Past Tastings

Uncovering great wines from consumer, trade and press tastings

  • Aldi Autumn Winter Wine Tasting

    Aldi Autumn Winter Wine Tasting

    In September 2024, I attended the Aldi Autumn Winter Press Wine Tasting, where 98 wines were showcased. It was a great opportunity to experience the variety and quality of Aldi’s wine offerings as they continue to establish themselves as a major player in the UK market. In fact, Aldi recently became the third-largest wine retailer,…

  • Fine Wine Tasting

    Fine Wine Tasting

    In September 2024, I attended a Fine Wine Evening at my local Majestic in Woking. It was a consumer tasting event, expertly presented by Andrew from Majestic Woking. Andrew, who is soon to move to Majestic Edinburgh, showcased his knowledge throughout the evening, offering insights into the selection of fine wines. The evening began with…

  • Tenuta Di Trinoro Tasting

    Tenuta Di Trinoro Tasting

    In early September 2024, I attended a tasting lunch in London hosted by Benjamin Franchetti, the owner of Tenuta di Trinoro, a renowned estate known for its Super-Tuscan wines. The estate was founded by Benjamin’s late father, Andrea Franchetti, who defied expectations by creating a world-class Super-Tuscan from scratch, without any outside help. Although Tenuta…

  • WineGB Trade and Press Tasting

    WineGB Trade and Press Tasting

    The WineGB Trade and Press Tasting, in early September 2024, offered an impressive selection, showcasing over 300 wines from 80 producers. The event featured individual exhibitor stands, regional vineyard association stands and themed tasting tables. English sparkling wine has reached an exceptional level of quality, frequently rivalling and occasionally surpassing some of the finest Champagnes….

  • Swig Autumn Portfolio Tasting

    Swig Autumn Portfolio Tasting

    Swig is an online retailer founded by Robin Davis, 25 years ago, which has earned a reputation as one of the UK’s best independents. They also supply some of the UK’s top restaurants and independents, and in 2021, Decanter Magazine awarded them Best Midsize Online Retailer. In September 2024, I attended the Swig Autumn Portfolio…

  • Italian Wine Tasting

    Italian Wine Tasting

    In July and August 2024, when press tastings were sparse, I decided to host a few wine tastings at home. For this third tasting of the Summer, I invited PR agencies, importers and retailers to submit Italian wines. I also included a few wines recommended by participants from previous tastings, as well as a blind…

  • California Dreaming Wine Tasting

    California Dreaming Wine Tasting

    I attended the “California Dreaming” consumer wine tasting event at Majestic in August 2024, hosted by the knowledgeable Andrew from Majestic Woking. Nine of us sampled a selection of wines that highlighted the diverse range of grape varieties available from California, going beyond the typical expectations. We started with a Champagne welcome drink, as Majestic…

  • BBQ Wine Tasting

    BBQ Wine Tasting

    During July and August, when press tastings are few and far between, I decided to host a few wine tastings at home. For this tasting, I invited PR agencies, importers and retailers to submit wines that would be suitable for a BBQ setting. Ten family members and friends, all sharing my enthusiasm for wine, participated…

  • Majestic Italian Wine Tasting

    Majestic Italian Wine Tasting

    In August 2024, I went to an Italian wine tasting at my local Majestic in Woking, just a few doors down from the infamous Woking Pizza Express. It was an enjoyable evening, sampling a variety of Italian wines, including Franciacorta, Soave, Gavi, Greco Di Tufo, a Rosso Veronese, Chianti and a Brunello. Among these, a…

  • Wines of Rueda, Navarra and Toro

    Wines of Rueda, Navarra and Toro

    In July 2024, I attended a trade/press wine tasting event in London, the first ever bringing together Rueda, Navarra and Toro wines from Northern Spain. Rueda, northwest of Madrid, is the second most popular denomination of origin (DO) in terms of sales in Spain. It is renowned for its mainly white wines, particularly those made…

