Patrick Schmitt

London

Editor-in-Chief at The Drinks Business

Articles

The red wine region that’s defying market trends

2 weeks ago | news.wine.co.za | Patrick Schmitt

That place is Rioja, Spain’s flagship wine region, which last year sold 328.5 million bottles annually (equivalent to 240m litres), with 83.5% of it being red wine. And last year, despite falling global wine consumption worldwide according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), Rioja saw a small rise in sales, even if it was only 0.6% in volume.
The top performers from The Global Wine Masters 2024

3 weeks ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | Patrick Schmitt

From prize-winning Pinotage to pricy orange wine, we have picked out the top performers from The Global Wine Masters 2024
Has Champagne become too expensive?

1 month ago | news.wine.co.za | Patrick Schmitt

That was one among many questions I put to the Champenois during a week-long stay in the region at the start of the year, and the responses were mixed, with some blaming falling sales on price rises, while others claimed it only had a small part to play.
Stephen Henschke wins Winemakers’ Winemaker award 2025

1 month ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | Patrick Schmitt

Stephen Henschke has been named as the 2025 recipient of the Winemakers’ Winemaker award at a ceremony during ProWein today. Given annually by the Institute of Masters of Wine and the drinks business since 2011, the award recognises outstanding achievement in the field of winemaking and is chosen by a panel of winemaking peers that comprise all Masters of Wine who are winemakers, and the award’s past winners.
Has Champagne become too expensive?

1 month ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | Patrick Schmitt

News When considering the reasons for the declining demand for Champagne over the past two years, some blame price increases. So has this high-end fizz become too expensive? That was one among many questions I put to the Champenois during a week-long stay in the region at the start of the year, and the responses were mixed, with some blaming falling sales on price rises, while others claimed it only had a small part to play.
'Cabernet may be king but Merlot proved emperor'

1 month ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | Patrick Schmitt

Following a series of db blind tastings, Patrick Schmitt MW concludes that, despite popular opinion from the movie Sideways, Merlot’s problem is perception, not reality.
Could the UK regain its position as Champagne’s largest export market?

1 month ago | news.wine.co.za | Patrick Schmitt

Wednesday, 12 March, 2025 The Drinks Business, Patrick Schmitt That’s a possible outcome according to chairman of the UK’s Champagne Shippers’ Association – and managing director of Pol Roger Portfolio – James Simpson MW.
Why have Champagne shipments dropped by almost 55m bottles in two years?

1 month ago | news.wine.co.za | Patrick Schmitt

Champagne shipments in 2024 were 271.4 million bottles, which was down 9.2% from 2023 – a drop of 27.6m bottles on the previous year, when 299m bottles were shipped. With the 2023 figure down just over 8% – or 26.5m bottles – on the total of 325.5m in 2022, the region has shed more than 50m bottles in two years (54.1m to be exact), and is now shipping volumes worldwide, including the domestic market, that are similar to the quantities of 2001, which were 262.7m.
Could the UK regain its position as Champagne’s largest export market?

1 month ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | Patrick Schmitt

With Champagne consumption proving resilient in the UK in 2024, might it overtake the US to become Champagne’s largest export market? That’s a possible outcome according to chairman of the UK’s Champagne Shippers’ Association – and managing director of Pol Roger Portfolio – James Simpson MW.
The UK’s Definitive Champagne Tasting to feature 60 producers

1 month ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | Patrick Schmitt

The UK’s first major Champagne trade tasting for almost a decade will feature as many as 60 producers and has already attracted 600 sign-ups from retail buyers to press and sommeliers. Called The Definitive Champagne Tasting, and taking place on 1 April at the Tate Modern in London’s Bankside, the event could already be called a success, but is still encouraging visitors to register their interest.