Month in wine

Wine caught up in political wrangling

During his leadership campaign, Boris Johnson styled himself as a sceptic of so-called ‘sin taxes’ and a self-confessed ‘wine man’ with a penchant for superTuscan Tignanello (see ‘Notes & Queries’, p128).

But the question remains as to whether Europe’s wines will be able to flow freely into the UK after 31 October. Johnson’s willingness to consider a ‘no-deal’ departure from the European Union has intensified the scrutiny.

A no-deal Brexit has been described as the ‘worst-case scenario’ by the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA). ‘The UK wine and spirit industry’s firm preference is