Wine’s tipping point
by Tim Atkin
To thine own self be true. Polonius’ advice to his son Laertes in Hamlet is arguably easier to give than to follow. Most of us make regular compromises in our...
Topic: Column
A preview of the Cape Winemakers’ Guild auction
by Tim Atkin
The Cape Winemakers Guild was created in 1982 by a group of winemakers who set out to “improve the quality and standing of South African wines”, arguably no easy thing...
What would independence mean for Catalan wine?
by Miquel Hudin
If you’ve watched the news lately or just even flipped through the in-flight magazine on a European budget airline, you probably know about the Autonomous Region of Catalonia’s drive to...
Vin de France: the flexible future?
by Natasha Hughes MW
To the French it was le gros rouge qui tache. We Brits were less interested in its saturated colour, but equally dismissive in our terminology, referring to it as plonk....
The Grande Dame of Pauillac
by Tim Atkin
As you’d expect of a former actress, liked an audience. When Château Mouton-Rothschild hosted the Fête de la Fleur celebration at Vinexpo in June 2003, after guests had enjoyed liberal...
How to become a successful sommelier
by Ron Washam
Having the letters MS after your name doesn’t mean you’re a sommelier. A sommelier works in a restaurant. From the several dozen I’ve met, judging by their occupations, I was...
First Growth claret: an affordable luxury?
by Henry Jeffreys
In 2012 I won a bottle of Mouton Rothschild 1996 in a writing competition. When we moved house last year I didn’t trust the movers with it so I wrapped...
What’s the future for Chinese wine?
by Tim Atkin
First time visitors to Beijing are often struck by the pollution that seems to blanket the city on a daily basis, reducing visibility and filling lungs with undesirable gunk. It’s...
Heavy bottles
by Robert Joseph
“Jancis [Robinson] hates heavy wine bottles, as I do. Why do winemakers use them?” This recent Facebook comment – by one of the founders of a smart London wine retailer...
The Confessions of Dr Conti
by Ron Washam
OK, I made a deal with Mr. Koch to tell everything I know about wine fraud. You know, I think it’s going to feel good to get all this off...
Call me Jancis
by Ron Washam
Call me Jancis. Everyone does, even though it’s not my name. Well, it is when I’m conducting a wine seminar, or giving a speech at some God-forsaken outpost of weird...
The net effect
by Tim Atkin
“Would you like to go up in one of our planes?” asked Eduardo Martín, director of the Argentinean Ministry of Agriculture’s anti-hail squad. It was an offer that was all...