Want to see what this year’s students had to contend with in the Master of Wine examination? Look no further, as we bring you the questions and wines from 2019’s ordeal. Revealed by the IMW this morning was this year’s Master of Wine papers, which cover both a ‘theory’ essay-writing element and a ‘practical’ exam, which comprises three 12-wine blind tastings, held over consecutive mornings. The famously difficult test was held from 3 June to 7 June, with 160 students sitting the exam across three sites: London, San Francisco and Adelaide. Over four days, the students had three 12-wine...

Lidl UK is gearing up to launch wine sales online, db understands, as the discounter announces it is upping its spend on London expansion. Lidl UK’s French Wine Cellar Collection Although the retailer has not confirmed any timescale, or clarified exactly what the online offer will be, db understands that wines will be part of the planned online offer, after the online team were at this year’s London Wine Fair. A spokesman for the retailers told db: “Ecommerce is something we’re exploring and we have a digital team of experts within the business who are looking at this.” Since...

More than a quarter of Oddbins’ stores have shut since the retailer was placed in administration, db has learned. Since Oddbins was put into administration by its parent company European Food Brokers Ltd at the end of January, blaming the uncertain economic pressure from Brexit, rising rents and the deterioration of the high street, 13 of its stores have been shut. Although the administrators originally said they planned to continue to operate the stores as a going concern while assessing the companies options, out of the retailer’s original 45 Oddbins stores, only 32 have remained...

New Zealand’s 2019 harvest has been declared “small but stunning” by trade body New Zealand Winegrowers. A total of 413,000 tonnes were harvested this vintage, smaller than anticipated although quality is apparently “exceptional” across North and South Islands. This is the third small harvest in a row for the antipodean country which will hamper volume growth. NZ Winegrowers’ CEO Philip Gregan said: “Smaller vintages in 2017 and 2018 meant wineries had to work to manage product shortages, and many of our members hoped for a larger harvest this year. Another smaller-than-expected vintage will...

Gerard Basset’s “magic combination of charm and determination” was celebrated this morning at a service of thanksgiving in Winchester Cathedral. Providing a beautifully-crafted and touching tribute to Basset at the memorial was Jancis Robinson OBE, MW, who addressed leading figures from right across the world of wine, all of whom had gathered at the stunning Gothic cathedral to mark the life of this famously high-achieving sommelier, hotelier, wine personality and author. Recalling how she had first met Gerard at Chewton Glen – the top-end hotel that launched his career in the UK – Jancis said...

The release of Lafite and second wine Carruades de Lafite represent the “most obvious buys of the campaign” though getting hold of some might be hard. Lafite is the last of the first growths to release en primeur and seems to have struck the pricing nail dead on. Liv-ex’s global members named the 2018 Lafite the ‘best’ wine of the vintage and the critics were rapturous in their praise (mostly). “If this wine doesn’t get Bordeaux lovers hearts’ racing, nothing will,” said Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW who gave it 98-100 points. James Suckling gave it 99-100, Julia Harding MW writing for Jancis Robinson...

UK retail giant Tesco has reported weak growth in the first quarter the year that lags behind its promising performance in the full financial year. Edinburgh, Scotland, UK – 21st March 2011: Front entrance sign of a Tesco Superstore supermarket at the Hermiston Gait Retail Park in Edinburgh. Tesco divide their UK stores into six categories, with superstores such as this one being classed as a large supermarket. In the 13 weeks to 25 May, UK like-for-like saw sales growth of 0.4% to £9,088 million, while Booker contributing sales growth of 3.1%. Online grocery sales were up 7% year-on-year,...

A US investment fund that owns a stake in Pernod Ricard and UK bookstore Waterstones has emerged as a new entrant in the race to bid for Majestic. The CEO of Majestic Wine, Rowan Gormley, in Majestic’s Mayfair store According to Sky News, investment firm Elliott Advisors, the UK wing of American activist hedge fund Elliot Management, has lodged a bid for Majestic’s 200 outlets, joining rival bids from OpCapita and Japanese-backed investment group Fortress for the wine specialist. The UK division already owns Waterstones, which it bought from Mamut last April, with the parent company...

Ethical consumerism has gone from niche to mainstream, a new report has stated, as the number of international consumers looking for Fair Trade wine also rises nearly 10% in a year. According to Wine Intelligence’s report looking at opportunities for sustainable, organic and lower alcohol wines (SOLA), younger consumers are the key demographic for ‘alternative ‘wines due to their open-minded attitudes and willingness to invest time, education and money into their health. The report found that young wine drinkers were not only more likely to purchase alternative wines such as organic, Fairtrade...

The consorzio for the Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG has banned the use of the herbicide glyphosate on vineyards in the area, claiming it is the largest wine zone in Europe to prohibit use of the substance. The consorzio has implemented the ban as part of the 2019 edition of its “viticultural protocol”, a set of guidelines that were launched in 2011 that advises growers in the region on how to be more environmentally sustainable. Innocente Nardi, president of the consortium, said the ban was implemented following a close dialogue between local government authorities and...