Looking ahead: Andrew Johnson, Woodwinters

Tumultuous political times are offering an interesting backdrop to our latest Looking Ahead series.

Unlocking Rioja’s potential

Rioja’s Viñedos Singulares classification is a major step towards elevating the region’s status, writes Tim Atkin MW.

Rioja’s Consejo Regulador is the oldest in Spain, a body that owes its existence to a Royal Decree, no less, of October 22, 1926. From the start, the Consejo’s mandate included the right to take legal measures against “usurpers and counterfeiters of the Rioja brand”, as well as to issue production seals, demarcate the region and decide on its future direction.

Jerry Lockspeiser: What we can learn from Cristiano Ronaldo

Not long before Black Friday Cristiano Ronaldo was reported to have spent £27,000 on two bottles of wine at a restaurant in London’s upmarket Mayfair district – a bottle of Richebourg Grand Cru Burgundy and Chateau Petrus from Bordeaux. Apparently, Cristiano and his friends were there for little more than 15 minutes.

Parlez-vous Français?

Authentique Epicerie & Bar has launched its new 700 bin-strong Francophile wine list on north London this month, bringing a flavour of France and its former colonies to Tufnal Park.

Bulk matters

An increasingly sophisticated and sustainably focused bulk wine sector is in global ascendancy and it is increasingly shaping the world’s wine market, including the premium end.

Exclusive: Rioja Alavesa revives breakaway move

Rioja Alavesa wine producers have officially agreed to revive the breakaway Viñedos de Álava DO (Denominación de Origen) which they say is aimed at providing a sustainable economic model for wine producers.

Prosecco on the way out says Naked Wines

Sauvignon Blanc still reigns supreme as Britain’s favourite grape, while Prosecco is on the wane according to the latest from Naked Wines.

Gaucho appoints former Wines of Argentina Europe director

Gaucho has hired former Wines of Argentina Europe director Andrew Maidment as part of a new strategy to re-establish the brand as ‘UK’s foremost Argentine wine specialist’.

Harpers Design Awards 2018: The winners

Good design may only sell the one, first bottle if the liquid inside is discovered to be below par. But present the most sublime booze in a mediocre or off-putting package and the painstaking craft of the distiller or winemaker is likely to be left collecting dust.

Rhône wines shine in the US

Sales of Rhône wines continue to decline in traditional markets, while the US east coast is showing “unprecedented levels of consumer interest,” according to leading sommeliers.

Q&A: Xavier Rousset, restaurateur and master sommelier, Trade

Xavier Rousset talks to Harpers about Trade, a new Soho-based private members’ club for the restaurant and bar world

New dawn for on-trade training

It’s been a good year for education in the on-trade, with a number of new initiatives being launched in the UK recently.

UN recognises vineyards of Soave as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System

The vineyards of Soave have been recognised as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

On-trade wine trends for 2019

Tim Atkin MW: How low can you go?

Wine critic, broadcaster, co-chair of the IWC

Re-thinking the turkey: Changing Christmas dinners opening doors for vegan wine

It could be a cracking Christmas for vegetarian and vegan wine, according to new research published by the IGD.

Restaurant numbers fall 2% in a year

UK restaurants are on the slide, according to the new edition of the Market Growth Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners.

New wine app promises to revolutionise the wine industry

My Wine Society has launched a new app it has dubbed “Facebook for wine”.

The new face of Maremma

Maremma in the past decade or so has emerged from the shadow cast by the neighbouring and much-feted Bolgheri, which rather than imparting its prestige to the relative Italian backwater, had instead created for it an expectation of achievement that the region hadn’t so far managed. But this is changing as an exciting medley of wines come to the fore.

Decrease in irresponsible drinking, confirms NHS survey

The latest Health Survey for England has revealed a decline in UK adults drinking harmful levels of alcohol.