You’re ready to enjoy a glass of your favourite wine, bottle at the ready. Only one thing stands between you and that first delicious sip. The cork.

Best scenario, you have a corkscrew to hand; you deftly pull the cork from the bottle and you’re good to go. We’ll show you how to pick the perfect corkscrew below. But what do you do if the cork has crumbled, and the corkscrew won’t bite? Worse still, what do you do if you have no corkscrew at all? Rest easy – we have all the answers for you.

Save the date, mark your calendars, and grab your tickets …

 … because our beloved London Wine Festival is back by popular demand – returning on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May. 

Pork is an incredibly versatile meat … there are varying cuts and flavour profiles, which means when it comes to wine, there’s a plethora of pairing possibilities.

From light and delicate to bold and robust, there are many different wine styles to suit the richness or seasoning of your pork dish. So, whether you’re grilling pork chops, enjoying tender roast pork, or indulging in pork belly, we’ve got you covered with a range of wine suggestions that will complement and enhance every bite.

When the occasion calls for bubbles, your first thought may be a bottle of Champagne, but there’s another French sparkler worth considering – Crémant. This French sparkling wine has an excellent and well-deserved reputation thanks to its unique combination of quality and value.

When was the last time you poured yourself a glass of sherry? This Spanish fortified wine has had its fair share of ups and downs with UK drinkers. Its reputation was somewhat tarnished by the cream sherries and cooking sherries that were once ubiquitous in UK drinks cabinets. These overly sweet and often inferior-quality wines bore little resemblance to sherry’s authentic, complex character. This resulted in the widespread perception that sherry was a less-than-sophisticated choice, best resigned to dusty cupboards and left for trifle recipes.

In recent years, the UK has seen a sherry renaissance, with increasingly more wine lovers discovering that sherry is not a single, homogeneous style of wine but encompasses a whole range – from the crisp, bone-dry Manzanilla and Fino sherries, to the intriguingly complex Amontillado, Palo Cortado and Oloroso, and even the wonderfully rich and sweet Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel.

Cabernet Sauvignon ticks every box when you are looking for a rich, full-bodied and satisfying red wine. Known and loved for its robust tannins and deep, dark fruit flavours, it’s often balanced with vanilla and spice from oak ageing. In Cabernet Sauvignon from cooler climates, you might detect a hint of green bell pepper, while wines from warmer regions feature ripe blackcurrant notes. Cabernet Sauvignon is delicious on its own, but it also works beautifully when paired with a wide array of dishes. So, what should you know about this famous wine? Our guide answers all your questions and more.

Barolo, often called the ‘King of Wines’, is one of Italy’s most prestigious and sought-after red wines. It hails from the Barolo appellation in Piedmont, northeastern Italy, and is reknowned for quality. This full-flavoured red wine has a rich history and a terrific reputation, which makes it a significant player in the world of Italian wines.

Barolo is made solely from Nebbiolo, a grape variety that, despite its thin skins, is known for strong tannins, high acidity and profound floral aromas. A standout feature of Barolo is its impressive ageing potential. Even after a mandatory ageing period at the winery (at least 38 months, of which 18 must be in barrel, while for Riservas it’s at least three in oak, two in bottle), top Barolos can continue to evolve for several more decades in the bottle.

Barolo is not only one of the finest wines of Italy, but also one of the most celebrated in the world, with Barolo fans splashing out big bucks for wines from the most revered winemakers and vineyards.

There are 11 communes – subregions – within Barolo, five of which are particularly renowned and highly regarded. Given time, the wines open out to reveal an amazing array of delicate, intriguing flavours, which make Barolo red wine definitely worth trying. The wines are a wonderful reflection of Italy’s modo di vivere, where – when it comes to food and wine – great patience and a slow pace of life is amply rewarded.

A stunningly beautiful region in the deep south of Italy, Puglia is known chiefly for its big, rich fruity reds made from local grape varieties including Primitivo, Negroamaro and Nero di Troia. These wines were little-known outside of Italy until the 1990s, but they’ve quickly built up a loyal following – loved for their big bold flavours and smoky, spicy character.

Pinot Noir and Merlot … the tale of two classics.

Merlot is often regarded as an uncomplicated, easy-drinking and crowd-pleasing grape. Because of that, it’s the perfect ‘any occasion’ wine. The kind of wine you’d bring to a party or savour midweek alongside dinner.

In contrast, Pinot Noir is regarded as a connoisseurs’ grape. It can be elegant and refined, with so many complexities that you might feel you need a degree in wine to understand it.

Now for the twist.

Not all is as it seems with Merlot. In fact, it’s quite misunderstood … because Merlot can produce sublime reds as well of those easy-drinking bottles.

After all, it’s the grape behind the Right Bank Bordeaux reds of Saint Emilion and Pomerol. Le Pin (a pure Merlot from Pomerol) sells for £2,000 a bottle … yikes!

Let’s dive into the details and compare these two red titans.

Where we left off ...

This is my last Laithwaites letter. The job is passing to the next generation – they have a better sense of what’s going on around here and speak the new language of marketing … which is mostly acronyms. But writing in real English about wine, its people and places, is all I’ve ever done … for 60 years now (I wrote my first letter – six copies for my Dad’s friends – about working in the co-operative de Lussac in 1965).

However, I, as well as my psychiatrist, worry what will become of me if I stop. So, I won’t stop. I’ll just move. I’ve begged a regular page on our website … where you’ll still find me writing about wine, its people and places for as long as I’m coherent! So, switch channels now … over to ‘The Tony Letter’.

The Loire Valley is one of France’s most important wine regions, up there with Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône. And though best known for Sauvignon Blanc it has much more to explore – from great value stylish fizz zippy seafood whites to elegant light reds and more. Grab a glass of something tasty and find out all you need to know about the Loire in our beginner’s guide.

There’s nothing quite like a delicious roast lamb for lunch with family and friends, especially during your Easter celebrations. However, lamb is highly versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways. Known for its delicate, gamey and even slightly sweet flavour, lamb pairs wonderfully with wine.

Whether roasted, grilled, barbecued or slow-cooked in a curry, tagine or stew, there’s a perfect wine to complement your lamb dish’s flavours.

The Rhône Valley is one of France’s most important wine regions, up there with the big names like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Loire. And it has so much to offer wine lovers – from warming red blends and elegant pure Syrahs to luxuriously rich whites and more. Find out all you need to know in our beginner’s guide.

You’ve probably heard of Sauvignon Blanc and for a good reason. It is the superstar of white wines – adored worldwide for its racy acidity and vibrant fruit flavours, ranging from zesty citrus and green apple to tropical passion fruit. You may even notice a distinctive herbaceous note reminiscent of fresh-cut grass or bell pepper. It’s like a fragrant summer garden in a glass!

Sauvignon Blanc hails from two of France’s most prestigious wine regions – Loire Valley and Bordeaux. Yet this green-skinned grape has since ventured far and wide. Significant plantings of Sauvignon Blanc can be found in the breathtaking landscapes of New Zealand to the sun-kissed valleys of California.

And here’s the marvellous thing about Sauvignon Blanc – it’s a bit of a chameleon. It can shine as a single varietal or mingle perfectly with Sémillon and Muscadelle to create Bordeaux’s famous white blends. It even plays a crucial role in sweet botrytised Sauternes.

It has certainly earned its popularity amongst wine enthusiasts, so let’s explore the exciting world of Sauvignon Blanc ...

France is often thought to produce the finest wines in the world (certainly by the French!). But where are the top spots? And what makes these wines so special? Join us as we explore the key wine growing regions of France and discover what makes each region’s wines so very different.