Matt Walls

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Decanter's Rhône coresspondent, and DWWA Regional Chair for the Rhône.

Matt Walls is an award-winning freelance wine writer and consultant, contributing regular articles to various print and online titles including Decanter, where he is a contributing editor. He has particular interest in the Rhône Valley; he is chair of the Rhône panel at the Decanter World Wine Awards and is the owner of travel and events company www.rhoneroots.com.

He writes about all areas of wine, but specialises in the Rhône.

Matt's latest book, The Smart Traveller's Wine Guide to the Rhône Valley, was published in September 2025.

Walls: The secret to Roussillon’s stunning whites

Brilliant southern French whites that deserve more attention...

Walls: Roussillon’s old vines are its best drought defence

The old vines effect: romanticism or reality?

By Matt Walls Published 23 July 24
Walls: A vertical of a great Cornas cuvée

A vertical tasting of this great Rhône cuvée...

By Matt Walls Published 25 June 24
Walls: Chasing freshness in Ventoux

With over 30 wines tasted...

By Matt Walls Last updated 11 June 24
Walls: Exclusive first taste of M Chapoutier’s Sélections Parcellaires 2023

What do they tell us about the 2023 vintage...

By Matt Walls Published 14 May 24
Matt Walls: My top wines of 2023

Our Rhône correspondent's top picks of 2023...

By Matt Walls Last updated 13 May 24
Walls: How to find value in the Rhône

Five tip-offs you need to know about...

By Matt Walls Last updated 13 May 24

Walls: M Chapoutier Hermitage Monier de la Sizeranne vertical

Matt Walls tastes 12 vintages of M Chapoutier's Monier de la Sizeranne...

By Matt Walls Last updated 13 May 24
Walls: The importance of drinking windows over scores

Matt Walls on how important the drink date is...

By Matt Walls Last updated 13 May 24
Walls: Exploring Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret

Including 22 reds and whites to try...

By Matt Walls Last updated 13 May 24
Walls: Domaine Bonnefond’s inspiring next generation

Exceptional wines from Léa Bonnefond...

By Matt Walls Last updated 13 May 24
Walls: Exploring Côtes du Rhône Villages Massif d’Uchaux

Massif d'Uchaux is one of the Côtes du Rhône's more obscure villages, but this small appellation is a consistent over-performer.

By Matt Walls Last updated 23 April 24
Walls: Domaine Danjou-Banessy, rising star of Roussillon

Wines to make your heart race...

By Matt Walls Last updated 9 April 24

Walls: Vertical tasting of Château Mont-Redon 1961-2022

Tasting some of the Rhône's longest-lived wines across six decades...

By Matt Walls Published 26 March 24
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022: Report and top-scoring wines

The best-performing appellation in 2022...

By Matt Walls Last updated 8 February 24
Walls: The next step for Jaboulet’s Hermitage La Chapelle

A new chapter for Hermitage La Chapelle...

By Matt Walls Last updated 16 January 24
Rhône 2022 en primeur: Full vintage report and top-scoring wines

It's worth doing your research before buying from this surprising vintage...

By Matt Walls Last updated 16 January 24
Côtes du Rhône Villages: 20 great bottles to enjoy this holiday

Matt Walls selects four whites and 16 reds that offer some of the best value you’ll find...

By Matt Walls Published 14 December 23
Northern Rhône whites: Panel tasting results

The results from a 109-wine panel tasting...

By Matt Walls Last updated 12 December 23

German dry Riesling 2014 wines for summer

See five of our panel's top wines...

By Matt Walls Last updated 12 December 23
Matt Walls: M Chapoutier Chante-Alouette vertical tasting

14 vintages of Chapoutier's majestic white Hermitage...

By Matt Walls Published 12 December 23
Crozes-Hermitage 2022: Report and top-scoring wines

While reds can be varied, whites are a solid choice...

By Matt Walls Last updated 7 December 23
Hermitage 2022: Report and top-scoring wines

More majestic than elegant this year...

By Matt Walls Last updated 7 December 23
Northern Rhône 2022: Full report and top-scoring wines

A stark contrast to 2021, and all the better for it...

By Matt Walls Last updated 7 December 23
Cornas & St-Péray 2022: Report and top-scoring wines

Know your producers...

By Matt Walls Last updated 7 December 23

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