Five minutes with: Seb Heeley

Seb Heeley, co-founder and master distiller, Manchester Gin

Q&A: Chris Foss, Plumpton Wine Division

Chris Foss, founder and curriculum manager at Plumpton College Wine Division

Guy Woodward: On good breeding in wine

From the moment visitors touch down at Lexington’s Blue Grass airport, they are confronted with stylised images of two of Kentucky’s most prominent industries. The local tourist board seems keener, funnily enough, to promote the state’s whiskies and horses than its other famous export. Compliant stooge that I am, I took in both pursuits over the course of a whistle-stop tour last month.

Tim Atkin MW: The dangers of karaoke journalism

The two emails arrived on the same morning. The first was from Mark A, offering me an “exclusive invite” to join Biginfluencers.com and “connect with some of the biggest brands”; the second was a release about the launch of a Standardised Wine Rating System called iS Winescale. In their different ways, they both cut to the core of what it means to be a wine writer today. Are we still relevant? And if so, how and to whom?

Q&A: Sara Rossi, head sommelier, Trinity

Sara Rossi’s career so far spans Fera at Claridges, Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road and the Dorchester Collection, where she was mentored by Vanessa Cinti. She talks Andrew Catchpole through her vision at a Clapham neighbourhood favourite

Q&A: Xavier Gramona, co-president, Corpinnat

Joint-president of the new breakaway group Corpinnat, Xavier Gramona, is fighting to rid Spanish sparkling wine of the 'bargain-basement' image. James Lawrence analyses his prospects

Joe Fattorini: The pratfall effect

Head of London sales at Fields, Morris & Verdin

Q&A: Alvaro Palacios

Álvaro Palacios has done more than most to show the world what Spanish terroir has to offer. Andrew Catchpole speaks to the winemaker Alvaro Palacios, Descendientes De J Palacios and Bodegas Palacios Remondo about what drives his passion

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.