
This is the second of three reviews of the Three Bowls range of Greek wines. See the previous review of Three Bowls Xinomavro for the background on this new range. This one is 2024 vintage at 12.5%. It is 60% Xinomavro and 40% Assyrtiko, from vineyards in Naousa, Imathia, an interplay of these two landmark…

This wine is produced by Dominio de Elbio, a new Ribera del Duero project from well-known winemaker David Gonzalez, recognised for his work across Bodegas Chivite, Viña Salceda and Gran Feudo within the Perelada stable. He was included in the Master Winemaker Top 100 2025, and brings meticulous attention to detail in the winery, with…

This is from a new wine range created in house by Maltby & Greek and developed in collaboration with a select group of contemporary Greek winemakers. This is the first I tried, with a Rosé Xinomavro Assyrtiko and a White Assyrtiko also to follow. The range is designed to showcase the country’s most important grape…

Piccini Collezione Oro Chianti Superiore by Piccini. Collezione Oro translates to Gold Collection, and the range represents their more refined, region expressive wines that showcase both tradition and innovation. Chianti Superiore is a sub category of the Chianti DOCG, requiring stricter quality standards, slightly riper grapes and lower yields compared to base Chianti. The 2024…

This Italian red comes from the Abruzzo region and is made by Botter for the Co-op. Montepulciano is the grape used here, not to be confused with the Tuscan town of the same name which is entirely unrelated. Being a Riserva and from the 2021 vintage, it’s been aged longer, likely in oak. This typically…

From the northern reaches of Burgundy near Auxerre in France, this wine is produced by Calvet, a well-known French wine house with over two centuries of winemaking heritage, now part of the Les Grands Chais de France group. Made entirely from Chardonnay, the sole grape permitted under the Chablis AOC, this is a 2023 vintage…

This 2024 vintage comes from Cantine Settesoli, a Sicilian cooperative of 2,000 members. At 13% ABV, it is bottled at source and brought into the UK by Liberty Wines Ltd, one of the UK’s larger wholesaler-importers. The name Arpeggio refers to the musical technique where the notes of a chord are played one after another…

This 2023 vintage is made from 100% Gamay, with an alcohol level of 13.5 percent. The wine has been aged on fine lees for 10 months in stainless steel. The colour is a pale purple. The aroma is full and expressive, with intense strawberry and raspberry, alongside rose petals. On tasting, it is silky and…

This wine first caught my attention at the Asda Autumn/Winter press tasting, where I made a mental note to revisit it off the supermarket shelf. When it recently appeared on promotion, I didn’t hesitate to pick up a bottle. This is a 100% Shiraz from the 2023 vintage, with a moderate 13.5% abv. It comes…

This wine from producer Ciadores de Rioja comes from a family-run bodega located just six kilometres from Logroño, right in the heart of the Rioja appellation. It’s estate bottled, not bulk bottled as many wines at this level tend to be, a requirement for all wines from Rioja at present. Made from Viura grapes, the…

From McLaren Vale, Australia, this red comes with a great endorsement. Jancis Robinson asked, “Surely wines like this would normally be much more expensive?”, which made it impossible not to investigate. It also forms part of The Wine Society’s Wine Champion selection, a curated collection of wines rigorously blind-tasted by their expert buying team and…

This wine stood out at the Waitrose Spring Press Tasting, so it deserved a closer look. From New Zealand’s North Island, this wine comes from Escarpment Winery, located in Martinborough. The name itself, Escarpment, refers to a long, steep slope that borders a plateau, reflecting the distinctive landscape that shapes this corner of the region….

Majestic kindly sent me some samples of non-alcoholic Aperitivo and Spritz drinks to try for Dry January. I tasted them side by side, which allowed me to compare and contrast. Each was served over ice, mixed 50:50 with tonic. Martini Vibrante Non-Alcoholic AperitivoThis Italian aperitivo is infused with artemisia, bergamot, chamomile and a mix of…

Silbador Carménère by Emiliana is produced in Chile with an approach rooted firmly in organic farming and ecological balance. Named after the Silbador, an insect-eating bird that roams their vineyards, this wine owes part of its existence to a natural cycle where birds, insects and animals work in harmony. Without the need for pesticides, Emiliana’s…

I first discovered and took a liking to this wine during a Waitrose press tasting. Produced by Markus Huber at his family-run winery in the Traisental Valley, it is made entirely from Grüner Veltliner grapes grown on a single estate. The vines are planted on slopes that run beside a river and the wine spends…

Georges Duboeuf Fleurie comes from one of France’s most well-known wine merchants. Founded by Georges Duboeuf (1933–2020), often dubbed the “King” or “Pope of Beaujolais” for his global promotion of Beaujolais wines, particularly the Beaujolais Nouveau, the business remains in the family, now under the direction of his son Franck. This Fleurie is made entirely…

This is an interesting new release from Domaine des Malandes, best known for its fine Chablis, though this wine takes a different direction. It’s made using a new grape variety and is produced with a strong focus on sustainability. The fruit comes from a single vineyard in Moulin-à-Vent, Beaujolais, owned by grower Richard Rottiers. The…

I came across this wine while dining at South Hill Park. The Spanish Tempranillo caught my eye on the menu and I was intrigued to see it wasn’t labelled as a Rioja. I wondered whether it might be from Ribera del Duero instead. While I waited for it to arrive, I did a quick Internet…

The Society’s Portuguese Red, from Península de Setúbal in Portugal, south-east of Lisbon, is made by the family-owned Casa Ermelinda Freitas. This winery has been in operation since 1920 and remains under the guidance of successive generations of dynamic women. Their wines have impressed me previously, especially those made with the Touriga Nacional grape, but…

I first encountered this wine at the Tesco Autumn Winter Press Tasting, where it immediately stood out for being full of flavour and impressively priced. At the time I mentioned that it was supplied by Maison Johanès Boubée in France, which on further digging turns out to be part of Carrefour. They manage the logistics…
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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