Decanter magazine July 2026 issue and Rioja guide: See what's inside

Welcome to Decanter magazine’s July 2026 issue

Choose Chiroubles

Leader by Amy Wislocki, Decanter magazine editor

I haven’t yet made it to Beaujolais, though I remember a colleague telling me years ago how surprised she was by the beauty of the landscapes.

I have been captivated by the beauty of its wines though, and had great fun tasting through a lineup of them at the launch party for Natasha Hughes’ book on the region (see contents list below).

Coincidentally, my favourite wine at that party happens to be the top-scoring wine in Natasha’s recommendations at the end of her compelling read on Chiroubles. And at a little above £20 a bottle retail, it is a bargain at the price.

Natasha tells the story beautifully of a Beaujolais cru whose wines are delicious, but which is struggling to remain financially viable due to the cost and toil involved in working its vertiginous slopes, the harsh weather that periodically destroys large portions of the crop, and the fact that it’s easier to sell other, better-known Beaujolais crus, such as Fleurie.

I hope that after reading Natasha’s piece, you might be inspired to seek out some Chiroubles and help spread the word!

In my glass this month

I was impressed by the Robert Mondavi, Reserve Fumé Blanc 2023 (£80 Enotria, from September), which contains a dash of Semillon, and uses fruit from the famous To Kalon vineyard.

In tastings held simultaneously in 12 cities around the world – to mark the opening of Mondavi’s new winery – attendees voted the Fumé Blanc ‘Wine of the Day’, with the 60th Anniversary release Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 runner-up.

Inside Decanter magazine’s July 2026 issue

In focus

• 20 wines for summer Five tips for summer drinking from Natalie Earl, and Decanter team picks to stock up on
• South American blends Get to know the new and exciting blends coming out of the region with Ines Salpico
• Vintage report: Barolo 2022 Michaela Morris reports on a tricky vintage in Piedmont
• The lure of Italy Lisa Cardelli meets five winemakers who left Australia and New Zealand for a life in Italy
• Chiroubles This top Beaujolais cru is struggling despite the high quality of its wines, says Natasha Hughes MW
• Material benefit Winemakers are increasingly turning to inert vessels such as glass. Joel Hart explores the attraction, and the impact on the wines
• Forgotten France: Côtes du Forez Chris Howard on a little-known corner of the Loire where Gamay rules
• My other passion: Freediving Haysley MacDonald of te Pā Wines takes Marianna Hunt seafood hunting

Spirits

• Distilled Spirits news & cocktails
• Strong minded Carissa Chesanek samples higher-proof tequila blancos

Food & travel

• What to pair with picky bits Neil Ridley preps you for picnic season
• Travel: Western Slovenia wine tour on two wheels Chris Boiling hits the saddle (of an e-bike – it’s hilly!)

Learning

• Books etc Sophie Thorpe recommends Thirst by John Robins
• Wine wisdom Expert advice to help you on your ongoing wine journey

Buying guide

• Introduction
• Editors’ picks Decanter staff share highlights from their recent tastings
• Panel tasting: North Italian Pinot Grigio Pinot Grigios with character, especially the ramato styles: 61 wines tasted, 3 rated Outstanding
• Panel tasting: Vintage Cap Classique South African traditional-method fizz with class, and often great value: 51 wines tasted, 2 rated Outstanding
• Expert’s choice: New Zealand aromatic whites Emma Jenkins MW picks out a varied selection of 18 great buys: Pinot Gris, Riesling and beyond
• Weekday wines Decanter’s tasting team brings you 25 top picks, ready to drink now and priced at £30 or less
• Weekend wines Priced £30-£60, seven standout buys to impress
• DWWA 2026 Success for English wine at DWWA 2026 reflects the upward trajectory of the category

Collecting & investing

• Marketwatch Auction news and new releases
• Bordeaux 2025 en primeur Market reaction

Regulars

• Writing this month Meet four of the authors who contributed to this issue
• News The latest from the wine world
• The brief Ideas and inspiration
• Andrew Jefford’s column
• Katherine Cole’s column
• Guest column Ned Goodwin MW on tasting the last remaining bottle of Romanée-Conti 1899 (lucky guy…)
• The ethical drinker Natalie Earl on how a former British Gas MD helped set up an off-grid winery in Spain
• Decanter Wine Photography Competition 2026 Enter your best wine pics to win some amazing prizes
• Subscribe to Decanter
• On the rack: Sam Neill Lucy Shaw interviews the New Zealand-based Hollywood actor turned winemaker

Rioja Guide 2026

Welcome to Rioja

Leader by Ines Salpico, regional editor for Spain

Here we are again, one year on! Forget about Botox, Ozempic, vitamin B, retinol or hyaluronic acid – if you need an infusion of life-affirming, rejuvenating optimism and grit, book yourself a trip to Rioja.

I wouldn’t blame you if you asked what the point is of tasting 500 or more wines every year – without even knowing what they are. Well, less than the duty of reporting on a year’s worth of new releases, the colossal exercise allows us to reset our focus and energy levels.

We might get tired but we never get bored; tasting for our Rioja report is always fun, interesting and eye-opening.

Every year our sense of wonder is renewed. Wow, these folks are making great wines, working hard, questioning their own assumptions.

The sense of wonder is amplified and coloured by the equally interesting and passionate people we meet. Like 93-year-old Eladio (pictured above), whose joy and mischievous charm certainly made me feel old!

The world is a complex place to be alive in at the moment. But life can be so simple. It just takes passion, companionship and work ethics – characteristics that seem notoriously to be lacking among our current political classes, but can be found in abundance in the people behind each of the wines we tasted for this year’s Rioja report – from producers to winery staff and field workers.

Spending time with them is both a privilege and an inspiration. I invite you to explore our report and the various other features in this guide with this in mind.

In the end, land and people are all that matter. And all that we really have. Salud!

PS: A huge shout-out to photographer Abel Valdenebro, who spent an intense week accompanying me and my co-taster Beth Willard (see p12) on very different, but equally demanding assignments. His sense of humour and endurance might just have surpassed ours. Meanwhile, his talent and sharp eye are on full display on this guide’s pages.

See what’s inside our Rioja guide 2026

• Welcome Decanter’s Spain Editor Ines Salpico on the joy that is Rioja
• A talented team A spotlight on four of this year’s contributors
• Four seasons in Rioja There are activities on offer here year round, says Noah Chichester – whether it’s skiing the slopes or spraying red wine around
• Latest release tasting report More than 540 wines were tasted by Ines Salpico and Beth Willard for this year’s report. Read their expert analysis and recommendations across all styles
• On top form Ines picks five standout performers from this year’s tastings
• Busy bees: A day in the life of a bodeguero Ines Salpico tries to keep up with two of the region’s leading winery general managers
• Sweet memories Noah Chichester meets Miguel Martínez, who revived an almost forgotten sweet style of Rioja
• The changing face of classic Rioja Beth Willard shows that the region’s historic names aren’t stuck in the past
• Seven days of Rioja, matched with dishes by José Pizarro The top chef suggests food matches for a week’s worth of affordable Rioja wines
• Stepping up Amaya Cervera on VIR, an exciting collective of small estates, and the groups that inspired them
• Where to stay in Rioja Fintan Kerr has options for every type of traveller

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