From left, Julien Bourlard MW, MS; Tommy Lam, Founder of the China Sommelier Competition; Derek Li MS. Photographed at Court of Master Sommeliers Examination 16 August 2026. On 16 August 2026, the Court of Master Sommeliers held its highest-level Master Sommelier Diploma examination in Asia for the first time, at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong […]
The World Map of Wine by Aya Mizukami is Amazon Japan’s Number 1 Bestseller! In fact, just five days after its publication, such was the surging demand, publishing house Diamond (one of Japan’s leading publishers), quickly initiated a second print run. A third print run followed about five weeks later. The 320-page World Map of Wine is Number […]
Through bold innovation, Chinese winemakers are transforming their craft—turning wine from a casual after-work drink into a powerful expression of heritage, terroir, and ingenuity. This pioneering spirit makes them the ideal stars of Cathay Pacific’s latest Discovery Wine Series, now served on board its aircraft. “Chinese wine no longer simply follows established traditions from elsewhere,” […]
Opus One Chief Winemaker Michael Silacci Opus One, the renowned Napa Valley estate, has announced that Chief Winemaker Michael Silacci will retire following the completion of the 2026 harvest, bringing his 25-year journey at Opus One to a close. Silacci joined Opus One in 2001 as Director of Viticulture and Enology, and was appointed the […]
This year, 2026, Penfolds celebrates Grange’s 75th anniversary. Born from controversy, this wine has become Australia’s most revered wine and a true icon on the global stage. The Penfolds story began in 1844 when Dr Christopher Penfold and his wife Mary arrived in South Australia from England. They planted the first vines at Magill Estate in […]
In late July, southwestern France’s Gironde department experienced its most severe forest fire since 1949. Local residents reported that the fire was sparked on Wednesday 22 July, by a machine clearing scrubland. Within ten days, the blaze consumed approximately 42,000 hectares of forest – an area equivalent to four times the size of Paris – […]
Cristal is produced exclusively in the finest vintages. The cuvée is a blend of approximately 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. It is aged for six years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and left for a further 8 months after dégorgement. For Champagne Louis Roederer, 2026 is a year of dual celebration: the house’s 250th anniversary […]
Since its opening in 1982, Summer Palace has stood at the forefront of Cantonese fine dining in Singapore. Located at Conrad Singapore Orchard, the One-Michelin-Starred restaurant remains one of the country’s most revered Chinese dining venues, having held its star since first being awarded by the Michelin Guide Singapore in 2017. At the helm of […]
AXA Millésimes, the prestigious wine division of AXA Group, has announced a strategic reorganisation involving two key leadership appointments across its global operations. Corinne Ilić, who has spent 18 years with AXA Millésimes, including 11 years as Communications Director for the estates, has been appointed Managing Director of Outpost in Napa Valley and Platt Vineyard […]
In the sun-drenched Languedoc region of southern France, the name Jean-Claude Mas is synonymous with a quiet revolution. Described as a “pioneer from the New Languedoc”, he has, in just over two decades, transformed a 35-hectare family vineyard into a sprawling wine empire boasting 940 hectares of self-owned vines and a further 1,500 hectares under partnership, spanning 17 properties. […]
