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D&D: Standing out from the crowd

Published:  18 October, 2017

D&D London’s Michael Patterson talks to Andrew Catchpole about evolving drinks trends on the London restaurant scene and how they affect the buyers’ role 

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Independents: The art of being a specialist

Published:  16 October, 2017

Having a speciality can be a boon for a merchant. Andrew Catchpole invites a few to share the pros and cons of sourcing, selling and communicating such an offer

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Guy Woodward: Substance versus style

Published:  11 October, 2017

Former editor of Decanter @guyawoodward

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Tim Atkin: Semillon - The Naked Grape

Published:  06 October, 2017

When I was younger, fitter and considerably trimmer than I am now, I took part (twice) in a wine trade version of The Full Monty for charity. The name of our group of buffed-up writers, sommeliers and importers was The Semillons (geddit?). So, when I received an invitation to an event called The Semillon Sessions recently, part of me hoped that a new group of amateur strippers would be strutting their moves on a stage somewhere.

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Q&A: Laura Jewell, Wine Australia

Published:  28 September, 2017

Laura Jewell MW talks to Andrew Catchpole about life at the UK helm of Wine Australia and her involvement with the Women in Wine Awards

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Jerry Lockspeiser: The Problem with Natural Wine

Published:  19 September, 2017

Why aren’t “organic carrots” just called carrots? Why aren’t carrots grown with pesticides called “chemical carrots”?

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Independent profile: The Good Wine Shop

Published:  19 September, 2017

Andrew Catchpole drops in on The Good Wine Shop where a hybrid-focused refurb is the latest innovation primed to seduce wine drinkers from the south-west London ‘burbs

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Guy Woodward: Gerard Basset - wine's most competitive man?

Published:  15 September, 2017

The one thing everyone knows about Gerard Basset OBE MS MW is that he’s a nice bloke. A true gent. A real gem. As I write this, his latest tweets feature extended thanks to well-wishers and teachers after his son’s successful admission into university, and a retweet of a cute dog. Well I’ve got news for you. It’s all a front. A façade. He might appear as affable as his canine namesake, but have you ever seen a Basset hound when it gets the scent of rabbit in its nostrils? Scary…

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Tim Atkin MW: Lidl’s Prosecco party

Published:  12 September, 2017

It was a familiar scenario. Offer Brits what seems like a bargain and they’ll form orderly queues at 6.30am on a Bank Holiday Monday. To be fair to those early morning Lidl shoppers, it looked like a spectacular deal: a case of Prosecco for the flute-clinking sum of £20, the equivalent of £3.33 a bottle. When you bear in mind that the duty and VAT amount to £3.23, it would be legally impossible to offer the wine any cheaper.

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Q&A: Judy Kendrick, original SITT creator

Published:  11 September, 2017

Original creator Judy Kendrick kick-started SITT back in 2005 with her vision for an event which puts buyers’ needs at the top of the agenda.

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Q&A: Hannah Tovey, head of the London Wine Fair

Published:  07 September, 2017

Lisa Riley caught up with the new head of the annual must-attend event about the changes she’s been implementing in her first few months 

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Meet the Buyers: Purchasing power

Published:  05 September, 2017

James Lawrence catches up with buyers from some of the UK’s leading agent-importers

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Joe Fattorini: There’s no wisdom in crowd sourcing wine columns

Published:  30 August, 2017

Are you friends with wine writers on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter? Then you'll be familiar with "#JournoRequest!!!". Or maybe "Help from the #hivemind..." and "Hey everyone, I need your tips". Crowd-sourced wine writing.

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Jerry Lockspeiser: How to sell wine

Published:  24 August, 2017

What’s the most thing important thing when selling wine? Is it the best quality? The best price? The most unique product? The best story? The most compelling packaging?

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Q&A: May de Lencquesaing, proprietor at Glenelly Estate, SA

Published:  18 August, 2017

With a career spanning over 40 years and two continents, May de Lencquesaing certainly earned the IWC Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon her early this summer.

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Q&A: Sebastián Labbé, Santa Rita Estates

Published:  15 August, 2017

Santa Rita Estates’ premium winemaker talks to Andrew Catchpole about the exciting evolution that is transforming Chilean winemaking

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Aiming High: Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines

Published:  07 August, 2017

Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines’ boss Andrew Bewes talks to Andrew Catchpole about meeting the challenges of change

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Meet the buyers: Majestic

Published:  07 August, 2017

As Cat Lomax takes up the head buyer role at Majestic, James Lawrence takes an in-depth look at the drinks-buying team

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Tim Atkin MW: At the mercy of the elements

Published:  07 August, 2017

It’s squeaky bum time in Chablis. Grape growers the world over consult weather forecasts on a regular basis, but in the Yonne it’s almost an obsession. You can see why the locals are worried: nature has picked them out for some particularly brutal treatment in the past two vintages.

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Guy Woodward: Alcohol - the elephant in the cellar

Published:  27 July, 2017

Throughout my time around the wine trade, one fundamental aspect of its make-up has been constantly swept under the carpet. Alcohol. I have seen members of the trade battle addiction issues; engage in drink-driving, embarrass themselves through over-indulgence. And that’s before one turns to the damage wreaked in wider society. Yet never have I heard the topic discussed at any length or in any depth; we’d sooner spend hours debating terroir and tartaric acid.

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