Category: Old World

Austria: news of the 2011 vintage. And Blaufränkisch: the country’s next ‘Red Bull’?!

It was only my second visit to Austria but my inaugural, and most satisfactory, encounter with the fine estates of Knoll, Nikolaihof, Ehmoser, Bründlmayer and Pichler-Krutzler; along with Prager, Schloss Gobelsburg, Moric and Wachter-Wiesler. I sense a most exciting offer beckons this autumn! Austria’s 2011 vintage, echoed across much of Europe, was characterised by a […]

Alsace update, where they’re finally putting the ‘Cru’ back into Grand Cru…

Last week I nipped up north to Alsace from Barolo to touch base with domaines Ostertag, Weinbach, Zind-Humbrecht, Josmeyer, Rolly-Gassmann, Mittnacht, Trimbach, Schlumberger, Hugel and Deiss as I prepared the ground for Berrys’ September offer. Two issues: terroir, and in particular ‘Crus’, along with the sometimes sticky point of how to communicate the wine’s style […]

An overview of the Rhône’s 2010s

Our Fine Wine Team recently returned from a four day trip to the Rhône to assess the 2010 vintage wines. We’ve heard a lot of hype about this vintage potentially being the best of the decade for the Rhône, so to find out more we cornered Hamish and Martyn from the team to see what […]

Valentine’s Rhymes

It’s Valentine’s Day, and rather than bombard you with pink Champagne choices, I asked Berrys’ staff to get in touch with their softer side and write a poem confessing their love… for wine! When I was asked to pen on my favourite wine, I thought, ‘this is mad! All are favourites of mine!” Whether Chablis […]