The Wine Institute of California has announced the Benchmark Wines for 2010 after much deliberation from the tasting panel, who tasted over 100 wines before finally arriving at 14 of the best California has to offer. (more…)

It’s been another great year for English and Welsh wine in the major international wine competitions, whose results were announced at the London International Wine & Spirits Trade Fair. (more…)

The 10th June 2010 saw the launch of Wines of Chile’s “Carmenère Made for
Curry” campaign with a food and wine matching event at one of London’s
leading Indian restaurants, Benares, on Berkeley Square. (more…)

This year’s English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition results are
announced today, with more medals awarded than ever before, acknowledging the consistently high quality of wines and winemaking coming from the UK. (more…)

Carefully selected wild English grown sloe berries are gently steeped for several months with Hayman’s Gin before being blended with natural sugar creating a rich ruby red liqueur with smooth and intense bitter sweet fruit flavours. (more…)

The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company from Edinburgh, has been named ‘Business of the Year’ at the annual Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards which took place last night during a ceremony held at the Benromach Distillery in Forres. Forty-five companies were shortlisted for these awards in seventeen categories including Drink, Food & Drink Tourism and Young Scottish Chef. (more…)

As we ditch our winter coats and head into spring with some alfresco dining on our minds, we face the question – which wine will complement the dishes we’re preparing? Whether you’re opting for a spring salad, some fresh seafood, or a picnic as the sun comes out, there is no need to worry as California Wines can answer all of your needs and show you how to make the perfect pairings. (more…)

Twenty-three wines have been selected as this year’s Sauvignon Blanc de Loire Project Ambassadors. The wines, all from the 2009 vintage, were chosen by a panel of four UK wine professionals, led by Sam Harrop MW. The all-female jury comprised journalists Sarah Jane Evans MW and Sarah Ahmed, and buyers Christine Parkinson from Hakkasan and Cat Lomax from Direct Wines.

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Oz Clarke, the UK’s best known wine expert, teams up with Sir Cliff Richard to lead the country’s biggest online wine tasting.

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If you know your Cabernet Sauvignon from your Sauvignon Blanc, then you are probably already aware of the incredible range and diverse tastes of California wines. However, it is now time for both red and white to step aside, as California paves the way for its latest offering; green wines. (more…)

As 2010 begins, winemakers can celebrate a vintage end to the last decade, following one of the best harvests on record. More than a number of winemakers are even talking in superlatives: ‘Fantastic’; ‘wonderful quality year’ and ‘one of the best ever’ amongst them when describing the 2009 vintage. (more…)

Carr Taylor vineyards, located in East Sussex have just released the newest vintages of two of their most recently award wining wines, both are quintessentially English and perfect for Easter!! (more…)

The ongoing success of English sparkling wines was further applauded with another outstanding win on the world stage. (more…)

You’ve done the easy bit. You’ve both agreed that you want to spend the rest of your lives together; you’ve announced the news to your parents, and shown off the engagement ring to all those admiring friends and colleagues. Once the initial euphoria has faded a little, it will start to dawn on you that quite a lot of planning is needed in order to get from ‘I will’ to ‘I do’. Here are our five top tips to get the wedding ball rolling: (more…)

The Bolney Wine Estate at Bookers Vineyard is getting into the festive spirit by staging a free wine tasting combined with expert advice on what wines to serve with your Christmas feast. (more…)

Champagne Perrier-Jouët unveiled the new 2002 vintage of Perrier-Jouët Cuvée Belle Epoque, the first great vintage of the new millennium, at an exclusive launch event held at the French Ambassador’s Residence earlier this week. (more…)

2009 is shaping up to be an unrivalled year for Nyetimber, Britain’s leading sparkling wine producer. In the midst of the largest and possibly highest quality harvest yet seen in its 21 year history, Nyetimber’s 1992 Blanc de Blancs has won this year’s International Wine & Spirit Competition Denbies Trophy for the Best Worldwide Sparkling Wine. This 1992 Blanc de Blancs was only disgorged earlier in 2009. In the words of the IWSC judges it is “an aristocratic, multifaceted and splendid fizz…simply sublime”. (more…)

