Past Tastings
Uncovering great wines from consumer, trade and press tastings
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Waitrose Spring Press Tasting 2025
I was invited to the Waitrose & Partners Spring Wine Tasting in London in April 2025, where 159 products were showcased across all drinks categories. The selection reflected a clear focus on both innovation and quality, with several key trends standing out. For Waitrose, Crémant is currently the fastest-growing category, with sales up 19% compared to last year. There has also been a notable rise in interest in lesser-known regions through the Loved & Found range, which now includes six new varieties. Their own label wines are also seeing real momentum, particularly the No.1 range which has doubled in size…
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M&S Spring Press Tasting
In April 2025 I went to the M&S press tasting in London, where the retailer showcased a raft of new wines and several old favourites. Innovation in English wine was front-and-centre. M&S has released its first own-label Charmat-method sparkling, meaning the second fermentation is carried out in tank rather than in the bottle. Alongside this comes the new, traditional method, Rockferne Brut, made exclusively for M&S by Roebuck Estates in Sussex and highlighted among my picks below. A clear trend was a surge in demand for smaller formats. M&S has introduced twelve new half-bottles and minis this month, creating one…
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Provence Rosé Tasting
In April 2025, I joined a virtual masterclass hosted by Ray O’Connor MW, ambassador for Vins de Provence. Aimed at trade and press, the session tackled the question: “Provence rosé: are they all the same?” and explored the breadth and diversity the region has to offer. Ray took us through the regions and sub-regions of Provence, looking into grape varieties, terrain, climate, relevant statistics and the pivotal role of the Centre du Rosé research centre. The educational element has its own article on Understanding Provence Rosé, while this write-up focuses solely on the tasting element of the session. We sampled…
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Morrisons Spring Summer Press Tasting 2025
In April 2025, I was invited to the Morrisons Spring Summer Press Tasting in London, where around 100 wines were on show. A pianist added a touch of class to the event, playing gentle background music as we tasted our way through the selection. Morrisons is showing a focus on sourcing quality wines from less obvious regions, aiming to offer strong value without sacrificing quality. A good example of this is the La Bellamente Pinot Grigio Blush NV from Moldova, mentioned further below, offering an acceptable rosé for only £6 and only £4.50 during 25% off promotion. In light of…
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Lidl Spring Wine Tours
In early April 2025, I was invited to Lidl’s press wine tasting event in London, where they showcased a selection of wines set to be released as part of their upcoming Wine Tour series for May, June and a few from July. In addition to these limited-time wines, several offerings from Lidl’s core range were also available for tasting. Lidl’s Wine Tours typically run for around two months, giving customers a limited window to purchase these wines while stocks last. Many of the most popular selections tend to sell out more quickly, which is part of the strategy to keep…
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The Definitive Champagne Tasting
On the first day of April 2025, I attended The Definitive Champagne Tasting, a two-floor event held at the Tate Modern in London. Organised by the UK’s Champagne Shippers’ Association, it marked the first generic Champagne trade tasting in London since 2018. With 51 producers represented, including Champagne houses, cooperatives, and growers, the event featured an impressive selection of 220 wines. I started the event at the self pour sections, dedicated to non-vintage cuvées from the exhibiting producers. Most of the producers showcased a Non-Vintage cuvée, offering an opportunity to compare and contrast the house styles. When I started the…
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Tesco Spring Summer Tasting 2025
In March 2025, I went to the Tesco Spring Summer Press Tasting in London, where a large line-up of 152 wines was showcased, including 19 new wines. One of the most notable developments was Tesco’s move towards greater sustainability in its wine packaging. Working in collaboration with the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) and various suppliers, Tesco has introduced lighter 300g bottles into its own-label range from February 2025. This step has already resulted in the removal of 155 tonnes of glass from production, a reduction in carbon emissions and success in meeting the SWR Bottle Accord target, achieving an average…
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Bulgarian Tasting
