The type of closure required for a particular wine, eg cork or screw cap, is often discussed but just as relevant is the type of bottle. There are many factors to consider:

1. Volume: 750ml (standard) or 250ml (mini) etc…
2. Colour: Green (various shades), clear, brown or a special colour
3. Closure: Cork or screw cap
4. Weight: More expensive wines tend to come in heavier, more expensive bottles
5. Shape: Bordeaux, Burgundy or Alsace Flute to name just three options
6. Height: Can give an elegant or squat appearance
7. Moulding: Look at almost any bottle of Cotes du Rhone and you will see an emblem moulded into the glass
8. Cost: Always in a buyers mind!

And probably a host of other factors that I will realise next week that I should have included.

At the present time, however, there is one overriding factor that did not used to be an issue -availability. For several years bottle producers have been claiming that they have not been making sufficient profits and the recent number of business failures and takeovers have lent their claim some credibility. Consolidation in the European bottle-producing industry has occurred to such an extent that there are now only two main producers trying to supply all of Europe’s wine and beer makers. The net result has been an increase in prices and a huge uncertainty for wineries whether they will receive the bottles they have ordered. This has, in turn, led to supply problems for wines and bottled beers both within Aldi and across the retail sector as a whole.

What will be the medium and long term impact? I have no crystal ball but my best guess is that we will see a dramatic reduction in the styles of bottle available leading to less diversity and interest on the supermarket shelves.

Of course there are alternatives to the glass bottle, the 3l Bag in Box is well established but other formats such as the tetrapak, plastic bottles or even cans are available but relatively untried in the UK market. Maybe the current crisis will push the industry into un-chartered territories and lead to new exciting niche markets. Let’s see who has the bottle to try!

Do you remember Mutley from ‘Wacky Races’ and ‘Stop the Pigeon’? He wouldn’t save Dick Dastardly unless he got a medal first. How trivial he was that a simple gong meant so much. But just one look at the Oscars, Baftas and proliferation of televised prize-giving ceremonies demonstrates that awards do matter, despite our better instincts.

The wine world also has its awards and whilst the main focus for myself and my suppliers is to give customers the best value wines we can it is still really pleasing when we get recognition from the great and good of the wine world.

The International Wine Challenge is the largest wine contest in the world and the results are announced at the London Wine Trade Fair each May. When judging, wines are considered solely on merit, retail price is not taken into account. This makes it especially challenging for us to win awards and it makes our haul this year doubly satisfying.

Modesty prevents me from listing our successful wines - on second thoughts no it doesn’t, so here they are!:

International Wine Challenge 2007 Award Winners

Bronze Awards:
Veuve Olivier Sparkling Rose £3.99
Philippe Michel Cremant du Jura £5.49
Vino Italiano Chianti Superiore £3.99
Vino Italiano Pinot Grigio Ramato £3.99

Commended Awards:
Santa Lucia Chilean Merlot £2.99
Cape Spring South African Chenin Blanc £2.99
Baron Saint Jean Vin De Pays Blanc £2.59
Gold Country Californian Chardonnay £3.49
Premium Oak Aged Claret £3.29
Chateaux’s Selection Bordeaux Blanc £3.29
Blanc Nature (Organic White) £3.99
Rouge Nature (Organic Red) £3.99
Vina Decana Spanish Rosado £2.99
Baron Saint Jean Vin de Pays Rouge £2.59
Bushland Reserve Australian Chardonnay £3.99
Ile La Forge Chardonnay £4.99

I want to use this space to say a public thank-you to every wine-maker, producer and importer involved in getting these wines to us and performing so incredibly. Well done to you all.

It has been a busy week for me as from Tuesday to Thursday I have been at the London Wine Trade Fair. The fair is a great opportunity to meet existing suppliers, find some new ones and feed off the energy to launch new projects. The results of the International Wine Challenge are also released and the expectation of which wines have been given awards adds an element of tension to the occasion.

The two hottest topics at this year’s fair from my perspective were the impact of drought in Australia and the resurgence of certain styles of Italian wine. I discussed Australia last week and I have managed to work out details with suppliers which make the next 12 months a lot clearer for me. My next task will be the impact of these changes within our business and agree a strategy going forward.

The excitement that surrounds Italian wine continues to grow. Over the last few years we have seen the rise and rise of Pinot Grigio. This has happened both here and in the US, the world’s two biggest importers of wine. Most Italian Pinot Grigio is grown close to Lake Garda and the red wines of this area are now receiving attention, in particular Amarone della Valpolicella and Valpolicella Ripasso.

Amarone della Valpolicella is a fascinating wine in that the grapes are left to dry for several months after harvesting which causes them to dehydrate, concentrating the fruits and sugars. The grapes are then crushed and fermentation takes place but because of the high ratio of sugar to juice and the lower temperatures - as it is now February rather than October - this is far slower than for normal red wine. The result is a very rich, complex wine that is naturally high in alcohol but with enough flavour to stop it being overpowered. I love Amarone but it is expensive. Valpolicella Ripasso is sometimes known as ‘baby Amarone’ in the States and allows wine enthusiasts to capture some of the feel of Amarone without the expense. When making Ripasso, the normal wine, Valpolicella, is made and then ‘passed through’ the un-pressed grapes left in the barrel after Amarone has been transferred to a new cask. The resulting wine, Valpolicella Ripasso, is fuller-bodied and more complex than the original.

Made with care both of these wines are fabulous and almost unique, and this is why interest in them is booming. Maybe you’ll see one soon in your local ALDI store!