Marchesi Antinori fine wines are literally flying off the shelves. Between the nights of October 2nd and October 4th, a major theft took place in Cortona, where the renowned Tuscan, Italian, and globally acclaimed wine producer operates its logistics and shipping hub. More than 30,000 bottles, already prepared for shipment worldwide, were stolen, including some of Italy most iconic wines, namely Guado al Tasso, Solaia, and Tignanello, with a total value exceeding 5 million euros. The theft involved a significant quantity of these flagship wines, which are among the company most representative labels and among the most sought-after by international...

In late August 2026, I participated as a judge at the world’s only competition dedicated to wines from heroic viticulture, the Mondial des Vins Extremes 2026. Together with my fellow judges, we visited the Azienda Agricola Pianta Grossa di Luciano Zoppo winery in the Aosta Valley, in the village of Donnas. We toured the vineyards, where the vines are cultivated on an area of approximately four hectares using the Pergola Valdostana training system. The vineyards are located on steep terraces. The soil is sandy and rich in organic matter. The sand imparts finesse and aroma to the wine, while the...

France’s 2024 Best Sommelier, Bastien Debono, has added another accolade to his CV, after being voted 2026 Sommelier of the Year by his peers at the 40th Trophées Le Chef. Since 2018, Debono has been sommelier director at the two-Michelin-starred La Table de Yoann Conte in Veyrier-du-Lac, Haute-Savoie. He previously won the Master of Port award in 2021. The award comes just ahead of the Best Sommelier of the World competition, which will take place in Lisbon from 11 to 17 October. He will be part of the team alongside Pascaline Lepeltier and Florent Martin. Debono initially trained in his...

From 11 to 17 October, candidates from 66 countries will gather in Lisbon for the 18th edition of the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of the World. They will be tested on their knowledge of gastronomy, evaluated on their ability to recognize wines, spirits and other beverages via blind tastings, challenged with complex service tasks and asked to pair a range of beverages with food. Yet, for all the technical skills and knowledge required for the contest, at the heart of every challenge lies a more human question: How does a sommelier use that expertise to improve the guest experience, and...

A new book dives into the extraordinary collection of “antiquarian” wine and gastronomy artefacts belonging to Bordeaux estate Château Haut-Brion. Among the rarely seen items are a dinner menu from Louis XIV’s Versailles court, and a handwritten note about wine by Pablo Picasso. New York publishing house Rizzoli New York has published a hard-backed tome that looks behind the curtain at First Growth estate Château Haut-Brion’s rarely seen private library. Founded in 1525 by Jean de Pontac, the wine estate has born witness to countless key historical moments in the epicurean fields of wine and gastronomy. And while fine wine...

As climate change rapidly redraws the historical boundaries of global viticulture, satellite topographical measurements and climate indices are now freely accessible on the most comprehensive wine map in history. WorldWineryMap.com has officially launched, introducing a massive interactive database of global wine terroir that maps 4,303,693 vineyards and 104,330 wineries across 90 countries. For every single vineyard on the map, users can access highly specific geospatial data, including elevation, solar radiation, and slope, alongside critical viticultural metrics like soil composition, the Huglin index, and average temperatures during the vine growing season. "For each parcel, we extracted the exact coordinates and calculated...

A new case of sexual assault and harassment is shaking the wine industry this harvest, exposing "a delicate period" where "the trivialization of sexist remarks, the sexualization of women's bodies, encourages predators" analyzes as much as warns the winemaker Isabelle Perraud, the spokesperson for the Paye Ton Pinard association, who listens to the victims to accompany them and calls on witnesses not to remain simple spectators. Accusations of sexual assault and harassment of a minor are shaking the harvest in Beaujolais with a chilling account of inappropriate comments and behaviors targeting a 17-year-old seasonal worker. How did you react to...

The Hospices Civils de Beaune is writing a new chapter in its history with the 166th edition of the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction, one of the most prestigious events in the wine world. Conducted by Sotheby’s, the world leader in wine and spirits auctions, the sale will take place on November 15 in Beaune’s historic market hall. The press day, held on Thursday, September 3, highlighted the 2026 vintage, marked by an exceptionally early harvest, as well as the 90th anniversary of the Pommard AOC, one of the most renowned appellations of the Côte de Beaune. The event also...

An event unlike any other, a weekend built upon the world’s finest wines, unparalleled luxury, Michelin-starred dinners, one-of-a-kind experiences, masterclasses and lunches. Book your ticket here 2026 Tickets, London — Liquid Icons THE GALA The Golden Vines Gala Evening is the culinary heart of the awards weekend — an unmissable celebration where fine dining, world-class wine and global gastronomy converge. Each year, guests are invited to indulge their inner gourmet and enjoy an unforgettable Michelin-level dining experience, created exclusively for this extraordinary occasion. Renowned for its uncompromising culinary standards, the Gala has consistently paid homage to some of the world’s...

Seven new Masters of Wine have been announced by the Institute of Masters of Wine, bringing the 2026 intake to 11, the largest annual cohort since 2021. The latest group also includes the first Masters of Wine based in Portugal and Hungary. The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced seven new Masters of Wine, completing its 2026 intake and taking the number of active MWs worldwide to 427. Alice Archer MW and Owain Hughes MW from the UK, Weiran Liu MW from China, Gabriella Macari MW from the US, Tiago Macena MW from Portugal, Jake Skakun MW from Canada...

