wineries seeking distribution. At the last tasting I went in search…
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Our Fathers ‘There is a Light’ McLaren Vale Shiraz-Grenache
From McLaren Vale, Australia, this red comes with a great endorsement. Jancis Robinson asked, “Surely wines like this would normally be much more expensive?”, which made it impossible not to investigate. It also forms part of The Wine Society’s Wine Champion selection, a curated collection of wines rigorously blind-tasted by their expert buying team and judged to be among the finest in quality and immediate drinkability. But before getting into the wine itself, the story behind it deserves attention. The Our Fathers Project was founded by British Master of Wine Giles Cooke MW, who already carries a strong reputation for…
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Escarpment Martinborough Noir
This wine stood out at the Waitrose Spring Press Tasting, so it deserved a closer look. From New Zealand’s North Island, this wine comes from Escarpment Winery, located in Martinborough. The name itself, Escarpment, refers to a long, steep slope that borders a plateau, reflecting the distinctive landscape that shapes this corner of the region. A quick glance at customer reviews on Waitrose’s website reveals mixed reactions, though much of the criticism stems from the 2022 vintage, which reportedly turned out cloudy. What matters here, however, is the 2023 release, and that’s the one really worth seeking out. It sits…
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25% Off Wine at Tesco
Unusual for January, Tesco has save 25% off wine with Clubcard when you buy 6+ bottles that are £6 and over (£7 in Wales), for only three days, from 23 January 2026 until 25 January 2026. See the recent Tesco tasting for tips on what to buy.
Pick Lists
Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20
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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