Warm autumn sun gently seeps into the dark-panelled tasting room of the Barbadillo offices in Sanlúcar de Barrameda on Spain’s Atlantic coast, north of Cádiz. New-release wines sit alongside bottles of old vintages whose labels are barely legible in the dappled light.

It’s quiet, with the silent energy that only exists in the criaderas (Sherry ‘nurseries’) of the region’s bodegas, where flor – the layer of yeast and other microorganisms that forms on the surface of some Sherries – industriously yet discreetly goes about its work on the wines.

Here in this golden gloom, winemaker Montserrat (Montse) Molina speaks softly and thoughtfully about the wines. The conversation is technical and detailed, as one would expect of someone with her experience and knowledge.

Then something shifts: a spark, a flicker in her eye and Molina grows animated. Why? The subject has turned to yeast.

‘We can’t always explain the “why” – why something tastes the way it does, even though it’s the same wine but in a different barrel,’ Molina explains. ‘It’s the yeast. The manzanillas are old but lively because of the type of yeast that has developed. And once I’m gone, these yeasts will still be here.’

‘More than anything, we have to maintain and defend the wines of the region’

Montserrat Molina

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The post A life under flor: How Montserrat Molina became Sherry's leading lady appeared first on Decanter.

Chassagne-Montrachet is most famous as one of the three great white wine villages in the Côte de Beaune known as The Golden Triangle, along with Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault.

Understanding the true value of Chassagne is more complex, however, given the diverse range of delicious wines in both red and white.

Scroll down for 12 delicious Chassagne-Montrachet 1er cru wines to seek out

Chassagne-Montrachet: 12 top premier cru wines

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Beth Willard, Matthew Forster MW and Andrew Johnson tasted 86 wines, with 4 Outstanding and 31 Highly recommended

Spanish Viura/Macabeo: Panel tasting scores

86 wines tasted

Exceptional 0
Outstanding 4
Highly recommended 31
Recommended 46
Commended 5
Fair 0

Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their wines produced entirely or predominantly from Viura/Macabeo/Macabeu (maximum 15% of any other varieties) from anywhere in Spain

Scroll down to see the top-scoring wines from our Viura/Macabeo panel tasting

The judges

Beth Willard is a wine communicator and judge with a particular passion for the wines of Spain. A regular contributor to Decanter and one of the five Co-Chairs of the DWWA, she is also a member of the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino

Matthew Forster MW is a wine consultant and education specialist, and founder of The Wine Partnership. A former director at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, he has a passion for the wines of Spain, Portugal and South America

Andrew Johnson is managing director of wine merchant WoodWinters and also heads his own project, Veiled Vineyards, which aims to unearth ‘hidden’ wines that might otherwise have missed out on reaching the market

Viura/Macabeo panel tasting results:

Wines were tasted blind

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The post Spanish Viura/Macabeo: Panel tasting results appeared first on Decanter.

David Silva – ‘El Mago’ – was an extraordinarily talented footballer: a World Cup and twice European Championship winner with Spain, four times Premier League title winner with Manchester City and one of the first names on the team sheet in the late 2010s when City were, arguably, the best football team in the world.

And now, in glory-coated retirement from the beautiful game, a winemaker? Don’t bet against it.

In 2019, Silva bought the vineyard property on Gran Canaria – the Canary island on which he was born and raised – that is now Bodega Tamerán. Guided by his friend Jonatan García Lima, owner of Suertes del Marqués – the first winery to rise to fine wine prominence in Tenerife – Silva launched Tamerán from the 2020 vintage, with García installed as winemaker.

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The post Bodega Tamerán – what Manchester City's David Silva did next appeared first on Decanter.

History fills your eyes at Seppeltsfield. Barrels storing 149 continuous vintages of Seppeltsfield Para tawny fill the Centenary Cellar. It’s a collection that’s unrivalled in the world of wine, all housed under one old tin roof in the Barossa, Australia.

History fills your nose, too. An incredibly rich melange of heady aromas permeates the cellar, leaching slowly from the oak barrels as an estimated 3% of their contents evaporate into the atmosphere each year.

But history’s most delicious secrets are revealed once you taste the unctuous, concentrated nectar that remains within these old casks. The wines show impossible layers of complexity, compressed within interlocking and sometimes contradictory sweet and tart flavours that unfurl and adhere to your palate.

They are truly unique.

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In a village where we used to stay in the centre of France, the New Year was greeted with a day of crashing glass; the bottles of the réveillon festivities and days before, all hitting the wall behind the Hotel de Ville. Families came to fling their empties at the wall, adding to the heap the council eventually carted away, I hope to a glass factory – though recycled glass is a disappointing percentage of new wine bottles.

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Clive Pursehouse speaks for the Willamette Valley in Oregon

As cool-climate Pinot Noir regions go, I think the Willamette Valley in Oregon is without peer in the United States.

I love the wines of the West Sonoma Coast, with their freshness and lift, but the classical elegance of the Willamette, marked by its unmistakable forest floor character and sweet, fresh red fruit, swings it for me.

The Willamette Valley has become a New World answer for lovers of classic Burgundy.

More top US Pinot Noir? For many more recommendations of top-quality Pinot Noirs from around the US, including Oregon and Sonoma, head to Decanter Premium

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Take a journey through time via our new wine history quiz, featuring 10 light-hearted brain teasers that celebrate the grapevine’s rich cultural heritage.

In the quiz box below, you’ll find multiple choice questions on a range of topics, from revered winemakers in ancient Egypt to French royal preferences and landmark dates. Can you get a perfect score?

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Valandraud Blanc stands as one of Bordeaux’s most distinctive and collectible white wines so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend a landmark tasting of every available vintage since the first in 2003 with the estate’s technical team and owner Jean-Luc Thuenvin last year.

Known for shaking up the Right Bank’s red wine scene in the 1990s with his garage-wine ethos, Thunevin turned his attention to whites in the early 2000s, proving that innovation extends beyond Merlot-dominated reds.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 20 vintages of Château Valandraud Blanc

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As I sit down to write the first column of 2026, I’ve realised that I never really addressed its title: ‘The ethical drinker’. What does ‘ethical drinking’ actually mean? Does it relate more to the act of drinking alcohol, or to the product itself?

There isn’t really a straight answer to this, as it’s probably a bit of both: an awareness of the way we consume, a curiosity about the wines we choose, their provenance and their wider impact, and acting on this curiosity and awareness in our buying behaviours.

As I reflected on the topics covered over the last year – from labour standards, bees and biochar to the importance of community, the health of the oceans and packaging – I found myself revisiting the wines and people that made me stop and think; wines that challenged assumptions about flavour, or of farming standards; people who prompted me to widen the lens beyond my enjoyment of what’s in the glass.

That is what this column is all about. So here I’m highlighting three bottles – and the experiences that went with them – that made me think, question or act.

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Who invented the Margarita? Well no-one knows fore sure… The recipe – a simple mix of tequila, lime juice and triple sec – first appeared in print in the December 1953 issue of Esquire magazine. But who created it and who it was named for have been debated by cocktail historians for decades.

Perhaps it doesn’t matter. Whoever first mixed a Margarita, today it’s acknowledged as a classic cocktail and known the world over.

It’s a supremely versatile mix that can be served straight up (without ice) in a fancy Martini glass or coupe. Or enjoy it over ice in a short rocks glass if you prefer, making it a drink for any occasion.

The original recipe was given a far-reaching makeover in the late 1980s by Julio Bermejo, beverage manager at the now-iconic Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant in San Francisco, founded by his parents in 1965. Bermejo simply replaced the triple sec with agave syrup, an ingredient that helps to ramp up the agave flavours in the tequila and produces a cocktail with perfect balance of sweet and sharp flavours.

