The beautiful poor relation of the red Crus Classés of Bordeaux, Sauternes is desperately in need of imagination and inspiration. The owners of Châteaux Lafite and Rieussec are facing up to the challenge. Robert Joseph wonders whether others will follow their example.

Worldwide, the costs of wine production increase. In Germany, too, the producer complaints are getting louder and louder. We analysed Germany's wine production cost structure.

On his return from a trip to Switzerland, Robert Joseph draws some parallels between attitudes to watches and wine, and corks and screwcaps. 

Should Provence Rosé be pale? Should English fizz be made in the same way as Champagne? And should the next Bond be a woman? Robert Joseph sees some connections between these questions

Most wine writers presume that English Sparkling wine is destined for international success. Indeed, some have compared the young industry to the one that sprang up in New Zealand in the 1980s. Robert Joseph has his doubts. 

A group of global players want to develop a worldwide standard. This is welcome, says Alexandra Wrann, but the task may not be straightforward.
 

Robert Joseph considers the export competition between South Africa's raisins, grapes and wine - and the surprisingly low average price of wine in the UK.

Comparative analysis by Agence Bio/ISWR and Meininger’s of organic wine production and consumption reveals that becoming a certified producer is of greater appeal in the Europe and the US than in other parts of the New World.

Robert Joseph admits to having underestimated the sales potential of natural wine, and draws parallels with the way others may prematurely make similar mistakes when considering the future of other recent arrivals on the wine scene.

'Small is Beautiful' ia a widely-held belief, while 'Big Wine' is demonised. Robert Joseph wonders whether this is fair.

Latest estimates place the 2021 harvest at the lower end of previous expectations.

Roederer has decided to stop making non-vintage Champagne. Instead, it has announced that it will produce multi-vintage wine. Robert Joseph considers the pros and cons of making wines that reflect the character of the year, and the lessons Champagne could teach the rest of the wine world

Robert Joseph takes a quizzical look at the amounts of rosé that are being shipped between neighbouring countries in Europe

Jancis Robinson MW OBE has sold her website to Recurrent Media, a venture capital business. Robert Joseph looks back at the many years of work that led up to this sale – and sees surprising parallels between the British wine critic and a global rock icon.

Robert Joseph takes a sideways look at the parallels between underwear and wine.