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Articles by Patrick Schmitt
South Africa’s ‘nameless’ fine wine collective goes global
Eight of South Africa’s leading family-owned wine estates have held their first collective tasting outside the Western Cape at London’s Tate Modern, marking the start of a roadshow that went on to Copenhagen, and next year, the Gulf and Asia. Representatives from The Eight Wineries poured wines at London’s Tate Modern on Monday this week.
db’s Green Day: what’s on, and why it matters
From a morning masterclass of nine wines to four frank panel debates and the 17th annual Green Awards, db’s Green Day on Monday 23 November brings the trade’s sustainability agenda under one roof. Environmental and ethical claims are now common across the drinks trade, but evidence of their practical and commercial impact is less so.
Pancho Campo completes Everest skydive
Wine Future founder Pancho Campo becomes, by his team’s account, the first Spaniard to skydive at Everest, and at 65 the oldest person to do so – before toasting the landing with Portuguese wine. Spain-based events organiser and former tennis pro Pancho Campo has completed a solo skydive from a helicopter in the Everest region. The stunt was designed to “reboot” the wine industry for Gen Z and to raise awareness of bullying at school.
Pancho Campo completes Everest skydive
Wine Future founder Pancho Campo becomes, by his team’s account, the first Spaniard to skydive at Everest, and at 65 the oldest person to do so – before toasting the landing with Portuguese wine. Spain-based events organiser and former tennis pro Pancho Campo has completed a solo skydive from a helicopter in the Everest region. The stunt was designed to “reboot” the wine industry for Gen Z and to raise awareness of bullying at school.
News / Anthony Hamilton Russell
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Quinta do Noval releases its first 80 Year Old Tawny Port
Douro producer Quinta do Noval has released just 450 bottles of its maiden wine in the oldest age-indicated Tawny category, two years after adding a 50 Year Old to its range. The wine was blended from what the AXA Millésimes-owned house describes as some of the oldest Tawny stocks in its cellars.
News / Champagne Agents Association
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News / low and no
Low and no cider a leading option for non-drinkers in the UK One in three Brits cut back on booze Final call: The Global Low & No Alcohol Wine Masters 2026 By db staff writer
News / Quinta do Noval
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Climate change adaptation in Burgundy like turning ‘a huge boat’
Maison Joseph Drouhin’s head winemaker has told the UK trade that rising temperatures are prompting her generation to reverse decades of vine selection, but warned that change in Burgundy will come slowly. Credit: Michael Boudot Speaking at a tasting of the producer’s 2025 Burgundies in central London on 5 November, Véronique Boss-Drouhin (pictured) recalled how growers once sought out plant material that would reach maturity earlier.
News / Maison Joseph Drouhin
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The best wines for bonfire night and beyond
Following our Autumn Tasting last month, we have picked out the top scoring wines, specially selected for pairing with seasonal celebrations. So, whatever your plans, these wines will surprise and delight like fireworks on bonfire night. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, as summer draws to a close and the days shorten, our tastes tend to change. We start to crave heartier flavours and richer textures in place of the lighter fare of the hotter months.
News / Top 10s
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News / The Global Wine Masters
The best rosé Champagnes of 2026 All the medallists from The Global Chenin Blanc Masters 2026 The best wines for bonfire night and beyond By Patrick Schmitt
News / db Conference
‘Fine wine tastes better with margins’: how should businesses prepare for the recovery? How to get Gen Z interested in fine wine How Berry Bros. & Rudd is transforming the traditional wine merchant model Silent luxury: why ‘the big sell’ is dead for fine wine By Sarah Neish
Memorial service to be held for former WSTA chair Nick Hyde
Members of the UK wine trade are invited to celebrate the life of Nick Hyde, the former chair of both the WSTA and the WSET, at a memorial service at Vintners’ Hall later this month. Nick Hyde. Picture credit: WSTA The service will take place on Wednesday 25 November at Vintners’ Hall in the City of London, from 11:00 to 13:00. The dress code is smart and colourful, and ties are not required.
Why UK Sherry sales are bucking global trends
Sherry exports to the UK have risen for a second consecutive year, according to César Saldaña, president of the Consejo Regulador, even as global sales fell by 6.4%. Picture credit: foodswinesfromspain.com Speaking to db as International Sherry Week (2-8 November) gets under way, Saldaña said the growth recorded in 2025 had continued through to September 2026, the latest month for which official export data is available.
