Mike Turner, Author at The Buyer

By Abbie Bennington on November 17, 2023

Las Vegas was toast of Ferrari Trento’s Formula 1 sponsorship

Whatever happens in the race one thing is for sure the Ferrari name will be celebrating on the winners’ podium at this weekend’s inaugural Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix. The event is arguably the pinnacle of the Lunelli Group’s bold decision to partner with Formula 1 and have its Ferrari Trento sparkling wine as the “toast” for every Grand Prix held around the word. Here Abigail Bennington sits down with the Camilla Lunelli, the producer’s head of communications, to look back on how the sponsorship has gone, and reflects on another major deal – the signing of Champagne winemaker, Cyril Brun to the group.

Posted In: camilla lunelli, Ferrari Trento, formula 1, Las Vegas, lunelli group, sparkling wine, wine

People

By Peter Dean on November 17, 2023

David Way gives us the inside track on The Wines of Piemonte

Try and name the wines of Piemonte and, after Barolo and Barbaresco, you might be scrabbling for names. And yet there are 60 denominations in the region with vinous treasures there often overlooked by wine buyers – be they red, white or sparkling wine. In a fascinating new book, The Wines of Piemonte, Italian wine expert David Way tries to set the record straight by examining this region of great diversity which is still remarkably unexplored. In an in-depth interview Way tells The Buyer’s Peter Dean why he is drawn to the region, what is new and exciting here and what are the under-the-radar producers that we should be keeping a close eye on.

Posted In: David Way, Peter Dean, piemonte, The Wines of Piemonte

Awards

By Richard Siddle on November 16, 2023

50 Great Greek Wine Awards shows quality of country’s wines

Greek wines are very much the talk amongst discerning wine buying circles with enterprising and ambitious wine merchants, sommeliers and importers alike all looking to seek out new and interesting wines to take on. Which is where the 50 Great Greek Wine Awards can help identify the producers to be targeting. Here event organiser, Yiannis Karakasis MW, explains how it works and how he hopes it can play an important part in spreading the increasingly good news about Greek wines.

Posted In: 50 Greek wine awards, Greece, Greek wine, wine, Yiannis Karakasis MW

Tasting: Wine

By Peter Dean on November 16, 2023

Ricasoli unveils 100% Trebbiano, San Barnaba at 2020 tasting

It has taken a decade for Ricasoli’s new baby San Barnaba – a white wine made from 100% Trebbiano – to reach commercial standards. And sommeliers should be welcoming it with open arms, writes Peter Dean, who heralds it as yet another great new Italian white wine – and one that proves the Trebbiano naysayers as wrong. In a tasting at Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner with Ricasoli chief Francesco, Dean also tastes the full range of premium reds from this estate that is the fourth oldest in the world

Posted In: CeniPrimo, Chianti, Colledilà, Fells, Francesco Ricasoli, italian wine, Peter Dean, Ricasoli, Roncione, San Barnaba, Tuscany

Awards

By Sophia Longhi on November 15, 2023

IWSC On The Road: Judges pick their best South African wines

Whether you’re from retail or the on-trade, you will have heard one phrase coming up again and again when South African wine is discussed: “Bang for buck!” South Africa has long sealed its reputation for value for money, particularly at entry level. That, we can all agree on. But, things get more divisive when we start discussing quality at a premium level: can South Africa compete on a world stage with the greats? After a six-day trip to judge more than 560 wines in situ from across the country, the IWSC team of judges were more than impressed at their findings. One of those judges, Sophia Longhi, shares what they learnt and picks out some of the highlights from the IWSC South African wine awards.

Posted In: iwsc, IWSC awards, Sophia long, south africa, South African wines, wine, wine competition, wine producers, winemakers

Tasting: Wine

By Rupert Millar on November 15, 2023

Why the time is right for the Languedoc to reinvent itself

The Languedoc Tour was the latest event held by trade body CIVL to shout about the uniqueness of the Languedoc, its history, its terroirs and the personalities making the wines. Rupert Millar took part, talked to producers and tasted through their ranges – six of which he turns the spotlight on and explains what makes them so special. With so many sub-regions vying for attention – which could be the next Picpoul de Pinet?

Posted In: france, french wine, Languedoc, Languedoc Tour, Rupert Millar, wine

People: On-Trade

By Richard Siddle on November 14, 2023

Ken Forrester & Gaucho’s Martin Williams roll out Rare Barrel

It’s said getting wines listed in key restaurants is all about relationships, usually between the importer and sommelier or head of wine at any particular venue. But there are times when the usual rules of engagement go out of the window, particularly when you have the personalities of Martin Williams, chief executive of Rare Restaurants, that includes the Gaucho Group and M Restaurants, and Ken Forrester, founder of South Africa’s Ken Forrester Wines involved. They have formed a friendship as well as business relationship which has culminated in them working together on a bespoke wine that Forrester has made for Williams called ‘The Rare Barrel’ made from one of the few plots of Mourvèdre in South Africa.

Posted In: Gaucho, ken Forrester, ken forrester wines, martin williams, south africa, South African wine

Tasting: Wine

By Mike Turner on November 14, 2023

Long Read

Wines From the Edge: which NZ and Oregon wines stood out?

As climate change continues to alter the way in which wine is produced across the world, wine regions that had previously been on the edge of the climatic range for viable grape growing are now enjoying greater recognition for high quality and consistency. To that end, the winemakers of New Zealand and the state of Oregon on the USA’s North-West coast believe themselves kindred spirits. Both sets of wines were on show together earlier this month at the Wines From The Edge tasting in London. We sent The Buyer’s Mike Turner along to find out why these two distant regions consider themselves close neighbours and pick some of his favourites from the fine line-up on show. The Buyer’s Roger Jones, who was also at the tasting, picks the wines that floated his boat.

Posted In: Mike Turner, new zealand, Oregon, Wines From the Edge

Insight

By Richard Siddle on November 13, 2023

Long Read

Julian Momen on ‘revitalising’ Enotria&Coe & getting it firing

If you compared the competitive world of national wine and drink distributors to the grid of Formula 1 teams then Enotria&Coe, by its own admission, would not be in pole position. In fact, it could be said to be taking a quick pit stop, according to its new chief executive, Julian Momen, as it looks to regroup, retune, and upgrade its engine to help regain its leadership position. Here, in his first major set piece interview, he sits down alongside chief financial officer, Steven Lindsay, who joined the company in February, to set out their new vision for the business and how they hope to re-energise Enotria’s people, products and processes to ensure its customers and producers receive the level of service and support they need and deserve. It makes for a fascinating insight into the new strategy, driven by business management disciplines picked up from other FMCG and industry experiences, that they hope will positively enhance the way Enotria&Coe operates.

Posted In: enotria, Enotria&Coe, wine, wine distributor, wine importer

Tasting: Wine

By Victor Smart on November 11, 2023

Living the spirit of Sherry Week at the Ibérica Sherry Experience

That was the week that was – Sherry Week, of course – and to help celebrate and discover how one restaurant approaches this international event we sent Victor Smart along to live through the Ibérica Sherry Experience – where every style of sherry is matched with different tapas. But would the staff get the level of education right? After all nobody wants to go back to class on a Saturday night… and how were the sherries tasting and what were the key standout moments?

Posted In: Ibérica, Iberica Sherry Experience, sherry, Sherry Week, Victor Smart

Browsing Author