Wijnnieuws

A shorter version of this plea for a rethink on how wine is packaged is published by the Financial Times. Wine should come in a glass bottle, right? Actually, wrong if wine drinkers want to do their bit for the planet’s resources and environment. Glass bottles and their transport are the two biggest contributors to wine’s carbon footprint, as

A brave new Greek restaurant in Charlotte Street – very unlike the old White Tower. A version of this article is published by the Financial Times. I was sitting at a corner table on the mezzanine level of the recently opened Ampéli restaurant on Charlotte Street, London W1, enjoying my second dinner there, when I overheard a conversation that

In this seventh part of an exploration of the tastes of the eight Masters of Wine most closely associated with Spain, Ferran quizzes Almudena Alberca MW. See also Ferran's introduction to this eight-part series. Almudena is an energetic person, one of these who always transmits good vibes. She became the first female Spanish Master of Wine in

A crazy, semi-sparkling, off-dry orange wine from the mountains of Greece confounds and delights. €6.60, $13.99, 139 Swedish kronor, 115 Danish kroner, £13.50 for 50 cl Find this wine This is easily one of the most unusual wines I’ve encountered. I had no idea what I was ordering. The wine list was in Greek, the sunlight was whitewash, the

The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc have just announced their new, five-year classification. The big change is that this is no longer for a single vintage, as it has been since 2010, but for five years and with the three tiers it had in its much earlier incarnation: cru bourgeois cru bourgeois supérieur cru bourgeois exceptionnel. A

New Zealand viticulturist and entrepreneur Steve Smith MW on his current projects with Indian-American tech entrepreneur and ecological conservationist Brian Sheth, and on the state of NZ wine. See also New Zealand in London for many more tasting notes from around the country. I met up with Smith in London late last year to taste the fruits of

20 February 2020 Following Richard’s review yesterday of Laurent Ponsot’s latest releases, we are republishing this article from the archives which reveals what was keeping Ponsot busy a decade ago. 18 July 2009 This is a longer version of an article also published in the Financial Times. Laurent Ponsot used to be a famous Burgundian wine

Tasting notes on wines from Laurent Ponsot's innovative négociant label – and some provocative views. Since leaving Domaine Ponsot in early 2017, Laurent Ponsot has been busy building up the new négociant brand that bears his name. Asia is a particular focus for him, and he recently visited Singapore to introduce his latest releases. Happy to

Alistair Cooper MW, scouting the new wine fair in Paris on behalf of Australian importer United Cellars, reports on what was good and bad about the experience. Wine trade fairs have played a key role in sustaining a thriving industry throughout the years. They offer the chance for producers and buyers to connect and to conduct much of their

Some recent releases from New Zealand, with gaps. Julia writes All hail Nigel Greening of Felton Road, who consistently sends all his wines, even the most expensive single-vineyard bottlings, to the annual London tasting of new releases from New Zealand.  So many top names do not, which is a real shame for those of us who would like to get a

Our man in Burgundy Matthew Hayes files this report on Burgundy today and the connotations of its most important road. As you drive south out of Dijon you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a Steinbeck novel: an endless strip of down-at-heel tyre shops, empty furniture stores and a desperately forlorn miniature theme park. But if you

In this sixth part of an exploration of the tastes of the eight Masters of Wine most closely associated with Spain, Ferran quizzes Fernando Mora MW. See also Ferran's introduction to this eight-part series. Fernando Mora is a winegrower and has undertaken one of the most exciting projects in Spain: putting Aragón on the map and, in particular

Alder explains how the US wine business has dodged the 100% tariff bullet but is seriously suffering from the 25% tariff imposed last October. The US wine industry just received a bittersweet Valentine. On 14 February, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced the decision to refrain from applying tariffs of up to 100% on

Nick meets Spain's culinary hero. A version of this article is published by the Financial Times. I have known Ferran Adrià, the exceptional Catalan chef, ever since 1996 when I first ate at El Bulli (or elBulli as it has been styled since 2000), the restaurant on the coast outside Roses, north-east Spain, which he made so famous.  Since then

If you haven't tried dry Furmint, you really should. See also Furmint – Hungary's trump card? A version of this article is published by the Financial Times. Did you know that this is Furmint February? You may well not even know what Furmint is. Not a breath freshener nor a sweetmeat but the signature grape variety of Hungary’s most famous wine

In this fifth part of an exploration of the tastes of the eight Masters of Wine most closely associated with Spain, Ferran quizzes Andreas Kubach MW. See also Ferran's introduction to this eight-part series. Andreas is a German–Spanish MW whose Spanish sounds native. He is a person who transmits the greatest professionalism. A reference. He is

Richard recommends a northern Rhône Syrah that delivers great bang for your buck. 2018: from €29, 36 Swiss francs, £127 per case of six ib older vintages: from €27, £24, $30, 400 Swiss francs per case of 12, 235 Danish kroner, HK$1,805 per case of six, SG$400.69 per case of six, NZ$69.50, 447.70 Norwegian kroner  Find these wines One of

Ex-restaurateur and father of a restaurateur Nick explains in this updated version of an article we published in 2004. The combination of Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday may lead outsiders to speculate that this will mean bumper takings for the world’s restaurateurs – but they would be mistaken. Restaurants will undoubtedly be very busy

13 February 2020 We're republishing free this excellent guide to Tokaji producers and dry Furmint to be read in conjunction with today's Furmint – Hungary's trump card? 21 February 2019 Tam goes Mád about Hungary's signature grape variety at Wines of Hungary's tasting in London to celebrate Furmint February, and does some Furmint food pairing as

A grape until recently largely devoted to nobly rotten sweet wines has had a makeover. More about the Furmint phenomenon on Saturday.  Merchant Taylor’s Hall in the City of London seemed very far from the hilly, volcanic Tokaj wine region in the far north-east corner of Hungary but 32 wine producers from Tokaj came there at the end of last month