You’ll find both recipes below, along with a selection of tequilas that will work brilliantly – whichever version of a Margarita you choose to make. Enjoy!

How to make a classic Margarita

Glass: Cocktail glass or rocks glass

Garnish: Salt rim and lime wedge

Method: Sprinkle a few teaspoons of salt over a small plate. Rub a wedge of lime along the rim of your glass and then dip it into the salt so that the entire rim is covered. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the tequila, lime juice and triple sec. Shake until your hands feel cold. Strain into your prepared glass; if you’re using a rocks glass, fill it with fresh ice and garnish with a wedge of lime.

Ingredients: 50ml tequila, 25ml lime juice, 20ml triple sec (eg Cointreau)

Credit: David Cabrera Navarro / Alamy

How to make a Tommy’s Margarita

Glass: Rocks glass

Garnish: Lime wedge

Method: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, then add the tequila, lime juice and agave syrup. Shake until your hands feel cold. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice and garnish with a wedge of lime.

Ingredients: 50ml tequila, 25ml lime juice, 12.5ml agave syrup

Credit: bhofack2 / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Best tequila for a Margarita: 10 to try

Recommended by Laura Foster & Julie Sheppard

Corralejo Blanco

While the majority of tequila is produced in the state of Jalisco, some municipalities in other states are also allowed to make this spirit. One of these other states is Guanajuato, and this is where Corralejo is based. Its Blanco is a creamy, citrusy tequila with flavours of lime zest, agave syrup, zippy white pepper, pencil shavings and vanilla, which accentuate the lime and agave flavours in a Margarita. LF Alc 38%

Don Julio Blanco

This distinctive short, rounded bottle was designed by the tequila’s creator Don Julio González-Frausto Estrada to allow his guests to see each other over its top as they drank together around the dinner table. Inside the bottle is a classic blanco tequila with notes of lemon and lime zest that make a zingy Margarita, balanced with hints of vanilla pastry, mineral earthiness and spicy black pepper. JS Alc 38%

El Tequileno Blanco

Founded in 1959, El Tequileno is made with volcanic spring water and agave from the highlands of Jalisco. This Blanco is a tequila of two halves: zippy and fresh up front, before the palate takes a deeper turn with toast, brown butter, marmalade and banana chips. LF Alc 38%

Herradura Plata

Notes of fresh and cooked agave combine to make Herradura a winning choice for a Margarita, backed by hints of orange oil, vanilla, almonds and deeper woody tones from its 45 days in barrel, which also lend the tequila a light straw colour. The beautiful grounds of the large Herradura distillery are home to over 16 types of fruit tree, which add their natural yeasts to the open-top fermenters to kickstart fermentation of the agave juice. JS Alc 40%

Ocho Plata Single Estate

Each batch of Ocho is made from agave grown on a single estate in a single harvest to highlight the role that terroir and vintage can play in tequila. Check on the label to see the particular estate and year. Because of this variation, each batch tastes slightly different, but there is a house signature of agave-forward flavours and spiciness that lends itself well to citrus-forward cocktails such as the Margarita. JS Alc 40%

Olmeca Altos Plata

Created in 2009 by Master Distiller Jesús Hernández and leading London bartenders Dre Masso and the late Henry Besant, this is a perfect choice for cocktails. Adds delicious notes of lime zest, lime pickle, lemon sorbet and a crisp green pepper herbaceousness to your Margarita. JS Alc 38%

Patron Silver

Considered to be the first ultra-premium tequila brand, Patrón is undoubtedly a big name in agave. But its products are made in relatively small batches, thanks to a production process that includes the use of small stills. Inside each distinctive cork-stoppered bottle you’ll find a smooth and creamy tequila with distinctive vegetal agave character, layered against notes of lemon peel and peppery spice. JS Alc 40%

Tapatio Blanco

Made by the inimitable Carlos Camarena at his distillery in the Highlands of Jalisco, this Blanco tequila is a great cocktail all-rounder. Clear agave characters sing through, combined with Camarena’s signature peppery, spicy notes of white pepper and clove. A gentle sweetness and pleasing citrus bouquet lend themselves well to Margaritas. LF Alc 40%

Teremana Blanco

Launched in 2020 and produced in the small town of Jesús María in the highlands of Jalisco, this small-batch tequila is owned by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. With subtle agave sweetness, plenty of fresh citrus notes, vanilla and red chilli spice, it makes a well-balanced Margarita, with a celebrity seal of approval. JS Alc 40%

Vivir Blanco

Vivir is produced at Casa Maestri, a fifth generation-owned distillery in Jalisco. Its premium range of 100% agave tequilas are made using sustainable practices and its estate-grown agave. The Blanco is an iron fist of agave in a velvet glove, with sweet angel cake and liquorice root carried on a fresh, chalky body. LF Alc 40%

The post Best tequilas for a Margarita: 10 to try appeared first on Decanter.

At the 2025 competition, China has a strong year, receiving 181 medals. With two Best in Show, one Platinum and 10 Gold medals, China’s wine-producing reputation is continuing to go from strength to strength.

Two red wines from Ningxia and Shandong respectively have been awarded the top accolade, Best in Show, at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) – marking a historic milestone for Chinese wine at the world’s biggest wine competition.

This is the first time Chinese wines achieved the Best in Show since its introduction in 2016, replacing the former top award, ‘International Trophy’. These two wines are also the only entries from Asia to reach the top 50 this year.

Scroll down to see award-winning Chinese wines from DWWA 2025

From Rkatsiteli or China’s ‘signature grape’, Marselan to Cabernet Sauvignon entries included a diverse array of styles, including sparkling and sweet wines.

To ring in the Chinese New Year on 17 February and highlight some producers to keep your eye on, we’ve selected 15 award-winning wines from the 2025 competition to try, each awarded 94+ points.

Whether familiar with Chinese wines or looking for where to start, discover benchmark examples of the quality wines China is becoming known for.

Chinese New Year: 15 award-winning wines to try

Best in Show

Changyu, Noble Dragon N188, Yantai, Shandong 2022
Best in Show, 97 points
Our second Chinese wine in this year’s Best in Show selection comes not from the inland, fiercely continental climate of Ningxia, but from the very different coastal environment of the Shandong Peninsula; it’s also a successful blend of 75% Cabernet Gernischt (Carmenère) with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite very different growing conditions, the lesson is the same: China is capable of making not just fruity red wines (which many locations in the wine world do well), but structured red wines in which rich tannins provide the bone structure which gives beguiling fruit flesh an inner seriousness of purpose. This dark red-black wine is dark and searching, with plum-blackberry fruits. On the palate, those fruits show both depth and textural finesse, and the supporting tannins play a key role once again in lending that fruit its dignity and gastronomic force. These two wines constitute a remarkable debut for China in our Top 50. Alcohol 13.5%

Dongfang Yuxing Winery, Geruihong Yeguangbei, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022
Best in Show, 97 points
China is a relative newcomer to the world of wine, though in other respects its civilisation pre-dates that of Mediterranean Europe (and the Chinese made mixed alcoholic beverages even earlier than the Georgians wines). Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised, then, both at the speed at which its wine creators are learning, and the level of their accomplishments. Both were on show this year with not one but two Best in Show wines. This wine from Helan Mountain in Ningxia is a cunning blend which few in Europe would have thought of: Cabernet Sauvignon with 9% of freshening Dornfelder and 6% of Cabernet Gernischt (Carmenère). It works well. The wine is a dark, opaque black-purple with fresh and alluring scents of blackcurrant and wild plum. The palate offers a seductive plunge of fruit and spice, settling on something more akin to dark chocolate but – and this is key – with the authority and detaining discipline only carefully extracted tannins can bring. It’s a revelation. Alc 15.6%

