Fortress prepares to offload Majestic Wine Retail The owner of Britain’s biggest specialist wine retailer are drawing up plans to offload the retailer nearly seven years after its operations were bought out of its London-listed company. Fortress Investment Group is in the early stages of preparing to launch a sale of Majestic Wine, which it took control of in 2019, according to [...]
Virgin wines looks to Gen-Z wine-lovers for growth after suffering loss Retail Online retailer Virgin Wines turned a loss but remains confident a surge of Gen-Z drinkers who no longer view wine as “elitist” will push the firm into the black. The wine seller made a £400k pre-tax loss in the first half of the year, down from a £1.3m profit last year, but saw revenue grow [...]
Why Riesling is the most misunderstood grape – and how to drink it well Life&Style Riesling may be a mature 591 years old this year but it must have the insecurity complexes of a teenager. Despite doing all it can to show its diversity over centuries, many consumers still equate it with the sweet, cheap punchline that is Blue Nun. This reputation hasn’t come from nowhere, the late 20th Century [...]
The UK’s booming wine sector offers salaries of up to £150k February 27, 2026 Plumpton College has urged students and career changers to consider opportunities in the UK’s expanding wine sector as vineyard plantings and production continued to rise. To coincide with National Careers Week, the Sussex-based institution said demand for skilled professionals across viticulture, winemaking, business, marketing and hospitality had risen in line with industry expansion. The college, [...]
Drinks disasters: Three top tips to avoid being a wine wally February 24, 2026 Don’t be a wine wally. A lot of drinks etiquette seems antiquated but there are certain things that immediately show you up as being clueless. Here are three mistakes I often see people making in restaurants when ordering wine. 1) How you hold your glass says everything about how comfortable you are around wine, and [...]
How to drink sake: A beginner’s guide February 10, 2026 Have you heard the siren call of sake? This Japanese drink is everywhere and it’s the coolest thing to be quaffing (though you can enjoy it chilled, warm or hot). The problem is that it is quite complicated compared to wine, so I have compiled a brief beginner’s guide to make you a speedy sake [...]
Valentine’s Day: My top recommendations for the perfect date January 29, 2026 Whether you’re treating your partner to a night on the town, whisking them out of the city for a weekend away or just cosying up together at home, here are my top recommendations for Valentine’s Day. For London lovers The Elizabeth on Ebury St, Belgravia will be serving a special three-course menu (£55pp) with an [...]
Pay now, drink later: A beginner’s guide to En Primeur wine January 29, 2026 It’s Burgundy En Primeur season in London for the 2024 vintage. En Primeur means buying the wine before it is finished and bottled. You buy before you try. Sounds risky, so why would anyone do it? Well, it gives the buyer early access to the wines, ensuring themselves a few bottles before they hit the [...]
Majestic Wine blames Reeves’ tax hikes as profit slashed January 7, 2026 Majestic Wine has blamed Rachel Reeves and her tax policies for its profit almost slashing in half during its latest financial year. The Watford-based business said the “economic environment became more challenging” during the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, especially after the general election and the Chancellor’s first Budget. The chain added that these [...]
The Traitors winner Alan Carr on his new approach to drinking January 5, 2026 On Christmas Eve I was on The Celebrity Traitors winner Alan Carr and Lee Peart’s new podcast Bottom’s Up!, a hilarious series all about friendship and wine, which, as you are reading this ‘Wine Without the Snobbery’ column, may be right up your decanter. Carr clearly has celebrations in mind. “As I approach a milestone [...]