Insights

China syndrome

Column - Robert Joseph

The Bordeaux cycle

Commentators have recently claimed that Bordeaux’s fine wine system is in crisis. Rebecca Gibb MW says it’s all been said before.

Advice on selling wine to China's Tier-2 cities

In the 1980s, the Chinese government ranked China’s cities according to size and development priorities. Today, that ranking is a useful way of understanding the size and scale of markets in China. As Tier 1 cities – particularly Beijing and Shanghai – become saturated with wine, Tier 2 cities are emerging as important markets, as James Lawrence discovers from talking to market insiders.

Groceries get ready for wine

There are significant legislative barriers to selling wine in US supermarkets, explains Jeff Siegel. But they have come down in two states, and there could be more to follow.

Gastronomy travel

The world is now travelling on its stomach, according to speakers at the Business of Food and Wine Tourism conference. Felicity Carter went to hear more.

Rocks in the glass

The term ‘minerality’ is thrown around the wine world with abandon, but what does it actually mean? Rebecca Gibb MW finds out.

Roll out the barrels

Column - Robert Joseph

The genuine article

Fine and rare wines that have a trail of ownership behind them command higher prices. But, says Rebecca Gibb MW, it was ever thus.

An insight into selling wine in Mexico

Mexico has been a wine-producing nation since the 1520s, when the Spanish brought grape vines with them. Although the country is best known for its tequila, the wine market is growing, both for domestic and imported wines, albeit off a small base. The population is mostly young and urban and, as elsewhere, there is a growing middle class. This group, estimated at 21m people, includes a highly educated younger generation that’s keen to explore food and wine. According to Wine Intelligence, wine consumption has increased by 40% in the past decade, and could hit 2 L per head by 2020. James Lawrence speaks to market insiders.

Frost puts pressure on Burgundy

Hail and frost hit Burgundy hard this year, leading to lower yields. Panos Kakaviatos asks what impact this will have on prices.

Capitalism comes to Barolo

Vietti, one of Barolo’s top brands, was sold to American investors for a record sum, causing uproar across the region. Wojciech Bońkowski reports.