Unrepresented
Great wines not yet having UK importers
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Nebbiolo Day
In early March 2026 I was at Nebbiolo Day in London, a showcase of 91 Italian producers with hundreds of wines, all made using the Nebbiolo grape. Nebbiolo is a northern Italian story, with the main wine areas being Alto Piemonte, Valtellina, Roero, Barbaresco and Barolo. It’s a grape with real detail and variation, including four different Nebbiolo clones, and it’s said that new Nebbiolo vines need around 10 years to really show their true complexity. I’m not especially interested in ageing wine, or even spending much time trying to predict how a wine will age, so I went looking…
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Wines of Portugal’s Grand Trade & Press Tasting
In February 2026 I was invited to Wines of Portugal’s Grand Trade & Press Tasting in London, a wide-ranging snapshot of what’s happening across Portuguese wine right now. There were 59 producers and more than 570 wines, representing 11 different wine regions. Most wines were poured by the producers themselves, which made it easy to get context and detail alongside the tasting, though there was also a Free Pour Area. That section was organised around three themes: low alcohol wines, single-varietal expressions from some of Portugal’s lesser-known indigenous grapes and Portugal’s Sustainable Wine Growing Certification. I also attended a masterclass…
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Borsa Vini Italiani
In January 2026 I attended Borsa Vini Italiani, run by the Italian Trade Agency. There were 43 producers presenting more than 300 wines. I previously attended this tasting in 2024, when I focused on seeking out more atypical Italian offerings by grape variety. This time I went with a wider remit, but there were still far too many wines to try. I decided to narrow my focus a little and look only at reds. As the majority of exhibitors were looking for representation in the UK, I am showing indicative European retail pricing in euros. Here are my picks: Fattoria…
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Les Crus Bourgeois
In November 2025 I was invited to Les Crus Bourgeois 2023 tasting in London, an event that brought together wines from the Médoc. Les Crus Bourgeois is a long-standing quality classification for estates not included in the famous Bordeaux 1855 ranking. First established in 1932, it highlights producers whose wines meet demanding standards, with blind tastings and estate inspections ensuring both quality and consistency. I have written a separate article that explores the system in greater depth, including the tiers and the châteaux involved. This tasting was the first UK trade showing of the 2025 Classification, unveiled the previous February.…
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Australian Wine Tasting
In early November 2025, I attended an Australian wine tasting event in London, organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). The tasting brought together a mix of producers and importers, showcasing a wide range of wines from across Australia. It was a busy and, at times, crowded event, with over 25 wineries represented and close to 300 wines available to taste. As expected, there was no shortage of Shiraz, but I focused on seeking out wines that offered something a bit different. Below are the highlights of what I discovered. Prices weren’t provided at the event, so I’ve…
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Tasting for The Essential Guide to Italian Wine
In October 2025, in London, wine professionals and enthusiasts gathered for a tasting event to celebrate the The Essential Guide to Italian Wine 2026. The event was led by Daniele Cernilli, better known as Doctor Wine, one of Italy’s foremost wine experts. A celebrated journalist, author and educator, Cernilli is also the co-founder of Gambero Rosso and was editor of its renowned annual wine guide for many years. In 2011, he launched the Doctor Wine online magazine, through which he continues to share his deep and comprehensive knowledge of Italian wine. The tasting coincided with the launch of the 2026…
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Fairtrade Talk and Tasting
I was recently invited to a roundtable and tasting event hosted by the Fairtrade Foundation to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. The event took place at the Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence in London and offered a fascinating opportunity to explore the real-world impact of Fairtrade wine on communities in Argentina, Chile and South Africa. Following the discussion, we were treated to a walk-around tasting of Fairtrade wines from producers across these three countries. The panel featured several key figures in the Fairtrade and wine sectors: Ed Robinson, Wine Buyer for The Co-op; Andrés Valero, Sustainability and CSR Leader at Bodega Argento; Aleesha Hansel,…
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London Wine Fair 2025
I visited the London Wine Fair 2025 in May 2025. The event featured 433 exhibitors showcasing an impressive 3,213 products. There were prominent, dedicated pavilions representing France, Italy, Romania, Japan, Greece, Macedonia and Georgia. Each of these had clearly made a strong effort to stand out, with Romania, Japan, Greece, Macedonia and Georgia in particular aiming to establish and expand their footprint in the UK market. In contrast, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal and Spain were notably absent as national pavilions, though this was unsurprising. These countries already enjoy a firm footing in the UK and host their own large-scale trade…
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Unrepresented Wines
