Did anyone think that natural cork would disappear? Yes, there was an Australian a few years ago who predicted that natural cork would completely die out as a closure for wine bottles. How wrong he
In recent months, there has been an unusually large amount of bad news about wine. People talk about a “wine crisis” with falling consumption, fires, heatwaves, wine shortages, price increases, and all sorts of gloomy
— Has Doomsday Arrived for Wine? — In recent months, there has been an unusually large amount of bad news about wine. People talk about a “wine crisis” with falling consumption, fires, heatwaves, wine shortages,
At the Island Wine Summit in Tenerife in June, I tasted some excellent wines from islands in the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic Ocean (see part 1 for an introduction). The winemakers here mostly work
We all love sherry. It is one of the world’s great wines. But do we drink it? Not very often. Is that because it is a fortified wine, which is a bit out of fashion?
There have been many re-enactments this year of the Paris Judgement that took place 50 years ago, in 1976. That year wines from California famously obtained higher points than the French ones in a blind
In June, I attended the Island Wines Summit Tenerife 2026, a conference designed to shine a spotlight on wines made on islands. The event attracted many exciting winegrowers from islands, mainly in the Mediterranean and
What should we have for aperitif today? Running out of ideas? Why not try a refreshing Porto Rosé Tonic, a recipe straight from Kay Bouchard at Quinta do Tedo in the Douro Valley. Here’s what
A sparkling wine should ideally have a fresh acidity. The whole idea of drinking bubbles is that it should be refreshing, right? The bubbles themselves help, but in Champagne they have always claimed that it
Just two hours north of the Langhe, the vineyards of Alto Piemonte offer a very different side of Piedmont. In the tiny DOC of Boca, Silvia Barbaglia is helping to revive a historic wine region,
We were out shopping for food but couldn’t help walk past the wine shelf. There we saw a wine from Languedoc made from the albariño grape. Unusual! It went straight into the basket. It cost
Dry, non-fortified wines from Madeira? It used to be very niche just a few years ago, but these characterful wines are now getting more attention. They even have their own appellation, DOP Madeirense. Most of
Global consumption of sparkling wine has increased since 2020. In 2024, it fell slightly for the first time, reaching 3.32 billion bottles. Despite the decline, sparkling wine is performing much better than still wine at
The fires that have raged and continue to rage in France and Spain are terrible. The have caused enormous material and human losses. It is a tragedy for those affected. As for the fires near
There is no shortage of hard‑to‑grasp expressions in the world of wine. One of them is that “a wine expresses its origin.” We see it everywhere. Advertisers use it, and so do wine producers, wine
— Creativity trumps origin? — There is no shortage of hard‑to‑grasp expressions in the world of wine. One of them is that “a wine expresses its origin.” We see it everywhere. Advertisers use it, and
China’s wine consumption has dropped by more than half since 2018, according to the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine). It is one of the sharpest declines the global industry has ever experienced, writes
In the 2026 edition of the excellent “Platter’s South African Wine Guide”, we read that the guidebook has named Diemersdal Wine Estate in Durbanville “Winery of the Year 2026”. The estate is known, among other
Often, people talk about new trends every year, but trends in the wine world develop slowly and last for many years. For instance, we met him Alexandre Penet of Champagne Penet-Chardonnet in Verzy on our
Poland, like Sweden, is not an obvious wine country. It is too cold and too rainy, with a too-short growing season, for most pure Vitis vinifera. Instead, Polen has planted hybrid grapes that are crosses
What do guests drink at Michelin-starred restaurants? The answer is obvious. Expensive wines. Everyone who goes to a restaurant regularly knows that the more expensive the food, the more expensive the wines. And now this
In the middle of summer, many glasses sparkle with rosé. The pale rosé wines from Provence are widely considered to have set the trend for what a rosé should look like. But the success of
Even BKWine has been hit by football fever. Halfway into the tournament (when I write this), I had initially thought that I would recommend wines from the teams that advanced. But there are far too
There has been a heatwave in Europe. Again. No one has missed it, not even those who still walk around saying things like “I actually think it’s nice when it’s warm.” According to The Economist,
— Tricking the Climate — There has been a heatwave in Europe. Again. No one has missed it, not even those who still walk around saying things like “I actually think it’s nice when it’s
Mendoza in Argentina has made a huge success of growing malbec and selling it to the world. It started at the end of the 1980s. Malbec from Argentina became a brand. For a while, everyone