  • Awards Wines Tasting

    Awards Wines Tasting

    July and August have very few press tastings, so I decided to host some tastings at home. I invited a few PR agencies, importers and retailers to submit wines for these tastings. This first event featured award-winning wines, tasted by nine family members and friends, all of whom share my enthusiasm for wine. We enjoyed…

  • Petersham Cellar, Vini Franchetti

    Petersham Cellar, Vini Franchetti

    Petersham Cellar is a London-based independent specialist in cult and fine wines. It was founded by Giovanni Mazzei from the Marchesi Mazzei family, owners of the Castello di Fonterutoli in Tuscany since 1435 and Lara Angelica Boglione from Petersham Nurseries in London. Petersham Cellar is associated with Petersham Nurseries and the group of restaurants including…

  • Istituto Grandi Marchi

    Istituto Grandi Marchi

    On 25 June 2024, I attended the Istituto Grandi Marchi wine tasting event in London. The Istituto Grandi Marchi, founded in 2004, is a group comprising eighteen top Italian wineries. Their mission is to promote the culture and trade of high-quality Italian wine. As part of their global tour, they brought a selection of exceptional…

  • Lidl Summer and French Wine Tours

    Lidl Summer and French Wine Tours

    In June 2024, I went to a Lidl wine tasting in London, which showcased wines planned to be introduced during the Summer (mainly Iberian wine) and French Wine Tours, at the end of June 2024 and July 2024 respectively. Additionally, a selection of wines from Lidl’s core range was also being shown. Wine Tours at…

  • Wines of Sicilia DOC Tasting

    Wines of Sicilia DOC Tasting

    On 10th June 2024, there was a trade and press event showcasing around 150 wines from 25 producers from the Wines of Sicilia DOC. It was an excellent opportunity to explore Sicilian wine styles, taste new releases and learn about the different regions of Sicily. While Sicily boasts approximately 70 native grape varieties, Grillo (white)…

  • Borsa Vini Italiani

    Borsa Vini Italiani

    I had the pleasure of attending the Borsa Vini Italiani, a trade event hosted by the Italian Trade Commission, at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London on 4th June 2024. The event featured 41 exhibitors showcasing 197 wines from 13 regions including Piedmont, Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Tuscany, Marche, Abruzzo, Campania, Apulia, Calabria, Sicily, Sardinia…

  • Tesco Spring/Summer Press Tasting

    Tesco Spring/Summer Press Tasting

    In May 2024, I had the pleasure of attending Tesco’s Spring/Summer Press Tasting event in London. The selection was curated to cater to the warmer months, with a clear aim to inspire customers at every price point. The event showcased an impressive array of 138 wines, including 23 new additions to the range and numerous…

  • Co-op Spring & Summer Wine Tasting

    Co-op Spring & Summer Wine Tasting

    The Co-op Spring & Summer Wine Tasting was held in May 2024, in London, showcasing 84 wines. With consumers becoming more price-conscious, the Co-op has seen a noticeable shift towards choosing own-label wines over branded ones. In response, Co-op has expanded its own-label wine ranges. There is also a strong demand for rosé wines, which,…

  • London Wine Fair

    London Wine Fair

    I attended the London Wine Fair in May 2024, a three day trade event featuring 335 exhibitors and over 3,224 products, mainly wines. There were large pavilions for Italy, France, Greece, Georgia, WineGB, and even Japan, but Spain, New Zealand, and Australia were notably absent. However, on the day I attended, there was a pop-up…

  • Asda Spring Summer Showcase

    Asda Spring Summer Showcase

    In May 2024, Asda held a press tasting showcasing a variety of wines, perfect for Spring and Summer days. While the focus was primarily on wines ideal for warmer weather, there were also a few bold reds to complement BBQs. One of the highlights of the event was the re-launch of the Wine Atlas range,…

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Did You Know?

In 2024, the UK was the second-largest export market for Champagne globally, after the United States. More

Local UK bottling of wine which 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