South Africa looks to higher ground

Hard hit by the pandemic, South Africa’s winemakers are proving their resilience and fighting back with an eye on higher quality and pricing. By Andrew Catchpole

“Smallest vintage in living memory” delights Oz winemakers, if not accountants

Off the back of a “rollercoaster ride”, variously involving frosts, drought, heatwaves, horrendous bush fires and finally the disruption of Covid-19, Australia’s 2020 vintage is expected to produce some “sensational wines” from a very low yielding crush.

Carluccio's bailout saves under half of its restaurants

Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s has completed its bailout deal with Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), saving 30 of its 71 restaurants and costing 1,000 furloughed workers their jobs.

Hail the mighty Maipo

Andrew Catchpole shines the spotlight on Chile’s most famous region for quality reds

"Exceptional" Margaret River harvest wraps early

Low yields in the Margaret River harvest has produced fruit of “exceptional” quality with “divine concentration of aromas and flavours”, the Margaret River Wine Assocation is reporting.

CIVB launches Hot 50 Bordeaux 2020 promotion

Vins de Bordeaux has announced a new initiative to promote Bordeaux wines in the UK market.

‘Buy now’ advice for Burgundy 2018 reds as quality outstrips 2015

Bountiful crops and idyllic weather was the talk of Europe in 2018, following on from the dismal vintage shortfalls of 2017 where producers suffered bouts of frost, hail and a late spell of searing heat.

Prosecco and Asti spearhead new EU-backed promotion of GI-designated quality produce

The heartland DOCGs of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Asti and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano have joined with producers from Provolone Valdpadana PDO, Mozzarella TSG and Olio Extravergine d’Oliva Toscana PGI for the launch of Enjoy European Quality Foods (EEQF).

Esporão adds Vinho Verde to its growing roll call

Leading Portuguese producer Herdade do Esporão is adding Vinho Verde to its growing portfolio of regions with the purchase of historic winery Quinta do Ameal.

Cider aligns with wine

A new association aiming to promote cider’s quality credentials is putting it side-by-side with wine. Jo Gilbert looks at how it holds up

Sustainability: a transatlantic conversation with California Wines

Harpers and California Wine Institute hosted an insightful and far-reaching seminar at London’s Design Museum, delivering the core message that the wine world is well-placed to better engage consumers in supporting the true costs of advancing sustainability. Andrew Catchpole reports

Daniel Lambert lands Hollick exclusive

Daniel Lambert Wines has added to its growing portfolio of estate wines with a new exclusive agreement with Coonawarra’s Hollick.

Villa Maria hails “greatest ever harvest”

Top kiwi winemaker Villa Maria is full of enthusiasm for its wines from the 2019 vintage, with “numerous highlights” from the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne areas leading the winery to declare its best ever harvest.

Flavoured and spiced to replace white as favourite rum style in UK off-trade

Flavoured and spiced rums are storming their way to becoming the most drunk style of rum in the off-trade, and could be the most sold style in the UK by the end of the year.

Côtes du Rhône targets 30-45 age group for new global campaign

The trade body for France’s Côtes du Rhône has unveiled plans to target consumers in their thirties and forties, with a new logo and marketing strapline that highlights the region’s quality, heritage and provenance.

Rioja 2018 given the thumbs up from the DOCa despite weather woes

The Rioja vintage for 2018 has been classified as ‘Good’ despite the uncertainty around the impact of unpredictable weather conditions on the region.

Jerry Lockspeiser: What’s the cost of a decent bottle of wine?

The You and Yours programme on BBC Radio 4 recently ran a piece in which a £7.50 Chinese wine in Sainsbury’s was described by the interviewer as “cheap and cheerful”. A flurry of listeners comments followed, aghast that £7.50 should be thought cheap. Many were paying £4-5, unable to afford more, and generally happy with what they were buying. One listener said his wine buff family members couldn’t tell the difference between his £4-5 wines and more expensive ones anyway.

2018 Burgundy: excellent reds and solid whites

Panos Kakaviatos reports from Hospices de Beaune on the ins and outs of the 2018 vintage. 

Wines of Japan: Harpers takes a closer look at what the country has to offer

Japan has had a boost in winemaking productivity over the past decade, particularly among smaller, artisanal producers who are now leading the charge for quality and innovation. We took a closer look at a country which is focusing outwards on growing its reputation and inwards on winemaking expertise.

Low disease pressure and minimal intervention casts warm glow over UK wine industry