Formerly launch editor of decanter.com, Adam Lechmere has been writing about wine for 20 years, contributing to Decanter, World of Fine Wine, Meininger’s, the Guardian and many others. Before joining the wine world he worked for the BBC, and as a music and film journalist.
Consultant editor
Adam Lechmere
Recent contributions

Features
The best new wine books to enjoy this summer

Interviews
Life Lessons with Chris Carpenter of Jackson Family Wines

Features
Rioja and Bordeaux go head-to-head in Haro

Features
The West Sussex wineries channelling Napa Valley in England
All contributions

Features
Collective Napa Valley: shaking up the wine region’s ‘aspirational’ annual auction
When Auction Napa Valley had to pause in the pandemic, its organisers used the chance to rethink and rebrand the annual bash, coming up with what it hopes is a more inclusive approach under the umbrella of ‘Collective Napa Valley’

Features
Patagonia on moving from windcheaters to eco wine
Patagonia Provisions aims to show the way to a green future through regenerative agriculture – and now, viticulture. Adam Lechmere finds out why the outdoor clothing company is championing wine in such a way

Features
There’s a Rhône white wine revolution under way
You may associate the Rhône with its full-bodied reds, but its white wines are on the rise – and are embracing a fresh, lean and less opulent style. Adam Lechmere takes a closer look at the trend and selects 11 white wines from the Rhône to try

Interviews
Life Lessons with Exton Park’s Corinne Seely
The eternally curious Exton Park winemaker shares her passions – from prog rock to the Portuguese way of life – and a strong belief that English wine is the future

Interviews
Life lessons with Pierre Lurton of Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem
The unstuffy president of two of Bordeaux’s best-known châteaux shares his life lessons - and what sound an awful lot like retirement plans - with Adam Lechmere

Interviews
Life lessons with Graham Beck’s Pieter Ferreira
South Africa’s most celebrated sparkling winemaker, Pieter Ferreira has been instrumental in the evolution of Graham Beck’s Cap Classique wines. Adam Lechmere meets the cellarmaster turned COO, who's still in pursuit of the perfect bubble

Features
Rare wines to enjoy by the glass in UK restaurants and bars
As Château d’Yquem’s latest vintage gets listed by the glass at select restaurants, Adam Lechmere explores the trend and seeks out even more rare and wonderful wines by the glass in the UK

Interviews
Life Lessons with winemaker Zelma Long
Pioneering American winemaker and Vilafonté co-founder Zelma Long on her wish to host a dinner party for the ‘women of the world’, her passion for the arts and the sciences, and how she’s never been happier in life than now

Interviews
Life Lessons with John Williams of Frog’s Leap Winery
Napa Valley veteran winemaker and Frog’s Leap founder John Williams on the primacy of terroir, his secret talent for scaring small children and why he’s more than happy settling for second best

Interviews
Life Lessons with winemaker Jacques Lurton
The travelling winemaker and son of icon vigneron André Lurton talks about his talent for listening, drumming with his rock ‘n’ roll band, and coming back to his roots in Bordeaux

Features
Behind the bottle: Vérité
The Vérité trio is famously the product of a friendship between winemakers Jess Jackson and Pierre Seillan. But a father-daughter bond sees the Sonoma Bordeaux blends continue to thrive. Adam Lechmere takes a look behind the bottle

News
Burgundy 2020: what to expect and where to find value
It’s being lauded as an exceptional year, but will Burgundy 2020 be in short supply? Adam Lechmere asks winemakers, buyers and experts what to expect and where to find value from the vintage

Interviews
Life Lessons with Peter Mondavi Jr
He may be co-proprietor of Napa’s oldest winery – Charles Krug – and from a line of legendary winemakers, but Peter Mondavi Jr still has ambitions he’s yet to achieve, from space travel to simply living in the moment

Features
Behind the bottle: Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley’s famous estate has recently released the 125th anniversary vintage of its Cabernet Sauvignon. What went into making the first, and how has the estate and the wine - plus the iconic deer featured on bottles - slowly evolved over the years?

