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  • Italy Loses Wine-making Leadership to France

    Italy Loses Wine-making Leadership to France

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    Simon Judge

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    Reuters is reporting on the decline in wine production in Italy. The wine output in Italy is expected to decrease by 12% this year (2023), falling below 44 million hectolitres. This significant drop is attributed to extreme weather conditions and fungal diseases that have adversely affected the vineyards. As a result of this decline, Italy has lost its leadership position in wine-making to France. However, the concern isn’t primarily about Italy losing its lead in wine production volumes and is instead suffering more from the decline in both local and international demand.

  • Climate Change Threatens Prosecco

    Climate Change Threatens Prosecco

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    Simon Judge

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    Climate change is posing a severe threat to Prosecco, according to recent research published in the iScience journal. Originating from Italy’s mountainous vineyards, Prosecco has seen a decline in grape yields due to extreme weather conditions and soil degradation. The risk extends beyond losing an agricultural product as it also threatens entire communities’ history and cultural roots. Extreme weather events, including sudden, intense rainfall and droughts, are making it increasingly difficult for Prosecco producers. These conditions lead to soil erosion and slope failures in the steep vineyards of Northern Italy. This year, the vineyards experienced massive spring rainfall and hailstones,…

  • Ripasso

    Ripasso

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    Simon Judge

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    The word “Ripasso” literally means ‘re-passed’ in Italian. This term is used to describe a specific winemaking technique that involves a second fermentation process. Originally, this method was developed in the Veneto region of Italy, and it is most commonly associated with Valpolicella wines. After the initial fermentation of the wine, the young wine is added to a cask containing the skins and lees left over from the production of Amarone or Recioto (a sweet wine and ancestor of Amarone), other wines from the same region. The wine then undergoes a second fermentation, absorbing additional tannins, flavours and complexities from…

  • Passo del Cardinale Primitivo di Manduria

    Passo del Cardinale Primitivo di Manduria

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    Simon Judge

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    I recently had the pleasure of trying a Primitivo that has been given an award by Gambero Rosso magazine, a global authority on Italian food, wine and travel. With a rating of 4.1 on Vivino and an impressive 4.3 for its latest 2022 vintage, this wine piqued my interest. Upon tasting, I found it to be medium to full-bodied, maintaining a good balance with Black Forest-fruit flavours and a subtle note of vanilla. It’s not as intense as, for example, La Masseria Del Borgo, but rather more akin to a classic Primitivo. In my opinion, it’s more suitable to be…

  • ASDA Extra Special Soave Classico

    ASDA Extra Special Soave Classico

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    Simon Judge

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    This nutty, white wine is from Italy’s Veneto region. Soave is renowned for its delicate smoothness and freshness and it is made primarily with Garganega grapes forming a minimum of 70% of the blend. There are two Soave classifications – Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). The DOC region, larger and flatter in terrain, is known for producing usually unoaked Soave, notable for its dry, zingy palate with hints of citrus and almond. The more prestigious DOCG classification usually has a lower yield which produces a higher quality wine. DOCG Soave exhibits increased…

  • Wines of Vesevo & Fantini Tasting – Campania & Puglia, Italy

    Wines of Vesevo & Fantini Tasting – Campania & Puglia, Italy

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    Simon Judge

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    The Vesevo & Fantini wine tasting events at Morrish & Banham (M&B) will showcase Italian wines created by Valentine Sciotto. The events will be hosted at M&B’s Dorchester and Bridport locations on 28th and 29th September 2023. The evenings will include an aperitif, canapés and a guided tasting of six wines. Tickets are £25 and wines tasted will be offered at a 10% discount. I’ll be reporting back on this event.

  • Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

    Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

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    Simon Judge

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    With a medium body, this wine has flavours of ripe cherries, accompanied by sweet spices and an enticing whisper of smoke. Under Italian wine regulations, a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine must contain at least 85% Montepulciano with Sangiovese permitted to make up to 15% of the remaining blend. The wine is required to be aged for at least 5 months before being released. This wine has been recommended by the Daily Mail and the 2020 vintage has its highest ever rating of 3.9 on Vivino. Mass market Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is often disappointing but this the exception. My wife and I discovered…

  • Italy’s 2023 Wine Harvest in Jeopardy

    Italy’s 2023 Wine Harvest in Jeopardy

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    Simon Judge

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    Italy’s 2023 wine harvest is projected to decrease by up to 14% due to extreme weather conditions associated with climate change, including intense heat, storms and wildfires, according to agricultural group Coldiretti. An initial forecast predicts a national production of around 43 million hectolitres, down from 50 million in 2022, potentially marking one of the smallest Italian wine harvests on record. This situation varies across regions, with southern and central areas of Italy expecting heavier declines, whilst northern regions remain stable for now. Despite potential reductions in yield, some wineries, such as those in Sicily, anticipate maintaining grape quality, even…

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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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