Pinotage: the Frankenstein grape?

Created in the 1920s, this distinctly South African varietal has been more reviled than revered. But, as we put the wines of the Cape in the spotlight, Sophie Thorpe argues it should be recognised for its role in the region’s dazzling new-wave wines

Easy as ABC: Jim Clendenen

Au Bon Climat’s Jim Clendenen is one of the most colourful characters in wine. As the wine he has made for our own-label range lands on the shelves, Sophie Thorpe sits down with the man himself

Waiting for Godello

Rafael Palacios is a rare breed: a supreme Spanish winemaking talent whose heart lies with white, not red, grapes. Here, Sophie Thorpe talks to him about the moment he discovered Godello – and why he’s determined to get the grape the acclaim it deserves

Everything you need to know about Vermouth

Do you think of Vermouth as 1) a dusty cocktail-cabinet oddity or 2) an on-trend essential? Your answer will, doubtless, depend a great deal on how much time you spend in bars. Here, Sophie Thorpe (no stranger to a tipple) provides her essential guide to the drink