Of all the paradoxes that exist in wine, one in particular continues to tickle. In a world becoming more casual by the app, with a population apparently deserting the good and the great for the casual and the deconstructed, the ritual of wine connoisseurship is becoming more popular, instead of fading into the boneyard of high-culture customs alongside marble carvings and fresco paintings. WSET schools are spreading like IKEAs, prospective Masters of Wine are signing up in droves, and the culture of wine tastings and dinners (such as the –...
Wine as membership
Monday 29 October 2018
Our most philosophically thoughtful columnist considers the polis of wine.
Become a member or log in to continue reading
Go for gold with your wine knowledge.
The world just came together in Italy – and there’s never been a better time to explore its wines and beyond.
For a limited time, get 20% off all annual memberships by entering promo code GOLD2026 at checkout. Offer ends 12 March. Valid for new members only.
Member
$135
/year
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
- Access 290,077 wine reviews & 15,932 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
Ideal for collectors
- Access 290,077 wine reviews & 15,932 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
- Access 290,077 wine reviews & 15,932 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
- Access 290,077 wine reviews & 15,932 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
More Andrea's salon
Andrea's salon
A continuation of Andrea's search for the perfect wine dinner for her friends. See part 1. The origins of the...
Andrea's salon
The first of a two-part muse on a topic that may well be of particular interest to visitors to JancisRobinson.com...
Andrea's salon
What to take from home when embarking on a long journey abroad? There are the practical effects one needs for...
Andrea's salon
I’ve long been troubled by the disparity between the enormous, glorious galaxy of feelings that wine elicits, and the narrow...
More from JancisRobinson.com
Tasting articles
A flurry of wines to chase the winter blues away. Above, Ina and Heiko Bamberger, makers of one such wine...
Book reviews
The enduring power of truly great writing. The New France A complete guide to contemporary French wine Andrew Jefford Published...
Don't quote me
A short month in London with just one sortie, to Barcelona for 48 hours. Nick took this picture of Jancis...
Nick on restaurants
The Australian chef who used to be in charge of Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant in London now has one of...
Free for all
An overview of the 2016s tasted at 10 years old. See tasting articles on right-bank reds and sweet whites and...
Wines of the week
Two wines to conjure up spring. Flower Girl Albariño 2025 from €20.95, $25.65, £23.95 and Big Flower Cabernet Franc 2024...
Tasting articles
Impressions from the most recent Ten Years On tastings held by Bordeaux Index and Farr Vintners. See this report on...
Tasting articles
The first of three articles about this lauded vintage. See this guide to our comprehensive coverage of Bordeaux 2016. This...