Messe Düsseldorf has announced it is postponing all of its shows until May including the largest wine industry trade show, ProWein. More than 6,800 exhibitors from 61 Nations showcase their products at ProWein each year. In a statement sent out this afternoon (29 February), Messe Düsseldorf said it was postponing, “the trade fairs ProWein, wire, Tube, Beauty, Top Hair and Energy Storage Europe. In close coordination with all partners involved, the company will promptly discuss alternative trade fair dates in order to guarantee planning can...

Restaurant wine glasses should be no bigger than 250ml, according to Public Health England, in order to prevent instances of binge drinking in the UK. Public Health England would like restaurant wine glasses to be no bigger than 250ml in size As reported by The Telegraph, researchers at the University of Cambridge found people drink less when they are given wine in a smaller glass. When glass size was increased from 300ml to 370ml, wine sales at restaurants increased by 7.3%, while reducing the glass size to 250ml led to a drop of 9.6%. The researchers concluded that drinkers “may...

UK merchant Armit’s Italian Portfolio Tasting is still set to go ahead next week despite fears of cancellations due to the spread of the coronavirus.   Italy’s wine country is in upheaval due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the country. The number cases in Italy has jumped to 655, including 17 deaths, amid international efforts to contain the spread of the deadly outbreak. The Italian government has been forced to quarantine 11 towns, including 10 towns in Lombardy, and also Vò, meaning residents aren’t able to leave until at least 6 March. Managing director...

English winery Nyetimber launched its wines in Hong Kong last year and is now bringing its 1086 Prestige Cuvée to the city. Named in honour of the year Nyetimber’s vineyard estate was first mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was written in 1086, the product is England’s first ever prestige cuvée made of a selection of over 90 parcels of vines. Produced entirely from 100% estate-grown fruit with parcel-by-parcel selection, both the 1086 white and rosé are available in Hong Kong now. “1086 is a selection of the best of the best wines produced by Nyetimber...

Athens-born Savvas Symeonidis, found his way into wine by way of medicine. Moving to the UK seven years ago from his native Greece, Symeonidis took up the role of head sommelier at Thornbury Castle restaurant near Bristol. While continuing his WSET studies, he moved to London and has also held roles at the JKS Restaurant group before becoming head sommelier of Goodman Restaurant last year. How did you arrive at the position you are in today? I was in charge of the wines in Thornbury Castle just outside Bristol, and then relocated to London as a sommelier for the likes of Tamarind and Gymkhana,...

A study conducted by The University of British Columbia (UBC) claims that applying an agricultural spray made of phospholipids reduces levels of volatile phenols found in smoke-exposed grapes. Image: Johansen Wines Author of the report, Wesley Zandberg, assistant professor in chemistry at UBC Okanagan, called the results “encouraging”. Zandberg and his team tested multiple substances, finding that a spray composed of phospholipids – lipids that are usually used to prevent cherries from cracking – applied to grapes one week before smoke exposure led to “significantly...