Sparkling

Devo Winery, MV03 Brut Nature, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia NV
Gold, 95 points
Captivating red apple, lemon peel and stone fruits persist over a bedrock of biscuits and toasted brioche and swirl across the delicate mousse. Long and impressive. Alc 12.5%

White

Mystic Island Winery, Yihu Qiushan Reserve Chardonnay, Penglai, Shandong 2022
Gold, 96 points
Dizzy with floral charm: jasmine, white blossom and honeysuckle aromas lead to a mouth-watering lemony freshness and wonderful smoky mineral quality which flows towards the finish. Alc 13%

Longting Vineyard, Reserve Sea Breeze Chardonnay, Penglai, Shandong 2022
Gold, 95 points
Beguiling white blossom, melon and peach perfume prevails over the invigorating citrus peel acidity and mineral undertow, with an intriguing bitter almond twist at the end. Alc 12.5%

Chateau Summer Land, Bo Series Malvasia, Wuwei, Gansu 2023
Silver, 94 points
Lovely nuances of lemon peel freshness with nettle and yellow peach aromas, hints of guavas and dry herbs. Silky texture. Alc 14.5%

Helanhong Winery, Helan Hong Jiangnan Reserva White, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022
Silver, 94 points
Water chestnuts and melons with plenty of vanilla and buttery sweetness mixed with nectarines. Juicy, fresh and attractive. Stony finish. Alc 14.5%

Tinnyu Winery, Mono Chard, Yunnan 2023
Silver, 94 points
Toasty nuances, with notes of clove and vanilla, hints of smoke and flint, lemon and red apple. Racy acidity. Alc 14%

Red

Li’s Estate, Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022
Platinum, 97 points
A tantalising complexity of blackberry fruit compote and succulent prunes garnished with cedar and black pepper spice and hints of green herbs. Rousing and rich with immersive tannins and a lick of warming tar on the finish. Alc 15.5%

Domaine Pushang, Marselan, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022
Gold, 96 points
Dive deep into the waves of damson and blueberry fruit, earthy balsamic tones and intoxicating violet fragrance; bold and structured with broad tannins and herbaceous acidity. Alc 15.5%

MountainWave Vinery, Malbec, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2021
Gold, 96 points
Hugely concentrated damson florals, black cherries and plums with a bewitching clove and vanilla aspect. Stylish and plush with silky tannins and a lofty, lingering acidity. Superb! Alc 14%

Pernod Ricard Ningxia, Helan Mountain Xiao Feng Cabernet Sauvignon, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2020
Gold, 95 points
Charismatic Morello cherry, blackcurrant and plum notes are framed by the tightly-packed violet tannins and elevating acidity, and fortified by the spicy toast characters from the oak. Alc 14.8%

Sweet

Hanxiang Liquor, Nabaifu Reserva Icewine Vidal, Huanren, Liaoning 2018
Gold 95 points
Luscious apricot, mango, pear and honeyed acacia sing across the exquisitely sweet palate which is enlivened by the satiating acidity and fascinating savoury twist at the end. Alc 11%

Sanhe, Cailonglin Jinding Icewine Vidal, Huanren, Liaoning 2020
Gold, 95 points
An explosion of apricots, peaches, mangoes and raisins coat the palate and are enriched by a vivid orange peel acidity to mystify and delight. Utterly delicious! Alc 12%

Tonghua Winery, Tonghua Glory Yasay Oak Aged Icewine Vidal, Tonghua, Jilin 2022
Silver, 94 points
The nose is pure and fruity with complex orange blossom, honey, ripe mango and pineapple. Intense on the palate, long and charming. Alc 11.5%

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The post Chinese New Year: 15 award-winning Chinese wines to try appeared first on Decanter.

2026 is a great opportunity to venture beyond Montalcino’s best-known names and take a chance on lesser-known properties.

Well stacked with fleshy fruit, ripe girdling tannins and bolstering acidity, the newly released 2021 Brunellos deliver across the entire gamut of price points – you really don’t need to pay top dollar to experience the true pleasure of the vintage.

But if you do want to spend a little bit more, the superstar estates’ classic bottlings are well worth considering too, as many rise to the quality level of their higher-priced vineyard-selection stablemates.

Those from Le Ragnaie, Casanova di Neri and Canalicchio di Sopra over-deliver to such an extent that they more than merit the extra splurge.

‘You really don’t need to pay top dollar to experience the true pleasure of the vintage’.

Brunello di Montalcino 2021: Michaela’s top value picks

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The post Brunello di Montalcino 2021: Our expert's 10 smart picks for discerning buyers appeared first on Decanter.

I never really got YouTube. I know that people love it – the way that Instagram absorbs me, others can spend hours flipping from video to video on YouTube.

There are influencers who’ve made their fortunes on the platform, viral personalities of whom I’m entirely unaware. But it’s a whole world I hadn’t really delved into – and especially not for wine. Until now, that is.

I stumbled across The Back Label, a new series from Mackenzie Casey – the creator and host of the Pour Decisions interview series – designed to take you behind the scenes of the world of wine. The first episode features Domaine Dujac’s Jeremy Seysses – a big Burgundy name and a thoughtful, articulate winemaker – and if this initial offering is anything to go by, the series is well worth following.

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More than 80 Bordeaux 2016 wines featured in a recent ‘10 Years On’ tasting hosted by international merchant Bordeaux Index in London, attended by producers, critics and journalists.

Classified Left Bank estates, including first growths, were joined by top Right Bank names, from Lafleur, Le Pin, Petrus and Trotanoy to Angélus and Cheval Blanc.

Bordeaux 2016 reds have long been considered a modern benchmark with particularly strong ageing potential, thanks to a combination of high tannin, generous fruit and freshness. 

Early promise translated to high scores during en primeur tastings in spring 2017, broadly confirmed in-bottle 18 months later. Some appellations also reported the highest average yields since 2006. 

While a full report and tasting notes from the 10 Years On tasting will be published in Decanter magazine’s Bordeaux guide in June, enthusiasm among producers, at least, appeared undimmed.

Omri Ram, winemaker at Château Lafleur, said he considers 2016 ‘one of the greatest vintages ever done in Bordeaux.’

He added, ‘At Lafleur, I think it’s going to be one of the greatest’. He said the wine’s high (yet ‘super fine’) tannin and ‘huge amount of energy’ means it is still young as the 10-year mark approaches. 

Bordeaux 2016: From zero to hero?

And yet, Ram explained that Bordeaux 2016 wasn’t always considered destined for greatness. A very wet spring led to mildew pressure and some producers feared the worst, before a mostly hot and dry summer helped to change the picture.

Ram described 2016 as the first of a new type of ‘hybrid’ vintage in Bordeaux, breaking with an established pattern of viewing years as dominated by singular weather traits.

It was a steep learning curve, and hard work. ‘We were confused, but the vines were definitely confused,’ Ram said. 

‘They started in comfort [but] by the beginning of summer they switched into this very extreme heat and dry sun. You had these big lazy vines that had to run a marathon until harvest.’  

Managing the canopy was key, added Ram, who credited big developments in viticulture in Bordeaux with helping to deliver the vintage.

After harvest, Lafleur team members expected something good but weren’t prepared for what greeted them. ‘The first time we actually understood there was something huge here – like, “wow, great vintage” – was after malolactic [fermentation].’ 

Bordeaux 2016 today

Some of the top Right Bank names at the 10 Years On tasting. Photo credit: Bordeaux Index.

There was a good deal of enthusiasm for 2016 during the recent 10 Years On tasting, even if some wines remained relatively tight at this stage. Some producers, such as Christian Seely of ‘super’ second growth Château Pichon Baron, also highlighted different interpretations of the vintage.  

