Australia: UK market overview

The theme of today is adaptation. The collapse of Australia’s trading relationship with China has left many casualties in its wake, forcing brands to look to new markets and consumers. According to Wine Australia, “exports to mainland China declined by 97% in value and 93% in volume to 6.4 million litres in 2021, a loss of nearly $1bn (£574m) in value when compared with 2020”. Ironically, China was once touted as Australia’s salvation, when demand in Western Europe and the US started to slump in the mid-2000s. Everyone anticipated that Asia’s biggest country would plug the gap.

Australian winegrape crush returns to near-average size in vintage 2022

The 2022 Australian winegrape crush is estimated to be 1.73 million tonnes, 2% below the 10-year average and 13.5% below the 2021 record crush of 2.01 million tonnes, according to the National Vintage Report 2022 released today by Wine Australia. 

Tim Atkin MW releases his 2022 Argentina Report

Leading UK wine writer and Master of Wine Tim Atkin has released his latest in-depth overview of the Argentinian wine scene. His annual report, now in its tenth edition and available through timatkin.com, is regarded as one of the most authoritative reviews of this major wine-producing nation.

Talking heads; Malbec and beyond

Buyers and critics alike share a snapshot of what currently excites them about South America with Sonya Hook.

Andean offer

Both as wine producers and countries, Argentina and Chile offer very different profiles. The former has its hugely successful hero variety in Malbec, while the latter, having driven its reputation on affordable and accessible international varieties, is gaining ground as a producer of genuine interest and value in the mid-price range. Argentina too, with Malbec having secured a strong foothold at a more premium ‘entry’ price level, has been pushing its diversity, while climbing its flagship variety higher up the price ladder in independents and the on-trade.

World wakes up to Austrian wine quality

From Wachau to Neusiedlersee, David Kermode takes a trip through Austria’s must-know regions.

Koshu: A distinctly Japanese elixir with a growing stable of styles

It’s difficult to gauge how much is known in the UK about the white wine grape Koshu. Hailing almost exclusively from Yamanashi prefecture’s Katsunuma region – the ‘birthplace’ of Japanese viticulture – the wine remains largely shrouded in mystery to the UK trade, despite Koshu of Japan’s faithful annual tastings.

Resetting Australia

With export markets yo-yoing in the wake of China’s trade tariffs, Australia is once again reassessing its place in the wine world. Andrew Catchpole reports.

A climate Rubicon

Late frost wreaked havoc in the Loire, the ‘Garden of France’, in 2021. Jo Gilbert looks at how the region is looking to mitigate growing climate issues while keeping up momentum for its plethora of popular styles.

Australia facing the heat

With much of its current viticultural activity already adjusting to a changing climate, Australia’s wine industry is fast progressing with its sustainability programmes.

Prosecco opens doors for Italy

David Kermode delves into the world of Italian sparklers as the category covers new ground, from the march of rosé Prosecco to the increasingly popular high-quality fizzes of Franciacorta and Trento.

Port’s new groove

An explosion of on-trend Port products with instant drinkability is providing a fillip to a previously flatlining category, finds Jo Gilbert. 

Chile's old vine renaissance

Esoteric but firmly grounded

How new wave Spain is building a repertoire of modern, terroir-driven classics. By Ines Salpico.

Sustaining Spain

As world leaders in sustainable and organic practices, Spanish winemakers are also discovering the benefits in the bottle, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Time of change for Rioja

Ambitious producers are relying on forgotten grape varieties and modern techniques to add new dimensions to Spain’s best-known wine region, as Justin Keay reports.

Spain inches up

Spanish wines appear to be holding ground against the broader UK wine market, with signs of uplift at the mid-to-high end. Andrew Catchpole sizes up the stats.

Redefining Malbec

Argentina’s flagship grape continues to evolve, with renewed emphasis on vineyard sites and terroir. Amanda Barnes, author of The South America Wine Guide, reports.

Reasons to pick Riesling

Harpers partnered with Wines of Germany for its Big G closing debate, which mulled over the topic ‘A wine for all reasons: why German wine is the smart choice’. These extended highlights give a flavour of that far-reaching discussion and what indie retailers and restaurateurs alike can do to boost their German category sales. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Australian wine exports: where do they go from here?

Tyson Stelzer looks at the ramifications of China’s extreme tariffs on Australian wine exports.