InterviewsThe Collection
Sir Peter Michael’s journey from Silicon Valley to Knights Valley
Today, it stands as one of California’s most high-end wineries. But for its British polymath owner, the journey from Silicon Valley to Knights Valley was far from straightforward. Sir Peter Michael talks to Adam Lechmere about tech, wine and family

Features
The best books for food and drink lovers this Christmas
From expert guides to food-and-wine pairing to whisky manuals, cocktail compendiums and memoirs from famous foodie faces, we review the best new books for Christmas, all ideal for gifting the food-and-drink lover in your life

Interviews
Life Lessons with Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena
The veteran Napa winemaker tells Adam Lechmere about his lust for life, whether it’s hitting the slopes, taking to the skies or exploring the depths

News
What to expect from Burgundy’s biggest wine weekend
Burgundy’s charitable wine weekend and auction the Hospices de Beaune makes its physical comeback this November, with the bidding now under Sotheby’s steer. Adam Lechmere reports on what’s in store for wine buffs and spectators – especially in light of a challenging vintage

Features
Bolgheri: looking beyond the Super-Tuscans
Adam Lechmere takes a seat at the table for Bolgheri's first 'anteprima' weekend and discovers a wine region still in search of its identity. With a mood of experimentation and collaboration in the air, what could be next from the birthplace of the Super-Tuscan?

Features
Ten Bolgheri wine estates to know (beyond the obvious)
Sure, you've heard of the Super-Tuscans, but the Bolgheri wine region is working towards its own definitive style away from those starry labels. Here are 10 top producers to discover

Interviews
Life Lessons with Victor Urrutia of CVNE winery
As CEO for one of Spain’s most historic Rioja wineries, Victor Urrutia has pioneered a global expansion. But here the Cune chief tells Adam Lechmere of his impatient streak, conservative tastes and why he’d make an excellent waiter

Features
Behind the Bottle: Seña
The wine that brought international acclaim to its founder and put Chile on the wine map is still evolving, with a major announcement due soon, as Adam Lechmere discovers

Interviews
Life Lessons with Faouzi Issa of Lebanon’s Domaine des Tourelles
Adam Lechmere meets the glass-half-full winemaker who has helped put Lebanon on the wine map, and discovers his love of Volvos, tennis and toilets…

News
Golden Vines: wine’s star-studded charity auction aiming to raise £1million
The biggest names in wine are coming together to create a charity wine auction like no other – with celebrities, VIPs and deluxe lots galore

Interviews
Sir David Adjaye on designing whisky’s oldest-ever bottling
Eminent architect Sir David Adjaye has created a primal ‘tool’ to hold Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80 Year Old, the oldest whisky ever released. Adam Lechmere speaks to Adjaye about what drew him from buildings to bottles

Interviews
Life Lessons with Katie Jackson of Jackson Family Wines
Leading the charge for sustainability at the acclaimed Californian winery, Katie Jackson is helping to rewrite the future of winemaking. Here, she also shares with Adam Lechmere her undying love for literature and storytelling

Features
Behind the Bottle: Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs
What does it take to make an award-winning sparkler that has helped cement English wine’s reputation on the global stage? From bubbles to bottle design, Adam Lechmere investigates the drink’s evolution

Features
Top summer reads for food and drink lovers
From guidebooks covering vibrant wine regions to memoirs by prominent figures in food – and even recipe books with a bit more about them. We review the best summer reads for food and drink lovers to dive into

Interviews
Life lessons with Hendrick’s Gin master distiller Lesley Gracie
Gin innovator Lesley Gracie is master distiller at Hendrick’s Gin and a self-professed eccentric who has ‘never been unhappy’. Here she shares her steps to living joyously – from fly fishing and dog walking to destination-free trips in her motor home

Interviews
Life lessons with winemaker Daniel Daou
The story of the Daou brothers epitomises the American dream: arriving in the US with practically nothing, they built a multi-million-dollar company which they sold to start a vineyard. Now their wine is listed in Harrods. “We risked everything for our passion,” Daniel Daou tells Adam Lechmere

Features
Why Etna wine is so hot right now
All wine producers claim magical properties for their region but Etna is truly one of the most extraordinary terroirs in the world – and pioneering winemakers are still heading down there to tap into the charm of the capricious volcano

Interviews
Life Lessons with Sue Hodder of Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Australia’s veteran winemaker on her romanticism for old vines and bird calls, how 2021 is a good vintage, and how she’d really like a night on the sofa with Emmerdale and a glass of fizz

Features
What’s the deal with NFTs and wine?
NFTs are now attached to everything from art to sushi, racehorses to wine, but are they still the preserve of the crypto-geeks, and should you get involved? What’s the latest in the crypto trend, and does it have legs in the wine world?

