News of December 2025

Southwest on the move: 4 estates to meet at Bordeaux Tasting

Terre de Vins says four Southwest France estates will share their vision at Bordeaux Tasting this weekend at the Palais de la Bourse in Bordeaux: domaine Chiroulet, Château Les Farcies du Pech, Montus & Bouscassé and domaine de l’écrivain.

Source: terredevins.com Château Les Farcies du Pech Visiting Bordeaux

Chef Jonathan Waxman Is Opening This Birth-Year Bordeaux at His Daughter’s Wedding

Chef Jonathan Waxman is saving a birth-year Bordeaux to open at his daughter’s wedding, which coincides with his 75th birthday.

Source: wineenthusiast.com Visiting Bordeaux

Laurent-Perrier: recreating the perfect year with the Grand Siècle cuvée

At Bordeaux Tasting, Laurent-Perrier presents Grand Siècle, a cuvée built from 3 vintages to recreate an ideal year. Iteration 26 combines 2012 (65%), 2008 (25%) and 2007 (10%), according to terredevins.com.

Source: terredevins.com The VintageVisiting Bordeaux

BBR’s revenues slip as impact on fine wine market continues

Berry Bros & Rudd’s revenue fell 8.2% to £225.8m in the financial year ending March 31, 2025, according to documents filed at Companies House, amid “ongoing stagnation” in the fine wine and spirits market. Operating profit fell 12.9% to £3.036m.

Source: thedrinksbusiness.com The Fine Wine Market

Bordeaux Tasting: when Champagnes reveal their character

At Bordeaux Tasting, the Syndicat Général des Vignerons de la Champagne is holding workshops throughout the weekend, including a “Caractères” session that presents pinot noirs in vivid, fruity and intense styles.

Source: terredevins.com Visiting Bordeaux

From Champagne to the Andes via Yquem

On Sunday, December 14, Bordeaux Tasting concluded with 3 masterclasses featuring Champagne Laurent Perrier, Château d’Yquem and Cheval des Andes. The 26th Grand Siècle iteration combined 2007, 2008 and 2012, while Château d’Yquem’s 2023 vintage was tasted in a world premiere, according to terredevins.com.

Source: terredevins.com Château d’Yquem The VintageVisiting Bordeaux

hors Bordeaux: a tasting tour through the platform’s top international expressions

At ProWine Shanghai on November 12, attendees tasted international wines handled by La Place de Bordeaux, including Champagne, Chardonnay and Malbec from Mendoza, Carmenere and Cabernet from Chile, and Cabernet from Australia, California and China, according to the drinks business.

Source: thedrinksbusiness.com En Primeur and La PlaceVineyard and Cellar

Bordeaux Tasting: spirits as well

Spirits have a growing place alongside wines at Bordeaux Tasting.

Source: terredevins.com Visiting Bordeaux

The solution is in the glass

Terre de Vins presents Bordeaux Tasting as an answer for wine lovers, found in the glass.

Source: terredevins.com Visiting Bordeaux

What should you drink while watching France vs Australia?

Vintage by UGCB asked experts to recommend wines for France vs Australia on November 22, 2025, at Stade de France. Jacques Lurton recommended Château La Louvière 2021, from Pessac-Léognan, served slightly chilled.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com Château La Louvière Pessac-Léognan The VintageThe New Bordeaux

Christmas with Grands Crus: The Wine Merchant’s Tips

Vintage by UGCB visited Chai des Chartrons, a wine shop in Bordeaux’s historic Chartrons district, to offer festive food and wine pairings for Christmas on December 12, 2025.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com The Vintage

A success that warms hearts!

Bordeaux Tasting drew strong attendance in a warm atmosphere, bringing the trade and consumers together around Bordeaux wines.

Source: terredevins.com Visiting Bordeaux

A St-Emilion story: Château Pavie profile

Gérard Perse, former owner of Château Pavie, died in July, according to Decanter. Château Pavie is one of 2 St-Émilion estates currently ranked premier grand cru class A.

Source: decanter.com Château Pavie Saint-Émilion Estates and People

4 masterclasses to grasp excellence

Bordeaux Tasting held 4 masterclasses, including a Riedel session showing how glass shape affects tasting, with Château Pape-Clément 2022, Beaune Village blanc 2023, Aloxe-Corton 2023 and Quarry du château de Sours 2022.

Source: terredevins.com Château Pape Clément Visiting Bordeaux

“Koreans Are Very Fond of Bordeaux Grands Crus”

On November 6, 2025, 35-year-old Seoul sommelier and influencer Yanis Alexandre Feral said Koreans are very fond of Bordeaux Grands Crus. He introduces them to food and wine pairings and Bordeaux Grands Crus through his YouTube channel, Wine_Story.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com Trade and Tariffs

Why You Shouldn’t Miss the 2025 Edition

The 2025 Bordeaux Tasting will bring Bordeaux, Champagne, spirits and foreign wines to the Palais de la Bourse, with producer-led tastings and masterclasses. Featured names include Pichon Baron, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clos Fourtet, Château Pavie, Château d'Yquem and Cheval des Andes.

