Danbury Ridge shows eastern promise

Essex clays are poised to lead the charge of quality English still wine. Andrew Catchpole reports from Crouch Valley’s Danbury Ridge.

Howard Ripley Wines branches out with Jay Somers and Bob Lindquist

Independent wine importer Howard Ripley Wines has announced the signing of two US growers to its portfolio as it looks to expand beyond its long-standing flagship regions.

Boutinot heads ‘home’ to New Zealand with Heaphy acquisition

Boutinot Wines, the international producer and distributor based in Manchester, has finalised the purchase of its first-ever wholly-owned vineyard site and estate in New Zealand, Harpers can reveal.

Tim Atkin MW: ‘Fine wine’ is outdated

It was a noble, if ultimately inconclusive exercise. Maybe that’s true of anything that involves an indigestible dose of subjectivity. But you can’t fault Areni Global for attempting to define and “rethink” the fine wine market, no less. In a recent white paper, accompanied by an entertaining panel debate and tasting at Sotheby’s in London, the impressive think tank set out to analyse what its chair, Nicole Rolet, calls the “fine wine ecosystem”. Ambitious, as I said.

Finding the ‘perfect’ English sparkling wine glass

Designing the best glass with which to serve a particular style of wine has long been the mission for the Riedel family, which has built a glass-blowing empire out of pinpointing the precise dimensions for higher end drinks receptacles. And having a bespoke vessel to deliver the best expression of your wine arguably suggests you have ‘arrived’, confirming a seat at the top table. A position English sparkling wine took a step closer to last week.

Friday read: Paolo De Marchi leaves 'happy ghosts' at Isole e Olena

Justin Keay reports on a recent visit to Paolo De Marchi of Isole e Olena winery towards the end of 2022, in what turned out to be an elegiac trip. In 2022, De Marchi completed his last vintage after almost 50 years.

Bancroft pushes into the Spanish Levante with new addition

Bodegas Mustiguillo, part of the Grandes Pagos de Espana, is joining the Bancroft Wines portfolio as the distributor bolsters UK representation of wine from Spain’s Mediterranean coast.

Liberty welcomes record number of visitors to familiar turf

Liberty Wines is celebrating a bumper tasting at its usual Oval hunting ground on Tuesday (17 February), where a record number of visitors made the pilgrimage to its annual portfolio event.

St Austell hails expansion to Wales

St Austell Brewery is expanding its reach into South Wales, taking the reach of its wholesale business beyond its West Country stronghold.

Cult Wines posts more positive outlook for Burgundy and Champagne

Fine wine investment platform, Cult Wines, closed 2022 with a ‘positive end to the year’, the company has revealed, with its Cult Wines Global Index concluding the 12 months with a 20.54% gain.

Jump into the world of French wine at VIN

The UK trade is being invited to uncork some of France’s best kept secrets alongside enduring favourites at VIN, next month’s trade tasting event, which will bring together 50 producers and importers.

Friday read: What will 2023 mean for the wine trade?

Stuart Bond, director at UK wine distributor, Beyond Wines, dives into the top trends for 2023

Chablis back on track after a challenging 2021

After a ‘complicated’ year in 2021, Chablis winegrowers are now in the mood to celebrate, with the Chablis Commission declaring an overall healthier and higher-yielding vintage in 2022.

Friday read: The revival of Bardolino’s crus

Few Italian wine regions have had as much of a roller coaster ride as Bardolino, nestled up against the beautiful eastern shores of Lake Garda, where wine has been made since Roman times.

2022 harvest puts Sogevinus ‘to the test’

Leading Port and still wine producer Sogevinus is celebrating making its way through a "very difficult and challenging harvest", which was able to overcome significant viticultural challenges, including heat intensity and the lack of rainfall, particularly when it came to lower altitude vines.

Bancroft pushes into Greek top tier with 'experimental' Troupis

Wine from the Peloponnese is taking a significant step forwards into the UK market with the addition of low intervention wines from Troupis Winery, which has gained distribution via Bancroft Wines.

Tim Atkin MW returns to Ribera del Duero for second 'Special' report

Kinsbrook Farmhouse

Kinsbrook Farmhouse

Alpha Omega At Frog by Adam Handling

Alpha Omega At Frog by Adam Handling

Alternative formats group publishes open letter to government

A group which advocates for the rapid use and adoption of alternative wine formats, has published an open letter from the industry to the government, calling for the introduction of consumer tax incentives for carbon-friendly alternative packaging.