UK consumers cut wine spending

Decanter reported that UK wine drinkers are cutting the amount they spend on a bottle, with price now the most important factor in buying wine, according to a new survey.
A WineIntelligence poll of 1,000 wine drinkers found that the number of people willing to spend £5–£6 on a bottle of wine had dropped by 5% [...]

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The Big Debate: To see or not to see

 

Wine writer, Neil Pendock, and publishers of The Platter Guide are embroiled in a heated debate about the pros and cons of blind versus sighted tastings.
 Pendock indicates that the Platter tasting methods (sighted) are not fair and the tasters are influenced by preconceived ideas about regions, brands and prices etc.
Phillip van Zyl, the editor of [...]

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Food and wine pairing: Bending the rules

Some food and wine connoisseurs have made food and wine pairing so rigid that they are missing the point completely. Traditionally, certain wines are recommended to be served with certain dishes. The “rules” state that red wine will complement red meat, while white wine is recommended with fish or fowl.
Some people who are not huge [...]

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Sparkling wine is for any occasion

Sparkling wine has become a more popular any occasion drink and it has shed the image of being exclusively consumed as a celebration drink.
Bennet Bodensteain wrote that one of the great pities of the wine world is that some how, some way, sparkling wines have gotten the reputation of being associated only with celebrations. Stuff [...]

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Interview with Su Birch – CEO WOSA

While in Cape Town, South Africa for Cape Wine 2008, Reva Singh interviewed the CEO of Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Su Birch. She discussed the South African wine market and how the show has evolved over the years.
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is a fully inclusive body, representing all South African producers of [...]

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Recipe: Lamb Chops With Lemon And Olives

Recipe: Lamb Chops With Lemon And Olives
This delicious recipe, sourced from Real Simple magazine, is easy to make and is guaranteed to be a mouth-watering treat for dinner guests.
The Arniston Bay Shiraz 2007 is ideal when paired with this meal. This wine – with its intense purple colour – contains scents of wild strawberry, mocha, [...]

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US wine consumers habits have changed – focus on price and palate

The economic crisis has changed the buying habits of American wine consumers. Consumers are looking for value wine and more wine will by purchased in retailing outlets and not restaurants, states Michelle Locke from the Associated Press.
In her article she refers to statements by Wilfred Wong and Prof Robert Smiley about the changing consumer habits. [...]

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Arniston Bay super-sizes with tetra pak

Talking Drinks (Harpers) reports that to further extend its range of environmentally friendly wine packaging, leading South African wine producer, Arniston Bay, is launching a one litre fully recyclable tetra pak.
Available in Chenin Blanc Chardonnay, Pinotage Rose and Cabernet Merlot varieties, the Arniston Bay tetra pak will be available for retailers from October with an [...]

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Asda- UK’s fastest-growing wine retailer

Asda is the fastest-growing wine retailer in the UK, with the latest TNS data showing sales in the supermarket giant growing by a massive 49% year on year to September 7.
The new figures come as this week Asda launches a major shake up of its wine range with the introduction of 250 new wines.
Asda’s head [...]

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White wine ‘good for you’

The health benefits of a glass of red wine are well known, but new research has found a tipple of white could also protect the heart.
Researchers from the University of Connecticut in the US found that rats who were given the equivalent of one or two glasses of white wine suffered less heart damage during [...]

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