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Louis Roederer has completed its acquisition of Domaine Pierre Damoy, bringing nearly eight hectares of grand cru vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin under the Champagne house's control. The deal marks a significant strategic move into Burgundy's fine wine territory and signals growing consolidation among major players in France's prestige regions.
Emidio Pepe, the legendary Abruzzo winemaker who transformed Montepulciano and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo into world-class wines through patience and handcrafted methods, has died aged 94. His decades-long commitment to consistency and traditional techniques helped establish Abruzzo as a serious wine region and influenced generations of Italian producers.
Meet George Loat, a 26-year-old winemaker running One Another from his parents' shed in the Cotswolds, producing English still wines in a space barely bigger than a cupboard. After COVID prompted him to work with overseas wineries, he's now established his own micro-producer, representing a growing wave of young winemakers entering the industry with fresh energy and unconventional setups. The article explores how Gen Z is shaping modern wine production and challenging traditional notions of what a winery needs to look like.
Domaine Lafage in Roussillon has started its earliest harvest on record, beginning with Muscat Petits Grains on 23 July following an exceptionally early growing season. The early start was driven by budburst occurring around 15 days ahead of schedule, combined with good spring rainfall and sustained high temperatures from May onwards. The estate, which recently gained full regenerative viticulture certification from A Greener World, has implemented innovative water management and soil regeneration practices to build resilience to climate change. After several vintages hit by severe drought, the 2026 season is bringing renewed optimism to the region with strong potential for a healthy, high-quality harvest.
Gabb Family Wines has appointed Julian Grubb to spearhead its global expansion strategy. Grubb, an experienced wine industry executive, will lead the producer's push into new international markets. The move signals the company's ambitions to scale beyond its current footprint.
France has announced over €1 billion in emergency financial support for its struggling wine industry, signalling a major crisis in production and sales. The mobilisation reflects serious challenges facing French producers, from oversupply and weak export demand to climate-related harvest pressures. This is significant news for anyone trading with or competing against French producers across the EU and beyond.
English sparkling wine producer Gusbourne has secured an exclusive listing with British Airways Club World from July 2026, with a bespoke Pinot Noir-dominant wine selected specifically for in-flight service. The listing comes as Gusbourne expands its international presence across more than 40 export markets, and the wine was chosen by Master of Wine Tim Jackson for its performance at altitude. The bottle features distinctive branding inspired by Royal Air Force heritage, and the deal builds on Gusbourne's existing presence on British Airways First Class.
Australia's 2026 wine harvest has hit its lowest level in a quarter century, marking a significant disruption to one of the world's largest wine-exporting nations. The sharp decline will likely reverberate through UK and EU import markets, affecting availability and potentially driving up prices on Australian wines in the coming months. Industry professionals should monitor how this shortage reshapes competition between regions and impacts their sourcing strategies.
Plumpton College is launching a world-first Digital Vineyard project with over 100 remote sensors installed at unprecedented density to capture hyperlocal data on weather, soil nutrients, and disease pressure. The system will help determine the best varieties and rootstocks to plant in 2028, and the College plans to publish results publicly so growers across the industry can make data-driven decisions to cut fertiliser and fungicide use. It's a significant step forward in precision viticulture and UK wine production innovation.
France has suspended its official August wine harvest forecast as persistent heat waves continue to disrupt vineyards across the country. The decision reflects uncertainty about crop size and quality as volatile weather conditions make reliable predictions impossible at present. This matters to importers and traders across Europe who rely on French harvest data to plan supply, pricing and inventory for the coming season.
London's long-standing independent wine merchant Friarwood has closed both its shops and entered administration after 59 years in business. The closure highlights continued pressure on traditional independent retailers in the UK wine trade.
Four established Rioja brands, including Federico Paternina and Marqués de la Concordia, are heading to auction later this month as part of insolvency proceedings affecting the United Wineries group. The international auction offers buyers a chance to acquire heritage brands with strong market presence and international distribution rather than building their own from scratch. The portfolio generated €18.49 million in normalised sales between 2019 and 2021, highlighting their commercial value and potential for future growth under new ownership.
Australia's winegrape harvest has hit its smallest volume in over 25 years, marking a significant contraction in the country's wine production. The collapse will likely have ripple effects across global wine supply chains, affecting importers, distributors and retailers who rely on Australian fruit and finished wines. This is important context for anyone sourcing from or doing business with the region.
English wine producers are grappling with a supply surplus after harvesting record volumes in 2025. The bumper crop, whilst demonstrating the sector's growing vitality, is creating storage, cashflow and pricing challenges for producers as they navigate an oversupplied market. It's a classic boom-and-bust dynamic that'll be shaping business decisions across the English wine supply chain for months to come.
Emma Denney, director of wine at Claridge's, has won the prestigious UK Sommelier of the Year 2026 title following a competitive two-day judging process. The award recognises excellence in sommelier expertise across the UK hospitality sector.
Michelin, famous for rating restaurants, has launched its first winery ratings system in Burgundy. The new Michelin Grape Selection uses a three-tier award system based on overall estate quality rather than individual wines. The move has already sparked backlash in the region, suggesting the wine trade has concerns about how Michelin's methodology works and what impact it might have on the market.
A Bordeaux winemaker who runs five estates and a historic négociant house has an unlikely background, having previously worked selling Cartier jewellery before pivoting to the wine trade in Pomerol. The story explores his journey and current operations in one of Bordeaux's most prestigious regions.
Sam Neill, the acclaimed actor and founder of Two Paddocks winery in Central Otago, has died aged 78. Neill was a passionate advocate for New Zealand wine for over 30 years, consistently promoting Central Otago as a world-class Pinot Noir region comparable to Burgundy. Just days before his death, he was named a Fellow of New Zealand Winegrowers in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the industry.
Ukrainian winemaker Mykhailo Molchanov is tending his organic vines at Steppe Wines in southern Ukraine, doing what he can to keep his business alive despite ongoing military conflict nearby. Growing grapes directly into the region's biodiverse steppe grassland, Molchanov represents a wider determination among Ukrainian producers to maintain their vineyards and protect the country's emerging wine sector through the war. It's a striking example of how geopolitical disruption affects wine producers in real time.
WineGB's chief executive Nicola Bates discusses what lies ahead for the UK wine industry following English Wine Week and ahead of the sector's annual conference. In this interview, she shares her perspective on the biggest opportunities and challenges facing British wine producers, plus reflects on what she's achieved in nearly three years leading the organisation. It's a chance to hear directly from industry leadership about where the UK wine sector is headed.