From Port wine to table wine

Jo Gilbert embarks on a deep dive into Douro producers’ dual strategies for both table and fortified wines as a way of adapting to market demands and preserving the region’s winemaking heritage.

WSTA members call on Government to reconsider proposed duty hikes on Port and sherry

New Government legislation will mean an additional 13% price increase overnight added to every bottle of fortified wine entering the country come January of next year, according to Steve Moody, chairman of Fells, which counts the Ports of Symington Family Estates, Blandy’s Madeira and Barbadillo sherries in its portfolio.

Long Read: What to do about fortified wines' straitened market?

Jacopo Mazzeo looks at what regions such as the Douro and Jerez are doing to survive in a market increasingly hostile to fortified wines and explores whether these efforts are effective. Port, for instance, is heading in two diametrically opposed directions: simplification and (extra) premiumisation, with new categories that span from youth-friendly RTDs to Tawny 50yo and White 50yo. Sherry meanwhile, has just changed a number of its regulations and now embraces unfortified wine.

Big Fortified Tasting latest coronavirus casualty

The Big Fortified Tasting is the latest trade tasting to be cancelled in the wake of the deepening coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.

Tim Atkin MW: Sherry deserves applause

TIM ATKIN MW

Q&A: Adrian Bridge, chief executive, the Fladgate Partnership

Madeira: Bringing it all back home with Archie McDiarmid

Barbeito Madeira through their UK importer, Raymond Reynolds, run the hugely successful #MadeiraDay competition in December each year, bringing together independent retailers from all over the UK in celebration of this outstanding fortified wine. Luvians won the 2017 edition and after being presented with our certificate at the Big Fortified Tasting earlier this year, I got the chance to fly out to the island (this Portuguese colony lies some 280 miles off the coast of Africa) to get a personal perspective on how this bewitching wine is made.

Cracking fortified

As wine’s post-prandial frontrunners seek to reposition and re-engage, James Lawrence looks at how it’s being done

The b.f.t to return in 2018

The world’s largest fair dedicated to solely to fortified wines is to return next year when it will once again unite Port and Sherry lovers from the UK and abroad.

Sherry is celebrated in UK on-trade at the annual Great Sherry Tasting

At yesterday's annual Great Sherry Tasting, the category seems to be making head way, particularly in the UK on-trade as sommeliers and Michelin starred chefs sampled nearly 200 Sherries being poured.

Sherry en vogue at Wines of Spain masterclass

"We have to keep the fire burning". This was the message from distinguished Jerez winemaker Beltran Domecq at the sherry masterclass at Wines from Spain's yesterday, when quizzed on the future of the category and maintaining the wave of popularity that sherry is currently enjoying.

González Byass' Tio Pepe En Rama shipped to 19 countries this month

Tio Pepe En Rama is due to ship more of its unfiltered and unclarified fino sherry to more countries than ever before.

Bottle-shaped tins to encase Cockburn's Special Reserve in run-up to Christmas

Cockburn's Special Reserve port is to be available in three brightly-coloured tins in selected retail accounts from November.

Sherry goes to the cinema with UK premiere at Edinburgh film festival

Sherry producers are hoping for an unexpected boost in profile with the release of a feature film documentary about the fortified wine.

Port industry mourns loss of ex-Croft boss Robin Reid

The port industry is mourning the loss of former Croft managing director Robin Reid OBE.

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Harveys woos bartenders with cocktail push for sherry range

Harveys is asking bartenders to help make sherry more exciting in a new cocktail competition.

Martini looks to its roots for premium vermouth launch

Martini is trying to take the famous vermouth upmarket with the launch of two products under the Riserva Speciale name.

Port family opens new visitor attraction in Douro

Port family Symingtons has opened a visitor center in the Douro, which it is aiming to become a destination for tourists to Portugal.

Fortified wines see sales declining, but there are still opportunties for the category

Despite declining volumes, there are still ample opportunities for growth and innovation within the fortified wine category.