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Chris Ashton is MD of Wine Logistics Ltd, based in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. He managed the International Wine Challenge competition for nearly 15 years and worked in magazine circulation management for a similar period. When not expediting the transport of wine he messes about on the water in a vintage boat, ideally with a bottle of fizz in hand. How did …

Vineyards in Burgundy. Bordeaux will produce the least wine in six years in the 2023 harvest, after Merlot grapes in particular were ravaged by downy mildew, according to data from the French agriculture ministry. By contrast, Burgundy and the Loire Valley are heading for vintages that are likely to be among the biggest of the past decade. While overall French …

Bodega Garzón buildings and vineyards. Like opening the windows to let in the cool ocean breeze: that has been the effect that new vineyards in Maldonado Bay – the point on the southern coast where the Rio de la Plata estuary meets the south Atlantic – have had on Uruguayan wine. The region now produces whites and reds from vines …

A tank room stands clean, ready, and waiting for grapes. Across northern California, many producers are waiting with bated breath for the start of harvest, which is, depending on who you talk to, two to three weeks later than recent years. A very cool spring and start to the summer has most vintners recalling the chilly 2011 vintage. INSTRUCTIONS:Download this …

Portugal’s Douro Valley Port will be celebrated across the world on 10th September. National Port Day offers the perfect opportunity to explore the many styles of this famous fortified wine. In his guide to Port styles Richard Mayson explains that there is a Port for all occasions, if you know what you’re looking for. ‘Often thought of as an after-dinner, …

Mr Lyan (Ryan Chetiyawardana) The Lyan’s share Also known as Mr Lyan, Ryan Chetiyawardana is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed mixologist. In 2013, he opened his original venue White Lyan – the first cocktail bar in the world to use no perishable ingredients (not even ice), as an exercise in sustainability. Today he operates Super Lyan in Amsterdam, Lyaness and …

Harvest in the Petaluma Gap The first established AVAs were named in the 1980s, with new designations coming as recently as 2022. 1983 was a particularly important year, as the majority of Sonoma’s appellations were founded during that time, however even today there remain a few proposed AVAs for Sonoma County currently awaiting approval. Diversity is key in Sonoma County. …

David Myers is not only an acclaimed chef, but also an accomplished traveler who has crisscrossed the globe. Myers celebrates those journeys through his Adrift concept, which premiered in 2015 at the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore, before expanding to Tokyo, Dubai, New Delhi, Doha and Venice Beach, Calif., with each location having a different culinary focus. In late …

Berry Bros & Rudd autumn spirits Release Berry Bros & Rudd has today (7th September) unveiled its autumn release of seven single malt whiskies and one rum. It includes a Dufftown bottling from the mid-1970s and a Christmas-themed Linkwood. The whisky releases focus largely on Speyside, the engine room of single malt production in Scotland, including two Linkwood expressions, as well …

Bodegas Familiares de Rioja, an association backed by 216 growers, said it would no longer participate in the decision-making process of the Consejo Regulador and its sectorial interprofessional committee, the Organización Interprofesional del Vino de Rioja (OIPVR).  Despite the decision to leave management bodies, BFR said its producers would continue to operate the Rioja DOca appellation, in terms of producing …

The boutique Champagne house of Philipponnat is in the village of Mareuil-sur-Ay in the ‘Grande Vallée’ of the Marne river, home to one of Champagne’s most remarkable vineyards. A rare monopole – an entire vineyard owned by one producer, in this case by Philipponnat – the walled Clos des Goisses contains 5.5ha of vines that tumble down towards the river, …

Get through the working week, and it’s time to crack open something a little bit more special. As a companion selection to our 25 wines under £20, the Decanter team has selected seven standout bottles that are sure to impress, all available in the UK and priced between £20 and £50. Must-try red: Emiliana, Coyam, Colchagua Valley, Chile 2020 Wines for the weekend: …

It’s simultaneously one of Europe’s most ancient winemaking regions – and one of its most up-and-coming. And yet, for whatever reason, Croatia is perhaps not the first holiday destination to come to mind for the vinous traveller. But the appeal of the sun-soaked Istrian peninsula, circled in blue Adriatic Sea, becomes abundantly obvious when you check into Meneghetti Wine Hotel. …

Perricone grapes Perricone is one of more than 70 indigenous grape varieties in Sicily, according to the Consorzio di Tutela Vini DOC Sicilia, where wine cultivation has ancient roots. Over the centuries, the island has been a hot potato of sorts for various invaders and rulers. From the arrival of the Phoenicians on its western shores in around 1100BC to …

The Decanter in-house tasting team spends an awful lot of time out and about at tastings, finding new and exciting wines, or new vintages of existing wines, for everyday drinking. On these pages we bring you 25 top picks that are all ready to drink now, available in the UK and priced at £20 or less. This month’s highlights Must-try …

La Place de Bordeaux’s September 2023 international releases campaign is underway as France begins its official ‘rentrée’ at the end of the summer holidays. More than 110 fine wines will be released in the coming weeks, as part of the ‘beyond Bordeaux’ release season run by the city’s famous ne?gociants. New vintages of historic and vaunted California names will join …

Introduction How does Mourvèdre taste different from other southern French grapes that also produce full-bodied red wines? Did you know that Mourvèdre can age for up to 40 years but has stages where it shuts down completely? What would a 20-year-old Rosé taste like? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Andy James, author of …

A look inside the DWWA 2023 supplement: INTRODUCTION Welcome and how to read the results in the DWWA 2023 awards supplement A welcome return for our DWWA global judges Co-Chair Andrew Jefford reflects on a year back at full strength in the DWWA judging panels DWWA by numbers A handy graphic breakdown of where in the world the top DWWA …

Was it the coronation effect? St Edward’s crown was placed on King Charles III’s head in the middle of our Best in Show tastings in early May this year. Or perhaps it was the lure of our glitzy 20th anniversary party – the very first DWWA having taken place in 2004. Maybe the simple joy of travelling again after the …

Yannick Benjamin. Wine on Wheels was born out of Wheeling Forward – an organisation working across all forms of disability to tackle some of the most underserved and challenging areas of need in the disabled community. With its support, Wine on Wheels became a growing community of wine lovers and sommeliers who have come together to harness their passion for …