As the dust settles on another roller coaster vintage, winemakers across the Rhône Valley are nonetheless confident that their wines will showcase “fruit, tension and balance” - as much for white wines as for reds and rosés.
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Costières de Nîmes is the last hurrah of the Rhône valley, between the Camargue and the vineyards of Provence in one direction, and the start of the long sweep of the Languedoc in the other. The vineyards sit southeast of Nîmes, a city whose Roman roots are near the surface.
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Italy’s wine reputation has never been higher. Many of its reds from Tuscany and Piedmont are well established icons, its whites get better each year, whilst sparkling wines are also on the up with Franciacorta, Alta Langa and Oltrepo Pavese increasingly appealing to higher end consumers tired of Prosecco.
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This mountainous former Soviet republic in the south Caucasus has long traditions of Christianity and hospitality, and an ancient wine culture that dates back Millenia. It also has outstanding territorial issues and has recently endured conflict and has a large neighbour with whom it has a history of bad relations. The country is modernising but also grappling with corruption, bureaucracy and cronyism. Its shrinking population is mitigated to some degree by returning former emigres, who are active in a revitalising a wine industry where traditions and indigenous grape varieties are being rediscovered, with winemakers aiming for wines that appeal to a modern palate rather than a typical Russian one.
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South Africa’s wine industry is basking in a moment of pride having had one of its number announced as president of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
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After a difficult 2024 season, which was characterised by floods, frost and strong winds, South African wine producers are optimistic about the 2025 harvest.
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Clos du Temple, three words that spell close to £200 for consumers of fine rosé wines. So, when the opportunity came to see behind the curtain (literally) of one of the world’s most expensive wines, during harvest, and to taste the latest vintage; I was tickled pink.
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Harpers’ round up of the leading UK wine, beer and spirits suppliers has landed once again, featuring the best in the business. Drawn from a dynamic and ever-evolving sector, these are the companies that our judges deemed to have gone the extra mile in terms of quality of service and portfolio, plus much else besides. And their inclusion in this list is a celebration of that professionalism and attention to detail.
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Welcome to the final reveal of our Top 50 Drinks Wholesalers 2024, featuring the Top 10 businesses in the UK.
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Two contrasting news stories caught my attention last month. The first featured the largest ever gathering of the B Corp movement. Held in Oxford the B Corp Festival brought together people from a growing community of over 2000 UK companies who have embraced its key objective – that business should be a force for good. B stands for Benefit. The slogan is People, Planet, Profit. The ethos is that all stakeholders – internal and external – should benefit from what a business does and how it does it.
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This week marks the unveiling of our Top 50 Drinks Wholesalers 2024 results, singling out and celebrating the best in the business when it comes to supplying wines, spirits and beers.
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Seamus Sharkey gives Andrew Catchpole a taste of his role at the colourful restaurant group that is JKS.
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New data has revealed the precarious business of investing in celebrity backed brands; for while they tend to outperform their total category, celebrity involvement doesn’t always guarantee success.
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We conclude our summer Q&A series with Jamie Avenell, wine buying director, Bibendum Wine (C&C Group).
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Hallgarten & Novum Wines is significantly expanding its South African portfolio with the exclusive addition of four premium suppliers from across the country.
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Spirits giant Pernod Ricard has forecasted that its sales will grow again next year after suffering a post-pandemic slump.
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It has been a great summer for sports enthusiasts. The football Euros in Germany were followed by a captivating Olympics in Paris. Footballers and Olympians were razor focused on achieving their best and produced amazing displays. The winners went home with a medal. But what does life hold for them afterwards?
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Troubled online retailer Naked Wines has announced a further fall in sales, with its full year results showing total sales down 18% year-on-year to £290m (52 weeks to 1 April 2024) against £345.0m in FY23.
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Oriole reopens on 28 August in Covent Garden, offering innovative cocktails and Latin American-inspired cuisine. The downstairs restaurant, designed as a speakeasy, features dishes like hamachi tiradito and lamb rump with huacatay. The Bamboo Bar upstairs offers aperitivo-style cocktails and bar snacks.
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Margo, a new dining and drinking destination by Scoop restaurant group, opens this September in Glasgow. Headed by chef Robin Aitken, the menu focuses on seasonal produce, Scottish seafood and in-house crafted bread and pasta. Highlights include smoked haddock churros with manchego and saffron and Margo focaccia with prawn head butter. Desserts like baked rice pudding crème caramel offer a sweet finish.
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