A 2025 Decanter expert panel tasting found high extraction on some Médoc 2016 reds, although praised overall quality with 11 rated ‘outstanding’.

Decanter’s Bordeaux correspondent, Georgie Hindle, last year gave 100 points to Château Latour 2016 after it was released for the first time in March.

While surrounding vintages also offer plenty to enjoy, 2016 carries a certain symbolism. Matthew O’Connell, Co-CEO of Bordeaux Index and the LiveTrade online trading platform, described it as ‘the start of a golden age of winemaking’ in the region.

Châteaux reporting individual landmarks included Margaux-appellation second growth Durfort-Vivens, for which 2016 was the first year of both organic and biodynamic certification.

An uncertain market 

Bordeaux has faced a particularly troubled time on the market in recent years. Will 2016 pierce the clouds? 

O’Connell said he expected good demand amid a renewed focus on the vintage, and highlighted the wines’ value versus other five-star, peer vintages. 

Miles Davis, market expert at merchant Vinum Fine Wines, said in his February market report, ‘We [recently] sold a decent chunk of the very highly regarded Pichon Lalande 2016, in bottles and large formats, and I suspect 2016s will continue to sell well this year.’

Bordeaux Index’s Geraint Carter, who helped provide price analysis on the vintage for Decanter magazine’s Market Watch in the upcoming March issue, added, ‘There’s definitely [buyer] enthusiasm for it.’

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The catch-all wine appreciation day, Global Drink Wine Day is held annually on 18 February.

Familiar favourites like Champagne, Riesling or Pinot Noir might spring to mind as your celebratory wine of choice – and there are many top examples to choose from when searching Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) results – but to narrow down the selection, we have put together a list of some of the competition’s highest-scoring wines from classic regions and grape varieties, as well as some perhaps less familiar styles to discover.

Tasted and rated by our expert judges at DWWA 2025, here you can explore a selection of 97-point sparkling, white, rosé, red, sweet and fortified wines from across the globe well worth seeking out.

Global Drink Wine Day: 15 wines to discover

Sparkling

Bluestone, Blanc de Noirs Brut, Wiltshire, United Kingdom 2019
Platinum, 97 points
Myriad apricot, peach, cherry skin and floral aromas bask in the soft, broad texture and supple mousse. Focused and vibrant with a tapering acidity and a tingling black tea element to close. Long and rewarding. Alcohol 12%

Can Sala, Vinyes de Can Sala Brut Nature, Cava, Spain 2015
Platinum, 97 points
An unrivalled opulence of ripe mango, peach and nectarine enveloped in freshly baked bread crust and toasted almonds. The impeccable harmony of structure and acidity, topped-off by the striking pin cushion mousse captivates and endures. Alc 12.5%

Deutz, Amour de Deutz Brut, Champagne, France 2014
Platinum, 97 points
A delicious interplay of honeyed toast, ripened fruit and smoky savoury notes with a soothing, creamy mousse and svelte acidity. Exuding charisma and typicity with a thrilling swirl of oyster shell minerals at the end. Alc 12%

White

Wirra Wirra, The 12th Man Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia 2024
Best in Show, 97 points
Adelaide Hills Chardonnay has made five appearances in our Best in Show selection, one more than Western Australia’s Margaret River has notched up; these are clearly landmark regions not just in national but also global terms for Chardonnay-lovers. The struck-match note so prized in Australia is apparent here — but subtly so; look out for a sweetly leafy charm, too, and a soft creaminess from finely judged barrel-fermentation. It hasn’t had long in bottle yet, so its aromatic harmony and seamlessness was another factor in seducing our panels. You could call it mouthfilling in terms of texture and flavour expression but relatively delicate and light on its feet, by contrast, in terms of weight and alcohol charge. These vineyards are indeed ‘up in the Hills’, remember, where ripeness is neither assured nor rapid. The wine’s grain and finesse reflect a full season on the vine – and its producer’s careful harvesting and handling techniques. Alc 12.5%

Cantine Belisario, Cambrugiano, Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva, Le Marche, Italy 2021
Platinum, 97 points
Exemplary aromas of honeyed nuts, lemon, lime and fennel with a supreme drive of freshness and purity which ebbs and flows alongside the stylish mineral structure and zingy nettle acidity. Very long and accomplished. Alc 13.5%

Weingut von Winning, Pechstein Riesling, Grosses Gewächs, Pfalz, Germany 2023
Platinum, 97 points
Alive with white flower and rose petal fragrance. On the palate savoury white pepper accents the perfectly ripe lemon and stone fruit with a poise of graceful acidity that cuts through the lustrous Crème Brûlée texture. Alc 13%

Orange

Vinakoper, Capris Orange Rumeni Muškat, Slovenska Istra, Primorska, Slovenia 2015
Best in Show, 97 points
Every year our orange wine categories attract more entries, and there is always significant clamour from judges to be allowed to scrutinise them. The wine world is beginning to realise just how much this, the sixth genre of wine, has to offer. The orange wine that has stepped up to the bright lights of our Best in Show selection this year is made from Yellow Muscat (a notably yellow-skinned variant of Muscat à Petits Grains Blancs). Muscats in general take well to this treatment, since time on skins can provide complex variations to the usual ‘grapy’ aromas and flavours. This Istrian example is in fact relatively light for an orange wine: deep gold with faint coppery glints. It has commanding aromas in which classic Muscat sweetness meets something darker and earthier, with orange-and-peach fruit behind; on the palate, the wine is fully dry but with an amplitude and wealth rare in ‘normal’ dry Muscat. Its precision and freshness are irreproachable. Alc 13.5%

Rosé

Léoube, Secret de Léoube, Côtes de Provence, France 2024
Platinum, 97 points
Full of class and elegance: bashful peach, cranberry and wild strawberry characters gently shroud the nose and palate, embracing the lush Mediterranean core of thyme and pine. Billowing and long with a refined mineral ending. Alc 14%

Red

Craggy Range, Pinot Noir, Martinborough, Wairarapa, New Zealand 2024
Best in Show, 97 points
Of the six Pinot Noirs from New Zealand to feature in our Top 50 selections since 2018, this is the third to come from Wairarapa’s Martinborough (the other three, unsurprisingly, have been Central Otago wines). This is an uncompromisingly dark wine that plays to New Zealand’s strengths in terms of purity and vivacity of fruit: raspberry, cherry and plum come streaming from the glass, and the fine meshing of fruit and oak in this wine adds to its lustre and appeal. In the mouth, the wine is both long and broad but not in any way clumsy, and the fruit flavours (raspberry to the fore again) are hypnotic. Svelte tannins are barely palpable, so there’s no textural barrier to entry. Alc 13.5%

Rutini, Single Vineyard Malbec, Gualtallary, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina 2021
Best in Show, 97 points
Our second Gualtallary red this year is a pure Malbec from the cool 2021 vintage. It, too, is a very dark black-purple in colour, with disarmingly pure blackcurrant, black cherry and blackberry fruits just smoothed but not dominated by oak. That oak, by contrast, is barely visible on the palate at all, so dominant and head-turning is the fruit: a slalom run in which the sweet cherries and berries of the aroma are joined by slightly sourer, wilder fruits like elder and sloe. As that nuance suggests, the acidity is ample, ripe and supportive, working with the fine-milled tannins to keep the fruit well-trimmed and enduring. It’s four years old at present and still an infant, so much lies ahead: this would make a grand dinner-time bottle at any point over the next ten years. Alc 14%

Backsberg, Patriarch Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2022
Platinum, 97 points
Divine black plums and forest berries parade across the nose and palate offsetting the compelling savoury capsicum complexity. Refined and densely populated with velvet tannins, shapely texture and a subtle cedar wood elegance. Long and composed. Alc 14%