Like many others, Chianti DOCG winemakers have seen their sales decline in recent years. Therefore, the official approval of a new category, Chianti Rosé, will surely come as good news. Until now, Chianti has been
As I write this, the Cannes Film Festival is in full swing. Between red-carpet appearances and film sessions, wine is needed to wash it all down. But not just any wine. The official festival wines
Travelling around the countryside in France, you can find plenty of charming guest houses or hotels in former nobles’ chateaux. Few are as exotic and as gastronomic as Chateau des Tesnières, just three hours from
There’s something of the ugly duckling about the aligoté grape in Burgundy. For a long time, it was relegated to being blended with blackcurrant liqueur for the aperitif kir. But things are happening now —
Did anyone think that natural cork would disappear? Yes, there was an Australian a few years ago who predicted that natural cork would completely die
In recent months, there has been an unusually large amount of bad news about wine. People talk about a “wine crisis” with falling consumption, fires,
— Has Doomsday Arrived for Wine? — In recent months, there has been an unusually large amount of bad news about wine. People talk about
At the Island Wine Summit in Tenerife in June, I tasted some excellent wines from islands in the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic Ocean (see
We all love sherry. It is one of the world’s great wines. But do we drink it? Not very often. Is that because it is
There have been many re-enactments this year of the Paris Judgement that took place 50 years ago, in 1976. That year wines from California famously
In June, I attended the Island Wines Summit Tenerife 2026, a conference designed to shine a spotlight on wines made on islands. The event attracted
What should we have for aperitif today? Running out of ideas? Why not try a refreshing Porto Rosé Tonic, a recipe straight from Kay Bouchard
A sparkling wine should ideally have a fresh acidity. The whole idea of drinking bubbles is that it should be refreshing, right? The bubbles themselves
Just two hours north of the Langhe, the vineyards of Alto Piemonte offer a very different side of Piedmont. In the tiny DOC of Boca,
We were out shopping for food but couldn’t help walk past the wine shelf. There we saw a wine from Languedoc made from the albariño
Dry, non-fortified wines from Madeira? It used to be very niche just a few years ago, but these characterful wines are now getting more attention.
Global consumption of sparkling wine has increased since 2020. In 2024, it fell slightly for the first time, reaching 3.32 billion bottles. Despite the decline,
The fires that have raged and continue to rage in France and Spain are terrible. The have caused enormous material and human losses. It is
There is no shortage of hard‑to‑grasp expressions in the world of wine. One of them is that “a wine expresses its origin.” We see it
— Creativity trumps origin? — There is no shortage of hard‑to‑grasp expressions in the world of wine. One of them is that “a wine expresses
China’s wine consumption has dropped by more than half since 2018, according to the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine). It is one of
In the 2026 edition of the excellent “Platter’s South African Wine Guide”, we read that the guidebook has named Diemersdal Wine Estate in Durbanville “Winery
Often, people talk about new trends every year, but trends in the wine world develop slowly and last for many years. For instance, we met
Poland, like Sweden, is not an obvious wine country. It is too cold and too rainy, with a too-short growing season, for most pure Vitis
What do guests drink at Michelin-starred restaurants? The answer is obvious. Expensive wines. Everyone who goes to a restaurant regularly knows that the more expensive
In the middle of summer, many glasses sparkle with rosé. The pale rosé wines from Provence are widely considered to have set the trend for
Even BKWine has been hit by football fever. Halfway into the tournament (when I write this), I had initially thought that I would recommend wines
There has been a heatwave in Europe. Again. No one has missed it, not even those who still walk around saying things like “I actually
— Tricking the Climate — There has been a heatwave in Europe. Again. No one has missed it, not even those who still walk around
Mendoza in Argentina has made a huge success of growing malbec and selling it to the world. It started at the end of the 1980s.
Like many others, Chianti DOCG winemakers have seen their sales decline in recent years. Therefore, the official approval of a new category, Chianti Rosé, will
As I write this, the Cannes Film Festival is in full swing. Between red-carpet appearances and film sessions, wine is needed to wash it all
Travelling around the countryside in France, you can find plenty of charming guest houses or hotels in former nobles’ chateaux. Few are as exotic and
There’s something of the ugly duckling about the aligoté grape in Burgundy. For a long time, it was relegated to being blended with blackcurrant liqueur
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