Official: successful people drink more wine

Big company bosses and top professionals consume the highest amounts of alcohol in the UK, says the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Constellation sells Inglenook, Almaden and Paul Masson winery

Wine giant Constellation has sold both the Inglenook and Almaden brands, as well as the Paul Masson winery, to The Wine Group, it was announced today.

Champagne winemaker in violent attack on journalist

A Champagne producer with far right-wing connections violently attacked a regional journalist in Reims yesterday.

Wine articles must carry health warning, French court decides

A French court has ruled that newspaper articles on wines should be subject to the same health and safety guidelines as alcohol advertising and display health warnings.

I won’t drink my own Parker-rated wines, says California winemaker

Robert Parker’s influence on Californian wines has forced winemakers to lose their sense of balance, says a cult Santa Barbara producer.

Decanter judge receives Canada’s top honour

Wine writer and newly-appointed Decanter World Wine Awards chair Tony Aspler has received Canada’s highest civil honour, the Order of Canada.

Martin Scorsese directs Freixenet advert

Acclaimed film director Martin Scorsese has produced a 10-minute television advert for Cava producer Freixenet.

Parker slams Nossiter with ‘Gestapo’ slur

Robert Parker has accused Mondovino director Jonathan Nossiter of ‘bigotry’ and ‘stupidity’.

100 helicopters scrambled to save New Zealand vines

Around 100 helicopters were called in to hover over Marlborough vineyards last night in a bid to save the local vines from frost.

Oz Clarke and James May return with second series

Oz and James’ Big Wine Adventure returned to UK television screens this week, continuing in the vein of the highly successful first series.

Middle-aged wine drinkers attacked in UK press

Middle class wine drinkers have been vilified in the UK press as the chief culprits behind alcohol abuse in the country.

Chateau Lafite, Antinori under the hammer at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Lunch at Chateau Lafite, a private weekend on the Antinori estate, and backstage tours of the Royal Opera House were just some of the charity auction lots going under the hammer at a splendid Decanter dinner at Covent Garden last night.

Cos d’Estournel launches first white wine

One of Bordeaux’s top red wine chateaux, Cos d’Estournel, has released its first ever white wine.

Cornas vineyards under threat

Two vineyards in the northern Rhone appellation of Cornas are under threat to a local building project, it has emerged.

Bordeaux 2007 harvest begins

Chateau Carbonnieux in the Graves region south of Bordeaux has kicked off the 2007 harvest.

Swiss producers face ladybird contamination

Swiss wine producers on the shores of Lake Geneva face a possible wine contamination threat from ladybird infestations discovered in the region.

Venom in wine triggers severe allergic reactions

Wasp venom found in very young wine can cause severe allergic reactions, say doctors in Spain.

French harvest smallest since 2003

The French wine harvest is expected to produce just under 50m hectolitres of wine, the lowest production level since 2003, says the French agriculture ministry.

Lafite renovator Elie de Rothschild dies

Baron Elie de Rothschild, the man credited with overseeing the post war revival of Chateau Lafite, has died aged 90.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie visit French vineyard

Film star couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie visited a southern French vineyard last week, but will not buy it despite reports to the contrary.

Compound discovery set to revolutionise wine world

In what scientists are hailing as the greatest breakthrough in a generation, Australian researchers have identified the aromatic compound that produces the black pepper smell in red wine.