Mahsarto d’Midin, The 8, South-East Anatolia, Turkey 2023
Platinum, 97 points
Burnished with sumptuous dark berry fruit and vibrant floral notes, full of zeal and verve. The palate is bedecked with a dark chocolate and coffee oak structure with tannins sidling up subtly. Lots to offer. Alc 14%

Fortified & Sweet

Graham’s, Quinta Dos Malvedos, Single Quinta Vintage, Port 2018
Best in Show, 97 points
The 2018 vintage for Port was a challenging but finally rewarding one: it came on the back of a long drought sequence throughout 2017, and the summer of 2018 saw heat spikes of up to 45⁰C in the Douro. It could have been a disaster – had it not been for a very wet spring. That wet spring meant that many of the region’s greatest vineyards could call on water reserves to sustain them in summer. The result was grandiose … in places; hence ideal for Single Quinta Vintage declarations. That was what our judges sensed when they came to this magnificent wine. It’s midnight black in colour, with a powerful weave of blackcurrant, mulberry, menthol, resin and cistus aromas. On the palate it’s generous, broad and thick-textured, with more black fruit lent complexity by the dried herbs, by malt, by dark chocolate; the tannins are softly chunky, intimately meshed with the fruit; the spirit integration is seamless. No hurry to drink, needless to say – but this fine Quinta port is inspiring just now. Alc 20%

Donnafugata, Ben Ryé, Passito di Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy 2023
Best in Show, 97 points
Strange to say, no Passito di Pantelleria has yet featured in our Best in Show selection, so we’re delighted to rectify the omission this year with this 2023 wine. It’s made, of course, with Muscat of Alexandria grapes (locally called Zibibbo) which are laid out on mats in the sun after harvest to dessicate and dry for about four weeks. The wine is a rich golden sunset orange. Oranges, too, set the tone for its astonishing, perfume-like aromas: once smelled, never forgotten. On the palate it is thick, liquorous and unctuous, though still bright with that intense orange fruit. In some sweet wines, sheer intensity of sugar substitutes for complexity. Not here. It’s almost as if the force of Pantelleria’s near-African sunlight has engraved the wine with layers and lessons of its own. Alc 14.5%

Reif Estate Winery, Grand Reserve Icewine Vidal, Ontario – Niagara Peninsula, Canada 2023
Platinum, 97 points
An explosion of vibrant florals underscored by wave upon wave of grilled pineapple, passionfruit, dried orange and fleshy apricot riches. Full and voluptuous with a waxy, lanolin texture and tantalising acidity. Complexity wins the day. Alc 10.5%

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To make a Riserva, or not to make a Riserva was the question in 2020.

With lower quantities overall and good rather than outstanding quality, the vintage was not an obvious contender in my opinion, especially given the character of the wines.

This isn’t to say that the 2020 Brunello Riserva are without merit.

Some I liked very much, though not necessarily more than their annata counterparts. Indeed, they are surprisingly fresh, fragrant and seductive.

It is the immediate accessibility, modest depth of fruit and gracious structure that made me question the potential for the Riserva category.

Brunello Riserva 2020: 20 top buys

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The post 20 expert-recommended Brunello Riserva 2020 you need, including one spectacular 100-point wine appeared first on Decanter.

After a special dining experience ahead of the Year of the Horse that also ticks the boxes for a wine connoisseur? I’ve got you covered.

The Decanter team has hand-picked a list of some of London’s most loved Chinese restaurants – from fine dining to casual indulgence – to help you plan ahead, with a special note for those offering dedicated Chinese New Year menus.

Chinese restaurants for elevated dining

Hunan London

(Chinese New Year menu available)
51 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8NE
reservations@hunanlondon.com
020 7730 5712

Credit: Hunan restaurant, London

Established in 1982 in London’s elegant Belgravia neighbourhood, Hunan is known for its no-menu, multi-course tasting experience, encapsulating flavours from Taiwan, Sichuan, Guangdong and beyond.

For connoisseurs, the carefully curated wine list places an emphasis on aromatic whites and delicate reds, spanning Chinese wines and sake alongside the classics, and offering plenty of pairing inspiration for the restaurant’s proudly ‘bold and strong’ flavours. Half bottles and bespoke cocktails are also available.

A special Chinese New Year (CNY) menu will be served between 16 February and 3 March, priced at £150 per person. Find out the full CNY menu here.

Credit: Hunan restaurant, London

A. Wong

70 Wilton Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1DE
info@awong.co.uk
020 7828 8931

Home to the award-winning, British-born chef Andrew Wong, the two Michelin-starred restaurant offers a creative, contemporary take on Chinese regional cuisine. Alongside Andrew’s signature ‘Touch of the Heart’ lunch menu and ‘The Collections of China’ dinner menu, there is also an à la carte lunch option for a more casual taste of what the restaurant has to offer.

In addition to its comprehensive wine list, which highlights a thoughtfully assembled selection of Champagne, guests can try the restaurant’s signature cocktails inspired by Chinese spices at the Forbidden City Bar, or go for a shot of Chinese baijiu. A Chinese tea selection is also available for a more soothing refreshment.

China Tang at The Dorchester

(Chinese New Year menu available)
53 Park Lane, London
reservations@chinatanglondon.co.uk
020 7319 7088

Credit: China Tang at The Dorchester

Located within the iconic hotel, China Tang evokes the glamour of 1930s Shanghai with its Art Deco-inspired interior. Signature dishes include lobster noodles and golden prawns with salted egg yolk, alongside a strong range of vegetarian options. Diners can choose familiar Cantonese dishes from the bilingual dim sum menu and a wider range of regional cuisines from the à la carte menu, or opt for a Yum Cha experience – a tea and dim sum pairing available on weekday afternoons only.

The wine list is broad in scope, with a solid selection of Chinese wines (some available by the glass), alongside prestigious regions and more exploratory choices such as Croatian and Slovenian wines. There is also a strong selection of oriental spirits, including by-the-glass pours of the famous Maotai baijiu (white spirits).

The Dim Sum dishes and Peking duck served at China Tang. Credit: China Tang at The Dorchester

With upcoming festive décor and traditional lion dance performances taking place on 17 and 18 February, the restaurant is well set to celebrate the Year of the Horse. In addition to the main menu, China Tang will be serving a Chinese New Year menu centred on ten auspicious dishes created by executive chef Chong Choi Fong, each chosen for its symbolic meaning and association with prosperity, abundance, unity and happiness.

Scroll down for our casual dining favourites

Park Chinois

17 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, W1J 8EA
reservations@parkchinois.com
020 3327 8888

Immerse yourself in the golden age of 1930s Shanghai – feast on delicately hand-made dim sum at Park Chinois’ Salon de Chine restaurant (Chef’s Tasting Menus for a minimum of two guests is also available), then head downstairs to Club Chinois for a lavish night out with live DJs.

Why not try a Chinese wine from Shanxi, Yunnan or Ningxia for the special occasion? Park Chinois’ abundant wine collection includes a Coravin by-the-glass section, allowing diners to get a quick taste of the likes of top-tier Burgundy. There is also a list of exotic cocktails designed to pair with the Cantonese cuisine, drawing inspiration from mid-20th century Chinese-American eateries.

Hakkasan Mayfair

17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 6QB
mayfairreservation@hakkasan.com
020 7907 1888

One of the best-known Cantonese restaurants in London, Hakkasan Mayfair is widely regarded for its expertly curated wine list, combining a modern, aesthetic take on classic dishes with a sleek, club-like setting.

If you’ve never visited before, Chinese New Year could be the perfect occasion to start with the lunch taster menu (£35 Monday to Friday, £45 Sunday to Thursday), alongside the Signature Brunch (£55, Saturday and Sunday) and à la carte offerings.

