Wine Educators Awarded 2026 Barca-Velha Golden Vines MW Scholarships

Chicago-based wine educator Christy Fuhrman and Canary Islands winemaker Loreto Pancorbo have received the 2026 Barca-Velha Golden Vines Master of Wine Scholarships. Each will receive £35,000 to support their MW studies and visit SOGRAPE wineries and vineyards in Portugal. The scholarships are run by the Gérard Basset Foundation. This year, the selection panel chose the… Read More »

Exploring Oltrepò Pavese Classese: A Tasting Tour of Northwest Italy’s Pinot Noir Sparkling Wines

Oltrepò Pavese, in Lombardy in northwest Italy, is a hilly wine region bordering Piemonte, Liguria and Emilia-Romagna. Although it also produces still wines, the focus of a recent tasting was Classese: traditional-method sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir. Classese production is growing quickly. The region currently produces around 800,000 bottles, up from 400,000 two years… Read More »

Hazendal: The Transformation of a Stellenbosch Wine Estate

Hazendal is a historic wine estate in Stellenbosch’s Bottelary Hills, now entering a new chapter. First established in 1699 as a wheat and livestock farm supplying the Dutch East India Company, it began planting vines in the 18th century, including Muscat and Groendruif, an early name for Semillon. In 2016, the estate removed and replanted… Read More »

Eight London Restaurants with Wine Lists Worth Exploring

London’s best restaurant wine lists are not necessarily the thickest or most formal. These eight venues stand out for thoughtful selections, fair prices, regional character and warm, personal service—often with lists chosen by the people who own and run the restaurants. Blandford Comptoir Owned by Master Sommeliers Gearoid Devaney and Xavier Rousset, Blandford Comptoir is… Read More »

Galicia in Focus: A Seminar on the Wines of Spain’s Atlantic Region

At the 2026 edition of Simplesmente Vinho, Galicia was the guest region, represented by nine visiting producers. A seminar hosted by Miguel Anxo Besada of restaurant A Curva and Antonio Portela explored wines from across the region’s five appellations: Ribeiro, Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras and Monterrei. The tasting highlighted both Galicia’s diversity and the… Read More »

Cornas: The Granite Rock Star of the Northern Rhône

Cornas has evolved from a source of unruly, dark and demanding wines for a small circle of drinkers into a celebrated Northern Rhône appellation. Once overshadowed by Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie, it is now prized for its bold Syrah fruit and increasingly approachable tannins. The appellation’s granite vineyards have expanded considerably: from about 53 hectares in… Read More »

Editors’ Picks: Great Wines to Try This October 2026

Each month, Decanter’s editorial team samples more wines than can be featured in print. These picks highlight bottles and producers that stood out, from Devon and Oregon to Tenerife, Leeds and France’s Luberon. English wines at Lympstone Manor Chef Michael Caines’s Lympstone Manor in Exmouth, Devon, combines a luxury hotel and Michelin-starred restaurant with an… Read More »

The Bothey: An Intriguing South African Wine Project

Katja Leinberger and Marcel Hartman, owners of the luxury accommodation The Bothey, have developed a wine range under the same name. Rather than producing conventional private-label wines, they have partnered with skilled winemakers and sourced grapes from notable South African regions. Three bottles stood out in a recent tasting. The Bothey “Harmony” Old Bush Vine… Read More »

Ribera del Duero Vintage Report: Brilliant Wines in Every Hue

Blind tastings of 342 wines released between July 2025 and July 2026 revealed a region balancing tradition with the demands of climate change and shifting markets. Despite differing views on the best way forward, one thing was clear: the leading wines reflect the considerable commitment of their growers and winemakers. A region with many answers… Read More »