Jerry Lockspieser: Is it time to change the rules about wine?

Many years ago after visiting Vignoble de La Jasse, one of our excellent organic suppliers in the Rhone Valley, the owner Daniel Combe and I went for a coffee in his favourite roadside café. As we sat sipping our drinks, first one then a second large wine transporter went roaring past.

Guy Woodward: I'm not trying to do sommeliers out of a job, but...

Hallgarten’s Andrew Bewes and Steve Daniel on selling style

Premium sales, progressive lists, and off-piste portfolio additions are Hallgarten’s calling cards, as Andrew Catchpole discovers

Tim Atkin MW: What Rowan Gormley could learn from Tony Laithwaite

Wine critic, broadcaster, co-chair of the IWC

Interview: Danny Lucchesi, Delicato Family

Viticulturalist Danny Lucchesi talks to Chris Wilson about special old vines, Zin and Gnarley Head

Joe Fattorini: On wine, lemons and cow shit

Head of London sales at Fields, Morris & Verdin

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.

Q&A: Matteo Montone, Berners Tavern

Next month Jason Atherton’s Berners Tavern at The London Edition is launching a series entitled An Introduction to Wine, hosted by director of wine Matteo Montone. On Monday nights 12 guests will be guided through the basics of wine in the restaurant’s private dining room, with each guest receiving 15% off their bill if they dine in the restaurant afterwards.

Q&A: Shervene Shahbazkhani, Bacardi Brown Forman, on the benefits of a gender-balanced trade

People all around the world are marking International Women’s Day today with celebrations and protests, looking back at the changes that have been made, but also pushing for further gender parity at home and in the workplace.

Q&A: Xenia Irwin MW, Waitrose Cellar

Xenia Irwin MW, wine buyer at Waitrose Cellar is in revelatory mood as she shares her passion for her job – and some childhood memories. 

Guy Woodward: Champagne’s snobbery is in danger of bubbling over

GUY WOODWARD

Tim Atkin MW: Celebrating Creole

Compiling a list of the 10 best red and white grapes is an entertaining parlour game for consenting wine lovers. Should Chardonnay trump Riesling and Chenin Blanc? And what about Cabernet Sauvignon? Better or worse than Pinot Noir, Grenache or Nebbiolo? I’ve played this dozens of times around the world and the results differ more than you’d think. Yet some varieties never make the podium. There are more than 5,000 to choose from, but no one ever finds room for Aligoté, Dornfelder or Seyval Blanc.

Q&A: Alexandre Gabriel, MD, Maison Ferrand

What did it mean to the business to win Supreme Champion in Harpers Design Awards?

Q&A: Jim Meehan, co-founder, Banks Rums

Bartender extraordinaire Jim Meehan has been in Europe recently, leaving a trail of wisdom and insight behind him as to what it takes to make it the bar world.

Q&A: Matteo Montone, director of wine, Berners Tavern

Next month Jason Atherton’s Berners Tavern at The London Edition is launching a new series entitled An Introduction to Wine, hosted by director of wine Matteo Montone. On Monday nights 12 guests will be guided through the basics of wine in the restaurant’s private dining room, with each guest receiving 15% off of their bill if they dine in the restaurant afterwards.

Joe Fattorini: Give the people what they (actually) want

JOE FATTORINI

Q&A: Abi Barlow, Barlow & Co.

Barlow & Co. founder Abi Barlow talks Andrew Catchpole through the creative thinking between wine and design

Jerry Lockspeiser: How to win in uncertain times

If we have heard it once we have heard it a thousand times: Business needs clarity to plan.

Q&A: Dean Harper, owner of HarperWells shares his Norwich knowledge

James Lawrence talks Brexit, MUP, millennials and alternative formats with indie Dean Harper of HarperWells

Q&A: Robin Copestick, co-managing director, Freixenet Copestick

It’s hard to overstate the impact that I Heart has had on the trajectory of Robin Copetsick’s business – formerly Copestick Murray and, as of January 1, Freixenet Copestick – and where it is today.