The Wine Merchant's Blog

Day 1 Morning After a 3am start for most of us, a weary band of wine trade stalwarts assemble at Frankfurt airport. Introductions completed, we await our lift to the Leitz winery in Rüdesheim. The stereotypical edifice of German efficiency begins to crumble as we wait, and wait, and wait for our driver to find […]

If there’s one top tip the JN taste team can offer to maximise your vinous enjoyment, it is this: decant your red wines (some white wines also benefit enormously too). Why? Traditionally, most people associate decanting with separating an older wine or port from its sediment.We strongly recommend decanting wine to give it air, let […]

Most people envisage a wine harvest, or vendange, as a romantic scene; rolling landscapes washed with glorious sunshine, enjoying wine at a grand chateau in the evenings. In September 2008, sitting in Dublin Airport I had such expectations. Bearing in mind this was my third week working in the wine trade. A bona fide novice. […]