Wine Vision chairman, Paul Henry, gives his personal view of global wine challenges

I like words, but I think that numbers do a better job at setting and managing expectation. So when an event entitled, 'Wine Vision', appears, and there is an opportunity to be involved, I guess you have to think pretty carefully about the risk and reward quotient - clearly, at some point, there should be a requirement to be 'visionary'.

Robin Copestick's Asian and Australia adventure takes him to Adelaide - don't mention the cricket...

Adelaide

Jonathan Simms to be brand ambassador for Pernod Ricard UK Champagnes

Pernod Ricard UK has appointed Jonathan Simms as its new ambassador for its Champagnes brands.

Interview: Sam Neill, actor and owner of Two Paddocks winery in New Zealand

Sam Neill is as serious and excited about his Two Paddocks winery in New Zealand as he is about his latest film or acting role. He describes in his own words what it is about winemaking that is as moving as any story played out on the silver screen.

Joe Wadsack assesses the potential for Croatian wines

As part of our special focus on Croatian wine this month, Joe Wadsack looks back on the special masterclass he hosted at the inaugural Wines of Croatia London tasting in October. 

Q&A: Sandro Saadé, co-founder of Bekaa Valley's Château Marsyas and Syria's Domaine de Bargylus

The co-founder with brother Karim, of Bekaa Valley Château Marsyas and Syria's Domaine de Bargylus - described as "the finest wine produced in the Eastern Mediterranean" by Hugh Johnson - talks to Douglas Blyde about realising an ancient dream...

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Geoffrey Dean mixes with Australia's wine royalty at Ashes test in Adelaide

Wine and cricket are so inextricably interwoven in South Australia that the number of winemakers and vineyard managers, who will be descending upon the Adelaide Oval for the second Ashes Test from December 5-9, should number not two but three figures. Those coming reads like a Who's Who of the South Australian wine industry.

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Douglas Blyde loses himself in the unique splendour of Les Trois Garcons

Les Trois Garçons unravels in an 133 year-old pub. Once a squat "cared for" by its' 30 residents, "Garçons", Hassan, Michel and Stefan (from Malaysia, France and Sweden) lavishly restored the building in 1996, making the upstairs floors exclusively their home. Four years on, they opened the ground floor restaurant, unleashing on the public design tastes which have since become sought after by a celebrity clientele.

Robin Copestick's Asian and Australia adventure: week three

Robin Copestick reports back from the third week of his Asian and Australian adventure, highlighting the major trends for wine in the on and off-trades there.

Andrew Park on protecting customers from wine investment scams

We regularly hear of fine wine investment companies going bump and customers' supposed holdings turning out to be non-existent. Wine trade law specialist Andrew Park of  APP Wine Lawlooks what reputable merchants can do to ensure that their customers are not at risk.

Brett Jones in praise of the important work of Europe's research vineyards

In the latest AWEsome tale from members of the Association of Wine Educators, Brett Jones looks at the invaluable work being done across Europe to research and hopefully preserve many of the obscure, indigenous grape varieties to be found in some of the most unexplored wine regions

Jerry Lockspeiser: why we need to price wines on enjoyment not what they cost

Imagine for a moment that Champagne does not exist. The sparkling wine market is dominated by cava and prosecco with competition from the New World.  Consumers are accustomed to affordable, well made but largely uninspiring sparkling wines.

Q&A: Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger on why Champagne houses must work harder to protect the category

Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger, head of Champagne Taittinger, says the major Champagne houses still have a lot of work to be done to make sure Champagne continues to be sold correctly and does not suffer from heavy price discounting that can damage its long term image.

Anne Krebiehl on showcasing Languedoc wines with St Chinian

The dichotomy, so commentators would have it, is between those who make their wines as they like them, think that the "market" has to "understand" their wines and are then disgruntled if sales do not materialise. The other camp - always implied to be less scrupulous somehow about nebulous concepts like "typicity" and "terroir" - look what the "market" might want, at a certain price point, proceed to provide it and sell it.

Douglas Blyde on rediscovering Muscadet with the Choblets

"Sowing the future in a middle of a crisis," I remark, gazing deep into the monochrome photo.  Sturdy ox gently tug primitive-looking planting equipment. Beyond, hare guards encircle just transplanted, sappy vines. The effect is not unlike pets wrapped in anti-itch collars. In the foreground, a photographer's shadow looms large. The sunny year, according to the Choblet brothers, is 1944, and the shadow is their grandfather.

How the late Rodney Densem put the north west on the map

Here we remember Rodney Densem, who sadly died in December, who last year spoke to Carol Emmas about his long career as an independent wine merchant and how his business, Rodney Densem Wines is evolving for the future. 

Q&A: Marie-Annick Consola, sales director, Vignobles Foncalieu

Anne Krebiehl talks to Marie-Annick Consola of Vignobles Foncalieu a collective co-operative that covers numerous appellations across the south of France and the Rhône Valley. It's 1,200 members work 5,100 hectares of vineyards and sales exceed 21 million bottles. Foncalieu's progressive management embarked on the path of premium production roughly a decade ago. Consola wasin London to introduce the 'Iconic' range, a collection of stand-out wines from distinct appellations like Saint-Chinian, Corbières, Minervois and Côteaux d'Esérune as well as the wines of Château Haut Gléon in Corbières. While Foncalieu still provides some own-label wines for Asda, it has largely moved away from the high-volume off-trade.