If you arrive in the evening, head to The Bar, which opens daily for drinks only (no reservation needed). Enjoy a cocktail with live music from Wednesday to Saturday from 7pm.

Imperial Treasure

(Chinese New Year special dish available)
9 Waterloo Place, St. James’s, London, SW1Y 4BE
finechinese_stjames@imperialtreasure.com
020 3011 1328

With Singaporean origins, Imperial Treasure offers a diverse menu ranging from Cantonese dim sum and seafood to Shanghai and Huaiyang cuisine, with its Peking duck among diners’ favourites. Alongside its à la carte and dim sum offerings, weekday lunch sets are also available, priced at around £40 per person.

The restaurant’s wine list spans the classics (with older vintages available), plus a selection from emerging regions. Cocktails are accented with Asian ingredients, while spirits lovers can choose from a broad range including vodka, mezcal, rum, whisky/whiskey, brandy and Chinese baijiu.

Ahead of the Chinese New Year, the restaurant offers two types of hand-made festive cakes from 16 January to 23 February 2026 (sticky rice and turnip cake) for takeaway only.

Min Jiang

Royal Garden Hotel, 2-24 Kensington High Street, London, W8 4PT
020 7361 1988

If duck is top of your list this Chinese New Year, look no further than Min Jiang’s famed wood-fired Beijing* duck (‘Peking’ is an older romanisation of Beijing, though the restaurant opts for the latter).

Situated on the 10th floor of the Royal Garden Hotel, overlooking Hyde Park and the London skyline, Min Jiang also offers a wide range of Cantonese and spiced Sichuan dishes, including vegetarian options. Some of its much-loved dishes are also available via Deliveroo.

A varied selection of signature cocktails, sake and spirits, alongside a very affordable speciality tea list and a diverse wine selection, ensures diners are well catered for when it comes to quenching their thirst while enjoying those crispy duck rolls.

Hu Tong Shard

(Chinese New Year menu available)
Level 33 The Shard, 31 St Thomas Street,  London, SE1 9RY
hutongreservations@aqua-london.com
020 3011 1257

Nestled on level 33 of The Shard, Hutong (a name derived from Beijing’s alleyways) is the upscale destination for northern Chinese cuisine – provided you’ve budgeted for the view and are ready for its modern cooking, defined by rich, bold flavours.

Raise a glass at the Shanghai Bar, which offers unmatched night views across London, and choose from a solid wine list that secures the classic regions while also venturing into lesser-known options such as Romania, Bulgaria and China, with a focus on organic, biodynamic, sustainable and vegan wines. The cocktail selection, inspired by Chinese philosophy and matched to zodiac signs, is also well worth exploring.

For Chinese New Year, Hutong presents a special three-course set menu from 16 February to 3 March (£128pp, or £158pp for the window experience), alongside a limited-time Shanghai gin cocktail menu to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

Our top casual dining favourites

If you are simply after a casual and tasty meal to celebrate the occasion, here are some of our favourites – each with well-regarded signature dishes and a charming drinks menu.

Shan Shui Social (Victoria)

(Chinese New Year menu available)
14 Buckingham Palace Rd, London, SW1W 0QP
hello.victoria@shanshuisocial.co.uk
020 4617 8888

Credit: Shan Shui Social (Victoria)

Conveniently located near Victoria station, Shan Shui Social gives the vibe of old Shanghai back in the 1920s while serving a wide spectrum of Chinese regional dishes from Cantonese to Sichuan. Opt for the one-plate lunch specials – priced around £15 – for ease of mind.

Be spoiled for choice by Shan Shui Social’s cocktail and mocktail list, featuring signature drinks such as the ‘Jade Spiced Mule’ and ‘Silk Road Lychee Manhattan’, alongside a surprisingly diverse wine selection – English sparklers included.

A two-for-one happy hour drinks menu is also available from Monday to Friday (5pm-7pm), when you can pair a Moutai Lychee Martini or an Austrian Riesling with £1 snacks such as Thai prawn crackers, smashed cucumber salad and salt & pepper baby squid.

The Chinese New Year Yusheng salad served at Shan Shui Social. Credit: Shan Shui Social (Victoria)

The restaurant will be offering a Chinese New Year menu as well as Yusheng (Chinese New Year raw fish salad, pictured above). Yusheng will be available via pre-order for the period 14 February to 3 March priced at £39.80 for 2-4 people to share.

The lineup of cocktails served at Shan Shui Social. Credit: Shan Shui Social (Victoria)

Cheli (Elephant & Castle)

56-58 New Kent Road, Elephant Park, London SE1 6FU
info@cheli.co.uk
020 8050 9618

The signature crab with stir-fried rice cake dish at Cheli, London. Credit: Cheli

A widely popular Elephant & Castle destination serving Zhejiang cuisine, with a focus on the ‘freshness and subtle sweetness’ in the dishes, as the restaurant puts it. Crab with stir-fried rice cake, sweet and sour squirrel fish and Shanghai steamed soup dumplings are some of diners’ highlights.

Set in a contemporary interior, the restaurant also offers cocktails and a small, French-driven wine selection, alongside baijiu and yellow wine (listed on the menu as ‘traditional Chinese wine’). Its ‘Chef’s Signature Menu’, priced from £56.80 for two, is well suited to sharing (note that this offer is not valid between 14-18 February and on 3 March 2026).

Sweet and sour squirrel fish. Credit: Cheli

Noodle and Beer (Chinatown)

(Chinese New Year menu available)
27 Wardour St, W1D 6PR
chinatown@noodleandbeer.com
020 3589 3345

Credit: Noodle & Beer

Perched within Chinatown, this is a perfect spot for noodle and Sichuan cuisine lovers after lengthy walks through the festive crowds. Its signature noodle soup, served with generous chunks of tenderly braised beef, is a must-try. The smartly curated drinks list includes infused teas, wine, sake and signature Chinese cocktails such as pu’er whisky, chen pi-infused gin and jasmine liqueur. A more intimate lounge and bar area is also available in the basement.

For Chinese New Year, the restaurant offers a limited-time menu featuring seven ‘lucky dishes’, each carrying an auspicious name – such as ‘Rich Tartelette’ and ‘Prosperity Bear Duck’ – designed to boost your luck in the Year of the Horse.

Cocktails served at Noodle & Beer. Credit: Noodle & Beer

…And a few more to bookmark

Yauatcha Soho
15-17 Broadwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0DL
reservations@yauatcha.com
0207 494 8888
A dim sum teahouse with an affordable lunch set menu Monday to Friday and an ‘Infinite Yum Cha’ menu on Saturday and Sunday (11am-6pm) which includes unlimited orders of dim sum and bao. Diverse options for by-the-glass wine and by-the-carafe sake.

Tattu
The Now Building Rooftop, Outernet, Denmark Street, London WC2H 0LA
london@tattu.co.uk
0203 778 1985
A modern, Instagram-worthy pan-Asian restaurant set in a venue inspired by a traditional Chinese courtyard house near Covent Garden, anchored by a cherry blossom tree as its centrepiece. Guests can also try exotic cocktails crafted using ingredients from a traditional Chinese pantry, or the restaurant’s signature cocktails served in characterful vessels – such as a glass dragon.

Kai Mayfair
65 South Audley Street, London W1K 2QU
020 7493 8988
Enjoy a fashionable Chinese afternoon tea in an elegant, luxurious setting while choosing from a wine list curated from around the globe – which includes wines from Ningxia, icewine from Liaoning and Gin from Shanghai.

MiMi Mei Fair
(Chinese New Year menu available)
55 Curzon Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8PG
reservations@mimimeifair.com
020 3989 7777
Savour dim sum and soup dumplings (‘Xiao Long Jewels’) in the lavish three-storey Georgian townhouse while browsing a sophisticated, old world-driven wine list, complemented by premium bottles from Yamanashi, Japan and Ningxia, China. A special Chinese New Year menu, centred on the signature wok-baked lobster, is served between 5 February and 7 March, priced at £138 per person.