Interviews
Life Lessons with winemaker Paolo Bianchini
A former professional cyclist for the Colnago team, Paolo Bianchini is now the co-owner of Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona in Montalcino – which came to be the family wine estate in a twist of fortune. Here he talks regrets, Robin Hood, and how cycling is still his number one

Features
Behind the Bottle: Sandeman 40-Year-Old Tawny Port
Sandeman has helped transform tawny’s reputation from “wood port” to golden child. We track the rise of its 40-year-old port – from an anniversary blend that put it back on the map to branding brainwaves that included the birth of “The Don”

Interviews
Life lessons with Michael Sager
The London restaurateur is now also turning his hand to importing wine. Here, the Sager+Wilde owner talks of his passion for scent, his artistic sensibilities, and of selling his cellar in lockdown

Interviews
Life Lessons with Emma Ding of Jade Vineyard
Emma Ding left a job in banking to establish China’s Jade Vineyard, where she says they are aiming for "iconic" winery status. Here, she talks of her racing horses, a passion for painting and those that inspire her – from Frida Kahlo to Maria Callas

Features
Behind the Bottle: Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino was created by Tuscan estate Biondi-Santi. We take a look at what goes into making the cult wine, and how it's stayed true to its origins throughout the years

Interviews
Meet Peter Vinding-Diers, the wine world’s most modest innovator
As he releases a memoir chronicling his extraordinary life, Adam Lechmere talks to one of the first flying winemakers about yeast, dogma, and the dangers of a university education

Columns
Rewilding wine: should vineyards let nature take its course?
Most wineries strive to exist in harmony with nature, but some have overstepped the mark, says Adam Lechmere

Features
The smoke effect: Napa winemakers battle with the legacy of wildfire
Six months on from the California wildfires that struck Napa Valley’s vineyards, we look at the lasting impact on the region's winemaking – and especially the insidious problem of "smoke effect"

Features
Have South African wines reached collectable status?
South African wines are undoubtedly world class, but ahead of the Cape Fine and Rare Wine Auction, Adam Lechmere asks if it's time for people to start investing in the Cape’s best bottles

Interviews
Life Lessons with London restaurateur Stevie Parle
As outdoor dining destination Joy at Portobello reopens in London, restaurateur Stevie Parle shows signs that the pandemic has left him buffeted but unbowed. Here he talks chickens and bees – and why he wants a date with Anthony Bourdain

Reports
Bordeaux 2020 vintage report – what to expect
The Bordeaux 2020 en primeur campaign is on the horizon, with the best palates in the business preparing to rank the 2020 vintage. But how will things play out this year? Adam Lechmere has the lowdown from the people that matter

Interviews
Life Lessons with Jay Boberg of Domaine Nicolas-Jay
Jay Boberg has worked with some of the biggest names in music, but now sees the blending room as his mixing desk, creating some of the finest Pinot Noir in Oregon

News
‘From the personal to the political’: how Food FM is throwing out the radio rule book
Whether you’re interested in natural wine or turmeric, farming politics or helping the poorest families in the pandemic, Food FM is tackling it all on its airwaves

Interviews
Life Lessons with Master Sommelier Ronan Sayburn
He's worked with Gordon Ramsay and dived to the depths to salvage World War II shipwrecks, but Ronan Sayburn still craves even more daring adventures

Features
Gaja, Piedmont and the importance of identity
Gaia Gaja tells Club O about the challenges of retaining a Piedmontese identity now that the family empire stretches the length of the country

Columns
Time to change: Adam Lechmere on diversity in the wine industry
Our wine columnist on the worldwide efforts to ensure that the industry is open to all – and not just through qualifications

Interviews
Life Lessons with Robert Hill-Smith of Yalumba
The legend of the Australian wine industry loves Test cricket, choc ices and fishing, but is convinced that golf-course designers have it in for him…

Features
Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars: 50 years of iron and velvet
The wines of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars are famous for their finesse, power and longevity. To mark its 50th anniversary, we take a deep dive into one of California's legendary estates, including the first-ever vintage of the great Cask 23

Features
Penfolds California Collection – a tale of two countries
The new Penfolds California Collection marks the Aussie giant’s first big move out of the southern hemisphere. It’s a bold and exciting project – but is it brilliant winemaking or slick marketing?