News / Puente Alto
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News / Nick Hyde
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Everything you need to know about db’s Green Day this month
On 23 November, db’s Green Day brings producers, retailers and specialists together in London for an afternoon of frank debate, followed by the 17th annual Green Awards. Over the past decade, sustainability has gone from a niche concern to a commercial necessity. Buyers ask for it, regulators increasingly require it, and producers are investing heavily in it. The questions facing the trade have moved on too. It is no longer enough to ask whether a business is sustainable.
News / consumer trends
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Why lightweighting glass wine bottles is good for business
Lighter wine bottles are cutting packaging taxes and freight costs, and helping producers win retail listings, according to speakers at last month’s London launch of Alentejo’s 390g regional bottle. Alentejo’s 390g regional bottle.
Why lightweighting glass wine bottles is good for business
Lighter wine bottles are cutting packaging taxes and freight costs, and helping producers win retail listings, according to speakers at last month’s London launch of Alentejo’s 390g regional bottle. Alentejo’s 390g regional bottle.
Røsnæs to become Denmark’s second wine PDO
Røsnæs, a narrow peninsula on the west coast of the island of Sjælland, has applied for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for its wines. If approved, it would become Denmark’s second wine PDO, known locally as BOB (Beskyttet Oprindelsesbetegnelse). The appellation has been registered in Denmark by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen).
Røsnæs to become Denmark’s second wine PDO
Røsnæs, a narrow peninsula on the west coast of the island of Sjælland, has applied for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for its wines. If approved, it would become Denmark’s second wine PDO, known locally as BOB (Beskyttet Oprindelsesbetegnelse). The appellation has been registered in Denmark by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen).
Pancho Campo to skydive near Everest to ‘reboot’ wine for Gen Z
Spain-based events organiser and former tennis pro Pancho Campo is to skydive from a helicopter in the Himalayas to “reboot” the wine industry, raise awareness of bullying at school, and encourage a younger generation to “face fear”.
News / Wines of Portugal
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News / gen z
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News / Global Wine Masters
All the medallists from The Global Travel Retail Masters 2026 The best bottles from The Global Travel Retail Wine Masters The sub-£15 bottles proving Spain is a hotspot for value By db staff writer
News / Okanagan Valley
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Bryce Wiatrak MW scoops three awards as IMW welcomes class of 2026
US-based Bryce Wiatrak MW was the star of the Institute of Masters of Wine’s annual awards ceremony in London last night, taking home three of the seven prizes as the 11 new MWs of 2026 were formally inducted.
Edward Demery retires from Wine Trade Sports Club Foundation
Former Justerini & Brooks chairman steps down after more than five decades’ involvement with the UK drinks trade charity, as Enotria MD Ants Rixon joins the trustees. Left to right: James Read, Edward Demery CVO, Lucy Marcuson, Ants Rixon, Charles Taverner and Mark Leveson-Gower Edward Demery CVO has retired from the board of trustees of the Wine Trade Sports Club Foundation, the drinks trade charity he has been closely involved with since its creation more than 50 years ago.
News / Masters of Wine
Seven new Masters of Wine join largest class since 2021 #WeekInPictures: seven new MWs, an early English harvest and Glorious Twelfth grouse Bryce Wiatrak MW scoops three awards as IMW welcomes class of 2026 By Patrick Schmitt
Wine buyers pledge to drive demand for regenerative wine
The Regenerative Accelerator Group, convened by the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation (RVF), was launched at the Sustainability in Drinks conference at Christ Church Spitalfields in London on Tuesday (20 October). Its founding signatories are Berry Bros. & Rudd, Erewhon, Haggen, Levy UK & Ireland, Systembolaget, The Wine Society, Total Wine & More and Waitrose.
News / Champagne Ayala
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Wine buyers pledge to drive demand for regenerative wine
The Regenerative Accelerator Group, convened by the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation (RVF), was launched at the Sustainability in Drinks conference at Christ Church Spitalfields in London on Tuesday (20 October). Its founding signatories are Berry Bros. & Rudd, Erewhon, Haggen, Levy UK & Ireland, Systembolaget, The Wine Society, Total Wine & More and Waitrose.
