There’s been some pretty notable London International Wine Fair (LIWF) bashing going on over the last few months, some we agree with - it’s a real slog to get to Excel! - and some we don’t (like the Fair having lost its purpose). We travelled to Dussledorf this year and loved exploring the floors of the LIWF’s main rival, the gigantic Prowein, but at a time when interest, wineries and budgets appear to be dwindling in our domestic market we fell it's never been more important to get fully behind the LIWF.

I’m just back from a weekend in Beaune, a wonderful but freezing weekend of discovery that just so happened to coincide with the opportunity to cheer on Les Bleus (albeit fruitlessly) during the Rugby World Cup final! My trip was definitely more pleasure than work this time as I was lucky enough to be hosting our National Wine Month winners on a Patriarche VIP tour of Burgundy. It seems a long time ago now but it was the result of the competition we ran in conjunction with National Wine Month and The Daily Mail online back in May

If you’re anything like us and you’re a big Champagne fan then it’s difficult to celebrate without the Champagne touch … but how much do you know about exactly what’s hidden behind these delicate bubbles? Last week our General Manager, Keith Isaac MW, took three of our top London customers to Champagne De Castelnau’s cellars and vineyards in and around Reims, the heart of the Champagne region.

Wine is at the heart of everything we do so we're proud to support the inaugural National Wine Month this May by giving you the chance to win a trip to our cellars in Burgundy!

It’s the perfect opportunity for you to discover the hidden gems of this famous wine region whose wines are are admired by wine makers and wine enthusiasts worldwide.