Features
Obituary: Steven Spurrier, 1941-2021
Steven Spurrier, who has died aged 79, was a revered figure in the international wine world. Adam Lechmere looks back at the colourful career of a man who never lost his curiosity and his zest for life

Features
“There are three important things in life: someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to…”
Steven Spurrier has been at the centre of the wine world for six decades, but as he tells Adam Lechmere, there are more important things in life – starting with art

Features
Wine influencers – the future of wine writing?
Love them or loathe them, wine influencers are here to stay. Adam Lechmere looks at their rise to prominence and how they’ve shaken up the old guard

FeaturesNews
The Brexit effect: will fine-wine prices rise?
Brexit is already having a big impact on those who buy and sell wine in the UK, with delays and headaches. Adam Lechmere speaks to those dealing with a mountain of paperwork to find out whether your favourite fine wines will go up in price – or even still be available

Interviews
Life Lessons with Leo Crabtree – perfumer, distiller and drummer
He’s the rock-gothic inspiration behind BeauFort gin and rum and a range of exotic, steampunk perfumes – and it all started with moustache wax. The Prodigy drummer talks to Adam Lechmere about Land Rovers, literature, and the importance of being in bed by 10pm

Features
Krug chef de cave Julie Cavil on being “at one” with the house
In 2020, Julie Cavil took over from Eric Lebel as chef de cave at Champagne Krug. She talks to us about the challenges of the role and what motivates her

Columns
Why Sassicaia et al are still worth celebrating
Wines today are prized for being "authentic". But authenticity should relate to what's in the glass, not the shifting sands of fashion, says Adam Lechmere

Interviews
Life Lessons with Clement Robert MS of London’s Annabel’s
The much-decorated Master Sommelier overseas a wine list of thousands at Annabel's and its sister clubs – though the foundations for his love of wine were laid in the more modest surroundings of a camper van in a Loire vineyard

News
11 last-minute Christmas gifts for drinks lovers
Stuck for a last-minute present for the gastronome in your life? From top-class foodie courses to the new Coravin Pivot we have ideas for wine lovers and whisky nuts, amateur chefs, and those who just love a bit of luxury...

News
Berkmann, Whisky Exchange and 67 Pall Mall named “Lockdown Legends” at IWSC Awards
The IWSC named two brilliant communicators and celebrated three Lockdown Legends (and some magnificent wallpaper) in a year that has proved the most challenging in living memory

News
Clean wine, sustainability and other hot topics under debate
The Future of Wine Forum aims to predict a post-Covid reality for wine: how it'll be made, how it'll be packaged and how we’ll be drinking it

News
Wine and War: film review
It’s a story that has been told many times, but an extraordinary new film shows in gripping detail how the modern Lebanese wine industry exists because of – not despite – the terrible conflicts that have convulsed this most resilient of countries

Bill Harlan: the wild one
After entering his ninth decade, former high-stakes poker player and real-estate tycoon Bill Harlan has handed over his Napa estate to his children. Adam Lechmere met the man with a 200-year plan

Gallery
Champagne Taittinger: a family heritage built on rock
Champagne Taittinger is one of the great family-run houses of Reims, built on family ties that are as solid as the ancient Roman foundations beneath them. These images, together with an excerpt from the last issue of Club Oenologique magazine, show the family as Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger hands over to the next generation

Penfolds, its icon wines and Chinese fakes
With its Champagne and its £100,000 ampoules, the producer of Grange and other legendary wines has moved into the luxury goods market. Now it's had its fingers burned in the Chinese market. Adam Lechmere wonders what it all means for those of us who simply want great Aussie wine

Features
Resilient South African wineries look for the silver lining
Battered by COVID and targeted by the government, the South African wine industry is resolute in its determination to ride out the crisis

Interviews
Life Lessons with… Stephen & Prue Henschke
Fifth-generation Eden Valley winemaker Stephen Henschke and his wife, viticulturalist Prue Henschke, discuss golf and green tea, balloons and baboons

La Place de Bordeaux goes global – but what does it mean for collectors?
Bordeaux's ancient marketplace is now truly global, with a raft of new releases this month from every corner of the fine wine world - but what does it mean for those who actually buy the wines?

