Oliver Styles, Author at The Buyer

By Andrew Johnson on December 7, 2023

Andrew Johnson on why we should be excited by the Cirò Revolution

Whisper it gently but there is a wine revolution going on in Italy. A revolution that has the potential to radically change and elevate the perception of Calabria and, in particular the traditional winemaking DOC of Cirò that has recently gained DOCG status. A revolution that Andrew Johnson, managing director of premium wine importers, Woodwinters, is firmly behind as he explains in this in-depth report on why anyone interested in Italian wines needs to better understand what is happening in this exciting wine region.

Posted In: Andrew Johnson, Calabria, ciro, ciro revolution, italian wine, Italy, slider, winemakers, wood winters

People: Producer

By Leona De Pasquale on December 7, 2023

Maurizio Lunetta, Director of Etna DOC and his partner Margriet own Casale 120

What’s the best way of selling Nerello Mascalese from Etna DOC?

In an era where the fervour for terroir-driven wines shows no signs of waning, the site-sensitive Nerello Mascalese, cultivated on the ever-changing terroir surrounding Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna, continues to captivate wine enthusiasts. With its somewhat challenging pronunciation and intricate terroirs, selling Nerello Mascalese to average consumers doesn’t appear to be a straightforward task. During a recent visit to Sicily for the ‘Etna Day 2023’ event, Leona De Pasquale spoke with Maurizio Lunetta, the director of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Etna DOC, to find out how it’s done.

Posted In: Etna DOC, italian wine, Leona De Pasquale, Nerello Mascalese, sicily, slider

Awards

By Richard Siddle on December 6, 2023

IWSC On The Road: What UK judges thought of Austrian wine

The scores from the IWSC’s Austrian wine jury are in with an impressive 17 gold medals, 136 silver medals and 229 bronze awarded in what was the first time the competition has travelled to Austria to do the judging as part of a wider immersion into Austrian wine. It was also the latest country to join the list of those the IWSC is now judging in situ. David Kermode, part of the judging team, takes us behind the scenes.

Posted In: Austria, austrian wines, iwsc, slider, wine buyers, wine judging, wine tasting

Tasting: Wine

By Heather Dougherty on December 6, 2023

Côtes du Rhône London Tasting: Producers hail ‘epic’ 2023 vintage

Côtes du Rhône winemakers were enthusing about the ‘epic’ 2023 vintage at a recent London tasting of Rhône wines. The event was an opportunity to catch up with latest trends, see how wines at named village level are a great opportunity to pick up a bargain, and to hear how the appeal of the Gigondas appellation will be enhanced by the addition of the new Gigondas Blanc category from the 2023 vintage onwards. Heather Dougherty was there for The Buyer to pick out her favourite wines plus talk to Ann Vermeersch of Le Plan-Vermeersch and Vincent Boyer of Domaine de la Bastide to catch up with the challenges they face as Rhône winemakers.

Posted In: Côtes du Rhône, Heather Dougherty, slider

Insight

By Heather Dougherty on December 5, 2023

Getting up to speed on DO Cava’s premiumisation initiatives

Cava is on something of a roll right now, with sales in 2022 of over 249 million bottles, equating to growth of 4.6% year-on-year. It’s also become Spain’s most internationally successful wine export with nearly 70% of production being sold outside the country. The UK is now Cava’s fourth largest export market, behind Germany, US and Belgium. Here Heather Dougherty analyses the steps the Cava region is taking to not only maintain and grow its sales but also look at how it can continue to premiumise the image of Cava and focus even more on the quality wines being produced.

Posted In: Cava, DO Cava, Heather Dougherty, Spain, spanish wine, sparkling wine

Insight

By Victoria Sharples on December 5, 2023

Franck Bijon: Cru Bourgeois, the new classification & future plans

Although it was a long and bumpy road getting to the Cru Bourgeois 2020 Classification, it has successfully provided wine buyers with a benchmark for accessing Bordeaux wines with great value, character and quality – not just with the wines themselves but with the techniques used to get them there in the first place. Victoria Sharples talks to Franck Bijon about the Classification and what it means for wine drinkers, looks ahead to the 2025 Classification and future plans for the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc, of which he is president.

Posted In: Bordeaux, Cru Bourgeois du Médoc, Franck Bijon, victoria sharples

Insight

By Richard Siddle on December 4, 2023

Richard Siddle on solutions to be found at Wine Future 2023

Like the World Cup and the Olympics you have to wait your turn for the next Wine Future to happen. But when they do they are not only must attend events – for those in the know – they also act as good benchmarks for where the global wine industry finds itself and an opportunity to step out of the cut and thrust of everyday trading to see what the sector’s current and future challenges and opportunities are. Here Richard Siddle, who has attended and taken part in all of the Wine Future events dating back to the first in 2009, gives his personal take on what we can all take away from Wine Future 2023, and the importance of looking outside our own business needs for potential solutions and how coming together to share ideas, insights and experiences is the only way for the industry as a whole to move forward.

Posted In: pancho campo, wine, wine future, wine industry, wine trends

Tasting: Wine

By Geoffrey Dean on December 3, 2023

Why Sweet Tokaj needs to exit the box marked ‘dessert wine’

Sweet Tokaj wines are the best known in Hungary but they are not where they need to be in the international market where an overall decline in consumption of sweet wines has offset massive, sporadic growth in some areas of the US. The Buyer’s Geoffrey Dean visited Michelin-starred Trivet restaurant in London, speaks to the key movers and shakers in the Hungarian wine scene and picks 10 wines that every wine buyer should have on their radar.

Posted In: Geoffrey Dean, Hungary, Sweet Tokaj, wines of hungary

Tasting: Wine

By Justin Keay on December 1, 2023

Justin Keay on what to expect from Brunello 2019 vintage

London’s Brunello 2019 tasting was an opportunity to assess just how good the latest Brunello di Montalcino vintage is and whether it compares to the classic 2016s. Justin Keay sums up the vintage as one which is approachable now but also has great potential to age, and picks 12 wines from the 46 producers that were showing wines this year. He also looks at some of the issues facing this Southern part of Tuscany and talks to event organiser Walter Speller about how the region needs to change to stay ahead of the game.

Posted In: Brunello 2019, Brunello di Montalcino 2019, italian wine, Justin Keay, walter speller

Awards

By Richard Siddle on December 1, 2023

People’s Choice Wine and Spirits Awards 2024 shortlist

Drum roll please…The finalists have been announced in both People’s Choice Wine Awards and the People’s Choice Spirits Awards across all categories in both competitions. In what are the seventh wine and fourth spirits awards they remain the only major UK competition that involves everyday drinkers as part of the judging process. Here Janet Harrison, founder of both competitions, explains the latest developments and the stand-out features of the 2024 edition.

Posted In: people choice spirits awards, people choice wine awards, spirits, wine

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