Friday read: Rediscovering the magic of Marsala

Visiting Sicily as part of the Duca di Salaparuta Group’s 200-year celebrations this month included a trip to their world-famous Florio cellars. This served as an apt reminder that Marsala is more than an ingredient in your tiramisu, more than a bottle of something strong in Granny’s drinking cabinet; this is a serious wine, with serious pairing potential. And, as such, perhaps it’s time to rediscover this under-appreciated gem.

Friday read: Chris Losh hits the flor with manzanilla

You have to hand it to Moorish architects – they know a thing or two about keeping cool in the heat. And keeping a lid on the extremes of an Andalucian summer is essential to retaining flor.

Navigating Port’s choppy waters

In some quarters, Port sales received something of a lockdown boost as consumers made the most of longer, more relaxed at-home-drinking occasions. Jo Gilbert asks, can restaurants utilise this goodwill to maximise sales this winter?

10th Tío Pepe challenge now open for entries

In 2023, the international Tío Pepe Challenge, the world’s largest Sherry cocktail competition, celebrates its 10th Anniversary and is now open for entries from UK bartenders on the theme, ‘Twist Your Classic’.

Long Read: What to do about fortified wines' straitened market?

Jacopo Mazzeo looks at what regions such as the Douro and Jerez are doing to survive in a market increasingly hostile to fortified wines and explores whether these efforts are effective. Port, for instance, is heading in two diametrically opposed directions: simplification and (extra) premiumisation, with new categories that span from youth-friendly RTDs to Tawny 50yo and White 50yo. Sherry meanwhile, has just changed a number of its regulations and now embraces unfortified wine.

Sample registration opens for the b.f.t’s first virtual event

Big Fortified Tasting latest coronavirus casualty

The Big Fortified Tasting is the latest trade tasting to be cancelled in the wake of the deepening coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.

Tim Atkin MW: Sherry deserves applause

TIM ATKIN MW

B.f.t plays hardball with visitors via individual vetting process

Visitors to yesterday’s Big Fortified Tasting would have all undergone a basic background checks, Harpers has learned.

Rosé, port and boozy gifts drive Virgin Wines’ 15% festive growth

British drinkers knocked back significantly more rosé, port and Eastern European wine last Christmas as the nation’s drinking habits continue to change.

Guy Woodward: The great Port revival

Remember all that talk, a few years back, of the big sherry revival? About how, spurred on by the growth of tapas bars, small-plate dining, aperitif culture and cool España, fino and amontillado were the new tipples of choice for the hipster generation?

Vermouth: Herbal Remedy

With quality vermouth fast gaining ground both in cocktails and as a standalone tipple, Jaq Bayles samples the trend

Majestic reports surging Sherry sales

Majestic Wine has reported a 46% hike in annual Sherry sales driven by an increasing thirst for the tipple among Britain’s ‘hipsters’.

The b.f.t to return in 2018

The world’s largest fair dedicated to solely to fortified wines is to return next year when it will once again unite Port and Sherry lovers from the UK and abroad.

Rémy Martin goes virtual

Rémy Martin is the latest brand to hop on board the virtual reality train to explore new ways of engaging with customers.

Sherry is celebrated in UK on-trade at the annual Great Sherry Tasting

At yesterday's annual Great Sherry Tasting, the category seems to be making head way, particularly in the UK on-trade as sommeliers and Michelin starred chefs sampled nearly 200 Sherries being poured.

Sherry en vogue at Wines of Spain masterclass

"We have to keep the fire burning". This was the message from distinguished Jerez winemaker Beltran Domecq at the sherry masterclass at Wines from Spain's yesterday, when quizzed on the future of the category and maintaining the wave of popularity that sherry is currently enjoying.

González Byass' Tio Pepe En Rama shipped to 19 countries this month

Tio Pepe En Rama is due to ship more of its unfiltered and unclarified fino sherry to more countries than ever before.

Bottle-shaped tins to encase Cockburn's Special Reserve in run-up to Christmas

Cockburn's Special Reserve port is to be available in three brightly-coloured tins in selected retail accounts from November.

Sherry goes to the cinema with UK premiere at Edinburgh film festival

Sherry producers are hoping for an unexpected boost in profile with the release of a feature film documentary about the fortified wine.