New research from cork producer Amorim suggests that tirage corks can improve sparkling wine during ageing, delivering greater aromatic complexity, finer bubbles and a creamier mouthfeel compared with crown caps.

Tirage closures are typically used during secondary fermentation, and are usually crown caps similar to beer caps.

Closures play an important role in sparkling wine production, influencing oxygen exposure and how wines develop during secondary fermentation and lees ageing. Although crown caps were traditionally favoured for their reliable seal and ease of removal at disgorgement, winemakers are increasingly exploring the benefits of using cork instead.

Amorim’s trials found differences in the wines’ polyphenol and aromatic compounds, with cork-closed bottles showing greater fruitiness, less bitterness and longer-lasting flavours. Controlled oxygen ingress may help develop complexity without compromising freshness.

The late Ruinart chef de cave Frédéric Panaïotis championed the approach, following trials that began in 1998 and culminated in Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010 winning a major sparkling wine championship.

Amorim research director Dr Miguel Cabral describes tirage cork as an oenological tool, offering winemakers another way to shape sparkling wine style and quality.

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New Zealand Chardonnay has impressed some of the world's leading wine critics in a series of blind tastings, challenging Burgundy's reputation as the benchmark for the grape and raising fresh questions about value and climate change.

Organised by Master of Wine Steve Smith, Opposites Attract compared 10 New Zealand Chardonnays with 14 white Burgundies, including prestigious Grand Cru wines costing up to £990. Forty-three professionals, including Jancis Robinson MW and Tim Atkin MW, tasted the wines across Christchurch, London and Burgundy.

Smith & Sheth's Les Graviers 2024 emerged as the overall winner, while New Zealand wines topped two of the four categories. Robinson called the exercise a triumph, although the wines came from different vintages: New Zealand's 2024 and Burgundy's 2023.

Atkin questioned whether Burgundy still produces the world's greatest Chardonnay, citing climate change and the quality of international rivals. The results also highlighted the price gap, with New Zealand bottles costing £35-£95.

Smith stressed that the aim was not to replace Burgundy, but to earn New Zealand Chardonnay a place alongside it.
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California has lost more than 47,000 acres of vineyards in a year as growers respond to falling wine demand and changing consumer habits, highlighting the scale of the industry’s ongoing challenges.

New mapping data from the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) shows the state’s vineyard area fell by almost 10% through August, leaving 439,115 acres of standing vines.

The survey, conducted by agricultural science firm Land IQ, combined remote sensing, artificial intelligence and field checks to map vineyards across California.

The decline reflects a difficult market, with inflation and changing consumer preferences putting pressure on wine sales. Demand for commodity wines has weakened, prompting growers to remove vines and adjust production to match the market.

However, the true picture could be worse. The figures include vineyards that are minimally farmed, mothballed or abandoned, as well as productive sites, meaning the area actively producing grapes may be considerably smaller.

CAWG president Natalie Collins said the data highlights tough decisions facing farming families, employees and local businesses as the industry works to rebuild demand for California wine.

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Margaux has become England and Wales’ most popular wine-related baby name, overtaking Chardonnay, whose popularity surged after the ITV drama Footballers’ Wives launched in 2002.

An analysis by the Drinks Business of nearly 40,000 first names registered between 1996 and 2025 found that Margaux topped the list with 922 registrations, all for girls. The French spelling of Margot rose steadily in popularity during the 2010s, reaching a peak of 102 babies in 2024.

Chardonnay ranked second with 631 registrations across six different spellings. Its popularity exploded in 2002, when 79 babies received the name, following the debut of glamour model Chardonnay Lane, played by Susie Amy in Footballers’ Wives. Registrations peaked at 119 in 2003 before falling sharply.

Sherry takes third place with 196 registrations, followed by Shiraz with 69 and Tawny with 50. Other wine-inspired choices included Cristal, Syrah, Tuscany and Petrus.

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Thieves have struck one of Italy’s most prestigious wine estates, Antinori, stealing 30,000 bottles worth an estimated €5 million. The haul includes sought-after Super Tuscans from the acclaimed 2023 vintage.

Seven masked intruders broke into Marchesi Antinori’s logistics warehouse in Cortona on 5 October, bypassing security systems and using the facility’s own forklifts to load two getaway trucks. The stolen wines were exclusively premium labels: Tignanello, Solaia and Guado al Tasso.

Antinori chief executive Renzo Cotarella believes it could be the largest wine theft in Italian history. Around 10,000 bottles of Solaia were taken, a significant loss for a wine with annual production of just 50,000 bottles and a retail price of approximately €300.

Some of the stock was awaiting shipment to Bordeaux négociants, with other consignments destined for the US and international markets. The estate has warned trade partners to beware of suspicious offers outside authorised distribution channels.

The robbery follows a similar break-in at Piedmont’s Conterno Fantino winery just two weeks earlier, raising concerns about targeted attacks on Italy’s finest wines.

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US wine consumers are benefiting from premium bottles at bargain prices as surplus wine floods supermarket own-label ranges. Meanwhile, a smaller California harvest and stabilising export declines offer tentative signs of recovery.

American wine producers are struggling with excess stocks as consumption falls, creating opportunities for retailers to buy high-quality wine in bulk and sell it under private labels. Bottles that might command $150 under a winery’s own brand can appear for less than $30, with some Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon selling for as little as $9.99.

However, the market may be starting to rebalance. California’s 2026 harvest is unusually early and smaller, with vineyard removals, adverse weather and smoke-taint concerns reducing grape volumes. Industry analysts estimate the state needs a crop of around 2.3 million tons to avoid worsening its inventory problem.

Exports also remain under pressure, with US wine export value down 10% and volume 12% year-on-year between February and July. However, declines in shipments to Canada eased during May to July, suggesting the downturn may be stabilising.

The surplus will take time to clear, but smaller harvests and improving export trends offer cautious grounds for optimism.

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