Rosé port made an official category

The Port Wine Institute has made rosé port an official category following the high-profile launch of Croft Pink last year.

Regionality is the only solution, warns Tyrell

Regionalist Bruce Tyrell is the latest high profile Australian winemaker to return to the UK to make his case for the country's focus on regionality and re-assure buyers that it is listening to their needs.

Don't miss

Borsa Vini- The Excellence of Italian Wines
London, Thursday October 8, 10-5pm
The Dorchester, Park Lane, London W1K 1QA

The Italian Trade Commission will be hosting a one day show where over 40 regionally diverse producers will gather to present their classic wines and talk about new developments and most recent vintages.

Review - The Forge

Hiding discreetly in the basement in Covent Garden's popular, The Forge, is a recently opened small "but perfectly formed space" offering a selection of modern European quality food for competitive prices and a wine list boasting over 500 wines.

New Taste

First taste presents medal winners from the International Wine Challenge's Discovery Tasting.
The competition features the best new wines from around the world that are looking for representation in the UK. This week we look at Italian reds.

Peter Avis wins Dalmore Award for Excellence

Peter Avis, restaurant manager of Babylon Restaurant at the Roof Gardens, London as winner of the Dalmore Award for Excellence.

'Facebook is free market research'

The future is already here with regards to new media, and it's very easy to promote businesses freely online, said media consultant, Ryan Opaz at the seminar Social Media in Action, held at the Boutique Wineries Tasting.

Some Italian producers face ruin

Vineyards in some of Italy's most famous regions could face ruin due to a collapse in the price of grapes, the Italian Farmers Confederation has warned.

Trade looks to push low-alcohol wines

Trade and consumer interest in low alcohol wine is soaring, the organisers of a major forum on the rapidly emerging category claimed this week.

Ronan Sayburn - The Greenhouse, Mayfair

After a quiet August most of London was on holiday so it was a bit scary, but as soon as we hit September we were back on form, that has carried on strongly into October.

Delving into the Wine Seller

One effect the recession has had in the restaurant trade is to force businesses to be leaner but also more dynamic in a bid to survive the tough times and hold their own in an increasingly competitive industry.

Phil Crozier reviews Argentina at Lord's

The cricket ground is a good venue for the tasting, with plenty of natural light. And it's nice for the Argentinians to see a bit of cricket - although they probably know as much about it as we do about polo!

Romain Henry winner of the inaugural Sud de France UK Sommelier of the Year

The last month has been very busy with the preparation of the Sud de France Sommelier of the year. I have also been building the Languedoc Roussillon wine list up for the Maze Grill which was timed quite well as it gave me a great opportunity to taste all the wines from the region.

South Africa - Growth Spurt

With the WOSA Mega-Tasting days away Andrew Catchpole asks if South Africa can keep its enviable recession-beating momentum going.

Maidment takes on Forbes' role

Focusing on Malbec and Torrentés are the main objectives for Andrew Maidment as he replaces James Forbes at the end of October as the UK presence at Wines of Argentina.

High hopes for 2009 vintage across Europe

Early reports that 2009 could turn out to be a star vintage in many regions across Europe are providing a much-needed boost for the beleagured wine trade.

Briccarello moves to Galvin

Galvin Restaurants has appointed sommelier of the year Andrea Briccarello in time for its new restaurant launch this autumn.

New investors see Beaujolais potential

Plans to create Beaujolais's first premier cru classification have been unveiled by a major family company which is producing its first vintage from the area.

New Taste

New from the south of France is a super-premium French "brand" called Chêne Blue. The range, imported by Winelife Ltd, is the result of a decade's hard graft to transform the vineyards of Domaine de la Verrière in Provence, which were bought by Nicole and Xavier Rolet, president of the London Stock Exchange.

Don't miss - Be a Saké Sommelier

Become a Saké Sommelier

The Saké Sommelier Association is holding the Certified Sake Sommelier Course on February 1-2, 2010, at the WSET tasting rooms in The International Wine and Spirit Centre.