One of the more amusing stories on decanter.com in recent months was that of a French Sauvignon Blanc named ‘Kiwi Cuvée’ being banned in Australia. The authorities were concerned it could be mistaken for a New Zealand wine. David Cox, European director of New Zealand Wine Growers, called the imitation ‘a delicious irony’; other responses were more defensive.
Head of the UK’s best-known wine merchant, Simon Berry has much to say on Bordeaux prices, the market and Robert Parker. By Margaret rand
In 75 years under the same ownership, Château Haut-Brion has gone from being led by a Texan banker to a Prince of Luxembourg. The current owner talks Margaret rand through the story
With a raft of unfamiliar appellations and varied terroirs, it’s no wonder we’re confused about Languedoc-Roussillon. So do the numerous ACs actually mean anything? Margaret Rand tries to navigate a safe path
At 31, Sandrine Garbay became winemaker at the famed Sauternes estate. She lacked confidence, her staff didn’t trust her, and the owner was fighting a hostile takeover. How has she survived 11 years, asks MARGARET RAND
Sauternes and Strauss? Blaufränkisch and Brahms? margaret rand looks at which wines strike a chord with works from the classical music greats
Wine isn’t just about drinking the stuff. From treading grapes to sabering Champagne, Margaret Rand compiles a checklist for the complete wine lover
A hint of minty eucalypt in your Shiraz might be welcome, but traffic pollution or smoke taint? Margaret Rand considers the impact of the vineyard’s local environment on a wine’s flavour
All the recent talk about rosé has revolved around how it should be made. But there’s more to the wine than just bleeding or blending, says Margaret Rand. Colour, for a start…
Roederer’s Frédéric Rouzaud will always be true to his Champagne roots but Margaret Rand finds him struggling to get the hang of being Bordelais
As the recession bites and wine merchants start to feel the pinch, consumers are set to enjoy benefits of a buyer's market. Margaret Rand looks at the year's likely bargains.
MARGARET RAND finds a window in Ben Glaetzer’s masochistic schedule to hear his plans for remoulding the admirerd Australian family dynasty
The rise of New World wines has forced Rioja's wineries to adapt to modern styles - just don't tell the Spanish. Margaret Rand reports
As Asia picks up wines where the US left off, MARGARET RAND looks at Bordeaux's emerging markets and asks whether shift is permanent
The Left Bank may have the most prestigious châteaux, but the Right Bank’s been getting all the plaudits. So which has more influence on the other, asks Margaret Rand.
… yet drought and rising temperatures make water an ever-scarcer commodity in Australia, meaning producers face a challenge to survive, says MARGARET RAND
MARGARET RAND talks to five producers who went to the other side of the world to further their winemaking education and returned with experience, enlightenment and – ocasionally – envy
The proposed expansion of Champagne to cater for increased demand raises questions about the sacredness of appellations and terroir. MARGARET RAND asks if there really is a link between the two
It’s not just the Europeans who can boast wine dynasties. Australia has a clutch of wineries that have stayed in family hands for generations. MARGARET RAND finds out how they have succeeded
The late Princess of Wales’ brother inherited his father’s depleted cellar. He plans to return it to its glory days, writes Margaret Rand
Christian Moueix likes to keep a low profile. The trouble is, he’s at the helm of the very high-profile Château Pétrus. MARGARET RAND meets Pomerol’s man of the soil whose modesty, attention to detail and intellectual rigour make him a worthy Decanter Man of the Year
