Articles
25th Jul 2012
Too much bottle?
by Simon Woolf
It's the wine industry's dirty little secret. The back label tells you about the wine producer's respect for the environment, their commitment to preserving the terroir and farming sustainably. But that great big heavy glass bottle could triple... Read more
20th Jul 2012
Carignan: Chile returns to its roots
by Tim Atkin
Think of a word to describe the Chilean wine industry. Dependable? Consistent? Mass-produced? I’ve played this game with consumers and Chile generally elicits such responses. People in the wine trade feel the same way. Chile is respected... Read more
16th Jul 2012
Pierre Mansour: Wine Society selector
by Matt Walls
It does not sell Armand de Brignac ‘Ace of Spades’ Champagne, nor does it sponsor the drinks at footballers’ weddings. The Wine Society doesn’t court the ‘glamour’ end of the drinks business. It quietly gets on with what it has been... Read more
14th Jul 2012
Wine at the movies
by Brian Miller
“I like to drink wine more than I used to. Anyway, I'm drinking more.” Marlon Brando, ‘The Godfather’ With... Read more
2nd Jul 2012
What's the point of posh tastings?
by Tim Atkin
A friend of mine who’s a barrister calls what I do for a living “the most un-job like job in the world”. It’s a common perception. “Need an unpaid assistant?” I get asked on a regular basis, although the offers are less frequent when... Read more
15th Jun 2012
Lord Sugar's nose for fine wine
by Tim Atkin
It’s a rare occurrence, admittedly, but there are times when Lord Sugar, the original East End barrow boy made good, talks a lot of sense. The latest series of The Apprentice was a bit of a yawn – Sugar invested £250,000 of his fortune in a... Read more
31st May 2012
Sicily: a continent comes of age
by Tim Atkin
There’s a spot on the north face of Etna, Sicily’s smouldering, still active volcano, where you can stand in front of the remnants of the last big lava flow, a jagged solidified wall of black pumice. It’s a useful reminder of two things:... Read more
31st May 2012
My top ten wine and travel destinations
by Tim Atkin
THE MOSEL VALLEY (Germany) Why should you visit? To taste the sublime Rieslings – regarded by many experts as the world’s best white grape – and to marvel at thier featherweight balance. The... Read more
20th May 2012
Wine, toilet paper and Costco
by Tim Atkin
Like many of you, I suspect, I’d never heard of Annette Alvarez-Peters until she appeared on American television recently, chatting about wine, toilet paper and televisions. But suddenly, she’s all over the Internet, a figure of opprobrium... Read more
10th May 2012
My top 50 Argentine wines 2012
by Tim Atkin
These are 50 of my favourite Argentine wines, shown at a tasting in London yesterday and selected from an extensive report to be published next month.... Read more