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The post Chinese New Year in London: Top restaurants for wine lovers appeared first on Decanter.

With its 14th century fortress and landmark clock tower, the walled medieval town of Montalcino has altered little over the two decades I’ve been roaming its cobblestone streets. Its wine scene, on the other hand, continues to evolve.

Recent changes include an increased allowance for Rosso di Montalcino production and the abolishment of the consorzio’s five-star rating system for Brunello. Most exciting, though, is the rise of a new generation at both historic and younger estates.

These fresh faces are crucial for keeping one of Italy’s benchmark red wines relevant, and they are behind some of my favourite picks from the just-released 2021 vintage.

I visited Montalcino in early September that year. By then, the figurative dust and anxiety surrounding the spring frost had long since settled. The vines had survived the dry, hot summer thanks to a couple of downpours late in the season.

As the sun beat down during my vineyard visits, it still felt like the height of summer – that is, until dusk fell. Those chilly nights fuelled the palpable sense of optimism for the imminent harvest.

The town of Montalcino from the Capanna estate. Credit: Michaela Morris/ Decanter

Brunello di Montalcino 2021: Michaela’s top picks

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Tickets are now on sale for the Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (DFWE) New York, returning for its fifth year on Saturday 6 June, on the 60th floor at the stunning Manhatta.

High above the city skyline, the DFWE New York is a one-day tasting experience built for discovery. Guests are invited to taste widely, learn with confidence and deepen their understanding of fine wine, guided by the people who know it best.

The New York Encounter opens Decanter’s global Fine Wine Encounter series for 2026, ahead of later editions in cities including London, bringing together exceptional wines and expertise in an elegant, relaxed setting.

Discover what you like

At the heart of the day is the Grand Tasting, bringing together 55 producers from around the world, including E. Guigal, Château d’Esclans, Mazzei and Ridge Vineyards. Each will present four wines, including a special cuvée awarded 95+ points by Decanter. With the freedom to explore at your own pace, guests can compare styles, revisit favourites and speak directly with producers, building confidence in their palate while discovering new wines along the way.

Credit: Alfonso Lozano Photography

Learn from the best

For those looking to explore further, a curated programme of three masterclasses offers focused insight into some of the world’s most celebrated names and regions.

Confirmed masterclasses include  Salon and Delamotte, hosted by Cristian Rimoldi, and Super Tuscans, led by Italian wine expert Michela Morris, with a third session to be announced.

Each class runs for 75 minutes and is limited capacity, allowing for a more in-depth, engaging experience.

A seat at the table with a winemaker

After a successful debut across Decanter’s global Fine Wine Encounters last year, the Winemakers’ Lunch returns to New York, having quickly become a highlight of the programme.

This intimate dining experience offers guests the chance to enjoy relaxed, in-depth conversations over lunch with winemakers and members of the Decanter editorial team. Dr Laura Catena of Catena Zapata is confirmed, with more names to be announced.

BUY TICKETS HERE

The post Tickets on sale! Decanter Fine Wine Encounter New York returns to the top of Manhattan appeared first on Decanter.

The great Spanish writer Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936) got it right when he lyricised about Fuerteventura as ‘this bony land… this red protrusion thirsting for water! Yet how beautiful it is! Yes, beautiful! But only for those seeking the innermost secrets of its shape.’

This ‘keeper of secrets’ is the second-largest island in the volcanic Canary Islands archipelago and was the first to begin rising from the ocean floor, about 20 million years ago. On the west coast at Ajuy, you can actually see the basal geological complex, which once lay just above the Earth’s mantle but has now risen to the surface.

Fuerteventura lies just southwest of Lanzarote. The closest landmass in the archipelago to the African continent, it’s blessed with year-round sunshine, more beaches than any other Canary Island (there are more than 150 of them) and – a lesser-known fact – it’s where the archipelago’s first grapevines were planted. Yes, the story of Canary Islands wine starts here.

Raw volcanic beauty

The sunset sky over the town of Corralejo in Fuerteventura’s north. Credit: David Marsden / Getty Images

This rough guide to Fuerteventura is designed to help you appreciate the island’s stark beauty, its rugged coastline and its ancient history, along with the precious few winemakers and -growers working to revitalise its overexploited land – to show you the real island behind mass tourism’s plastic facade.

The basic route described here runs from Isla de Lobos in the north to Cofete in the south. To make the most of the guide, you’ll need a car and that rarest of gems, a designated driver.

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Every year on 16 February we celebrate Syrah – a black grape variety which produces some of the darkest, punchiest and most age-worthy wines. Also known as Shiraz it originates from the Rhône region in France, but has become a true international varietal, flourishing in vineyards around the world.

To its roots, in the northern Rhône’s appellations like Côte Rôtie and Hermitage, Syrah produces complex, full-bodied wines bursting with red and black fruits, violets, pepper and savoury meatiness.

In the south to appellations including famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Syrah is most often blended, adding colour, tannin, spice and complexity to these traditional GSM (Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre) blends. South again to neighbouring Languedoc-Roussillon, varietal and blended Syrah wines are worth exploring for a riper style.

Scroll down to discover 15 top-scoring Shyrah wines from DWWA 2025

Its international appeal, global reputation and adaptability across diverse climates is underscored further by top Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2025 results with awarded wines from Brazil, Chile and South Africa.

If you’re drawn to the chocolatey, jammy, peppery richness of a Shyrah, the examples below are sure to impress.

To celebrate International Syrah Day, we highlight 15 awarded wines from DWWA which are well worth seeking out. Discover more award-winning wines at awards.decanter.com →

15 Syrah wines to explore

Best in Show

Château La Borie, Côtes du Rhône Villages Suze-la-Rousse, Rhône, France 2023
Best in Show, 97 points
Côtes du Rhône-Villages + village name red wines have only won three placings down the years in our Best in Show picks – and this is the second time that Suze-La-Rousse has featured. (Plan de Dieu was the third.) Does that indicate some terroir distinction that may eventually find Suze-la-Rousse winning cru status, as seven of its peers have done over the last half century? Let’s see. What’s for sure is that this Syrah varietal wine (there’s just a dash of Grenache) is an outstanding find: dense black-red in colour, with magnificently lifted, bacon-sizzling aromas that wouldn’t look out of place after a hot summer in Cornas. The additional aromatic note of orange blossom and peel, though, suggests southern origins. It’s grandiose on the palate: mouth-filling and exuberant, lavish and rich, with shovefuls of sweet, tender fruit to enjoy – very definitely a southerner here. Look out for those orange fragrances cascading gratifyingly through the palate, too. Alcohol 14%

Brazil

Maria Maria, Isabela 2023
Gold, 96 points
Myriad strawberries, cherries, cloves and aniseed with an intrigue of leather and charcuterie. Astonishingly fresh and alert with a sweet spicy persistence at the end. Alc 14.6%

Chile

Cono Sur, Single Vineyard Nº25 La Palma, San Antonio 2021
Gold, 95 points
Smouldering black pepper, dark forest fruit and an awesome charcuterie character enhances the voluminous structure. Mouth-watering and meaty with a generous smokiness at the end. Alc 14.5%

Viña Casa Solís, Reserva La Piqueta, Colchagua 2024
Gold, 95 points
Keen florals and juicy blue plums with a charge of peppery spice enveloping the wonderfully approachable structure and lively tannins. Full of potential and excitement. Alc 13.5%

Croatia

Hvar Hills Winery, Srednja i Južna Dalmacija, Coastal 2022
Gold, 95 points
Capacious damson, blueberry and blackcurrant fruit enveloped in a plush velvet structure, pencil shaving tannins and vibrant lift of pepper. Ambitious and immersive with a long finish. Alc 14.5%

