Vodka is a rag to riches tale for a one-man brand // The Times 
After moving to London in his twenties, a Kosovo-born barman worked his way up to take on the multinationals. Read the profile on Konik’s Tail. 

The Italian count, the Hollywood A-lister wife – and his prosecco // The Times
A dashing Aidan Turner lookalike who worked for Giorgio Armani married Jessica Chastain is refining our favourite fizz. Read the profile piece on Fiol.

The crème de la crème of the Enotria & Coe French portfolio // The Buyer
The French Renaissance was a focussed tasting held at London’s Ritz hotel by Enotria & Coe – aimed at getting buyers to sample the crème de la crème of the company’s French portfolio. Wine expert Harry Crowther went along for The Buyer and picks out eight wines and a spirit that he thought delivers exceptional quality for the price. Read the article.

How Stag’s Leap makes some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon // The Buyer
Using the new 2015 vintages, Peter Dean offers a fascinating deep dive into the stylistic differences between Fay, SLV & Cask 23 that help make these wines some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons that money can buy. In a nutshell Cask 23 is the top wine from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, a blend of the best plots in Fay and SLV, two very contrasting but neighbouring vineyards next to the winery’s home in Napa Valley. But that’s just a small part of the story. Read the article.
 

Naked mountain Chardonnay: the fine Alpine fizz of Ferrari Trento // The Buyer
Ask anyone in the wine trade who makes the best Italian sparkling wine and the answer will invariably be Ferrari Trento. Winery founder Giulio Ferrari is credited with introducing Chardonnay to Italy, and this mountain-grown fruit from Italy’s Alpine North gives the wines a distinctive character. Anne Krebiehl MW talks to Ferrari president Matteo Lunelli at a special anniversary dinner and discovers why Chardonnay is the bedrock of the company’s rise to fame. Read the article.
 

How cream of Aussie fizz and Cab Sauv shone at the Mambas // The Buyer
Now into its 13th year the influential and, let’s face it, fun tasting event the Mamba Riedel Decanter Awards, proved what strength and depth there is in Australian Sparkling wine and Cabernet Sauvignon at a wide range of price points. Peter Dean hopped on the charabanc to The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, score card and tastebuds at the ready. Read the article.

Top 10 winery hotels in Spain // Decanter 
From luxurious converted monasteries to hotels designed to look like a row of Cava bottles, the choice for wine loved visiting Spain has never been more exciting. Sarah Jane Evans MW recommends the best places to stay, starting with Abadía Retuerta. Read the article.

Asian Cabernet Sauvignon Masters: The Results and Analysis // The Drinks Business
No other grape variety is more resilient and adaptable than Cabernet Sauvignon.
See the competition results, including Ste Michelle Wine Estates, Trapiche and El Esteco.