Past Tastings
Uncovering great wines from consumer, trade and press tastings
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Through the Looking Glass
The Bibendum Spring Portfolio tasting, held on 27 February 2024, showcased 329 wines from England, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, USA, Canada, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Australia, China, New Zealand, and South Africa. Bibendum is mainly targeted at the on-trade sector, which means bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels. The fact that many of the wines were presented by the producers themselves added an extra layer of insight into the stories behind each bottle. I find that hospitality offerings often leave much to be desired, with wines that fail to meet expectations or accurately represent their region or type. Consequently, I sometimes…
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Furmint and Friends
This tasting was on the 27th February 2024, in London, organised by Wines of Hungary UK in partnership with the newly established Hungarian Wine Marketing Agency. It showcased an impressive array of 29 producers, presenting over 150 wines. The highlight of the event was a masterclass led by Caroline Gilby MW who imparted her extensive knowledge and insights. This masterclass provided attendees with a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the nuances of Hungarian wine. As usual, my focus was primarily on wines that are readily available in the UK market, rather than those seeking distribution, so you can…
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The Best of Rioja 2024
Tim Atkin MW hosted a wine tasting event on 13 February 2024 that featured over 300 wines from leading bodegas, many of which came to London specifically to showcase their wines. This event marked a first in either London or Rioja, with such an extensive collection of wines being presented for tasting. Tim dedicates three weeks each year to visiting the vineyards and producers and the wines included in this event were chosen based on Tim’s latest Rioja Report. The following producers where pouring wines: 220 Cántaras, Abel Mendoza, Alegre y Valgañon, Arizcuren, Artuke, Benjamin de Rothschild/Vega Sicilia, Berta Valgañón,…
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Lidl Italian and Iberian Wine Tours
In February 2024, I attended a Lidl wine tasting which showcased wines planned to be introduced during the Italian and Iberian wine tours in February and March 2024, respectively. Additionally, a selection of wines from Lidl’s existing collection was also being shown. Wine tours at Lidl are the wines displayed in wooden crates, each accompanied by scores. A specific wine from a tour is typically available for up to two months, although it may sell out sooner if it proves popular. The concept behind these tours is to refresh the selection periodically, ensuring variety and encouraging customers to return and…
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New Zealand London Trade Tasting 2024
The New Zealand London Trade Tasting on 6 February 2024 included of a walkaround tasting and a masterclass ‘New Zealand Road Trip’ by Oz Clarke. At this tasting I mainly tried Sauvignon Blanc but I also tasted a few Chardonnay, Albariño, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Syrah wine and even a red blend. Please see my article Understanding New Zealand Wines for an introduction. Not all New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs manage to recapture the distinctive qualities I remember of their early 1990s examples, such as Montana, before the era of mass production began. I like a Sauvignon Blanc that presents a…
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Australia Trade Tasting 2024
On 30th January 2024, the Australia Trade Tasting event showcased an impressive array of over 700 wines from 200 producers. Australia has a strong position in the UK off-trade (not consumed on premises) market, where it leads as the number one country of origin, having nearly double the market share of its closest competitor, Italy. For more background read my article on Understanding Australian Wine. The focus of my exploration was for wines that are already distributed in the UK, with an emphasis on affordability, though I also included more premium options for comparison. A key question I had in…
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Italian Wine Tasting and Masterclass
On the 29th of January, I had the pleasure of attending an event celebrating and promoting the 10th anniversary of The Essential Guide to Italian Wine, at Brown’s Hotel in London. A highlight of this tasting was the presence of one of Italy’s most well-known wine connoisseurs, Daniele Cernilli, also known as DoctorWine. The event featured a walk around tasting, offering the opportunity to experience a selection of wines from Italy’s leading regions. I also attended a masterclass, jointly conducted by Daniele Cernilli and Luigi Buonanno, who is the Head of Sales at Berkmann Wine Cellars. This masterclass focused on…
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Winetraders Italian Portfolio Tasting 2024
On 29 January 2024, Winetraders hosted their Italian Portfolio Tasting in London. Winetraders is an importer, retailer and distributor specialising in single estate wines with their range spanning across Italy, Spain, Germany, Australia and South America. What sets Winetraders apart is their exceptionally rigorous selection process, a meticulous approach ensuring that each wine in their portfolio not only demonstrates the unique characteristics of its origin but also offers unbeatable value. Here are the wines that I tried in no particular order: Here are the wines I liked the most with my notes/reasons. The prices are only indicative and vary across…
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Liberty Wines Annual Portfolio Tasting 2024
On 23 January 2024 I went to the Liberty Wines Annual Portfolio Tasting at the Kia Oval in London. Liberty Wines was established in March 1997 with a founding team of four alongside the backing of leading wine producers from Italy and Australia. In this, their 26th year the team has expanded to more than 185 staff members and a portfolio featuring over 375 wine producers. They were the IWC Agent of the Year in 2023. Liberty Wines doesn’t offer direct sales to the public, but comprehensive details on all their wines can be found at libertywines.co.uk. Their selection is…
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Rioja Tasting
In the midst of a December devoid of trade wine tastings, I found myself inspired to organise a Rioja wine tasting. Consisting of seven family members and friends, all of whom share my enthusiasm for wine, we embarked on a journey through the flavours of Rioja. Accompanied by an array of tasty Spanish tapas, our tasting session featured a curated selection of both white and red Rioja wines. The insights shared here represent a collective blend of our experiences and opinions. For those new to the world of Rioja wines, I recommend starting with my previous article, Understanding Rioja, which…
