The Drinks Business – Should we be serving premium wines by the glass?
In The Drinks Business, Eloise Feilden reports that ordering wine by the glass has shed its “cheapskate” stigma and become a marker of curiosity and exploration. Speaking at the launch of The Coravin Guide, Jancis Robinson MW, Greg Lambrecht (Coravin founder), and Xavier Rousset MS discussed how preservation technology and consumer confidence are transforming premium by-the-glass programs worldwide—from top Champagne cuvées at £50 a pour to high-end menus in London, Sydney, and California. From the Article:
Where “in the old days it seemed cheapskate”, now, the perception has shifted, and ordering by the glass is more closely associated with “exploring”.
Indeed, in a new independent survey of 1,030 consumers in the UK and Australia, Coravin found that half of all respondents are ordering more wine by the glass than they were two years ago.
More than half of respondents said they’d spend £10-15 on a glass of wine, and over a third said they would spent £16-£20 on a single glass. A fifth said they would be willing to stretch to paying higher than £20 a glass.
Coravin’s new guide spotlights the venues which are pioneering more extensive by-the-glass menus. The Coravin Guide will initially cover London, Sydney, Melbourne, Milan, The Netherlands and California, with additional cities to be included in the coming months.
Searchable by region, occasion, and wine style, all qualifying venues are able to apply to feature in the guide, regardless of whether they use a Coravin system.
Food and Wine – The No. 1 Sparkling Wine in the World, According to the 2025 International Wine Challenge
In Food & Wine, Liz Provencher announces that Nyetimber’s 2016 Blanc de Blancs Magnum became the first-ever non-Champagne wine to win Champion Sparkling Wine at the 2025 International Wine Challenge (IWC). The English sparkling wine scored 97 points and was praised by judges for its acidity, citrus, chamomile notes, and chalky finish—marking a milestone in recognition for English bubbly. From the Article:
The bottle received 97 points from the IWC judges after an anonymous tasting of more than 1,000 wines. Judges described the traditional-method sparkling wine as “a time capsule of a wine with mouthwatering acidity, citrus zest, and chamomile, with a chalky finish.”
The Drinks Business – Churchill wangled a booze ‘sick note’ during Prohibition
In The Drinks Business, Sarah Neish uncorks a remarkable historical tidbit: Winston Churchill managed to legally drink during U.S. Prohibition by obtaining a doctor’s note prescribing alcohol “especially at mealtimes.” After a 1932 car accident in New York, Churchill sought the note as “pain relief,” and it granted him indefinite permission to drink while visiting the United States. The story highlights how medical loopholes and “prescription whiskey” flourished during America’s dry decade, when alcohol could be sold for medicinal or religious use under the Volstead Act.
The Doctors Note:
250 Cubic Centimeters is 8.4 Ounces. That was the MINIMUM requirement.
Apple TV+ Press – Drops of God Season 2 Premieres on January 21, 2026
I loved this show. And had no idea that a second season was coming out!
In an Apple TV+ Press Release , Apple unveils a first look at Season 2 of the multilingual drama “Drops of God”, set to premiere Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Starring Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita, this French-Japanese series is adapted from a bestselling Japanese manga. The eight-episode season will gradually roll out through March 11. From for announcement:
In season two of “Drops of God,” Camille and Issei are thrust into their most perilous challenge yet: to uncover the origin of the world’s greatest wine, a mystery so profound that even their legendary father, Alexandre Léger, could not solve it. What begins as a pursuit of legacy becomes a search for truth that spans continents and centuries, unearthing forgotten histories, hidden rivalries and secrets buried for generations. As the search pushes them to the edges of the world, and to the darkest corners of themselves, Camille and Issei must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice. The answer could shatter their bond as siblings … or destroy them both.
Hmm. It’s probably Caymus.
Poggio Amorelli – Castellina in Chianti, Tuscany
Located in Castellina in Chianti, Poggio Amorelli produces a concise range of Sangiovese-driven wines, supplemented by small-production blends. Tastings, available by reservation, feature the estate’s DOCG and IGT wines alongside its olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
High-mountain Cabernet with altitude in its bones: Ao Yun 2014 lifts dense black fruit on a cool herbal current, tannins fine as silk-road dust, and a finish that hangs like twilight over the Meili range.
Poggio Rosso – San Felice Estate in Tuscany
At this Michelin-starred restaurant, chef Juan Quintero presents South American flavors with Tuscan precision. The tasting menus focus on thoughtful sourcing, striking balance, and high-caliber technique in an elegant setting. A composed service team and disciplined kitchen contribute to an assured dining experience.
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