
The Albacore Longfin Shiraz 2021 is blend made by the Fuse Winemaking Team from grapes from McLaren Vale, Australia. Marketed as the ‘top drawer Aussie Shiraz’ that promises to surpass expectations for enthusiasts of the Albacore Shiraz, this wine certainly set a high bar for itself. It enjoys a high 4.1 rating on Vivino, indicating a general positive consensus. Despite its accolades, the Longfin Shiraz initially offered an experience that left my palate searching for more. It greeted the nose with a lighter aroma than I anticipated, diverging from the often robust and deep fragrance associated with premium Shiraz. On…

On 30th January 2024, the Australia Trade Tasting event showcased an impressive array of over 700 wines from 200 producers. Australia has a strong position in the UK off-trade (not consumed on premises) market, where it leads as the number one country of origin, having nearly double the market share of its closest competitor, Italy. For more background read my article on Understanding Australian Wine. The focus of my exploration was for wines that are already distributed in the UK, with an emphasis on affordability, though I also included more premium options for comparison. A key question I had in…

The 2022 vintage of the new Greasy Fingers range from Pernod Ricard UK is a new addition to a portfolio that includes familiar names such as Campo Viejo, Brancott Estate and Stoneleigh. This wine is shy about its origins and the offering is more about branding – the country, Australia, is written very small on the back. Tailored for the food-loving, younger demographic, a challenging target considering the waning wine enthusiasm younger drinkers, this range aims to slice through the richness of greasy foods, making it a companion for the likes of fries and burgers. The name ‘Greasy Fingers’ is…

The 2023 holiday season gave me the opportunity to try a few affordable Champagne and sparkling wines from three different continents: Les Pionniers Non Vintage Champagne Les Pionniers Non Vintage Champagne is a great example of how quality and affordability can come together. Despite the Co-op’s discretion about its origins, it’s an open secret that this champagne is produced by Piper-Heidsieck, a fact underscored by its Silver Award at the International Wine Challenge and a high score of 92 from Decanter, acknowledging Régis Camus of Piper-Heidsieck for its creation. The champagne opens with a toasty, buttery nose, setting the stage…

Skipper’s Cove Sauvignon Blanc, a 2022 vintage created winemaker Andrea Maxwell, is an example of her expertise gained from a Viticulture & Oenology degree at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The decision to harvest this particular parcel earlier than usual has paid dividends, imbuing the wine with vibrant, fresh herbaceous notes, complemented by a pleasant natural acidity that elevates its character. This Sauvignon Blanc, intriguingly coming from South Eastern Australia, deviates from the typical regions known for this varietal. It presents a refreshing surprise for enthusiasts accustomed to the Sauvignon Blancs of New Zealand, France, Chile and South Africa.…

The Borrowdale Shiraz Cabernet 2021, from Australia and crafted by winemaker David King, presents a interesting blend that marries the distinct characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. This wine, a part of the 2023 Virgin Wines advent calendar and also featured in the mini bottle red case, offers a unique experience that sits comfortably between the two varietals. The fruity notes are prominent, creating dual flavours that are both familiar and intriguing. On the palate, it strikes a good balance, leaning towards a medium body. While this blend is certainly enjoyable for a one-off tasting, it might not entirely satisfy…

The Barossa Ink Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is made by Grant Burge in Australia. This 2021 vintage, with a blend of Cinsault and Petit Verdot, offers a unique twist to the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon. It has been rated 4.0 on Vivino, reflecting its quality and popularity among wine lovers. The 2020 vintage of this wine was commended by the International Wine Challenge. This has a dark, purple-edged appearance, indicative of its full-bodied nature. On the palate, it presents a mix of blackcurrant, mint and dark chocolate, creating a rich flavour profile. Compared to a traditional Cabernet Sauvignon, it is less tannic…

16 Little Black Pigs Shiraz 2022, created by winemaker Steve Grimley from McLaren Vale in Australia, is a wine that has earned some accolades, including the LWA 2022 Gold and the Customer Poll 2019 People’s Choice award. It also has a rating of 3.8 on Vivino which reflects its popularity. This Shiraz starts with cherry notes. It strikes a balance between boldness and subtlety, making it an approachable choice for a wide range of palates. The oak, toffee and coffee undertones add depth and complexity, while the red fruit elements bring a refreshing vibrancy. A key characteristic of this wine…

Pepperjack Shiraz 2021 from Barossa, Australia is a robust offering that is reflected in its strong 14.5% ABV. Pepperjack, since its inception in 1998 with Barossa Shiraz, has evolved, originally catering to an exclusive clientele in bars and restaurants before broadening its reach and acclaim. The 2020 vintage received favourable reviews, with James Button of Decanter highlighting its ripe blackcurrant notes and balsamic freshness, leading to a peppery, plummy finish. This new vintage has gone down well, securing a 3.9 rating on Vivino and earning a spot among Vivino’s top 24 South Australian Shiraz wines in the United Kingdom. I…

Fiona Beckett from the Guardian Newspaper has an article on Australian Shiraz. In the 1990s, her favourite red wine was Australian shiraz, admired for its voluptuous, ripe and smooth qualities. However, tastes evolved and these wines became known as too sweet and jammy. However, recently, at a wine tasting, Fiona was impressed with the quality and reasonable pricing of mid-priced Shiraz noting their superiority over Malbecs in the same price range. The abundance of Shiraz in Australia, a result of an oversupplied market since China imposed import duties in 2020, has benefited the markets such as the UK, Australia’s top…
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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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