Writer says Champagne every morning is secret to long life

UK crime writer John Mortimer says a glass of Champagne every morning is the secret to a long life.

Electronic tongue set to beat human wine tasters

Scientists are currently developing an electronic tongue that is set to be more reliable and sophisticated than the human palate.

Winemaker injured by home-made explosive

A southern French winemaker has been injured and is currently under investigation after explosives he was making blew up in his winery.

French appellation seeks name change

An appellation in the south of France is looking to change its name in order to avoid being associated with a uranium leak at a nuclear power station in the same region.

Cos d’Estournel buys Chateau Montelena

Michel Reybier, the owner of Bordeaux second growth chateau Cos d’Estournel, has purchased iconic Napa estate Chateau Montelena for an undisclosed sum, it was announced today.

Top Champagne prices ‘going through the roof’

Prices of prestige cuvees from top Champagne houses are continuing to rise at an unstoppable rate, despite the current economic downturn.

Mother of dead vineyard worker files lawsuit against grape company

The mother of the 17-year-old girl who died of heat exhaustion while pruning grapes in California has filed a lawsuit against the company that owns the vineyards.

CRAV resurfaces with arson attacks

The militant winemaker group CRAV has resurfaced with arson attacks on roadside speed cameras and telephone network hubs in the south of France.

Anti-chemical legislation threatens productivity says Bordeaux proprietor

Sauternes chateau boss Philippe Baly has launched an attack on official regulations that ban the use of potentially toxic products from vineyards.

Hill-Smith awarded Order of Australia

Michael Hill-Smith MW, Decanter World Wine Awards regional chair for Australia, has been named Member of the Order of Australia.

Christopher Hitchens launches vitriolic attack on sommeliers

Author and journalist Christopher Hitchens has launched a scathing attack on restaurants and sommeliers, calling them ‘barbaric’, ‘rude’ and ‘boors’.

France: Microsoft pulls wine adverts

Online advertising provider Microsoft AdCenter is removing all wine merchants from its client list in France, saying French legislation does not permit wine advertising online.

Withnail director drank 200 bottles of fine wine in two weeks

The director of cult comedy film Withnail & I drank 200 bottles of blue chip Bordeaux in just two weeks, he has revealed.

China to become leading wine producer?

Chinese wine will conquer the world in terms of volume and fine wine, a recent study suggests.

Blumenthal lauded for chocolate wine

Michelin-starred techno-chef Heston Blumenthal OBE has won a Conde Nast Traveller Innovation Design Award for his chocolate wine.

Parker: Bordeaux 2007 ‘disappointing’

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

Arab wine production set to increase

The production of wine in Arab countries around the Mediterranean is on the increase, with Syria set to begin production within two years.

New wine series on Channel 4

UK wine writer Monty Waldin is to feature in a new television series on Channel 4, charting his attempt to produce biodynamic wine in France,decanter.com has learned.

Schramsberg founder Jamie Davies dies

Jamie Davies, co-founder of Schramsberg winery and a pioneer of American sparkling wines, has died aged 73.

Bordeaux en primeur is 'madness': Petrus winemaker

Former Chateau Petrus winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet has become the latest high-profile wine professional to attack en primeur – calling it ‘madness’ and ‘a disaster for wine’.

Revue du Vin de France editor attacks French government, winemakers

The editor of wine magazine La Revue du Vin de France has accused his government of 'contempt' for French culture in a scathing attack in Decanter.