Interviews
Laurent Ponsot promises revelations in Kurniawan novel
"There are accomplices..." Nemesis of convicted fraudster Rudy Kurniawan says his ‘fictional’ account of the investigation will hint at who was behind the arch-forger

News
Bonding with suppliers and getting ‘match-fit’ – London chefs return to action
Our heritage food industry may be one of the long-term winners of the pandemic, but restaurants continue to tread their way out of lockdown with caution

News
Port houses raid their cellars for limited-edition, old-vintage releases
It’s boom time for collectors and aficionados as fine old ports that were originally intended for blending are bottled and released

From Champagne to Japan: Richard Geoffroy releases his first sake
The former Dom Pérignon boss has realised a long-held dream to make a premium sake and it’s already in some of the best restaurants in Asia

News
What will the world of luxury look like in the new normal?
The way we relate to high-end wine and spirits and other luxury products is likely to be very different in a post-Covid world

News
Torres celebrates a century-and-a-half in low-key lockdown style
The Penedès producer has marked its 150th anniversary with a tasting of its most iconic and celebrated wines, including the latest bottling from Priorat's remote Mas de la Rosa

News
Premium bag-in-box wine – has its time finally come?
With environmental issues now centre stage, and online ordering rampant, what was previously seen as déclassé is being taken increasingly seriously by wine lovers

Features
French wine tours for summer 2020: Champagne to Lyon
Restaurants and hotels are re-open, and for UK wine lovers looking for a late summer jaunt, French vineyards are again within reach. Adam Lechmere maps out a road trip taking in the top places to stay, visit and eat in Champagne, Chablis and the Cote d'Or

Interviews
“We’re going to build on this”: New York Paulée’s Daniel Johnnes
The founder of New York’s extravagant Burgundy celebration on the challenges – and opportunities – of a post-Covid world

Interviews
Ridgeview boss: English sparkling wine’s journey has only just begun
English fizz is now a rival to any sparkling wine in the world, but Tamara Roberts is mindful of ‘drastic change’ if Champagne houses infiltrate the market

News
Inside 67 Pall Mall, the London wine club that owned lockdown
The private members' club has taken virtual wine tastings to the next level. “It’s like Game of Thrones,” says 67's chief as he considers his next move

News
Champagne faces up to the new normal
As the world emerges from lockdown, the grandes marques of Champagne are hoping to rebound with a string of high-profile releases. But will consumers be looking instead to pop the corks on more modest cuvées?

News
What does en primeur mean for the lower-ranking Bordeaux châteaux?
Bordeaux 2019 is in full swing and there’s a feeding frenzy as classed growths drop prices by up to 30%. But where does this leave the also-rans?

Wine websites behind the paywall: jancisrobinson.com
In a five-part series we assess the major subscription-based wine websites

Wine websites behind the paywall: jamessuckling.com
In a five-part series we assess the major subscription-based wine websites

Wine websites behind the paywall: Vinous
In a five-part series we assess the major subscription-based wine websites

Wine websites behind the paywall: Wine Spectator
In a five-part series we assess the major subscription-based wine websites

Features
Wine websites behind the paywall: Wine Advocate
In a five-part series we assess the major subscription-based wine websites

Features
Wine websites: which are worth paying for?
In lockdown, online wine traffic has surged. But if you’re looking for wine recommendations, which site merits its subscription fee? Adam Lechmere peeks behind the paywalls

News
Chateau Musar: coronavirus is the least of our worries
The legendary Lebanese winery has faced all manner of challenges in its colourful history – now economic uncertainty is adding to the pain

News
Bordeaux 2019: a flawed campaign?
The annual en primeur campaign is juddering into gear against a backdrop of unease. Will consumers be won over?