Why Champagne of the future may get you drunker
As db has reported extensively, this year’s harvest in Champagne presented many challenges for the region’s growers and producers – but what will it mean for consumers? Patrick Schmitt MW looks at why France’s fine fizz is set to get headier. 2026 has broken a string of records in Champagne.
News / Champagne 2026
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Wine buyers pledge to drive demand for regenerative wine
A coalition of eight international wine buyers, with combined sales of around 400 million bottles a year, has pledged to build demand for regeneratively farmed wine, aiming to give growers the confidence to change how they farm.
Alentejo launches region-wide lightweight wine bottle
Wines of Alentejo has unveiled a 390g bottle developed with Verallia that any producer in the region will be able to use. Patrick Schmitt MW reports on the launch event in London yesterday. The Alentejo lightweight wine bottle is aiming for a 50 million annual production run Wines of Alentejo used its annual London event yesterday (19 October) to present the Alentejo Lightweight Bottle.
Alentejo launches region-wide lightweight wine bottle
Wines of Alentejo has unveiled a 390g bottle developed with Verallia that any producer in the region will be able to use. Patrick Schmitt MW reports on the launch event in London yesterday. The Alentejo lightweight wine bottle is aiming for a 50 million annual production run Wines of Alentejo used its annual London event yesterday (19 October) to present the Alentejo Lightweight Bottle.
New era announced for Stellar organic wine under Vinimark
Stellenbosch-based Vinimark has given Stellar, one of South Africa’s pioneering certified organic wine producers, a new identity, a more focused range and a renewed emphasis on wine quality. It is also bringing back Running Duck, Stellar’s more playful brand, with the aim of drawing a younger audience into organic wine.
How Berry Bros. & Rudd is transforming the traditional wine merchant model
With two new co-CEOs in charge, and responding to the challenges facing the fine wine market, Britain’s oldest wine merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd, has launched a service-led, tiered membership community called House of 1698, db can exclusively reveal. House of 1698 launches today (12 October) and has three membership levels: Green, Gold and Black. Each combines personal advice, access to sought-after wines and spirits, and an exclusive events programme. Members also receive benefits from Berry Bros.
News / Sauvignon Blanc
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‘After 2026 is a new game’ says wine terroir specialist
Having come to London to give a seminar for the first time since 2014, Parra, a world-renowned expert on soils and geology – as well as winemaker – spoke in stark terms about the effect of this year’s growing season on great terroirs, such as Burgundy and Tuscany.
News / fortified wine
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
‘After 2026 is a new game’ says wine terroir specialist
Having come to London to give a seminar for the first time since 2014, Parra, a world-renowned expert on soils and geology – as well as winemaker – spoke in stark terms about the effect of this year’s growing season on great terroirs, such as Burgundy and Tuscany.
‘After 2026 is a new game’ says wine terroir specialist Original
Speaking at a masterclass in London this week, terroir specialist Pedro Parra expressed his deep concerns about the impact of heat and drought on the world’s most famous wine regions – with one exception. Photo credit: pedroparra.cl Having come to London to give a seminar for the first time since 2014, Parra, a world-renowned expert on soils and geology – as well as winemaker – spoke in stark terms about the effect of this year’s growing season on great terroirs, such as Burgundy and Tuscany.
Why the 2023 Insignia marks a new era for Joseph Phelps
Joseph Phelps Vineyards has just launched the 2023 vintage of its flagship expression, Insignia – and Patrick Schmitt MW finds out from the Napa Valley winery’s president David Pearson why this release is so important. The unveiling of a new vintage of a collectible high-end wine such as Insignia is always noteworthy, but this year’s release is especially important for several reasons, outlined yesterday at a press event in London hosted by Pearson (pictured), who had flown in from California.
The best bottles from The Global Travel Retail Wine Masters
Having published all the medallists from this year’s Global Travel Retail Wine Masters, now we bring you a snapshot of the best bottles from the competition, highlighting the quality of fortified wine from Portugal and sparkling wine from England. The tasting, which took place on 25 August this year, covers any wine that sells in travel retail, leaving it open to all styles, but restricted in terms of channel.
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