Articles
18th Jul 2017
Australian wine's coming of age
by Andrea Frost
Several months ago, I was tasting wine in a Melbourne restaurant when my thoughts turned to that of our national character. What makes Australian wine Australian? It was hardly surprising it arose when it did; I was tasting French and... Read more
14th Jul 2017
Roll over leafroll?
by Tim Atkin
The vineyards of the Western Cape are at their most beautiful in the autumn, a variegated canvas of browns, reds, oranges and yellows. But those colours hide a secret that has done untold damage to the South African wine industry and continues to... Read more
6th Jul 2017
The Threat of Global Wine Terrorism
by Ron Washam
The threat of global terrorism has finally reached the wine business. Wineries, importers, sommeliers, wine writers— all have found themselves under siege from various loosely organized but determined groups of wine terrorists. Each of these... Read more
28th Jun 2017
Fino's context warning
by Sarah Abbott MW
Elegy V Here take my picture; though I bid farewellThine, in my heart, where my soul dwells, shall dwell. Tis like me now, but I dead, ‘twill be more When we are shadows both, than twas... Read more
16th Jun 2017
The winelover’s secret map
by Matt Walls
Standing in his sun-drenched hallway, my friend and I stood before the newly-hung painting that he bought not long ago. “With a bit of luck, it might even go up in value,” he said, with an arched eyebrow. I couldn’t help but think of the... Read more
8th Jun 2017
News from the Court of Natural Sommeliers
by Ron Washam
The Court of Natural Sommeliers is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applications from qualified people in the wine trade who wish to pursue their N.S. There are currently 256 Natural Sommeliers in the world—220 are women, 30 are... Read more
7th Jun 2017
Is food and wine matching an art?
by Tim Atkin
At the height of her fame as a Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Fit Club contestant, the ex-Tory MP Ann Widdecombe was asked to write a book about how to lose weight. Her response was that were she to produce such a work, it would be very... Read more
17th May 2017
South America's march on the future
by Tim Atkin
This year is the 200th anniversary of one of the key events in Latin American history. In January 1817, the Army of the Andes set off from Mendoza, determined to end Spanish rule on the other side of the mountains. At its head were an... Read more
16th May 2017
Buona Sera: Singing for our supper
by Andrea Frost
Even the most adventurous wine travellers have a breaking point. I was standing on the kerb in a narrow street in Florence studying the façade of a restaurant that showed nothing if not promise. Empty wine bottles lined the window, a statue of... Read more
7th May 2017
The Tyranny of Travel
by Giles Cooke MW
If you’re of a certain age you may remember a routine by Ben Elton. He described his anxiety about getting on a train or a bus and how you “ gotta get a double seat”. His breathless delivery and growing panic about the need to control and... Read more