News
Ten great lockdown wine offers
The silver lining of lockdown is that merchants and restaurants are selling a greater and more interesting range of wine than ever before. Club Oenologique picks out some of the best

News
How one of London’s best new restaurants is battling to survive
Former Fat Duck sommelier Isa Bal tells how Trivet had just started turning a profit before their world caved in

News
Will there be a Bordeaux en primeur campaign this year?
As châteaux send out samples across the globe, UK merchants claim launching the 2019 vintage now would be “the height of arrogance”

News
Virtual tastings – wine’s amateur broadcasters shine
The UK’s political class got themselves into a lather assessing the contents of news commentators’ bookshelves. Adam Lechmere asks what we can read into the backdrops of drinks experts conducting online tastings

News
Will Michelin-starred dining ever be the same again?
Amid the inevitable fallout, some chefs are welcoming the likely demise of ‘food tourism’ while others fear the commercial impact

Reports
Three decades of Napa’s Harlan Estate
Earlier this year, one of Napa’s starriest names put on a vertical tasting of its entire 27 vintages for Club Oenologique. Adam Lechmere reflects on the wines, and hears from Bill Harlan himself as he prepares to hand over the reins to his children

News
The Tucci Effect: Lockdown brings out the UK’s amateur cocktail makers
With lockdown continuing to exert an ever firmer hold over the country, a fascinating picture of a nation’s changing habits is emerging

News
Australian wineries seek to recover from bushfire ruin
The world has moved on from the crippling bushfires that decimated parts of Australian wine country last year. But have the affected wine growers been able to do the same?

News
Hand sanitiser: a heartbreaking lifeline for distilleries?
As the lockdown heads towards its sixth week, spirits distillers are beginning to take stock of the new normal – and in some cases, finding an unexpected silver lining

Reports
Formidable scholarship: Jane Anson’s Inside Bordeaux
With this definitive and entertaining work Anson confirms her place in the front rank of international Bordeaux experts

News
South African wine: does the government have a hidden agenda?
Ahead of an announcement from the president, South African wine producers fear the government is using coronavirus to wage retribution on an industry that, according to their trade body, it ‘has not supported for many years’

Reports
The superb wines of Margaret River’s McHenry Hohnen
Complex, delicious, and capable of great ageing, these wines are among to finest you will see in Western Australia. That’s why Bono was only given six bottles

NewsReports
How to run a virtual wine tasting
From watching Kyle Maclachlan to a Q&A with Katharina Prüm, there are a thousand ways to interact with wine online. Adam Lechmere dives into the wonderful lockdown world of virtual tastings and asks, does that backdrop really work?

News
From cult California to wine in a can, charity auctions boom
Where can you learn how to make the best enchiladas in the world, go for a training run with a celebrity chef, learn calculus - or snap up 36 cans of fine California rosé spritz?

News
“A new future”: winemakers consider how coronavirus will change the industry
The virus is a wake-up call to a “stagnant” industry, says one Burgundy producer, while others wonder if the status quo will return

News
IWSC whiskies auctioned for coronavirus charity work
Whiskies blended for the 500th anniversary of Scotch whisky were auctioned by the website Whisky.Auction in aid of the Drinks Trust’s work to support those affected by COVID-19.

News
“This is beyond anything we have experienced”: winemakers worldwide face coronavirus with resolve
For Paul Symington, the crisis is as grave as that faced by his parents in World War II, and for others it’s a matter of keeping social distance – but for all winemakers, the lockdown is a huge test

News
Michelin-starred restaurants keep the home fires burning
“It’s all we can do”: whether it's takeaways or charity food boxes, top restaurants from Copenhagen to New York find ways to keep their kitchens open

Reports
Beaulieu Vineyard – great old wines of the Napa Valley
We had the good fortune to visit Napa Valley’s famous old winery Beaulieu Vineyard just before the lockdown to sample some of the oldest California wines in existence

News
Michael Broadbent MW: a tribute
Writer, critic and auctioneer Michael Broadbent, who has died at the age of 92, was a colossus of wine

Features
Familia Torres on how to tackle climate change in the wine industry
Storied Spanish winery Familia Torres is getting high on its eco-conscious ambition, but the different generations at the helm have different views on how best to tackle the issue

Reports
Liber Pater: a glimpse of history in one of the world’s most expensive wines
This bottle from Bordeaux has reason to call itself the world's most expensive wine. Is it worth it?

