Blog

Thoughts, sometimes off-topic, sometimes controversial.

  • Real Wine Fair

    Real Wine Fair

    The Real Wine Fair is at London’s Tobacco Dock on Sunday, April 28th 2024, open to both consumers and trade, and continue into Monday, April 29th 2024, exclusively for trade visitors. This year’s fair promises an impressive showcase of 180 producers who are at the forefront of organic, biodynamic and low-intervention winemaking. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to sample a selection of 900 natural wines. In addition to the wine tasting, the fair will also feature street food stalls, providing a variety of culinary delights to complement the wine sampling. A pop-up Real Wine Shop will offer guests the…

  • Wines for Your Christmas Table

    Wines for Your Christmas Table

    On 15th December 2023, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, the Wine Society is hosted a free online event. Hosted by Emma Briffett and Catherine Housden, this festive session guided attendees on the best wines to pair with Christmas meals, from the rich Christmas pudding to the Boxing Day ham and even sprouts. The session aimed to provide solutions to festive food and wine matching dilemmas. The Wine Society presented a range of wines and dishes for demonstration, inviting participants to join in with their chosen selections. A YouTube recording is available to members and non-members.

  • Lidl’s Chateaux Noir Returns, Challenging Wine Etiquette and Preconceptions

    Lidl’s Chateaux Noir Returns, Challenging Wine Etiquette and Preconceptions

    Four years after its sell-out success, Lidl (UK) has once again launched its wine tasting event, Chateaux Noir. This unique experience, designed to democratise wine and challenge traditional wine etiquette, aims to change perceptions this festive season. Recent research indicates that more than a quarter of people still believe that pricier wine labels guarantee better quality. In fact, 27% of participants admitted to buying high-end labels under the assumption of superior quality. Additionally, one in three individuals perceives wine etiquette as ‘snobbish’. Chateaux Noir aims to debunk these notions. Launched nationwide, this event pits Lidl against renowned drinks brands, intending…

  • The Ultimate Christmas Drinks Workshop

    The Ultimate Christmas Drinks Workshop

    On 11 Dec 2023 7:00 – 08:00pm, for Wine Society Members, Emma Briffett and Catherine Housden from the Tastings Team will offer an online comprehensive guide on hosting the perfect Christmas drinks party. They’ll address challenges like determining the right amount of food and wine for various event styles. Additionally, they’ll recommend simple canapés and six popular wines to delight your guests. There’s an open access YouTube recording of this event.

  • Big Christmas Wine Fest

    Big Christmas Wine Fest

    The Three Wine Men ‘Big Christmas Wine Fest‘ is will be on at The Royal Horticultural Halls, Lindley Hall, London on Friday 17th November and Saturday 18th November 2023. This year, there’s an impressive line-up of wine producers from around the world ready to share their wines with attendees. The event includes a main walk-around tasting, three masterclasses for those keen to dig deeper and on-stage features. Attendees can expect to taste over 600 wines, ranging from reds, whites, rosés, sparkling, sweet and fortified wines. The event also offers a chance to interact with the experts, discuss wines with the…

  • Wine Escape Murder Mystery

    Wine Escape Murder Mystery

    Maidstone, Kent is set to host an immersive dining experience that blends the excitement of escape room games. This special event, organised by Wine Escape, is scheduled for September 30, 2023 and promises to transport guests to the opulent era of the 1920s at the Hawker Wine Estate. The setting for this thrilling evening is The Village Hotel on Forstal Road. Attendees are invited to an exclusive party by the affluent Von James family. However, the atmosphere quickly turns tense due to a whirlwind of vengeance, lies and deception. To make it out of Hawker alive, participants must collaborate, stay…

  • Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival

    Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival

    Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival will take place from 16th to 17th September 2023. It will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00. The event will feature a Jazz Breakfast with Lianne Carroll, along with stalls, bands, and demonstrations. Sunday Brunch star CJ Jackson will make a welcome return. The focus of the festival will be on locally-sourced, sustainable seafood and wine. Live music will include performances by The New Blue Shoes, Kinsella, The Heartlands Roots Band, The Old Romantics, The Sam Calver Band, Sarah G and the Other 3, The Greg Caulson Band, Soul Town and…

Did You Know?

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

IMAGE WALL