November
Max Allen’s top 20 drinks of the year (from $25 to $500)
From earthy reds to dry whites and something a little different, our expert shares the most delicious drinks he’s tried in 2025.
October
8 of the best champagnes poured at sea (and the ships that serve them)
Being in the middle of the ocean shouldn’t mean missing out on top drops, including one vintage our drinks columnist describes as exquisite.
July
Can Bernard Arnault steer LVMH out of crisis?
Amid plunging profit and scandals at some of its brands, investors are starting to call for the luxury conglomerate to break itself apart.
January
Champagne boss has a simple tip about doing business in China
Piper-Heidsieck chief executive Damien Lafaurie has his eye on Melbourne Park and Gen Z but the big prize remains the Chinese market.
December 2024
There’s something special about Tasmanian sparkling, and they know it
Move over Champagne, the Apple Isle makes some of the best sparkling wines in the world. And the Effervescence festival is where it’s on display.
A toast to the five best champagnes of 2024
The year may be nearly over, but there’s plenty left to celebrate. Pop a bottle of our drinks editor’s favourite bubbles to do it in style.
October 2024
This Australian winemaker has just won a global award for his sparkling
Ed Carr is more than happy to pick up the international awards and bring them home to a smaller, local wine company.
September 2024
Four great sparkling wines from the Adelaide Hills
Deviation Road at the Adelaide Hills has mastered the knack of arrested development to create extraordinarily fresh and youthful wines.
August 2024
Forget Aperol spritz, this is what’s hot on the drink list this year
Aperol Spritz is so last year. Zoncello limoncello spritz and local sparkling wine are on the summer drinks hit list.
July 2024
How much champagne is too much? Depends on the airline you’re flying
We joined Singapore Airlines on a whirlwind tour of its premium suppliers across France’s Champagne region. This is what we learnt.
The suburbs where Australians drink the most champagne
Baby boomers are big drinkers of imported bubbles, but younger consumers are driving demand for alternatives such as prosecco.
May 2024
Bollinger unveils big plans to boost wine tourism
The famous French champagne house will move into luxury oenotourism. You’ll even be able to stay in Madame Bollinger’s grand family house.
April 2024
Tasting Australia 2024: a drinker’s guide
A round-up of the best wine-related events at this year’s festival, from parties to tastings to masterclasses and more.
February 2024
How a ‘write-off’ vintage spawned these top sparkling wines
Torrential, flooding, incessant rain… that was 2011. But the whites from that year are among the most cellar-worthy this writer has tried.
December 2023
Two Australians walked into a French cellar, and this happened
Leanne De Bortoli and Steve Webber arrived unannounced on Charles Fourny’s doorstep 10 years ago, with the result his fine bubbly is available Down Under today.
What’s the best wine for $50, and 37 other wine questions answered
The AFR’s award-winning drinks writer provides the ultimate guide to buying, drinking, serving and storing wine.
Champagne or sparkling: Max Allen’s taste test results revealed
Our expert takes a bunch of champagnes and a bunch of top Australian sparkling wines, pops the corks and puts them to a blind taste test.
Max Allen answers your questions about serving and storing wine
The AFR’s award-winning drinks writer talks us through all questions about serving and storing wine, like ‘can I put ice cubes in my wine’ to ‘which wines do I need to decant’?
Max Allen answers your questions about buying wine
The AFR’s award-winning drinks writer talks us through all questions about buying wine, from ‘is cask wine any good?’ to ‘what’s the most overrated type of wine?’
Max Allen answers 12 of your basic wine questions
The AFR’s award-winning drinks writer talks us through all the questions you were too afraid to ask, like, ‘what is natural wine’ and ‘do hangover drops really work’?