New Taste

A new closure from Amorim, Arniston Bay targets the indies and a pink spirit.

Importer's Taste

World Wine Agencies, Bath BS31 1LJ, worldwineagencies.com.

My Taste

Jamie Hutchinson reviews the Fields Morris and Verdin Tasting.

New Taste

A low-calorie cocktail range, a Spanish brand and a new generation of tequilas.

Vinexpo organisers say figures down, but confidence up

An early release of Vinexpo attendence figures show a decline in numbers from 2007's event, but organisers are saying that Vinexpo 2009, has marked a turning point in business confidence.

Rosé sparklings are star of new products at Vinexpo

Rosé sparkling wines and lower sugar Champagnes are some of the many new product launches expected to take centre stage at this week's 15th Vinexpo exhibition that opened in Bordeaux on Sunday, June 21.

Vinexpo opens with record numbers

A record number of countries have descended on Bordeaux this week for the 15th Vinexpo exhibition, which was officially opened by the French Agricultural and Fisheries minister, Michel Barnier, on Sunday, June 21.

My Taste

Value is the name of the game at Asda, finds Claire Hu.

New Taste

Claire Hu reviews the latest drinks releases.

Anne Krebiehl: Final blog from New Zealand harvest

So very few days are left in the gorgeous Central Otago autumn sunshine and still a little hung over after the harvest celebrations, my picking mates James and Martin and I have a tour of the Felton Road Winery:  spotlessly clean and pervaded by the smell of the fermenting fruit.

Anne Krebiehl: Penultimate blog from New Zealand harvest

Penultimate Instalment - End of Harvest

New Taste

A new Chilean on the block, Champagne goes dry and Southern Comfort in a can - Claire Hu reviews the hottest new releases.

Anne Krebiehl: Tenth blog from New Zealand harvest

Picking continues apace. When we get to the vineyards now, we can see more and more picked rows with foliage of burnished yellow, rust and red. By now we are all comfortable with each other and already have a well-used stock of in-jokes. It all makes for pleasant days and lots of laughter, but speed remains of the essence.

anne Krebiehl: Ninth blog from New Zealand harvest

As the days and weeks in Central pass, late summer turns into autumn. The poplars have turned into glowing colours; their heart-shaped leaves are flying in the gusts of wind, covering the road in a carpet of bright yellow.

David Cox to head New Zealand Wines

David Cox is the new chief of New Zealand Wine Growers for the UK and Europe.

New Taste - LIWF special

Claire Hu and Carol Emmas preview the hottest new product releases at the London International Wine Fair and Distil.

Anne Krebiehl: Eighth blog from New Zealand harvest

The harvest steps up. Our days just evaporate, there is no standstill: we generally turn up at a quarter to eight so that picking starts promptly at 8 o'clock. On some days we are all muffled up in woolly hats, on others a jersey will do.

Anne Krebiehl: Seventh blog from New Zealand harvest

For the duration of the harvest I am staying at Jackson's Orchard just outside Cromwell. Before stubborn pioneers like Sue Edwards and Verdun Burgess of Black Ridge, Lois and Rolfe Mills of Rippon and Alan Brady of Gibbston Valley started planting vines in 'Central' in the 1980s (more of their wines in a later instalment), horticulture was and to a degree still is the mainstay of this area: Central Otago cherries and apricots are famous and there are many apple orchards, too.

Now in autumn the roadside stalls are fully stocked. I can stay at the orchard amidst rows and rows of trellised apricot trees since the season is over. Usually the huts, former motel units that were moved here, are occupied by the cherry, peach and apricot pickers and when I arrived, I saw the last fragrant batches of peaches being despatched. Since I moved in, the orchard has turned colour and I can walk ankle-deep through russet-coloured leaves to State Highway No. 6. From Jackson's own fruit stall I can buy milk, apples and tomatoes and one of these days I will have to try the Otago cherries in Kirsch. My neighbours are two Ecuadorean girls harvesting for Mount Edward and three Thai fruit pickers who keep making Tom Yum Soup in our shared kitchen shack. It is very quiet and very beautiful here and having my own little hut is luxurious.

Anne Krebiehl: Sixth blog from New Zealand harvest

Excitement: the first day of picking! After the night frost I am dressed in layers of clothes. I was told to be ready for pick-up at 07.45 and Bruce, an athletic Englishman who made New Zealand his home and works for Felton Road full-time arrives promptly.

We drive to the Cornish Point Vineyard on Lake Dunstan and bit by bit various pickers arrive. As of yet they are nameless, but we are well-mixed in age and origin. We try and stay warm in the early morning and smile tentatively at each other, some of the older hands clearly know each other and we strangers laugh at their familiar banter.

Torres moves into Rioja Claire Hu wine

Spanish wine giant Torres has produced its first wine from the DOC area of Rioja, a crianza made from 100% Tempranillo.