Lockdown has turned us all into experimental drinkers keen to taste something new at home. Waitrose states that sales from lesser-known wine countries have almost doubled since last year and a fifth of us have tried new wine styles since the first lockdown. Given that cracking open a tasty, unusual bottle that we have never tried before is just about the only new thrill any of us have right now, I’m not surprised. Fortunately wine drinkers here are spoilt for choice because the UK remains the No 1 wine export destination for the world’s producers, ever keen to be evaluated by British merchants and commentators. Just last month Waitrose went out on a limb and launched the first premium Indian wine in the UK.

Source: The Times March 12, 2021 12:03 UTC