Financial Times

The Old World and the New World are beginning to blur at the edges, says JANCIS ROBINSON MW. I don't think the market is by any means as polarised now,' she comments. Equally, she doesn't believe it's still relevant to paint the world of wine in the broad brushstrokes of commercial success for the New World and doldrums for the Old'.

France may have suffered from a loss of market share but California and Australia have had to endure an embarrassing grape glut and shrivelling corporate profits'. There have also been mergers in terms of style, she continues, pointing to the increasing number of Rhne-like Syrahs coming from places such as Australia and Chile, as well as the more consumer-friendly, fruit-forward wines that have been appearing in Bordeaux. There is now such a thorough blending of ideas and techniques that it is no wonder that New and Old World stereotypes are on the wane', she concludes.

ANDREW JEFFORD considers how the whisky world is increasingly dominated by big-playing brands and explains why this is a disappointing trend for the true whisky lover: intellectually and culturally, the result is boredom'. The upside, however, has been a journey back towards the authenticity, individuality and character of malt whisky'. And it needn't stop there, he continues, the latest entrepreneurial outfit is an interactive members-only distillery to be built in Fife.

At a cost of 3,250 for membership, Jefford admits the scheme looks expensive', but the advantage is that eventually you may be able to pour a glass of malt for your friends and say "I helped make this"'.