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I’ve been to a lot of large wine tastings over the years, and this post is a reflection on their merits rather than a commentary on the individual events themselves. By large, I mean tastings that include at least 100 wines, though some can offer many hundreds and even 1000s. My typical flow of such…

The wine trade has long held public relations in high regard. With its roots in traditional media and its polished professionalism, PR has been a staple in shaping the industry’s image, securing column inches and spreading the gospel of good taste. Yet in recent years, a new force has emerged, reshaping how influence is both…

This article is a companion piece to my earlier post on the top wines by value. While much of my website focuses on affordable wines and highlighting the best value options, this post takes a different approach. I regularly attend tastings focused on specific countries or appellations, not only to discover under-valued gems but also…

This post is all about the best of the best when it comes to value in wine I have tasted recently. I have a separate page listing what I think are the best value wines overall, but this is a selection of those few that stand out even more. These are, in my view, the…

Attending lots of supermarket wine tastings, you begin to notice patterns. One of the most notable trends of late is the rise and still growing success of own label wines. These are wines sold under a retailer’s branding rather than that of the original producer. But what’s behind this surge? And what does it mean…

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…

You might wonder why all the wines that I and others review seem to be either satisfactory or excellent, with none described as poor. After all, preventing someone buying a bad wine might be seen as important as choosing a good one. When I began posting wine reviews, it became clear that I needed to…

Recent news that Berry Bros & Rudd is announcing a consultation over job cuts came as a surprise to me, given that luxury markets are typically the most protected from wider market difficulties. The new duty rates only represent a small increase for high-value wines and premium customers tend to be far less sensitive to…

From 1 February 2025, the UK implements new alcohol duty rates, ushering in changes that will significantly impact both importers and consumers. With 30 different duty rates to navigate, the complexity of this system is daunting, particularly for importers. For consumers, the effects will be felt primarily in pricing and in some cases a change…

Many UK supermarkets frequently offer periods where all wines priced £5 or £6 and over are subject to a 25% discount. Historically, these promotions occurred only once a year, typically in Autumn to coincide with the release of new vintages. However, they now align with significant holiday periods throughout the year, providing regular opportunities to…

Having immersed myself in tasting thousands of wines every year, I’ve come to realise just how dynamic and unpredictable wines really can be. At first glance, people rely heavily on ratings and reviews, believing them to be definitive guides. However, wine is not a static product. It evolves, sometimes subtly and sometimes dramatically, over time….

When you purchase a bottle of wine, you might assume that most of the price goes towards the wine itself. However, the reality is often quite different, particularly for lower-priced and very highly priced wines. Here, I explore the complexities of wine pricing and explain why the relationship between price and quality is not as…

I prefer to manage a website as my main platform while most wine enthusiasts are concentrating on boosting their social media presence. I do use social media to share headlines, draw attention and message, but the bulk of my content stays firmly on my site. While gaining followers on social platforms is useful and even…

Devon Life is reporting that Stephen Barrett, the UK wine critic and restaurateur, has passed away at the age of 77. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen at many press wine tastings. He had a remarkable way with words that truly set him apart. I mentioned him in the Bordeaux Experience tasting where he…