Bizarre

The BBC has reported that a sinkhole at Davyhulme Park Golf Club in Greater Manchester has revealed a brick wine cellar that had been sealed for over 100 years beneath the 13th hole. Greenkeeping staff discovered the cellar while investigating what they thought was a collapsed drain. When they dug deeper, they uncovered a brick structure containing dozens of old, hand-blown glass wine bottles. The cellar likely belonged to Davyhulme Hall, a manor house built in the 12th century and demolished in 1888. It may have been a tradesmen’s entrance, and one blocked doorway could lead to additional underground rooms.…

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…

The East Lothian Courier has reported that more than 25 identical bottles of red wine have been found dumped along a countryside footpath linking New Winton and Macmerry, sparking concerns about environmental damage and possible underage drinking. The litter, which also included milk cartons and sweet wrappers, was discovered beside a path running off the B6355 through farmland that is home to deer and other wildlife. The rubbish was spotted by a walker during a New Year’s Day walk. She described seeing a large number of identical bottles scattered in ditches and hedges, all appearing to be the same Australian…

A 77-year-old French cyclist survived for three days at the bottom of a 40-metre ravine after crashing on his way home from a shopping trip, relying on wine to stay alive. The man, who was returning to Saint-Julien-des-Points from La Grand-Combe in southern France, missed a turn on the N106 and plunged into a ravine in the Cévennes region. Despite the fall, he sustained only minor injuries and mild hypothermia. With no way of climbing out and no one responding to his calls for help, he survived using the groceries he had with him, including a few bottles of wine…

TheDrinksBusiness is reporting, a 61-year-old pedicab driver, from Islington, has admitted to stealing fine wine worth £24,000 from a restaurant in London’s financial district. The theft occurred on 6 May 2025, when thief broke into a restaurant on Threadneedle Street, stole 73 bottles of wine, and transported them away using a wheelie bin attached to his tuk-tuk. He later committed further break-ins on 15 and 19 June, stealing more wine and reinforcing his pattern of offending. The thief was arrested in the early hours of 22 June after being spotted outside a bar by a police constable who recognised him…

A New Zealand start-up, Muttley’s Estate, is aiming to turn the country into a commercial catnip producer with the development of a shelf-stable pet wine made from the herb. Catnip, which has been in New Zealand since 1870, is known to improve the mood of most cats and help ease anxiety in dogs. With rising global demand, especially in the pet and natural health industries, the market for catnip essential oil is expected to grow significantly, reaching around $400 million by 2030. Muttley’s Estate is believed to be the first company globally to produce a pet wine that can be…

In April 2025, researchers revealed Russia’s APT29 (Cozy Bear) resumed phishing attacks on European diplomats, using a wine tasting invitation. The emails mimic European Ministry of Foreign Affairs correspondence and re-target diplomats who don’t respond. Links lead to a malicious file, wine.zip, dropped under specific conditions. Inside, a PowerPoint executable (wine.exe) exploits DLL side-loading to run an obfuscated loader called Grapeloader. The emails imitate a European Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are resent if ignored, with subject lines such as “Wine tasting event (update date)” and “For Ambassador’s Calendar”. Their embedded link sits on infrastructure that withholds the malicious file…

The Independent newspaper is reporting that The Church of England has reaffirmed its stance that only alcoholic wine made from fermented grape juice can be used during Holy Communion. This decision has sparked disappointment due to the perceived injustice towards individuals who cannot consume alcohol due to health reasons. This ruling has led to criticism from some members, including Reverend Canon Alice Kemp, who argues that this exclusion from fully participating in Holy Communion is unjust.

Reuters has reported that Polish authorities have seized 44 litres of liquid cocaine, valued at approximately $1.85 million, hidden in wine cartons. The drugs were intercepted in the Lublin region after being shipped from a Panamanian port, passing through a European sea port and a Czech customs point in Ostrava. The operation involved Polish Border Guards in Gdansk and Czech customs officers. Three men have been arrested, with further arrests possible as the investigation continues.

A recent study reports the discovery and analysis of a reddish liquid found in a 2000-year-old Roman mausoleum in Carmona, southern Spain, which appears to be the oldest preserved liquid wine. Found in 2019, the urn (left) containing the liquid also held cremated human remains, which likely explains the preservation of the wine, traditionally used in Roman burial rituals. Researchers used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to identify mineral salts and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to detect polyphenols, elements characteristic of wine. Analysis showed that the liquid’s composition matched that of white wines typical to the Baetic region,…

The BBC has reported that Corkage fees, the charges diners pay for bringing their own wine to restaurants, are rising in London as establishments try to maintain profitability. Traditionally around £12 to £15 per bottle, some venues now charge upwards of £100. This increase is driven by inflation and rising costs, such as energy bills and wages, which have hit the restaurant industry hard, particularly in fine dining. Restaurants charge corkage to cover service costs and compensate for lost alcohol sales, which are typically more profitable than food. Some restaurants, like Dorian in Notting Hill, justify high fees by arguing…

Vogue has an article, Can A Compound Found In Red Wine Help Your Skin? The idea of using anti-ageing products can feel outdated, as there’s a growing preference for focusing on longevity and graceful ageing. Among the popular anti-ageing methods on social media, resveratrol has gained attention for its promising benefits. This natural compound, found in foods like red wine, chocolate, and berries, is said to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties. Resveratrol, a flavonoid, is celebrated for its antioxidant capabilities, which combat cellular ageing and improve skin health. It’s found in the skins of grapes, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, peanuts,…

The BBC is reporting that a think tank called Tax Policy Associates conducted an experiment to see if anyone would read their privacy policy by offering a free bottle of wine hidden within the terms. The offer was added in February and went unclaimed for three months until May. The head of the organisation, Dan Neidle, who has experience in reporting high-profile tax cases, shared the update via a tweet. This stunt highlighted his view that privacy policies are often overlooked, despite being a legal necessity for any business handling personal data, as mandated under the UK’s GDPR rules. Neidle…

An article in Better Homes & Gardens discusses a unique and controversial drink trend on TikTok, mixing red wine with milk. It highlights the origin of this trend, with one of the early proponents being creator Sunny Vasconcelos, who encouraged others to try it. The trend gained more attention after music producer Benny Blanco shared his experience trying ‘red wine milk’. Various versions have emerged, including mixes with dairy-free and sweetened condensed milk, the latter being like to Brazil’s Espanhola cocktail. Drinks writer and hospitality consultant John deBary acknowledges the appeal of the combination, explaining that red wine’s acidity, sweetness,…

The BBC is reporting a Spanish winery, Cepa 21, experienced significant losses exceeding €2.5 million (£2.1 million) when an unidentified individual emptied 60,000 litres of wine by opening tanks in the early hours of Sunday. This act of vandalism targeted two of the winery’s premium wines, Horcajo and Malabrigo. The complexity of the tanks’ security mechanisms suggests the perpetrator had knowledge of the winery’s operations. The intruder was clearly familiar with both the winery and its security measures. The winery, situated in Castrillo de Duero, a village in north-western Spain, now faces a considerable financial and material setback. Police investigations…