Leiths School of Food and Wine are delighted to announce that Richard Bampfield MW, has been awarded the title of European Champagne Ambassador 2009. Richard, who lectures on wine and Champagne to Leiths diploma students and runs Champagne tasting evenings at Leiths, comments “Drinking Champagne is one of life’s great pleasures and helping others appreciate Champagne has always felt more like a labour of love than real work. I am really proud and excited to have won this award against 8 strong candidates from the rest of Europe.” (more…)

The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) presents “The Pleasure of Bordeaux”; a solo magazine that reveals the famous wine region as a welcoming, enticing and enchanting place to visit. (more…)

Michel Roux, OBE and Gary Rhodes were among the guests recently when Jean-Pierre Cointreau, CEO of Champagne Gosset, hosted a celebration of the company’s 425th anniversary in Paris. (more…)

A three year research study undertaken by Colchagua terroir specialists Viña Casa Silva with the University of Talca has pinpointed the reasons why vines growing under ‘seemingly similar’ conditions in one vineyard have a different quality potential. (more…)

Chix Chandaria, a former dancer, and Dan Roebuck, a mining engineer, have formed Hix & Buck to import exclusive, quality wines from undiscovered vineyards. (more…)

The California Wine Institute has teamed up with Stonehedge Winery and cake maker Konditor & Cook, to offer one lucky winner a cake making master class, and a case of California wine, to get you California Dreaming.

Stonehedge Winery produces exceptional wine from California’s stunning Napa Valley wine region.  The winery produces impeccable Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The lucky winner will receive a mixed case of some of the best wine California has to offer, a genuine taste of the Golden State.

Renowned bakery Konditor & Cook makes inventive, fun and delicious cakes for all occasions, whether a wedding, graduation ceremony, or Valentine’s Day, when its famous ‘magic cakes’ are a firm favourite. Some of the classics from this exquisite baker include lemon chiffon, indulgent dark chocolate and whiskey orange bomb. A fantastic day at the company’s top bakery in the Gherkin with a ‘Konditormeister’ is up for grabs. You will be taught how to make some of the most popular cakes, and then take them home to indulge later.

For your chance to win this prize visit our wine quiz.

Waitrose Wine Buyer Ken Mackay is the youngest master of wine in the world and the first one to open his hands and mind to pomegranate wine “Pomegranates are a big hit with Waitrose shoppers, so we are pleased to be the first UK retailer to offer Rimon Winery’s Pomegranate Dessert Wine. This wine is a perfect after-dinner drink for the autumn. It matches well with fruit puddings, such as crumble, and will be a delicious accompaniment to a cheese board.” (more…)

The D2 (the ‘route des Châteaux’) is possibly the most famous road in the Bordeaux region. Confection-ally known as “Quality Street,” driving up the D2 is like driving through a wine list. Passing one grand example of architecture after another, the road sweeps through the famous appellations of Médoc, Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estèphe. And most of these have great roadside restaurants. (more…)

We have a prize to give away that will make you want to sit out in the garden on a warm summer evening, listening to some of your favourite music with a glass of delicious Caves Saint-Pierre wine, and a beautiful Revival DAB radio from Roberts Radio. (more…)

Demijohn has uncovered the best surprise ever from under a gooseberry bush – a Gooseberry Gin Liqueur from Cheshire. Love them or hate them, gooseberries are a traditional part of a British summer, and when taken in this liquid alcoholic form are truly irresistible. (more…)

Hahndorf – Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement

The Adelaide Hills

Hahndorf is the Adelaide Hills’ most popular tourist destination. Settled in 1839 by Prussian and East German immigrants, Hahndorf is Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. The original inhabitants were farmers who produced many items that had a ready market in (more…)

‘Wine regions work’; that is the message that came across loud and clear from the winners of the Wine Australia ‘Regional Heroes’ programme this year in UK & Ireland.

The dozen top-performers from the twelve-week promotion of Australian regionality have just (more…)

Chile’s narrow band of land between the high Andes and the crashing Pacific Ocean makes for a unique wine region. The opportunity to achieve great quality is excellent. Try a wine from Chile and judge for yourself. Chile’s wine industry seems to be in the middle of all sorts of soul searching as it tries to pick exactly the right (more…)

Wine minnow that packs a punch!

Baaaa!

