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Lorraine Leheny and Warren Gibson A young winemaker couple: one Kiwi, one Australian, both born under the star sign Libra. Both had a deep love of Italy and shared a dream of making their own wine. Work had taken them around the globe, but a job in New Zealand called them home. They lost no time in securing land and …

Vineyard in Sussex. Figures from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) show that England has suffered its second-worst harvest since records began. Wheat, winter barley and oilseed rape all saw double-digit declines. Most winemakers have only just started harvesting grapes this week, so trade body Wine GB was reluctant to provide an official estimate on the 2024 …

Roberto Duran is head sommelier at 67 Pall Mall Singapore. He started his career in his native Spain, working his way up through some of the country’s most renowned Michelin-starred restaurants, including Miramar and Mirror. After joining 67 Pall Mall in London as part of the opening team, Roberto rose rapidly before taking a break from the club in 2017. …

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. Italy triumphs at World Tasting ChampionshipSome of these wines are brutal. NZ Sav Blanc …

Ron Rubin’s TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES program has his thoroughbred headed to the barn. The magnitude of Ron Rubin’s TRAINED FOR SAVING LIVES program cannot be underscored. Ron’s dream is to give away 450 Automated External Defibrillators (AED), and only 42 of them remain. More details are on my blog Ron Rubin’s TRAINED FOR SAVING […] The post Thoroughbred Headed …

Vineyards in British Columbia. ‘Shaped by two antithetical phases, 2022 was a unique interpretation of the region’s extremes’ ‘This was a very strange growing year,’ reflects Costa Gavaris of the boutique Rigour & Whimsy label. To most outsiders, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley may be puzzling at the best of times. North of the 49th parallel, it is often mistakenly deemed …

The BIH Spotlight Awards has become a pivotal platform for showcasing the contributions of individuals and businesses across the UK, promoting diversity and inclusion within the hospitality, food, and drink sectors. As part of our ongoing commitment to championing diversity, Decanter is honoured to be involved in recognising the exceptional work of writers whose talent and creativity bring new perspectives …

Police raids in Milan and Turin on 14 October have dismantled a criminal network that was making and and selling fake versions of French grand cru wines, said the Europol law enforcement agency. Counterfeiters were selling the fake grands crus for up to €15,000-a-bottle (£12,500), it said, without naming any specific wines or producers that were targeted. Raids also took …

Katherine Cole profile picture credit: She Saw Things 2024 has proved to be rough for wine, from plummeting Bordeaux prices to dire health warnings. In the US, per-capita consumption of wine is back at 2011 levels. But as we enter the year’s final stretch, I think of moulded plywood and feel hopeful. Economic and social constraints are forcing the wine …

Not many opportunities exist for consumers to taste a whole bunch of Napa wines in a single sitting. Walk-around tastings are more common for the trade and for members of the media, but public tastings with 30+ wineries are still something of a rarity. Such tastings that also have excellent food are even less common. All of which is why …

Majestic is the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, with more than 200 stores. Its latest press tasting showcased an eclectic range of 109 sparkling, still, sweet and fortified wines, with the aim of highlighting diverse styles, price points and grape varieties in the run-up to the festive period. Scroll down to see our picks at Majestic The own-label wines are …

Château de Ferrand The next time you use a Bic pen to write a heartfelt letter, Bordeaux should come to mind. The family that invented the bestselling ink pen in the world also owns a beautiful estate in St-Émilion that you can visit – and stay in. In 1977, Baron Marcel Bich – an Italian-born, French industrialist who co-founded the …

Vineyards in McLaren Vale. Dr Smith completing his PhD in genetics and gained research experience in cell, molecular and plant developmental biology in the US. In 2012, he moved to Adelaide to lead the Rootstock Breeding Team at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), with a focus on developing climate resilient rootstocks with long term resistance to grape …

Waitrose’s performance at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) highlights a number of wines worth seeking out, including one of the 50 Best in Show award-winning wines. This prestigious accolade was awarded to Chapel Down, Rosé, Kent, England NV, which was highlighted for its aromatic fruits and clean and emphatic palate. For an ideal apéritif, try the Gold medal …

Vineyards in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia. Photos supplied by Wine Victoria. What is the best way to explore modern Australian wine? Take a leisurely journey through the southeastern state of Victoria, home to many of the country’s finest wine treasures. Victoria unveils the true excitement of what’s happening right now in Australian wine: offering an impressive array of modern …

Pair your festive feasts with a Bordeaux blend from South Africa for £9.50 and Mâcon-Villages at £10.25. The Decanter team has selected its highlights from the UK supermarket chain Co-op, which boasts 2,500 local, convenience and medium-sized stores across the country. Ranging from the seasonal classics to offbeat explorations, the majority of our selection is under £15. From the latest …

Soils of Rutherrod. Credit: Sullivan Rutherford Estate Russian-born enologist André Tchelistcheff – whose name still evokes a hushed reverence among California winemakers – famously once quipped that ‘it takes Rutherford Dust to grow great Cabernet Sauvignon.’ ‘Rutherford Dust’ is a term that’s now so inextricably intertwined with Napa Valley’s Rutherford sub-appellation that in 1994 – several decades after Tchelistcheff’s remark …

Old Porto wine cellar Want to find out how your birth-year fared? Or want to know which vintages are drinking well now? Our Port vintage guide has you covered. Jump to the outstanding, widely declared vintages 2017   2016   2011 2007  2003   2000 1998   1997   1996   1995   1994   1992   1991 1985  1983  1982   1980 1977   1970 1966   1963   1960 2017 …

Sümeg castle, north of Lake Balaton in Hungary In partnership with Wines of Hungary Volcanism over aeons of history has shaped much of Hungary’s landscape, although this explosive period came to an end around two million years ago. Its legacy is a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, caves and natural hot springs for visitors to explore. An overview The ancient Pannonian …

Sundowners at Singita, where guests can take the chance to sample some of the best wines in South Africa, followed by dinner pairings. For close-up encounters with wild animals in their natural habitat, it’s hard to beat a safari in Kruger National Park and the adjacent Greater Kruger area. In addition to the state-owned national park, some 20 fenceless private …