Kirsten MacLeod, Author at The Buyer

By Richard Siddle on September 22, 2023

How Ukraine’s Biologist winery was inspired by biodynamic winemaking

Inspired by tasting Michel Chapoutier’s biodynamic wine at ProWein in 2019, Ukrainian winemaker Ihor Petrenko set out to make his own biodynamic wines at the Biologist winery close to Kyiv. He has followed a hard but hugely rewarding winemaking journey since. His conversion to biodynamics is a story that is also the inspiration for this award winning article by Victoria Makarova in the biodynamics category in the WebWineWriting competition organised by Hungarianwine.eu. A story we are pleased to share for you on The Buyer.

Posted In: biodynamics, biologist winery, ihor petrenko, slider, Victoria makanrova, wine, winemaking

Tasting: Wine

By Roger Jones on September 21, 2023

Roger Jones has a first taste of Gosset Celebris 2012 at Ekstedt at the Yard

The first taste of a new vintage of Celebris is always a big occasion and the launch of Gosset Celebris 2012 did not disappoint. Gosset chose Ekstedt at the Yard in London for imaginative food-pairing, contrasting the wine served straight from the bottle and also from carafe. Who better to taste and rate for The Buyer than Roger Jones, an expert in Champagne and sparkling wine and also a one-time Michelin Star chef himself who, bowled over so much by one sauce served with the fizz, declared it the best fish sauce he had ever tasted.

Posted In: Celebris Blanc de Blancs 2012, champagne, Gosset Celebris 2012, Louis Latour Agencies, roger jones, slider

Tasting: Wine

By Mike Turner on September 21, 2023

Portuguese Wines - Photo 4 - Mountainous Alentejo

How the best still Portuguese wines are continuing their rise to the top

The UK’s fascination with wines from Portugal continues to rise. With exports to the UK already growing in the first half of 2023 by a confident 18% in volume and an impressive 44% in value, Portuguese wines are clearly showing their qualities and no longer stuck with the historic reputation of cheap and cheerful and made to a price point. We sent The Buyer’s Mike Turner to the Wines of Portugal tasting earlier this month in London to find out why so many are keen to add Portuguese wines to their shelves and wine lists.

Posted In: Mike Turner, Portugal, Portuguesa wines, slider

Tasting: Wine

By Roger Jones on September 20, 2023

Roger Jones: wines to bid for at the 2023 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction

The 2023 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction that takes place on October 6, will be the 39th since the cream of the South African wine industry decided to club together and make special, one-off wines that showcase the depth and breadth of Cape wines to an international audience. To date the auctioned wines have become collectors treasures and have also showed up on the secondary auction scene. To give potential bidders the inside track on this year’s event, South African wine expert Roger Jones flew back from his Rugby World Cup antics to London to join CWG chair Gordon Newton Johnson and others for an exclusive tasting of 40 of this year’s top wines.

Posted In: 2023 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, roger jones, slider, South African wine

People People: Producer

By Richard Siddle on September 20, 2023

How reviving Chile’s old vines has been a force for good

The world over winemakers are increasingly turning to the benefits of working with old vines helped enormously by the research, insights and leadership of initiatives like the Old Vine Project in South Africa and the Old Vine Conference. One of these winemaking pioneers is Derek Mossman Knapp and his Garage Wine Co in Maule in Southern Chile who is taking the old vine movement one step further by not just reviving old vineyards, but doing so in a way that ensures the local rural community also has a long term source of sustainable income. He explains to Richard Siddle why working hand-in-hand with old vines and local communities are ineluctably entwined.

Posted In: chile, chilean wine, Derek mossman knapp, Garage Wine Company, old vines, wine

People People: Supplier

By Richard Siddle on September 19, 2023

The UK buyers had the chance to meet and taste a wide variety of wines from across all the PGIs in Central Greece during their recent trip

Antonis Sioulis: how importers can find their Greek wine partner

It is one thing wanting to source wines from a particular target country or region, it can be quite the challenge to find the right producer with the right wines for your business and customers. Particularly when looking at a developing wine country for the first time. Like Greece. Here we talk to Antonis Sioulis, managing partner of Reco Exports, that specialises in putting Greek wine producers together with the right overseas partners, about its new bespoke service it hopes to offer UK importers and wine buyers in finding the right Greek producer for their needs.

Posted In: Antonis souls, Greece, Greek wine, greek wine producers, reco exports, wine, wine buyers, wine importers

Tasting: Wine

By Mike Turner on September 19, 2023

How sparkling wine is coming of age in the foothills of Piemonte

UK wine drinkers have a distinct thirst for the sparkling wines of Italy. Whether from the juggernaut of Prosecco, the luxury of Franciacorta, or even the critically acclaimed Trento DOC, Italian bubbles are a seemingly permanent fixture on the wine lists or shelves up and down the country. The Buyer’s Mike Turner argues that Alta Langa DOCG, producing high quality sparkling wine from the famed hills of Piemonte, deserves to join in the fun. He visited Carlo Galliano at Borgo Maragliano to find out more about some of Italy’s oldest sparkling wines.

Posted In: Borgo Maragliano, Carlo Galliano, Italy, Mike Turner, sparkling wine

Insight

By Adam Withrington on September 18, 2023

How Distill Ventures has spent 10 years disrupting drinks industry

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Distill Ventures. It is no exaggeration to call its inception, development and progress one of the more remarkable stories of the last 10 years in the drinks industry. Perhaps the reason it is remarkable is that at the heart of Distill Ventures you have a compelling idea: a partnership between non-corporate entrepreneurial minds and Diageo, the biggest drinks corporate of the lot; one side looking for funding to develop their ideas and create a brand – the other looking for the next big thing to fuel organic growth. And while a slow burn, there are signs of success. To assess how Distill Ventures builds on its first decade Adam Withrington sits down with its new chief executive, Heidi Dillon, who has been promoted after years with the business, to see what new drinks trends we can expect in the future.

Posted In: Diageo, disruption, distill ventures, drinks brands, drinks industry, Heidi Dillon, start ups

Tasting: Wine

By Justin Keay on September 17, 2023

Justin Keay takes the pulse of British wine & WineGB tasting

A Col Fondo served straight from a 20-litre keg, in which the secondary fermentation took place, was one of the many highlights of the annual WineGB tasting that gave Justin Keay an opportunity to feel the pulse of the British wine industry. Producers are bullish, with more of them smiling now about the 2023 growing season after a warm September… and there are plenty of newcomers showing impressive wines, 10 of which Keay picks out to put on your buying radar.

Posted In: British wine, English sparkling wine, Justin Keay, WineGB

Insight

By Richard Siddle on September 15, 2023

AOP Languedoc’s appeal with new consumer campaign

For a region as big and as important to the overall French wine industry it is surprising the AOP Languedoc has not had a major generic trade and consumer advertising campaign to promote what it does. Until now. In fact it is about to move into the fast lane of wine communications with a comprehensive campaign that looks to capture the unique qualities of a region synonymous with making wines for all price points with large scale producers, working alongside smaller, niche, independent players. Richard Siddle talks to Olivier Legrand, director general of marketing at AOP Languedoc.

Posted In: AOP Languedoc, french wine, Oliver Legrand, wine, wine campaign, wine drinker

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