When conjuring up an impression of New Zealand, the best that many people can do is think of millions of sheep, big birds that can’t fly, and enormously frightening and seemingly unbeatable rugby players. Most people, when asked where New Zealand is, would say, ‘somewhere near Australia.’
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Enthusiasts can learn about whisky at Wales’ only distillery

Penderyn, Wales’ only and award-winning distillery, opened its doors to the public for the first time last year with the launch of its elegantly styled new visitors centre on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
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Recently, Sicily’s wines have only been good for topping up the EU wine lake.

Mount Etna

Sicily may be best known for Europe’s largest volcano, Etna, and as the spiritual home of the Mafioso, but the island perched off the toe of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea may soon be recognised for its wine.
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There can be few places in the world to rival the Adelaide Hills in South Australia for growing and enjoying wine. It truly is a land of plenty as it has everything going for it. It is scenically beautiful with superb old trees and rolling hilly countryside that seems to blend naturally with the fields of vines and other crops, yet the beach is only a few minutes away as is the sophisticated but laid-back city of Adelaide with its shops, restaurants, arts and sports (it boasts one of the world’s finest cricket grounds).
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The 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards attracted more entries this year than any other wine competition in the world, cementing its position as the world’s biggest wine competition. In total 10,285 wines were entered, more than double the amount when the competition launched six years ago. The number of companies submitting wines increased by 23% to 2,240. This phenomenal growth is due to Decanter’s reputation for using only the very best judges, coupled with its unparalleled global reach for the results.
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At 54 Bob Lindo is one of England’s most successful winemakers, following an illustrious and dramatic career flying jets for the RAF.

Bob Lindo

Bob Lindo, A successful wine maker

Was joining the RAF always a schoolboy dream of yours?
Not at all. I come from a very ordinary background, on a large council estate in Suffolk, where aspirations were usually low. I always knew, though, that I would achieve something and I was only one of four kids from that particular estate to win a place at the local grammar school.
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First Gold in International Competition for English Still White Wine

The English & Welsh wine industry’s rightful place on the world stage was confirmed on 12th May when the results of three major international wine competitions were released.

In all, over 100 awards were gained by English and Welsh wines in the International Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine & Spirit Competition, giving a record number of medals and commendations for the UK.
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Setting up a cellar
We use ‘cellar’ to mean both the area in which we store wines and the wines stored there. ‘Cellar’ may be a bit of an exaggeration for the place where most people store their wine. But it is worth considering the attributes of the cellar where wine is traditionally kept to reach the peak of its maturity. And even if you keep your wine in a cupboard under the stairs rather than in a cave under the ground, you can still imitate the most important features of the cellar. (more…)

Equipment, gadgets and gizmos every science-minded home winemaker should own

Sooner or later, most serious winemakers conclude that it isn’t good enough to simply follow a recipe blindly. That’s a bit too much like painting-by-numbers. The expression of one’s own skill and artistry makes the difference between an ordinary wine and something uniquely personal. But to do that, it’s necessary to understand a bit about the composition of the wine.
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Fine Wine Focus
Châteauneuf-du-Pape

As one of France’s leading appellations, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is well regarded across the world. Funkyfogey delves behind the its history and reveals some full-bodied gems.
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English Wine Week with English Vine Tours

English Vine Tours are delighted to offer 3 unique full day vineyard experiences for English Wine Week. English Wine Week runs from 23rd May to 31st May 2009, a great week of events spread throughout England to promote the variety and uniqueness of English wines and vineyards. (more…)

Olly, Olly, Olly

Olly Smith

At Vinitaly Gala opening, the International Wine & Spirit Competition announced the winner of the best wine & spirit journalist & broadcaster of the year 2009.

