A British man who ran a fake fine wine investment scheme that tricked investors out of nearly $100 million has pleaded guilty in the US, marking the latest chapter in one of the industry’s biggest fraud cases.

James Wellesley, 59, admitted his role in the scam during a hearing in Brooklyn federal court on 7 October, according to Bloomberg. He had fought extradition for several years before being transferred from the UK in July 2025.

Prosecutors said that between 2017 and 2019, Wellesley and co-defendant Stephen Burton used their company, Bordeaux Cellars, to lure investors with promises of high-interest loans secured against rare wines. In reality, neither the collectors nor the bottles existed.

Burton pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracy and will be sentenced in January. Wellesley’s lawyer has declined to comment.

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Ordering wine by the glass has shifted from a 'cheapskate' option to one reflecting an enthusiasm to explore, according to Jancis Robinson MW.

With more consumers willing to pay £15–£20 a glass, premium pours are finally going mainstream. At the launch of The Coravin Guide in London, Jancis Robinson joined Coravin founder Greg Lambrecht and restaurateur Xavier Rousset MS to celebrate venues championing top-tier wines by the glass.

Rousset revealed he recently sold a £50 glass of Champagne within a week or two of putting it on the wine list, admitting that five years ago he wouldn’t have risked it.

A survey of drinkers in the UK and Australia found half are ordering more wine by the glass than two years ago, with many eager to sample high-end bottles. Coravin’s new digital guide is a global digital platform showcasing restaurants, bars, hotels and private clubs that put strong emphasis on wine by the glass programmes.

Each venue was evaluated using The Coravin Guide's Glass Distinction Tiers:

One Glass Rating - 20-40 wines by the glass
Two Glass Rating - 41-60 wines by the glass
Three Glass Rating - 60+ wines by the glass

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France has reclaimed its title as the world’s top wine tasting nation, triumphing at the 2025 World Wine Tasting Championship. Held in the atmospheric Fort des Rousses in eastern France, the event saw teams from 43 countries identify 12 fine wines served blind in decanters.

After two years of training, France’s team clinched victory in the final round by correctly identifying a 2021 Hungarian Tokaji made from Furmint grapes. China came second, and Australia third. The competition featured wines from across the globe, from Champagne to Stellenbosch, and tested each team’s ability to pinpoint grape variety, vintage, region and country.

While France celebrated its return to the top with 135 points, newcomers Wales made a debut, Kenya’s all-female team, the youngest of the event, embraced the fun spirit of the competition, and Britain (aka the “Anglo-Scots”) finished a respectable ninth with 102 points.

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Pinot Gris has stepped out of Pinot Noir’s shadow to become New Zealand’s second most important grape variety by volume, according to the 2025 New Zealand Wine Annual Report.

The latest figures show that 30,837 tonnes of Pinot Gris were harvested this year, edging ahead of Pinot Noir at 28,979 tonnes for the first time. Sauvignon Blanc remains dominant with a remarkable 402,564 tonnes, marking the country’s second-largest crush on record.

What makes this shift more striking is export demand. In 2024, Pinot Noir production was 10% higher than Pinot Gris, yet Pinot Gris sold better overseas, with 9.353 million litres exported compared to 8.365 million litres of Pinot Noir. The trend highlights a growing global appetite for Pinot Gris, as international markets increasingly favour its approachable, fruit-driven style.
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New Zealand, the US and Europe are putting light-based tech to work against grape mildews, most notably powdery mildew, offering growers a way to cut fungicide use without compromising fruit. Early results are promising, and commercial trials are being scaled up.

In Marlborough, the Bragato Research Institute (BRI) is partnering with A Lighter Touch (ALT), to run a two-season UV-C trial on Sauvignon Blanc, from budburst to harvest, benchmarking against a standard spray programme. First-season observations report effective powdery mildew control, with robots delivering night-time UV to suppress fungal photorepair.

The most mature option is night-time UV-C passes (typically 100–200 J/m², once or twice weekly). Multi-year field work in Washington State and the Cornell programme show consistent suppression of powdery mildew when applied after dark, with no adverse effects on basic fruit chemistry at effective doses.

Europe is testing pulsed UV-C 'flash' systems (LIFEISLIGHT with Familia Torres/Jean Leon), aiming to cut energy and pass times while priming plant defences, while Australia is also piloting autonomous UV platforms in commercial blocks.

In all, UV-C is emerging as a spray-reduction tool rather than a total replacement, best integrated into Integrated Pest Management alongside canopy opening and targeted fungicides at times of high-pressure.

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Chapel Down, the UK’s biggest winemaker, has shelved plans for a £32m winery in Canterbury as part of a strategy to cut costs and refocus on profitability. The decision marks a major shift in direction for the Kent producer.

Chapel Down chief executive James Pennefather, appointed in February 2025, said the move would save 'significant' capital spending without affecting growth ambitions. The shake-up also sees billionaire investor Michael Spencer, the company’s largest shareholder, appointed as non-executive chair.

The cancellation comes after a turbulent year in which English wine sales slowed, weather dented harvests, and Chapel Down swung to a loss in 2024. Sparkling wine remains the star performer, with retail sales value rising 12 per cent annually and Chapel Down holding a 35 per cent supermarket share.

Pennefather remains upbeat, forecasting strong growth and a return to profitability by year end.

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