Features
Domaine Drouhin Oregon – a New World pioneer
They were the first Burgundians in Oregon, and like all trailblazers they found it hard. Thirty years later, Veronique Drouhin is producing some of the finest American Pinot and Chardonnay

Features
How Vitalie Taittinger took control of the family-owned Champagne house
Champagne Taittinger is built on solid Roman foundations, but the family's real stability lies in the fact that it almost lost everything just a dozen years ago. 'Now we're stronger than ever,' says new boss Vitalie Taittinger

Features
Cosmogony of Wine: the process of fermentation
These extraordinary photographs by Patrick Desgraupes show the process of fermentation, which human beings first began to understand thousands of years ago

Reports
Burgundy tasting: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2017
The 2017 vintage is “superb both in quantity and quality,” says the domain’s owner Aubert de Villaine

Features
Massimo Ferragamo’s Tuscan paradise: Castiglion del Bosco
When Massimo Ferragamo was looking around Tuscany for a small vineyard, he had no intention of buying an entire town. But on seeing Castiglion del Bosco, it was a case of love at first sight

Reports
Fine old vintages of Bordeaux’s Château Margaux astonish and delight
It may be one of the world’s grandest wine properties but Château Margaux is marked by the informality and warmth of its owners - and the agelessness of its wines

Reports
Napa’s Inglenook winery: the rebuilding of an American dream
Francis Ford Coppola’s films have passed into legend, but the director is most proud of making Inglenook great again

Features
Top wines and whiskies for Christmas
Put another log on the fire and select a bottle from our festive round-up of delicious wines and whiskies from the Club Oenologique archives

Reports
Peter Sisseck and Château Rocheyron: a winemaker at the peak of his powers
Peter Sisseck learnt his craft in the barrel cellars of Bordeaux almost 40 years ago, and with his St Emilion Grand Cru Classé he’s getting back to the old ways

Reports
Academie du Vin Library’s Sherry released
A rich and rousing romp through the history of Spain’s 'greatest white wine'

Reports
Gosset’s Celebris 1995 Les Célébrissimes Champagne cuvée released
The celebrated Champagne house has launched a unique double-aged cuvée

Reports
Champagne Roederer and Philippe Starck present inaugural Brut Nature prize
The launch event of Champagne Louis Roederer's Brut Nature 2012 saw 12 art students give their interpretation of the new zero-dosage cuvée

Reports
Champagne Armand de Brignac latest releases
Jay-Z’s Champagne brand might have raised eyebrows when it was released over a decade ago, but its place in the pantheon of top-rank Champagnes is assured

Reports
Penfolds launches The Collection 2019
Penfolds’ veteran winemaker Peter Gago launches Grange 2015 along with its renowned stablemates in a compelling lineup in London

Reports
Academie du Vin Library launches second title
The launch of Fiona Morrison MW’s 10 Great Wine Families in the Academie du Vin Library marks the book's first publication in English

Reports
Auction Napa Valley in pictures
Club Oenologique editor Adam Lechmere gives the lowdown on the wine-fuelled extravaganza

Features
Five rare wines from the Paris Legends Dinner
A three-star chef as personal host at the best hotel in Paris and wines that date back to the Napoleonic wars – Adam Lechmere adjusts his reality

Interviews
An interview with Banfi Vintners CEO, Cristina Mariani-May
The president and CEO of New-York based Banfi Vintners represents the third generation of the Mariani family at Banfi

Reports
Burgundy tasting: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2016 vintage
Club Oenologique editor Adam Lechmere tastes "the famously difficult 2016 vintage in Burgundy" from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Interviews
An interview with wine journalist Jancis Robinson
We sit down with the world's most respected wine journalist to find out more about her groundbreaking career

Interviews
An interview with US sommelier and wine entrepreneur Daniel Johnnes
The Francophile entrepreneur (above, right) tells Club Oenologique about his first taste of jug wine, his dreams and disappointments, and how it felt to be given one of France’s highest accolades

Interviews
An interview with adland knight and winemaker Sir John Hegarty
Sir John Hegarty bestrides the world of advertising, but there's a lot more to the adland knight than selling jeans and cars