A fantastic portrait of life in the wine trade courtesy of David Williams in this week's Observer. Hats off to him for the humour, honesty and realism he brings to this 25-year overview of the ups and downs involved… observer.co.uk/style/food/a...

Useful advice from @thewinesociety.bsky.social in its 1880 list (though I'm a bit confused by the difference between 'Sweet' and 'Dessert'…)

If you want to read some words of wisdom (hers, not mine), here is the result of an hour’s conversation with the 100-year-old wine legend May-Eliane de Lencquesaing (NB her comments on wine and health – especially resonant as the AIV confronts the UN about the ‘denormalisation’ of wine by the WHO).

Considering the legacy of Michel Rolland, the uber-consultant who purists loved to hate… janeanson.com/michel-rolla...

I see water sommeliers are in the news again. One of my favourite (and most widely reported) tastings when I was editing Decanter was a water tasting, spanning everything from London tap to 39p Vittel to £50-a-bottle, complete with Swarovski crystals… www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/...

Anecdotal evidence of ⬆️ perception of English Sparkling Wine: As deputy head of a private school, my wife receives some nice gifts at term-end. This year 2 of the 4 fizz were English (Nyetimber and Gusbourne, alongside Bollinger and Billecart-Salmon). Wouldn't have happened 5 years ago…

Taittinger’s English fizz Domaine Evremond served at the Royal Banquet in honour of French President Macron tonight…

‘We lock all our vineyard gates behind us when we go in, to make sure no-one can show up unannounced.’ The chaos wreaked on California wineries by Trump's immigration raids, and the possible loss of vineyard crews – 👏 to @decanter.com for running this: www.decanter.com/wine-news/ca...

Am sure that, like the wine press, the cheese trade titles will now be running features panicking at how 18-24-year-olds are no longer buying Roquefort… www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2...

My top five topics (among many) that all wine businesses should avoid when talking to consumers: harpers.co.uk/news/fullsto...

At last – a piece on why young adults are drinking less that is actually based on research. 👏 @teamdb.bsky.social 'The headline reason Gen Z are drinking less? They’re skint.' www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/04/why-...

Stuck w @theobserveruk.bsky.social through the tribulations of recent years, but it’s now a world away from the great paper it once was. New sports section particularly low-budget. Sad to see the UK press now without a serious Sunday paper to represent a liberal, left-leaning perspective.

V good piece by @henrygjeffreys.bsky.social on whether wine writers need formal wine qualifications. My view, FWIW – definitely not! As Henry says: 'The most important qualification for a wine writer is to be able to write.' henryjeffreys.substack.com/p/do-wine-wr...

Which is further from the notion of terroir – wine made from grapes grown in raised beds of coconut husk under polytunnels, or wine made from a blend of Australian and Rhône Syrah? And does any of it matter? harpers.co.uk/news/fullsto...

Fine summary of the potential impact of US tariffs on EU wines on the wider wine industry: www.everydaydrinking.com/p/happy-libe...

‘Bordeaux is a very small town. It’s very incestuous. The sport is trying to sleep with everybody’s else’s wife.' I interviewed the always-entertaining Sacha Lichine, the man who gave up a fourth growth to invent swimming pool rosé... 67pallmall.com/what-ive-lea...

Producers are now having to jump through so many hoops to retain the style of their wine that they're almost circumventing terroir. Meanwhile, classed growths eliminate over half the crop from their grands vins. So – is great wine really still made in the vineyard? timatkin.com/the-dilution...

Great piece, and essential reading, from Kate Lofthouse for @timatkinmw.bsky.social 'The allegations feel under-explored in the media.' 100% – but it's not hard to fathom why, when Champagne houses are regular clients of most wine titles… timatkin.com/uncomfortabl...

Spottswoode has planted various varieties - Falanghina, Touriga Nacional - on an experimental basis, ‘because we can’t be sure that Cabernet will be viable in the future, given how hot it’s getting in Napa…’

For most of Napa, 2020’s fires were a disaster. For Harlan, they led to a permanent change in style. ‘It was like after 20 years of having a relationship with somebody, you realise you’ve missed something so key to them…’ My latest for 67 Pall Mall’s newsletter www.67pallmall.com/how-impendin...

People always like to know the blend breakdown of wines. Yet it seems winemakers couldn’t be less bothered. Some of them don’t even know. Marc Hochar of Musar: ‘It’s really not the most important thing.’ JG Prats of Léoville Las Cases: ‘It’s the least interesting aspect of all the wines we make.’

English Merlot being grown in raised beds of coir (coconut husk) within polytunnels in Hampshire

People make fun of influencers parroting press releases, but at the top-end, is there any more pointless tasting ‘report’ each year than the write-ups of DRC?

Brilliant piece on wine scores by @simonjwoolf.com themorningclaret.com/p/are-wine-s...

Quite funny. And in Vogue, of all places… www.vogue.co.uk/article/why-...

🚨 Calling all wine communicators 🚨 Having worked on the inaugural edition of these awards last year, I can heartily endorse them as a way of getting your work recognised. The 2025 entries are now open… www.67pallmall.com/67-awards/

Watching the tennis… ‘This is an ad-free final set, brought to you by Rolex’ 🤔

Interviewed Michel Rolland for 67 Pall Mall’s Back Label newsletter that I produce. Rather fun… ‘You might think I’m crazy, but I firmly believe that if I made a blend of Lafite, Haut-Brion, Petrus and Cheval Blanc, it would be a better wine than any of them.’ www.67pallmall.com/what-ive-lea...

Feels good to be here. Like 2009 all over again…