Source: terredevins.com Château d’YquemClos FourtetChâteau PavieChâteau Pichon BaronChâteau Smith Haut Lafitte Visiting Bordeaux

The brilliant career of Clos Fourtet

On July 16, 2025, Clos Fourtet’s vines near the medieval village of Saint-Émilion were described as resting above 13 hectares of historic underground galleries, where bottles of the Premier Grand Cru Classé B mature.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com Clos Fourtet Saint-Émilion Rules and ClassificationsHistory and Archives

Wine Side Stories

UGCB presents “Wine Side Stories,” a feature on the world of Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com Rules and Classifications

Harvest Notebook Vintage 2025

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux published its 2025 Harvest Notebook on October 13, 2025, covering the harvest from Saint-Julien to Pessac-Léognan, Saint-Émilion and Sauternes and describing the vintage as elegant and atypical.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com Pessac-LéognanSaint-ÉmilionSaint-JulienSauternes The Vintage

Meeting Château-Figeac

Château-Figeac, a Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" estate in Saint-Emilion, is set to host the Welcome Evening for the 2024 Primeurs.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com Château Figeac Saint-Émilion En Primeur and La PlaceEstates and People

Week-End of the Grands Crus 2025

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux announces the Week-End des Grands Crus 2025 in Bordeaux, where top classified growths are shown to consumers and professionals.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com Rules and Classifications

Cross interview: François-Xavier Maroteaux and Axel Marchal

From April 14 to 17, the wine world will gather in Bordeaux to taste the 2024 vintage. François-Xavier Maroteaux, president of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, and Axel Marchal will provide guidance on interpreting it.

Source: vintagebyugcb.com The VintageEstates and People

The new features of Bordeaux Tasting

Terre de Vins presents what is new at the coming Bordeaux Tasting: changes in format, participants and experiences for wine lovers.

Source: terredevins.com Visiting Bordeaux

Wine Advent #10: Give the Cité du Vin for Christmas

Terre de Vins suggests giving the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux as a Christmas gift, including gift cards valued at €30, €50, €75 or €100. The venue surpassed 3 million visitors in early 2025, with foreign visitors representing 53% of its audience in 2024.

Source: terredevins.com Visiting BordeauxHistory and Archives

How important are UK buyers to the secondary market?

According to thedrinksbusiness.com, UK buyers account for about 30% of Liv-ex traded volume and continue to influence prices and market trends. Bordeaux's share of their annual purchases fell from more than 50% until 2018 to around 30% since then, roughly level with Burgundy.

Source: thedrinksbusiness.com The Fine Wine Market

2025 is turning out to be a great year for wine

According to dailygazette.com, 2025 is shaping up as an excellent wine year, with record-early harvests across France and the earliest-ever picking at Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Emilion.

Source: dailygazette.com Château Troplong Mondot Saint-Émilion The Vintage

Uncover hidden gems: Affordable Bordeaux and Burgundy wines for your Christmas feast

Decanter selected 14 Bordeaux and Burgundy wines for Christmas feasts, including sparkling, white, red and sweet styles from areas such as St-Julien, St-Estèphe, Beaujolais, Chablis and Sauternes.

Source: decanter.com Saint-EstèpheSaint-JulienSauternes Wines to Buy

Wine Advent #7: The Extraordinary Bottle of Cantenac Brown

Château Cantenac Brown has unveiled its “Terre & Temps” collection, featuring a double magnum containing the 2015 vintage.

Source: terredevins.com Château Cantenac Brown The New Bordeaux

Wine Advent #4: The Big Guns of the Médoc in a Gift Box

Château Pichon Baron and Cos d'Estournel are offering gift boxes: Pichon Baron’s 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018 half-bottle vertical costs €599 at its Pauillac shop, while Cos offers a 3-bottle 2015 set marking the vintage’s 10th anniversary.

Source: terredevins.com Château Cos d’EstournelChâteau Pichon Baron MédocPauillac The VintageHistory and Archives

Bordeaux 2005: 23 top wines tasted 2 decades on

Decanter tasted 23 top Bordeaux wines from the 2005 vintage two decades after their release, revisiting a vintage once described as “perfect” for its exceptional median quality and homogeneity.

Source: decanter.com The Vintage

This gold-medal red wine under 7 euros earned 2 stars in the Hachette guide

Château Bourdieu 2020 Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux red wine won a gold medal and 2 stars in the Hachette Guide and is promoted for under €7 at Cdiscount ahead of year-end meals.

Source: leparisien.fr Château Bourdieu Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Critics and Scores

Details of the European plan to support viticulture

The European Union's new plan to support viticulture sets out financial and regulatory measures for winegrowers in crisis, and how the funds and tools will be spread across member states' wine regions, including France.

Source: terredevins.com The CrisisVineyard and Cellar

EU reaches deal on modernised wine rules aimed at resilience and growth

EU institutions have agreed on a package of modernised wine regulations aimed at boosting the sector’s resilience and growth. The reforms will affect production, labeling and market measures for all EU wine regions, including Bordeaux.

Source: thedrinksbusiness.com Rules and Classifications