Published: 29 September, 2010
The best thing about Monday's Pinot Puzzle was that all wines were served blind, having everyone guessing and trying to find common threads in the different country flights. London's wine glitterati (yes, they all turned up) were debating the comparative alcoholic heat, the integration of oak and the use of different clones in a spectacular line-up of Pinot Noirs from Oregon, Chile, New Zealand and Australia. Were those balanced, almost tender and pale wines at home in the Willamette Valley? Was the heat and power of one flight down to Californian, Australian or Central Otago sunshine? Did acidity and fruit-forwardness really point to Chile or was it Mornington Peninsula? Almost all got some flights spot on but mixed up others - also scrutinising bottles for clues via closures and bottle weight. The 66 wines were presented in Hardy's Brasserie, a small enough space to encourage lively discussion.
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Published: 28 September, 2010
Gondola.co.uk has rebranded its name to yourfavouritewines.com after feedback from a customer survey.
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Published: 16 September, 2010
Walking into The Milroy you feel like you've stepped up a notch or two in social class, which is all part of its new-found appeal.
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Published: 27 August, 2010
Pernod Ricard has unveiled the firm's Christmas plans ? it has upped marketing investment by 30% for this year's focus on premium brands across TV ad campaigns, sponsorships and new packaging.
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Walking into The Milroy you feel like you've stepped up a notch or two in social class, which is all part of its new-found appeal. Previously you were only able to dine here if you were rich enough to pay the membership fee for what is essentially a private casino - Les Ambassadeurs Club.
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Montana Wine has changed its name to Brancott Estate and is to be official sponsor of the 2011 rugby union World Cup.
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The 2010 New Zealand grape harvest totalled 266,000 tonnes - 19,000 tonnes smaller than in 2009.
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The New Zealand Government has announced a promotional package of support for the country's wine industry, to help overcome its current challenges.
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Cloudy Bay, the New Zealand winemaker renowned for its sauvignon blanc, has released 1,500 bottles of 2006 Riesling for sale in the UK.
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Founder and managing director of Villa Maria Estate, Sir George Fistonich, is to replace the role left by the late Sir Edmund Hillary, as vice patron of Variety - The Children's Charity of New Zealand.
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Published: 26 April, 2010
The UK's position in the global wine market will be the subject of the Harpers Debate at this year's London International Wine Fair.
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Published: 19 April, 2010
Former First Quench buyer Melissa Draycott has been named sales director of Gonzalez Byass UK.
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Published: 17 April, 2010
It's only been a week since I arrived in Marlborough to work part of the 2010 vintage but I'm already in need of a rest!
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Published: 16 April, 2010
Carol Emmas takes part in a blind tasting that pits the big brand Champagnes against the small growers.
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Published: 16 April, 2010
A snapshot of wines from New Zealand's Wairarapa region.
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Published: 16 April, 2010
Winery dogs are so last year. The ultimate winery accessory this season is...a hen.
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Published: 15 April, 2010
New Zealand is claiming to have overtaken sales of German wine in the UK when looking at country of origin percentage shares.
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Published: 15 April, 2010
Harvest time is all about the weather. And in true British style, the weather's one of my favourite subjects. It continues to turn out nice every day in Marlborough and, for those producers with grapes still to come in, that's great news. But for the crew at Jackson Estate, a nice bit of rain would be ideal.
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Published: 14 April, 2010
I have never seen 3000 cartons of milk in a vineyard but I had to believe my eyes this morning at Jackson Estate's newly-planted Pinot Noir site.
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Published: 13 April, 2010
Yields in Marlborough will be down significantly in 2010, if things at Jackson Estate are anything to go by. The crop here is down 25-30% on initial estimates. Ask around the region and the story seems to be the same.
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