Decanter News

Jancis Robinson: critics should show more humility
Wine critic Jancis Robinson MW has called wine critics 'parasitical' and has urged them to be more humble and honest.

Coppola denied permission to floodlight winery
A Sonoma County zoning board has denied Francis Ford Coppola permission to illuminate his Rosso & Bianco winery with multi-coloured floodlights.

Critics and winemakers convene at new conference
Winemakers and their critics have met for the inaugural edition of WineCreator, an international conference in Ronda, Spain.

Price more important than taste: Caltech study reinforced
The price of a wine is far more important than taste when it comes to the amount of pleasure the wine gives you, a study has found.

Delaforce sold to RCV
The major port brand of Delaforce has been sold to Royal Companhia Velha.

Hamilton leaves Farr Vintners
Farr Vintners founder Lindsay Hamilton has left the company ?exactly 30 years after he started the company.

St Pierre released by China customs
Don St Pierre Jr, manager of ASC Fine Wines in Shanghai, has been released following a three-week detention by Chinese customs.

Fine art and fine wine as Moueix honoured by Decanter
Christian Moueix was presented with the Decanter Man of the Year trophy last night at a dinner at the Wallace Collection, one of London's most renowned art galleries.

Parker: Bordeaux 2007 ‘disappointing'
The majority of Bordeaux 2007 wines are disappointing, says American wine guru Robert Parker.

Climens owner new head of Sauternes and Barsac group
Berenice Lurton has been elected the new president of the Sauternes and Barsac Crus Classes, it was announced today.

Sparkling wine sales soar in UK
Sparkling wine sales in the UK have grown exponentially in recent years, outpacing Champagne in volume growth, a recent report has shown.

Loire Muscadet vintage halved by frost
The Muscadet vineyards at the western end of the Loire Valley have had their potential 2008 harvest reduced by half following a severe frost last week.

Allegrini abandons DOC over screwcap ban
Italian producer Allegrini has pulled out of the Valpolicella Classico denomination over frustration at not being allowed to bottle its wines under screwcap.

Obituary: Barney Rhodes
Barney Rhodes, one of the founding fathers of the Napa Valley wine industry has died aged 88.

Decanter wins best International Wine Magazine prize
Decanter magazine has been voted Best International Wine Magazine by the Comitato Grandi Cru d'Italia in Verona.

Bordeaux: Semillon shortage threatens future vintages
A group of high profile Bordeaux producers are calling attention to a shortage of Semillon which may impede production in the future.

Hardys new ?2m ad campaign
Australian giant Hardys has just embarked on a 12m advertising campaign in the UK, the biggest ever for a wine brand.

Bordeaux should not pin hopes on Asian market
Asian buyers may not pay over the odds for the 2007 Bordeaux, contrary to perceived wisdom from the wine trade.

Rh?e says au revoir to hedgehog and hippo
The cartoon stars of the Cotes du Rhone's highly successful ad campaign are being dropped after 10 years, amid fears that the adverts could attract criticism for their possible appeal to a younger audience.

Brunello steps up controls following fraud investigation
Brunello di Montalcino will implement a rigorous checking system to combat any suspicion of adulteration.