International Wine Challenge will split into four regional competitions from 2026, moving judging closer to producers before gold medal wines progress to London for international trophies.

Wines will still be judged blind within each region before advancing to London for international trophy evaluation. The Americas competition will take place in Mendoza in November 2026, followed by Asia Pacific in Adelaide and Europe in Montpellier. The UK judging stage will be held in London in May 2027. Gold medal wines will return to London for final International Trophies judging. The awards ceremony will follow at Guildhall in September 2027.

Owner Chris Ashton said the restructure improves accessibility and strengthens links with regional producers. New regional co-chairs include leading Masters of Wine and journalists across key markets.

Entries for Americas open on 1 July and Asia Pacific entries follow later in July. The model reduces shipping and brings judges closer to wines globally.

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UK hospitality has a glimmer of hope as new figures reveal a 9% drop in insolvencies, from 301 cases in April to 274 in May. This welcome dip follows a challenging start to the year, with insolvencies rising by 22% in February and remaining high throughout March and April.

Industry experts are hailing this reprieve as a sign of stability, with Saxon Moseley from RSM UK commenting, 'Operators are managing to hang on, helped by the hot weather and May bank holiday.' He also predicts a further boost in demand with the World Cup's arrival, potentially setting the stage for a gradual recovery.

With Andy Burnham poised to take the reins as Britain's next Prime Minister, his hospitality policy agenda will be under scrutiny, particularly with regards to VAT cuts and business rate reductions.

However, the sector is warning that the pressure is far from over. Hospitality businesses continue to face rising costs and a 20% VAT rate, prompting a new campaign called #VATsTheProblem. Industry leaders are calling for VAT to be reduced to 10%, arguing that a fairer rate would help protect jobs, support pubs, restaurants, cafés, hotels and nightclubs, and strengthen high streets and communities. The campaign points out that countries including Spain, France, Italy, Ireland and Germany already support hospitality with lower VAT rates.

Sign the petition at www.vatstheproblem.co.uk

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Bordeaux’s 2025 en primeur campaign delivered some excellent wines, but only a handful of châteaux truly won buyers over on price, according to WineCap and leading merchants. In a market full of tempting back vintages, value mattered more than hype.

WineCap said fewer than ten of around 130 commercially significant releases really answered the trade’s call for compelling pricing. Lafite Rothschild, Ducru-Beaucaillou and Léoville Las Cases were among the stand-out successes, with prices pitched attractively against strong physical vintages already on the market. Merchants also highlighted Cheval Blanc, Mouton and Batailley as bright spots.

Yet the wider campaign appeared to lose momentum despite strong reviews for the vintage itself. Buyers remained cautious, releases were uneven, and many 2025 wines struggled to look irresistible when compared with 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022 already in bottle. The message from the trade was clear: in modern Bordeaux, quality alone is not enough — en primeur must offer obvious value.

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Ancient grape DNA from Chianti has revealed the Tuscan region once produced mainly white wine, with 2,000-year-old seeds showing a dominant white variety cultivated from Etruscan to Roman times, scientists say.

Researchers at the University of York sequenced 80 grape pips from a waterlogged well at Cetamura del Chianti, preserved for millennia, and found striking genetic continuity in a single long-lived clone.

After Roman settlement, new grape varieties appear, suggesting imported vines re-shaped Chianti’s wine profile, while scientists say modern reds replaced an ancient white tradition.

The findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, also linked one seed to grape families still grown in Eastern Europe. Dr Nathan Wales said tasting these relic varieties offers a direct connection to wines served at Roman dinner tables.

Researchers say the discovery changes our understanding of early Tuscan viticulture and shows remarkable continuity between ancient and modern wine landscapes in the Chianti region today.

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Chardonnay has overtaken Bacchus as a leading force in English wine, while rosé and disease-resistant PIWI varieties also impressed at the WineGB Awards 2026, highlighting the growing diversity and quality of the English wine sector.

The WineGB Awards 2026 results suggest English wine is entering a new phase of maturity. Chardonnay was the dominant grape among the top-scoring wines, featuring in many of the competition's Gold medal winners. Producers such as Lyme Bay Winery, Gusbourne and Digby Fine English demonstrated the variety's versatility across both still and sparkling styles, reinforcing its status as England's flagship premium grape.

While Bacchus remains synonymous with English still wine, Chardonnay's growing success reflects increasing confidence in producing wines capable of competing on the international stage. Traditional method sparkling wines continued to shine, with Chardonnay playing a leading role in many of the highest-rated entries.

Rosé was another standout category. Producers including Danbury Ridge and Woodchester Valley earned strong results, reflecting the category's rapid rise in quality and consumer appeal. Once viewed as a niche style, English rosé is increasingly establishing its own identity.

Kent, Sussex and Hampshire once again dominated the medal tables, confirming their status as England's leading wine regions. However, strong performances from vineyards in Essex, Dorset and Herefordshire demonstrated that excellence is spreading beyond the traditional heartlands.

Among the individual wines attracting attention were standout Gold medal winners such as Digby Fine English's Leander Pink Brut and several Chardonnay-led sparkling wines from established southern producers.

Perhaps the most interesting trend was the performance of PIWI varieties. Wines made from disease-resistant grapes secured impressive medals, suggesting these sustainable varieties are becoming more than experimental curiosities. As growers face pressure to reduce chemical inputs and adapt to changing climatic conditions, PIWIs appear increasingly capable of delivering both environmental and commercial success.

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English Wine Week 2026 runs from 20–28 June, with vineyards across England opening their doors for tours, tastings and food pairings, alongside a growing range of immersive and unusual experiences.
Alongside traditional vineyard visits and guided tastings, this year’s programme includes more active events such as the Leonardslee Sparkling Run, blending sport with wine tourism, plus blending workshops, vineyard walks and open-air tastings designed to broaden appeal.

Key destinations include Bolney Wine Estate in Sussex with picnics and seasonal food events, and Hattingley Valley in Hampshire with guided vineyard tours.

Restaurants, pubs and independent wine merchants are joining in with English wine by-the-glass promotions and curated lists, helping to bring domestic wines to a wider audience.

The week continues to highlight how English wine tourism is evolving, combining hospitality, education and increasingly creative experiences across the country.

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