Free for all

In Vintners' Hall in London last night, at a dinner for the great and good of the international wine trade, I had the great pleasure of proposing the health of the Vintners' Company on its 650th anniversary. I had to adjust my speech at the last minute because of receiving news that the total. More...

Michael Schmelzer of Monte Bernardi in Panzano reports on the last two vintages in Chianti Classico - and gives his verdict on the latest naming proposals there. Very early on, Mother Nature tested our resolve to farm biodynamically by giving us a tough vintage - the 2005. It was. More...

Wine is one of the most sensitive measures of climate change. A rise in temperature during the growing season can easily result - indeed has resulted - in riper grapes and fuller-bodied wines. Drought in areas such as much of Europe where irrigation is banned can leave grapes shrivelled and more. More...

Dear friends of www.JancisRobinson.com, Never in my life would I have imagined to have an opportunity like this. I have been on an emotional roller coaster for the last two weeks. On one side I feel extremely happy, moved and really eager to collaborate and work hard, but also I feel. More...

Our fellow Master of Wine and rabid promoter of natural wine Isabelle Legeron is holding her second natural wine fair this coming Sunday and Monday. The RAW wine fair will take place as last year in the old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane not too far from Liverpool Street stations and. More...

Anyone who has ever flown in to Australia knows how paranoid Australians are about imported insects and germs. Passengers are routinely sprayed before being allowed to disembark on to Australia's fiercely protected soil. Baggage halls are patrolled by dogs trained to sniff out the most minute. More...

10 May  - Naked Wines report that 2,500 Angels pre-ordered 30,000 bottles in just 48 hours. On her website Katie Jones wrote, 'I was watching the bidding and just couldn't believe how fast the cases were selling - even my Mum and Dad didn't manage to get their order in before it was sold. More...

My dear friend, founder and co-author of The World Atlas of Wine Hugh Johnson has sold Saling Hall, his beautiful house in Essex, and a big sale of its contents will be held by Sworders at 11 am on Monday at Stansted Mountfitchet auction rooms. The furniture and works of art will be auctioned. More...

You can listen to the Food Programme here , although you will have to be in the UK to access it. Other voices include the late Edmund Penning-Rowsell, Dan Jago of Tesco and Isabelle Legeron MW, protagonist of natural wines and the RAW wine fair  next weekend where Julia, José and I will. More...

My enthusiastic account of the recently declared 2011 vintage ports provoked very different responses from the two major players in the international port business. (I have yet, by the way, to taste any 2011 from Quinta do Noval and, like several posters on the port 2011 thread on our forum ,. More...