To much applause at last night’s opening Gala at Vinitaly, in Verona, The International Wine & Spirit Competition awarded their annual (more…)

While many dream of owning their own sun-drenched French vineyard, coaxing artisan wines from gnarled vines, the reality is that for most, the expense, time and expertise required to realise the dream puts it well beyond practical reach. However, the restoration of an abandoned winery deep in the heart of the Languedoc offers wine lovers an opportunity to make this dream a reality. (more…)

California usually conjures up visions of sandy beaches with tanned figures roller- blading on the sidewalk, shopping on Rodeo Drive like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman or skiing the world class resorts of Lake Tahoe or Mammoth. And while all the above are true highlights of the Golden State, there is another exciting feature which you may not even have thought of (more…)

We’ve all been there, you’re cooking for friends, going to a dinner party or trying a new restaurant and the moment comes when you have to choose the wine. Whether you’re stood in a supermarket aisle or looking at a wine list, there is a certain amount of pressure that goes with the decision. You want to make sure whatever you select complements the food you’re going to be eating.
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TWO DATES FOR THE DIARY…
• Thursday 23rd April is the annual English Wine Producers St George’s Day Tasting
• 23rd – 31st May is the 2009 English Wine Week

English Wine Producers are looking forward to another busy year of activity in 2009, which include their trade tasting, English Wine Week, and putting a focus on wine tourism. The St George’s Day Tasting will take place on Thursday 23rd April at Chelsea Football Club, with key producers showing their latest releases and commercially available wines alongside quality smaller volume producers from the regions to illustrate the range and diversity now available. The tasting will also introduce some vineyards and wines new to the English wine scene.
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Jacob’s Creek has been voted ‘Top Wine under £10’ at the 5th Annual Good Housekeeping Food Awards this week. The event, held at the Good Housekeeping Institute, saw Jacob’s Creek triumph over runner-up wine E&J Gallo. Good Housekeeping readers nominated Jacob’s Creek from a shortlist of 11, establishing Jacob’s Creek to be the readers true favourite. The magazine’s 1.7m readers voted via the magazine and the website.
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Averys is delighted to unveil a new range of wines celebrating a tradition of pioneering that goes back to 1793. The wines of Averys Pioneer Range are selected by John Avery MW from winemaking countries he began working with back in the 1960s and 70s. He has been identified by Stephen Spurrier in Decanter as being one of the most significant individuals in bringing New World wines to the attention of UK wine enthusiasts.
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Get into the Scottish spirit this May. Whisky Month is just one of the many reasons head up to Scotland for Homecoming this year. Whisky Month is a diverse range of more than 30 unmissable events and experiences happening across Scotland this May, held in honour of Scotland’s famous national drink as part of the year-long Homecoming 2009 celebrations.
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Sovio Wines, a small wine company that makes a lighter style wine with 40% less alcohol than most mainstream wines, was recently granted permission to go to the High Court next month to challenge Food Standard Agency rulings that banned Sovio’s sale in 2007. This is despite Government policy which has been urging more sensible drinking for some time and the ever increasing level of wine alcohols which has been heavily criticized in the industry.
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Destination Bordeaux: Wine & Dine In 2009
Bordeaux City is less than an hour-and-a-half from London by air. Take your tipple by the glass in a chic bar or by the bottle with local gastronomy in a side-street bistro. Whatever your pleasure, Bordeaux has something to whet every appetite and the region itself produces more than food and drink – there is so much to see and do in this tourist destination. (more…)

Announces 2009 Call For Entries
The International Wine Challenge (IWC) – the world’s most prestigious and influential independent wine competition – is calling for entries to the 2009 challenge, which recognises the most outstanding wines of the world. The IWC has been running for over 25 years and has established its reputation for identifying and rewarding top wines from around the globe through its assessment of judging every wine blind, for its faithfulness to variety, region and vintage and independently of its price. (more…)

Break old traditions this year with delicious wines from Chateau de Sours
It’s time to make a change – put down the roses, step away from the chocolates and forget the stuffed toys forever. This year, put the sparkle back into your Valentine’s Day with original, inspiring and sophisticated Reserve de Sours sparkling rosé.

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Paul Henry

Australian winemakers, journalists and industry specialists gathered in Edinburgh to celebrate Australia Day in style; with over 800 wines on tasting at the annual Scottish Wine Australia trade show held at the inspiring arena of ‘Our Dynamic Earth’. The producers then moved south to host an even greater gathering in London at Emirates Stadium on Thursday 29th January. (more…)

The International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) belonged to Viña Errazuriz this year as the 138-year-old Chilean wine producer walked off with two of the top Chilean Trophies, collecting the prestigious IWSC Trophy for Chilean Wine Producer, as well as receiving the IWSC Trophy for Carmenère.
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