Rosamund Hall

English wine has evolved from a novelty into a globally respected industry, with sparkling producers winning major international awards and still wines increasingly demonstrating a distinctive sense of place. The sector now includes more than 1,100 vineyards and 300 wineries, supports over 10,000 jobs and attracts substantial tourism, but faces high land, production and climate-related costs. WineGB is campaigning for targeted cellar-door duty relief that could generate £6 million for rural investment. The recommended bottles range from affordable supermarket offerings to premium sparkling and still wines from producers across southern England.

Spritzes are presented as ideal lighter summer drinks because they can be lengthened with sparkling wine and soda, or made primarily with soda to reduce alcohol and calories. The article recommends a basic one-part aperitif, two-parts sparkling wine and three-parts soda formula, alongside classic white wine spritzers and adventurous European alternatives including Cynar, Pineau des Charentes and Picon. It also reviews a range of bittersweet and non-alcoholic bases, including Lillet, Select, Campari, Botivo, Cocchi Rosa, Luxardo and white port, while recommending slimline tonic as a lower-sugar mixer.

Whispering Angel and its producer, Château d’Esclans, helped turn premium Provence rosé into a global cultural and commercial phenomenon through ambitious marketing, particularly to women and aspirational lifestyle audiences. Industry data indicates that rosé continues to grow in the UK despite an overall decline in wine consumption, with consumers drinking it year-round and paying more for French examples. Experts credit major brands with advancing quality and awareness across the category, while identifying growth opportunities for rosés from regions beyond Provence. Five recommended alternatives range from affordable Bordeaux, Provençal and Languedoc bottles to a premium organic rosé and a Greek Xinomavro.

The column argues that Steven Bartlett’s regret over drinking two glasses of wine exemplifies a damaging culture of extreme self-optimisation, in which sleep, exercise, food and bodily data are constantly monitored. It supports Greg James’s criticism that this mindset makes people anxious and less able to enjoy life, while citing experts and Jessica Ennis-Hill to argue that resilience depends on balance, recovery, relationships and accepting imperfection. Unmeasured pleasures such as shared meals, wine, hobbies and time with friends are presented as essential to wellbeing and as a counterweight to loneliness and wellness-driven anxiety.

Celebrity wine is expanding despite broader problems in the wine sector, with consumers attracted by ready-made personalities and affordable luxury. The strongest labels involve celebrities directly in blending, production or sustainability rather than merely licensing their names. Kylie Minogue is presented as the category’s leading success, while Roger Taylor’s Queen rosé and Jessica Ennis-Hill’s Seven Summers receive positive attention. The recommended selection spans Provençal rosés, sparkling wines, champagne, alcohol-free wine and accessible reds, while Snoop Dogg’s range is dismissed as primarily a merchandising exercise and celebrity endorsement is cautioned against as a guarantee of quality.

A spring and bank holiday wine guide recommends a broad selection of sparkling wines, rosés, whites, lighter reds and ruby port. The choices span regions including France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Portugal and Spain, with an emphasis on freshness, food versatility and accessible prices. Supermarket options from Aldi, M&S, Tesco, Co-op and Sainsbury’s are presented alongside more premium bottles from specialist retailers.

Rosamund Hall recommends a broad selection of wines for Easter and spring, spanning Champagne, sparkling rosé, still rosé, aromatic whites, lighter reds and ruby port. The recommendations range from affordable supermarket bottles by Aldi, M&S and Tesco to more premium selections from specialist retailers, with France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Portugal and Spain represented. The overall guidance is to embrace fresh, versatile wines while also enjoying lighter reds and chilled port beyond Easter Sunday.

Perimenopause can make alcohol feel stronger because fluctuating oestrogen, declining alcohol-processing enzymes, and sensitivity to wine compounds such as histamines, tannins and sulphites may worsen anxiety, hot flushes, sleep disruption and next-day symptoms. Some women also drink more to cope with symptoms, creating greater risks for those vulnerable to addictive behaviours. The article recommends drinking less, eating protein-rich food, alternating with water or non-alcoholic drinks, and choosing younger, drier, lower-alcohol wines; lighter reds such as Pinot Noir and Gamay and dry whites, rosé and sparkling wines may be easier to tolerate. Symptoms often settle after menopause, although alcohol tolerance may not return to earlier levels.

The UK offers unusually broad access to wines from around the world through supermarkets, independent shops, pubs and restaurants. Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Co-op and Aldi are recommended for different strengths, while The Wine Society and independent retailers are praised for quality and value. Shoppers are advised to focus on the styles they genuinely enjoy, treat supermarket own-label wines seriously, be cautious about meaningless medal stickers, ask sommeliers and shop staff for guidance, set a firm budget, and try wines before buying by the glass. European quality classifications can help identify reliable bottles, while Portugal, South Africa and parts of France are highlighted for value. The guide ultimately encourages experimentation rather than wine snobbery.

Most dry wines contain only around 1–5 grams of residual sugar per litre, although sweetness varies considerably by style and production method. Dry reds and many dry whites are generally low in sugar, while extra-dry Prosecco, partially dried-grape wines such as Amarone and ripasso, sweet wines and some industrial wines can contain more. The article explains how to distinguish sweetness from ripe fruit flavours, recommends brut sparkling wines for lower sugar, cautions against heavily sweetened wines such as Jam Shed, and offers a selection of lower-sugar bottles across different regions and price points.

The UK’s proposed stricter drink-driving limits could make a full pint risky for many motorists, particularly newly qualified drivers. The change is used to argue that British pubs should offer smaller beer measures more widely, especially the two-thirds pint or a suitably branded “schooner.” Research led by Theresa Marteau found that replacing pints with two-thirds measures reduced beer consumption by 10 per cent without reducing bar visits. The article argues that smaller servings could improve public health while preserving pub trade and drinking enjoyment.