Alpha Estate: Winery of the Year at the USA Wine Ratings 2026 Five titles for Alpha Estate at this year's competition, highlighted by Winery of the Year—a distinction awarded to just one winery out of all entries. Alpha Estate was named Winery of the Year at the USA Wine Ratings 2026, winning a total of five titles. The Winery of the Year award is presented to a single winery across all competition entries, regardless of country of origin. Additionally, Alpha Estate was named Red Wine Producer of the Year, while three of its wines earned individual titles in their respective...

It has been a whirlwind of a year for Maryna Calow, former communications manager for Wines of South Africa (WoSA). Bringing more than 20 years of expertise in strategic marketing, public relations, publishing and stakeholder engagement, Maryna is a deeply respected voice in the wine industry. She spent nearly decade as global communications manager for WoSA, representing South Africa's wines in key global markets and working closely with producers, government and international media to elevate the country's wine reputation. After leaving WoSA in January 2026, she started LuxePulse, a boutique consultancy specialising in strategic marketing, communications and public relations for...

Fragos has joined the team at Haselgrove as CEO and chief winemaker. Image supplied Chairman of McLaren Vale-based winery Haselgrove, Don Totino, has today announced the appointment of esteemed winemaker Michael Fragos to the role of CEO and chief winemaker. The appointment comes after it was announced last month by Endeavour Group that Fragos had departed from his long-term position at Chapel Hill, where he worked in winemaking roles for 22 years. Haselgrove said Fragos needs no introduction to the McLaren Vale community, growing up on a local vineyard and having worked 37 vintages “crafting some of the region’s most...

A firefighter of Paris Fire Brigade strikes the smoldering debris with a shovel in Marcheprime west of Bordeaux on July 26, 2026 as a wildfire has been ravaging the forest north of the Arcachon Basin (Gironde) since July 22. Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP via Getty Images Massive wildfires burned 103,000 acres near Bordeaux, forcing evacuations and threatening nearby towns and key infrastructure. Local winemakers dispatched equipment and staff to assist exhausted firefighters, successfully protecting the region’s major vineyards from fire. Bordeaux growers expect an early 2026 harvest with minimal smoke taint, though long-term climate threats and declining tourism...

Liquid Icons, the Gérard Basset Foundation & Artémis Domaines Continue to Support Wine Professionals Displaced by War and Conflict. Liquid Icons, the Gérard Basset Foundation, and Artémis Domaines are honoured to announce that Eleonora Kolieichik, originally from Eastern Ukraine, and Anastasiia Igorevna Fedchenko, originally from Odesa, are the two recipients of the 2026 Artémis Domaines Golden Vines Victims of Conflict Scholarships. Created in partnership with Artémis Domaines, these scholarships provide meaningful assistance and career progression for wine professionals whose lives and careers have been affected by war and geopolitical conflict. Each recipient is awarded a fully funded, six-month bespoke internship...

After more than 50 years at the two-Michelin-starred Auberge de l'Ill, famous sommelier Serge Dubs will retire this Monday, July 13, 2026. Over time, close bonds have been forged—not only between the glass and the plate, but also between the sommelier and the Haeberlin family. In the kitchens of the Auberge de l'Ill (Illhaeusern, Haut-Rhin), the atmosphere is somewhat formal. Not because the lunch service is approaching, but because Serge Dubs' retirement is near—the definitive end of his tenure, after more than 50 years as a sommelier at the establishment. "He's wonderful," "look at him crying." Wine. This is what...

Recognised as the 'Oscars of Fine Wine', the internationally renowned programme of events will take place across some of London's most iconic venues, including The Old Bailey. London, UK – 9 July 2026 – The Golden Vines, one of the world's leading celebrations of fine wine and rare spirits, will return to London from 6th-8th November 2026 for its highly anticipated sixth edition. Returning to the city where it was founded, the internationally acclaimed event will bring together leading figures from the worlds of fine wine, rare spirits, gastronomy and philanthropy for an exclusive three-day programme, culminating in the prestigious...

Declining wine consumption among young adults, particularly for red wine, calls for innovation. Non-fermentable sweeteners avoid the risks of re-fermentation and offer nutritional advantages. Three studies using Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) and hedonic evaluations assessed erythritol, rebaudioside-A and xylitol additions to red wine young adult panels. In all cases, sweetened wines were better liked, with sweet, soft and fruity as positive drivers of liking, and bitter, acid and bland as negative drivers. Context and materials Wine consumption has declined globally, with red wine sales falling 15 % over the last 15 years1. Young adults are a key target for innovation in the...

“Latour has always had a solid, noble dignity. When a smile emerges, it is no chummy twinkle; more the revealing of a considered beneficence.” Photography by Iannis Giakoumopoulos. Perhaps Lafite can claim more glamour, Margaux more romance, and Haut-Brion more history, but Latour has always had a sort of solid, noble dignity. You could describe it as Saintsbury described Hermitage: “manly.” Its wines start life rough-hewn, uncompromising, unsmiling. When a smile eventually emerges, it is no chummy twinkle; more the revealing of a considered beneficence. You feel privileged that such a stern authority should bestow such warmth on you. That...