In March 2025, I attended the Bulgarian Tasting and Masterclass in London, which specifically focused on the Thracian Lowlands, one of Bulgaria’s two PGI regions. The Masterclass, led by Dr Jamie Goode, centred on Bulgaria’s indigenous grape varieties. The walkaround tasting featuring over 60 wines. Representatives from The Jolly Merchants, Danube Wines, and Swig importers were present, alongside winemakers from Maruga Winery, Aya Estate and Katarzyna Winery. Jamie Goode covered various aspects of Bulgarian wine, including its history, geography, regional and sub-regional areas, soil types and grape varieties. I explore these topics and more, in the article on Understanding Bulgarian…
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Aldi Spring Summer Tasting 2025
I went to the Aldi Spring Summer Press Tasting in early March 2025 in London. Aldi is now the third-largest wine retailer in the UK by volume, across red, white and rosé wines. This year, they expanded their Unearthed and Specially Selected wine ranges and also had some interesting new additions from Washington State. There were 94 wines available to try, though there were fewer rosé wines than I expected, compared to last year. Here are the wines that stood out for me together with my notes: Specially Selected Ribolla Gialla NV (11% ABV, £6.99) An Italian sparkling wine made…
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SITT Spring Tasting 2025
In late February 2025, I attended the Specialist Importers’ Trade Tasting (SITT) in London. With 47 specialist importers showcasing over 700 wines from diverse regions including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Lebanon, Moldova, Spain, Ukraine, the USA, Italy, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, there was an impressive array to explore. The wines are exclusively available to the independent sector, meaning they won’t be found on supermarket shelves or in wine multiples. The event caters specifically to independent wine merchants, sommeliers, restaurateurs, online retailers and regional wholesalers. With so many wines on offer, I had to narrow my focus. I…
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Wanderlust Trade Portfolio Tasting 2025
In February 2025, I was invited to the Wanderlust Annual Trade Portfolio Tasting in London. The event showcased around 130 wines, with a particular spotlight on 20 of their passionate and independent producers who were present. Wanderlust imports sustainable wines into the UK, working exclusively with family-owned or independent producers. They focus on organic and sustainable wines, sourced from smaller family estates, distributing them to UK restaurants, hotels and hospitality venues. They also sell directly to consumers via their website and have been awarded Best Online Retailer of the Year by Decanter Magazine. Among the many great wines, these were…
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The Best of Rioja 2025
In February 2025, I attended Tim Atkin MW’s Best of Rioja tasting in London. Like the inaugural event last year, this was a truly rare occasion, bringing together an incredible collection of wines in one room. In this year when Rioja celebrates the 100th anniversary of the creation of its Denominación de Origen, the event featured nearly 300 wines, showcasing the very best the region has to offer. Almost all of Rioja’s top bodegas were present, with the lineup consisting of the First and Second Growths from Tim’s annual Rioja Report, complemented by an equally important group of rising stars.…
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Gonzalez Byass 21st Birthday Tasting
2025 marks 21 years since Gonzalez Byass established its UK office and to celebrate, the company hosted an extensive tasting in London, showcasing its diverse and expanding portfolio. The company now represents wines from ten different countries, including renowned producers such as Vilarnau Cava, Champagne Deutz, Domäne Wachau, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Jackson Estate, Wirra Wirra, Ashton Hills, Neil Ellis, Viñedos Veramonte, Finca Constancia, Viñas del Vero, Singular Estates Disznókő, and Beronia. Recent additions to the portfolio include Famiglia Castellani from Tuscany and Burgundy house Jean Bouchard. Gonzalez Byass wines are available through independent retailers (do a Google search for specific wines),…
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Lidl Winter Wine Tours 2025
In early February 2025, I attended Lidl’s press wine tasting event in London, where they showcased wines set to be available from either the end of February and the end of March as part of their Wine Tour series. Alongside these limited-time selections, there were also a few wines from their core range. Lidl’s Wine Tours run for around two months, offering customers a chance to explore and purchase these wines while stocks last. However, the most popular selections often sell out sooner. The aim is to keep Lidl’s wine offering fresh and encourage customers to return regularly to discover…
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Australia and New Zealand Trade Tasting 2025
