Decanter August 2021

EDITOR’S LETTER It’s all yours In her latest column, our correspondent Jane Anson (see p16) raises an interesting point. En primeur coverage has sparked a lot of conversation recently, with some asking why we devote space to something that is claimed to be of fairly niche interest, and only an early clue to the quality of wines which may well be some years from optimum drinkability. So why do we do it? Because, quite simply, our readers find it interesting. We know that lots of people log on to our website, open our emails and buy our magazine to read about it. So we continue to cover it. The same is true for many other subjects. But what we’d like to know is: what aren’t we covering that we should?…

In her latest column, our correspondent Jane Anson (see p16) raises an interesting point. En primeur coverage has sparked a lot of conversation recently, with some asking why we devote space to something that is claimed to be of fairly niche interest, and only an early clue to the quality of wines which may well be some years from optimum drinkability. So why do we do it? Because, quite simply, our readers find it interesting. We know that lots of people log on to our website, open our emails and buy our magazine to read about it. So we continue to cover it. The same is true for many other subjects. But what we’d like to know is: what aren’t we covering that we should? What else would you like…

Meet the Decanter experts SARAH AHMED is an award-winning wine writer, educator and judge specialising in Portugal and Australia. She is DWWA Regional Chair for Portugal, and publishes on her own website thewinedetective.co.uk JANE ANSON is a Decanter contributing editor and DWWA Regional Chair for Bordeaux, where she also lives. Her most recent book is an in-depth study of the region, Inside Bordeaux (£60, BB&R Press) SARAH JANE EVANS MW is an award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster, and DWWA Co-Chair. Author of The Wines of Northern Spain (Infinite Ideas, 2018), she is also current chair of Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino ANDY HOWARD MW is a Decanter contributing editor and a DWWA Regional Chair. A former retail wine buyer, he now runs his own wine consultancy Vinetrades Ltd,…

SARAH AHMED is an award-winning wine writer, educator and judge specialising in Portugal and Australia. She is DWWA Regional Chair for Portugal, and publishes on her own website thewinedetective.co.uk JANE ANSON is a Decanter contributing editor and DWWA Regional Chair for Bordeaux, where she also lives. Her most recent book is an in-depth study of the region, Inside Bordeaux (£60, BB&R Press) SARAH JANE EVANS MW is an award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster, and DWWA Co-Chair. Author of The Wines of Northern Spain (Infinite Ideas, 2018), she is also current chair of Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino ANDY HOWARD MW is a Decanter contributing editor and a DWWA Regional Chair. A former retail wine buyer, he now runs his own wine consultancy Vinetrades Ltd, with a focus on wine education and sourcing ELIN MCCOY is a journalist…

Shortage of sommeliers and staff hits resurgent restaurants From sommeliers to chefs, severe staff shortages have caused headaches for restaurants, pubs and bars in the UK as they seek to reopen for business. While restaurant and pub owners have welcomed the chance to begin reopening their doors, most are concerned about recruitment, according to research by hospitality consultants CGA and Fourth. Many hospitality staff have been forced to find alternative work following Covid lockdowns, yet the research also noted that ‘Brexit has also caused a steep drop in people travelling from Europe to work in the UK.’ Wages have risen in some cases as venues seek extra help. Hourly weekend wages for temporary staff have increased by 9% on average since 2019, and in some instances up to 14%, according to recruitment platform…

Uncorked A snapshot of what’s happening in the world of wine COMPILED BY JULIE SHEPPARD & CHRIS MERCER Shortage of sommeliers and staff hits resurgent restaurants From sommeliers to chefs, severe staff shortages have caused headaches for restaurants, pubs and bars in the UK as they seek to reopen for business. While restaurant and pub owners have welcomed the chance to begin reopening their doors, most are concerned about recruitment, according to research by hospitality consultants CGA and Fourth. Many hospitality staff have been forced to find alternative work following Covid lockdowns, yet the research also noted that ‘Brexit has also caused a steep drop in people travelling from Europe to work in the UK.’ Wages have risen in some cases as venues seek extra help. Hourly weekend wages for…