Anne Krebiehl blogs on the latest Booths Tasting

It's not often that regional merchants come to London to show their wares, but a rather popular north-western player, Booths, showcased 100 wines from its wine range at the Saatchi Gallery's Mess Room on Friday afternoon.

Anne Krebiehl blogs from the Wines of Argentina Annual Tasting

Stained teeth and many a purple-tinged smile at Wednesday's well-attended Argentina Annual Trade Tasting at Lord's attested to the overwhelming predominance of red wines on show - mostly Malbec of course. And while this floral-scented charmer may deservedly continue to play first fiddle in these Andean vineyards, Bonarda is snapping at its heels.

Jenny Mackenzie: putting Aldi's BWS range to the test

If you thought Aldi's wines were all cheap and cheerful, you might be surprised to find grand cru Champagne, a grand cru classé Margaux, 30 year old Tawny Port and a multi, medal-winning Tokaji in its Christmas Special range.

Anne Krebiehl dishes the dirt from the Dirty Dozen tasting

So why exactly is the Dirty Dozen Tasting the most exciting, least predictable and most hotly anticipated event within the crazy wine circus that London is in September?

Anne Krebiehl blogs from the first of the London Experimental Oenological Seminars

Anne Krebiehl went along to the first of Professor Barry Smith's experimental oenological seminars for an eye-opening tasting.

Michael Cox: the importance of the UK market for producers

Michael Cox, European director of Wines of Chile, gives his views on how the changing global wine market is affecting marketing spend in the UK.

Richard Siddle: how wine merchants can benefit by working together

Being an independent retailer can, by definition, be a lonely place to be. Whilst being 100% responsible for your own business can bring great advantages it can also leave you exposed to making executive decisions you might not always be qualified or experienced enough to make.

Lifting the Lid: Anne Krebiehl blogs from Moët's latest tasting

Laura Heywood blogs from the launch of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2004

The fanfare surrounding the launch of Veuve Cliquot La Grande Dame 2004 reached a climax today with a tutored tasting on stage at the London Coliseum, the grandiose home of the English National Opera.

Richard Siddle: why wine prices are sometimes too good to be true

It may have been some time since the UK wine trade was dominated by the clipped tones of our cover star in this week's Harpers Wine & Spirit, the one and only Terry Thomas, but the level of trust and reassurance that comes with a certain accent and upbringing is still an important, unquantifiable, part of the sector.

Anne Krebiehl blogs from The Riesling Summit

In a world of failing financial summits, Wednesday's Riesling Summit seemed like a good idea. After all, rather than trying to rescue a struggling monetary union it set out to celebrate one of the world's most scintillating grape varieties.

Richard Siddle: Why we should all get behind LIWF

So another London International Wine Fair has been and gone and as ever there are many in the trade who have been keen to perform their own post mortem on the show. Well here's mine.

Spice Girls hit the nail on the head - Laura Heywood blogs from the LIWF

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want.

Michael Stoddart explores the 'economic deception' behind supermarket wines

Vino Ignobile?

Laura Heywood blogs from Europe's first Seña vertical tasting

Pitting your wines against the best of its rivals is either a very clever PR exercise or a recipe for a disaster.

Richard Siddle: comment, May 18, why LIWF is still our showcase to the world

There has been a lot of nostalgia in recent weeks as the nation's media prepares us all for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. It is as if a look back to the 1970s, the three-day weeks, power cuts and Carry On films, will make us feel a whole lot better about life in Britain in 2012.

Natural wines: Justin Keay blogs from Georgia

There are wineries, and, well, there are wineries. With memories of my recent tour around some of the western Cape's most splendid wine estates still fresh, I was expecting the vineyards in Georgia (the former Soviet republic not the home state of Newt Gingrich) would be different. But not this different.

Tim Wildman MW blogs about profitability and opportunity

An Easter cycling trip to Cornwall gave me the excuse I needed to finally visit the Eden Project.

Richard Siddle: comment May 4; seeing the world through Boris's eyes..

Here's a topical anecdote to mark the seemingly never-ending London mayoral elections that took place on Thursday.

Harpers Awards celebrates the trade's industry leaders

I've had a fascinating experience in the last two weeks helping to judge our new Harpers Awards. Trying to cast judgement over drinks businesses of all shapes and sizes has not been an easy task, particularly when there is often no more than a hair's breadth between them.