From the crude wines of the ancient world to the refined commercial product of the 21st century, the story of wine has always been intimately bound with that of human civilisation.

Four of the best boozy things on Youtube

More computer-aided controversy.

“It’s complicated”

A look at one of the most idiosyncratic wine books ever published, Robin Yapp's memoir.

“We should not fail to notice the conspicuous absence of kimchi-or-yoghurt-based super-cultures.”

Matthew Jukes, one of Britain's best-known wine writers, has died suddenly while on holiday with his family in Portugal. He was 58.

It’s the trend that’s sweeping the nation… apparently. Plus a new Critic wine club.

The results of the great cinsault challenge of 2026 are in and the winner is….

Thoughts on some ridiculously cheap wines from Aldi and what that means for the struggling independent trade.

Do you suffer from sherry legs? Well, I think I have found the answer.

'When a woman chooses a hat, she does not put it on a goat’s head to judge it; she puts it on her own.’

“Are you serious? Get drunk in Islamabad?”

England’s greatest vineyard is up for sale. I use the word advisedly because while there are other excellent sparkling wine producers in this country, largely their wines come from multiple vineyards.

“Are you serious? Get drunk in Islamabad?”

How to spot if someone is in the pay of Big Burgundy

Some wine merchants are being a little loose with the truth when it comes to selling declassified claret.

'Stiffish, Jeeves. Not too much soda, but splash the brandy about a bit.'

The former 'high street tsar' delivered a keynote address on how the drinks industry could do better.

"It is my belief and boast that I invented the London cocktail party—in April, 1924.” Alec Waugh

“One major restaurant wine buyer said no customers have asked about carbon footprint in the last three years."

So, it's the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris today.For those who don't know of it, but still drink wine, this probably means that you're a GenXer or younger as even the oldest of us couldn't...

What was the significance of probably the most famous event in wine since the wedding at Cana?

“One pint of sherry wine, two ounces of good quality Indian or Egyptian opium, one of saffron, and cinnamon stick and a clove, both powdered”

Exciting news: there’s an updated version of Ian Buxton’s wonderfully curmudgeonly tour around Scotland’s island distilleries. Plus The Rest is History

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“He had poured forth a torrent of wit, parts, humour, knowledge, absurdity, vanity, and fiction, heightened by all the graces of comedy, the happiness of allusion and quotation..."

For English Whisky Week, I’m taking a look at the conflict that has divided the industry between the big boys and the scrappy upstarts.

For English Whisky Week, I’m taking a look at the conflict that has divided the industry between the big boys and the scrappy upstarts.

The Spirit of British Mischief, coming to a bar near you.

Buy Empire of Booze: British History Through the Bottom of a Glass Main by Jeffreys, Henry (ISBN: 9781805466420) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

I blame the parents

I blame the parents

"Most consumers assume all Scotch is made with Scottish barley (how wrong they are!)”

"Most consumers assume all Scotch is made with Scottish barley (how wrong they are!)”

Spy fiction was massive in the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties — those big paperbacks for Dad to consume on the plane or by the pool. I can still recall the striking original covers for Len Deighton’s...

A brush with medical professionals has left one wine lover unhappy at being pigeon-holed as an "alcohol user". Read the latest wine news & opinion on wine-searcher

Massie was like Charles Moore, Philip Hensher, Julian Barnes and Simon Barnes all rolled into one — though much better than that sounds.