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Few people in history achieve true mononymity, fewer still in the world of wine. But for 50 years, one American importer of some of the world’s greatest wines was known and revered as simply, “Martine.” On February 9, Martine Saunier, famed wine importer and founder of Martine’s Wines died at the age of 91. A pioneer in many senses of …

When the final gavel struck at this year’s Premiere Napa Valley Auction, the mood in the room was celebratory, as attendees felt optimistic about the future of Napa Valley wines thanks to the promise of the 2023 vintage and the support of the people who make up the wine industry. This year’s auction, held on Feb. 22 in the Barrel Room …

Located in northern Argentina, the Salta Wine trail is one of the most stunning in the world, combining majestic natural landscapes with a renowned winemaking tradition. The journey into Salta’s Calchaquí Valleys reveals a world of incredible terrains and unique flavours. Cafayate, the heart of the region’s wine scene, is found at the southern end of the Calchaquí Valleys, a …

Assyrtiko grapes at Jordan in Stellenbosch ‘Climate change is going to have a big impact in this country.’ Those are the words of viticulturist Rosa Kruger, who has been at the cutting edge of next generation viticulture in South Africa’s Western Cape over the last two decades. ‘What was predicted 10 years ago is now real. We have terrible floods, …

Nimmi Malhotra is a new judge at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA). Marcelo PinoNimmi Malhotra A wine communicator based in Singapore, Nimmi Malhotra has a strong background in publishing. Her introduction to wine came in Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, where her family runs a boutique vineyard, sparking her passion for the industry. She further honed her wine knowledge through …

Although overall Champagne exports dipped slightly in 2023, over 26 million bottles were shipped to the US, which remains the top export market for French wine and spirits. Growers and cooperatives account for 14% of the Champagne region’s total export revenue, and the rise of grower Champagnes is reshaping the market. Celebrated for their authenticity, sustainable practices and connection to …

A strong run of vintages makes this a fascinating time to delve deeper into the Nebbiolo strongholds of Barolo and Barbaresco in Piedmont’s rolling hills, where style icons and hidden gems alike offer riches for collectors at all levels. Piedmont is sometimes described as Italy’s answer to Burgundy, but producers’ masterful work with Nebbiolo in the Langhe hills deserves its …

The company owns wine stores in Battersea and Marylebone, along with a nationwide online retail business. It has been a stalwart of the UK independent wine scene since 1991, having successfully navigated all manner of challenges over the past 34 years. However, duty increases and Brexit have delivered a fatal one-two punch to the business, which will close permanently on …

A Fine Wine February gives way to March Madness. After a brief hiatus, the vintage reports come rearing back. Complementing the Bordeaux 2022 in-bottle report published in the magazine, online we’ll be running an entire package with more analysis and everything you need to know about the vintage from top-to-bottom. How has the vintage developed since En Primeur? What are …

Hello and welcome to my weekly roundup of the wine stories that I find of interest on the web. I post them to my magazine on Flipboard, but for those of you who aren’t Flipboard-inclined, here’s everything I’ve strained out of the wine-related muck for the week. Forestry Threat to Chilean WineThe scourge of pine. Downfall of NYC’s iconic wine shop …

19 vintages of ‘one of France’s greatest Mediterranean whites’. As we walked through the winery at Château de Beaucastel, I asked César Perrin if he minded if I took some photos. ‘Sure,’ he said, ‘but we’re not allowed to take any of the actors.’ Between two sorting tables laden with purple grapes were lighting rigs and a camera crew all …

Fortified wines may be largely associated with Christmas in the UK, but with a myriad of styles, there’s no reason why this category can’t be enjoyed year round. A chilled manzanilla on a balmy day, a contemplative oloroso and a good book, a tawny Port with a shard of dark chocolate by the fireside… Scroll down to see notes and …

“Wet February” Sweepstakes & Exclusive Wine Deals: If you’d like to win a trip to New York city, you must hurry. The deadline is February 28! Come Over October has now created Share and Pair Sunday. This sounds like it’s as much fun as Come Over October. From the Brits comes news for La Scolca […] The post Best Press …

Amanda Barnes MW, one of four new Masters of Wine announced in February 2025. Four new Masters of Wine (MW) have been announced in February 2025, including Amanda Barnes, a leading expert in South American wines who is also Regional Chair for Chile at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).  Barnes is joined by Singapore-based Jit Hang Jackie Ang, UK-based …

Winemaker Jean François Pellet in the Pepper Bridge Vineyard. The 2014 vintage in Washington State marked the beginning of evident warming trends in the region and beyond. It was a growing season that would break records for heat, but those records would be surpassed just a year later in the record-shattering 2015 vintage. For those who cellared wines from the …

My curiosity hatched in 1990. The Banco d’Assaggio dei Vini d’Italia, organised by Perugia-based Giorgio Lungarotti and his family, was the first wine competition I was ever invited to. It proved frustrating, with an inflexible, box-ticking scoring system and no chance to find out what we’d tasted afterwards. What was the point? What impressed me was the tasteful serenity of …

Hello and welcome to this week’s dig through the pile of wine samples that show up asking to be tasted. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the better bottles that have crossed my doorstep recently. After almost two decades of making only red wine, Tim Mondavi’s family, whose primary efforts …

David Williams,  Matthew Forster MW and Luis Gamiz tasted 86 wines, with 5 Oustanding and 38 Highly Recommended Montsant: Panel tasting scores 86 wines tasted Exceptional 0 Outstanding 5 Highly recommended 38 Recommended 38 Commended 5 Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their current-release still dry (or off-dry) red, white and rosé wines from DO Montsant No matter …

How long is a piece of string?’ quips Michael Dal Zotto of Dal Zotto Wines in Victoria’s King Valley wine region – a pithy yet fitting response to a big question: What’s the next big thing for Italian varieties in Australia? ‘I have a personal preference for Pinot Bianco,’ he adds, ‘but Fiano and Montepulciano are definitely appealing to the …

The church in the town of Spitz, Austria stands watch over some of the Wachau Valley’s most prized vineyards during winter. In some of the small towns lining the valley sometimes it seems like nearly every space not taken up by buildings is filled with vines. This steep-walled valley is known for producing some of Austria’s finest Riesling and Grüner …