France

Château Maris, Les Amandiers, Minervois La Livinière, Languedoc-Roussillon 2019
Gold, 95 points
Awesome bilberry, blueberry and lavender notes punctuate the fine cedarwood texture and supple tannins, with a smoky clove element that funnels towards the lengthy ending. Alc 14.5%

Delas, Les Bessards, Hermitage, Rhône 2022
Gold, 95 points
Wow! A multi-layered magnetism of black pepper, plum and rose petal with a lure of mineral power leading to the dense, concentrated palate. Long and complex. Alc 14%

Domaine de Boisseyt, Les Garipelées, Saint-Joseph, Rhône 2023
Gold, 95 points
Alluring youthful notes of blueberry, raspberry and lilac; full-bodied and smooth with clear cut tannins, a precise juicy acidity and long savoury finish. Fantastic potential. Alc 13.5%

Les Vignobles Foncalieu, Via Nostrum, Minervois, Languedoc-Roussillon 2021
Value Gold, 95 points
Smoothly textured and polished emphasising the ornate black fruit and garrigue herb profile that parades over the strident tannins and acidity. Full of charm and distinction. Alc 14%

Roland Grangier, Côte Granits, Saint-Joseph 2023
Gold, 95 points
Impeccably defined Mediterranean character, exhibiting blackcurrant, violet petal and smoky bacon aromas which punctuate the silky texture, svelte tannins and refreshing acidity on the finish. Alc 13%

New Zealand

Church Road, 1 Single Vineyard Redstone, Bridge Pa, Hawke’s Bay 2021
Gold, 95 points
Indulgent blackberry and mulberry jam with pink peppercorn and sun dried kalamata olive inflections. Bright and poised with a sheen of plush tannin and a delicate acid line. Alc 13.5%

South Africa

Kleinood, Tamboerskloof, Stellenbosch 2021
Gold, 95 points
An attractive marriage between sweet fruit and savoury: espresso coffee and spicy meat greets succulent rhubarb and damsons over a creamy texture with a lush chocolate finish. Alc 13.5%

Spain

Vinicolas Reunidas, Sot Neral, Costers del Segre 2024
Value Gold, 95 points
Overspilling with youthful energy! Floral notes combine with blueberries, black cherries and black pepper, all of which melt into the sweet tannins, tender acidity and fleshy fruit grip. Alc 14%

United States

Samā Cellars, Bhūmi Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State 2022
Gold, 95 points
Abounding plums, blackberries and raspberries with herbaceous and violet nuances coupled with vibrant acidity and finely-tuned tobacco tannins. Textured and meaty with a long, harmonious finish. Alc 13.6%

Watermill, Hallowed Stones, Oregon 2021
Gold, 95 points
Spilling over with violet florals, ripe blueberries and plums which engage seamlessly with the smoked meat and black olive core. Generous and open with a peppery finish. Alc 13.9%

Search all DWWA 2025 results 

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Beth Willard, Eugenio Egorov and Matthew Forster MW tasted 98 wines, with 5 Outstanding and 63 Highly recommended

Priorat 2021 vs 2022: Panel tasting scores

98 wines tasted

Exceptional 0
Outstanding 5
Highly recommended 63
Recommended 27
Commended 3
Fair 0

Entry criteria: producers and UK agents were invited to submit their dry red wines classified as DOCa/DOQ Priorat from the 2021 and 2022 vintages

Scroll down to see the top-scoring wines from our Priorat 2021 vs 2022 panel tasting

The judges

Beth Willard is a wine communicator and judge with a particular passion for the wines of Spain. A regular contributor to Decanter and one of the five Co-Chairs of the DWWA, she is also a member of the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino

Eugenio Egorov is wine director at Six Senses London hotel & spa. Born in Ukraine, he began his hospitality career in restaurants in Italy and Florida, USA, before moving to London in 2014

Matthew Forster MW is an independent wine consultant and education specialist, and founder of The Wine Partnership. A former director at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, he is particularly passionate about the food and wine cultures of Spain, Portugal and South America

Priorat 2021 vs 2022 panel tasting results:

Wines were tasted blind

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I’m curious. Imagine we’re going to have dinner together: aperitif, white wine with the starter, red wine with the second course and a glass of Port (young, vintage) to finish. As I serve the first course, I mention that tonight’s white is from Bordeaux. What’s your reaction? He’s gone for a cheap option? Maybe. It’ll be a soundly made fresh white without much personality? Perhaps. Wow: an intriguing terroir choice! Doubtful. He’s found an exciting alternative to white Burgundy? Improbable.

That’s Bordeaux’s white problem. We’re hazy about it, we struggle to find benchmarks, it lacks precise origin and few nowadays see it as essential to the gastronomic toolkit. Prediction: this will change. And fact: you could have answered ‘yes’ to all of the deductions above. All.

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Last August (2025), I started a whirlwind tour of four Indian wine regions as the monsoon was drawing to its end.

During the nine-day trip, I travelled nearly 3,000km domestically and tasted over 150 wines to assess the 2025 vintage and recent bottlings from previous vintages.

I also got to review another 30 wines from Bangalore and the southern region a few days before New Year’s Eve, en route home after another trip to India.

Overall, the 2025 vintage offers ripe, round and well-polished wines that are easily approachable if made for early drinking, or will likely mature into playful and smooth reds of fine structure.

With that context in mind, if you’re wondering what else there is to know about Indian wines, here are five key facts, presented in a non-textbook style.

Scroll down to find five Indian wines to try

Five Indian wines to try

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Whether you’re pulling out all the stops or hiding away from the hype this Valentine’s Day, the links between wine and romance are undeniable. 

Our Valentine’s Day-themed quiz takes you through historical love and wine connections, romantic labels, quotes and even cocktail ingredients. Try your luck with our 10 multiple-choice questions below.

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Taittinger’s prestige cuvée Comtes de Champagne, made from 100% Chardonnay, is one of the region’s most recognisable wines. Lesser spotted, though, is its pink cousin.

The newly released 2012, however, is one of its most impressive vintages.

Scroll down for Tom’s tasting note and score for Comtes de Champagne Rosé 2012

Comtes Rosé 2012 tasted and rated

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During a recent trip to my local wine merchant, a vintage bottle of Chartreuse caught my eye – as did the price tag: US$4,295. This once-obscure French liqueur is having a moment with collectors and bartenders alike.

Crafted in the French Alps by silent Carthusian monks, the spirit’s origin dates to an alchemical recipe for an ‘elixir of long life’ given by Duke François-Annibal d’Estrées to the head of the Carthusian order in 1605. The monks used their knowledge of medicinal plants to fine tune the recipe, which they produced at their headquarters in the Monastery of the Grande Chartreuse outside Grenoble in eastern France. It’s still produced by lay brothers attached to the order, each of whom works on a small part of the elixir; the complete recipe of 130 plant products is known only to two monks.

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South Africa on stage

Julie Sheppard

My latest taste of the Cape took place in the heart of London, where House of Sisters Grimm has opened its doors to celebrate South African culture through performance, art and – of course – wine.

The venue is home to an art gallery – displaying works by Ella Spira MBE, inspired by Cape landscapes – and iGoli wine bar, which lists only South African bottles from top names including Restless River, Thorne & Daughters, Scions of Sinai, Vergelegen and Journey’s End.

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The Loire Valley has always been a quietly confident wine region. Stretching 300km along the river and its tributaries, it encompasses more than 65 official designations, from Muscadet on the Atlantic coast to Sancerre in the east. The area now enjoys UNESCO recognition for its cultural landscape, too.

Ahead of the curve

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