My original intention was always to focus on UK-centric wines, those available here in the UK. I attend a wide range of tastings, including those hosted by retailers, importers and specific wine regions. The region-specific tastings often feature some wines that are ‘unrepresented,’ meaning they do not yet have a UK importer. Initially, I avoided these wines, preferring to stick to wines that were more readily accessible. However, over time, my curiosity has led me to explore this uncharted territory to see what I might be missing. It turned out that some of the better wines I have tasted have…
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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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Tim Atkin MW Ribera del Duero Selection
Each September, Tim Atkin MW spends two weeks in Ribera del Duero, meeting winemakers and sampling a large number of wines. This year, he tasted about 551 wines from 173 bodegas. In November 2024, he presented the fifth annual selection of his top 100 wines, with scores, at a tasting event in London. The top 100 wines all scored 94 points or more, representing the best of the region. In addition to the top 100, the event featured high-scoring selections in two extra categories, Ribera del Duero on a Budget highlighting wines costing €16 euros or less and Unrepresented Producers…
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Abruzzo’s Signature Wines
In mid-November 2024, I attended an Abruzzo wine tasting event in London. The trade-focused event showcased a range of wines from the Abruzzo region, including whites such as Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and Pecorino d’Abruzzo, the vibrant rosé Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, and the region’s iconic red, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Most of the producers were seeking representation in the UK. There were approximately 100 wines on offer from about 12 producers, although, with hindsight, the exact numbers are hard to know. Unusually for a trade tasting of this nature, there was no accompanying tasting booklet. This lack of information made keeping track of what I…
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Cru Bourgeois du Médoc
In mid-November 2024, I attended a Cru Bourgeois du Médoc tasting event in London, featuring a selection of 64 wines from the 2022 vintage. Roughly 60% of the wines presented were seeking representation, making it an interesting event for industry professionals and wine merchants on the lookout for new additions. I’ve put together a short overview article for newcomers to Cru Bourgeois du Médoc. It covers the essentials, including the region’s location, the classification system, production numbers and the typical flavour profile of these wines. It also outlines the three-tiered Cru Bourgeois classification system that recognises quality among non-classified Médoc…
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Simply Italian Great Wines Tasting
In early October 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the Simply Italian Great Wines Trade Tasting, an event with many exciting wines yet to be available in the UK. For importers and retailers alike, this event offered numerous opportunities to discover new offerings that could bring something fresh to the British market. The tasting started with a Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC Masterclass, expertly hosted by Patrick Schmitt MW. The masterclass looked deep into the origins, perceptions, geography, climate and styles of Pinot Grigio, including Rosé variants. Some insights from this session have become part of a wider article…
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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 New Zealand tasting. Spain, Australia and New Zealand recently held their own separate trade events, which allowed them to showcase a much larger number of wines. I mainly focused on wines already in the UK market but also explored a few seeking representation, as I…
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Wines from Spain Tasting
The 36th Annual trade/press tasting of Wines from Spain took place in May 2024, featuring UK importers and Spanish wineries. The event showcased over 245 Spanish wineries and 789 wines. A highlight of the event was the Cava de Guarda Superior Masterclass, led by Master of Wine Peter McCombie. This session explored aged Cava and its potential food pairings, with food provided by Iberica Restaurant. Given the large number of wines, my initial tastings were focused on those already represented in the UK market. However, towards the end, I explored some wines seeking distributors, allowing for unexpected discoveries. These are…
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Wines of Portugal Tasting
This event held in London, on 20 March 2024, brought together an impressive 60 producers showcasing 600 wines from 11 distinct wine regions of Portugal. The tasting highlighted the rich vinicultural diversity of Portugal, a country with a wide array of over 250 grape varieties. A highlight of this tasting was the inclusion of a Masterclass ‘Hidden Gems’ led by Dirceu Vianna Junior MW. This session looked into the under-appreciated grapes of Portugal, shedding light on the potential and uniqueness of lesser-known varietals. The variety of grapes, terrains and winemaking methods in Portugal results in a vast diversity of wines…
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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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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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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…
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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