For the first time, Australia and New Zealand combined their annual trade tastings in London, an event that historically has been held separately, New Zealand’s since 1982 and Wine Australia’s since 1986. The decision to merge the two was likely influenced by lower attendance in 2023, though it’s worth noting that train strikes in 2023 may have contributed to those numbers. This year’s event featured more than 1,000 wines from 200 wineries, a vast selection that posed the difficult question: how do I approach a tasting with so many wines? In previous years, when Australia and New Zealand held their…
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Hallgarten & Novum Annual Portfolio Tasting 2025
The Hallgarten & Novum Annual Portfolio Tasting was held in January 2025 at the iconic Old Billingsgate in London. The choice of a new, expansive venue symbolised the company’s fresh direction, described by Hallgarten as “Our Next Chapter”. This event marked a pivotal moment for one of the UK’s leading wine distributors, reflecting its growth and transformation. Founded in 1933, Hallgarten & Novum Wines has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s wine trade, specialising in premium wines for both the hospitality sector (on-trade) and retail outlets (off-trade). Notably, around 70% of its business is rooted in the premium on-trade…
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Doctor Wine’s 2025 Essential Guide to Italian Wine
In January 2025, I attended an insightful Italian wine masterclass and an exceptional wine tasting experience. Daniele Cernilli, known as Doctor Wine, is a leading Italian wine expert, award-winning journalist, author and educator. He co-founded Gambero Rosso and edited its annual wine guide for 24 years. In 2011, he launched the Doctor Wine web magazine, where he shares his extensive knowledge of Italian wine. The event marked the launch of The Essential Guide to Italian Wine 2025, a publication curated by editor Daniele Cernilli and his expert team. This guide highlights their selection of the best and must-have wines for…
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VIN 2025: a French Wine Tasting
VIN in London marked my first tasting for 2025, an event organised by Business France, the trade section of the French Embassy in the UK, in collaboration with various French partners. This event brought together four UK importers and 34 producers, showing an impressive selection of over 500 wines from multiple French regions. The wines fell into two main categories: those already imported into the UK by the participating importers, and others, many of which are seeking representation. A notable highlight was the quality of the latter group. Many of these wines had already achieved significant recognition through awards and…
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Majestic Showcase
In December 2024, with so few press tastings in the calendar, this gave me the opportunity to visit my local Woking Majestic for their showcase tasting. The event featured nine wines, arranged across three sections: white, red and sweet/fortified. The tasting began on a high note with the Taittinger Brut Réserve, a sparkling classic that hardly requires an introduction, let alone any detailed mention. The whites included a Chablis, a Viognier, and a Chenin Blanc. Of these, the standout for me was the St Ferreol Viognier 2023 (13%). Partially fermented and matured in French oak on its lees, it offered…
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Wines of Alentejo Battle of Icons
In early December 2024, London hosted a unique event: Wines of Alentejo, Battle of Icons. This gathering brought together 18 people from the trade and press to explore and celebrate the exceptional wines of Alentejo, one of Portugal’s most renowned southern wine regions. The event focused on identifying and highlighting wines poised to become ‘Icons’, top-tier examples of Alentejo’s winemaking excellence. By spotlighting these soon-to-be Icons, Wines of Alentejo, Battle of Icons also aimed to enhance the reputation and recognition of Alentejo wines. The event began with a refreshing, sparkling Vinha D’Ervideira. However, the main focus of the evening was…
Pick Lists
Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20
Did You Know?
Australian wine exports to China have collapsed from around $1.2 billion to less than $10 million. More
Wine’s aroma is not determined solely by which flavour compounds it contains. More
Low-to-moderate wine consumption is associated with lower mortality. More
Moderate water stress can be part of what creates flavour and terroir expression. More
Wine appears less frequently online than other alcoholic drinks. More
Independent retailers had 9% fewer customers in March 2026 than two years earlier. More
Average spend per bottle in independents has risen by 23% since 2019, compared with 21% in supermarkets. More.
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
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