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Amarone Calling
On 20th November 2023 I attended the ‘Amarone Calling’ tasting, a collaboration between the UK Sommelier Association and the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella, the Italian organisation dedicated to promoting and controlling the appellation of Valpolicella wines. The event focused on showcasing a range of Valpolicella and Amarone wines, offering a unique opportunity to explore these wines. Attendees entered the event with little prior information on the specific wines to be tasted, making it more of a spontaneous exploration rather than a pre-planned tasting journey. This approach, while somewhat challenging for those such as myself looking to target wines based on…
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Top 100 Tasting with Tim Atkin MW
On the 14th of November 2023, I went to a trade and press wine tasting event ‘Top 100 Tasting with Tim Atkin MW’ focussing on Ribera del Duero. The event was a curated selection of wines from Tim Atkin’s recent visit to the region. Ribera del Duero is renowned for its deep colours, complex aromas, robust structure and primarily utilises the Tempranillo grape. However, it’s not uncommon to find blends incorporating Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, adding to the wines’ complexity. You can learn more in my article on Understanding Ribera del Duero. Despite the ‘Top 100’ title, there…
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Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco Tasting
On Tuesday 10th October I attended the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco Trade & Media tasting. The Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG region lies near Venice, in the foothills of the pre-alps. This small area is known for its steep vineyards, which are primarily tended by hand due to the challenging terrain. These labour-intensive practices have entrenched a tradition of high-quality production, albeit at a lower output compared to the larger and flatter DOC region. The distinction in quality between DOCG and non-DOCG Prosecco is, in part, a product of the geographical and logistical challenges posed by the hilly Conegliano Valdobbiadene…
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Fantini Italian Wine Tasting
On the 29th September I had the pleasure of attending an Italian wine tasting at Morrish & Banham‘s shop in Bridport, Dorset. It was hosted by Illaria Zenaro of Fantini in Italy who are represented in the UK by Liberty Wines. Fantini are unusual for an Italian producer in that the majority, 95%, of their wines are exported from Italy rather than for their domestic market. The tasting was also unusual in that I found that all the wines were very memorable in their own ways and I would happily drink any of them again. Here are my notes: Whites:…
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Hatch Mansfield Autumn Tasting
Hatch Mansfield are an agency specialising in wines made by independent, family owned winemakers. The Autumn tasting on 26th September 2023 included wines from Champagne Taittinger, Louis Jadot, Terroirs et Talents, Joseph Mellot, M.CHAPOUTIER, C.V.N.E., Gaja, Esporão, Errazuriz, Arboleda, Seña & Viñedo, Caliterra, Zuccardi, Robert Oatley, Cherubino, Villa Maria, Esk Valley, Kleine Zalze & Visio Vintners, Domaine Carneros & Résonance and Wild Steps & The Wine on Tap Co. There was a very large number of wines so I went with a shortlist of mainly those that were accessible, financially and physically, because many are only available in one or…
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WineGB Trade & Press Tasting
On the 5th of September 2023, I went to the annual WineGB Trade & Press Tasting, where 312 wines from English and Welsh producers were on display. The event had separate stands for individual exhibitors, stands that represented regional vineyard associations with smaller commercial producers on display and special tables emphasising the diverse wine styles now being produced in Britain. Additionally, there was a dedicated tasting table presenting the Trophy winners from the WineGB Awards 2023. I sampled many wines and these are the ones that particularly caught my attention: The award winning wines I tried were the Digby Fine…
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Discover Greek Wine
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the ‘Discover Greek Wine’ event at Cellar Magnifique in Woking. The event was hosted by Sam Kemp, wine events manager and English winemaker, who is knowledgeable and deeply passionate about wine. We were introduced to five wines, comprising three whites and two reds. It was interesting to learn that despite Greece’s hot climate, 55% of its wines are white. This is attributed to the local, indigenous, grapes being suitable for white wine and the white wine being well-suited to the hot Greek weather. The first wine we tasted was the Feast –…
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Rosé Wine Tasting
This was a wine tasting with family and a few friends, accompanied by the online ‘Everything’s Coming Up Rosé – Rosé’ workshop hosted by The Wine Society. The wines in the online tasting were The Society’s Saumur Rosé Brut NV, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Rosé, Château Vignelaure 2022, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, Contesa 2022 and Rosé d’Anjou Gamay-Grolleau, Famille Bougrier 2022. We had some Berne Côtes de Provence Rosé 2020 that needed consuming, so we substituted that for the Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Rosé. I’m not an avid Rosé drinker, but two of the guests are, so the comments here are primarily…
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Laithwaites/Sunday Times Wine Club Festival
This year, I went to the Laithwaites/ Sunday Times Wine Club, Wine Festival held last May 2023 at its new venue, Olympia London, which is undergoing renovation and more like a construction site. There was a long queue and, on entering, the unfortunate smell of fresh paint, not something conducive to tasting wines! The event boasted its largest Festival selection yet with over 350 wines from 100 producers across 17 different countries, each country or region enjoying its own dedicated festival area. In addition to the impressive range of wines, there were stalls offering artisanal foods, English sparkling wine and…
Pick Lists
Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Aldi | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20
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
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