Julie Sheppard

In my garden era. A gorgeous day @thenewtinsomerset for the opening of @babylonstoren new seasonal Mourvèdre Rosé. Can we stay over next time pretty please? 🙏🏻

Very jolly afternoon tea/teeny martini jaunt with @berrybrosrudd @no3gin touring some of London’s famous martini haunts aboard a très swanky double decker bus. Lovely to see @shep310 and @hollyarnold81 again, and to meet my martini buddy @brimfulofashah . Thanks for the invite @doubleshotcomms , and to all the great team on the bus 🙏

Bordeaux blends might not be the most fashionable wines in South Africa but the quality is better than ever and they are, as Mike Ratcliffe of Vilafonté points out, ‘the beating heart’ of the industry. If you’re a bit jaded with Bordeaux and looking to branch out, the Bordeaux-style wines of the Cape are hugely improved on 15 years ago, well-priced compared to the global competition and absolutely worth revisiting. My piece in the April issue of Decanter highlights the wineries leading the renaissance in Stellenbosch, Constantia and beyond, as well as looking at what has driven such a big change in a relatively short time. Link in bio.

Happy Sauvignon Blanc Day! A year apart (August 2024 and December 2025) we had the privilege of visiting the Bourgeois family’s estates across two hemispheres in beautiful Chavignol (Sancerre) and equally beautiful but different Wairau Valley (Marlborough). It all begins with Henri Bourgeois in Chavignol, where 10 generations of the Bourgeois family have shaped some of the Loire’s most iconic Sauvignon Blancs from a mosaic of Kimmeridgian marl, silex and limestone. After a 12-year search for a terroir worthy of their heritage, brothers Jean-Marie and Rémi Bourgeois arrived in New Zealand’s Wairau Valley in 2000 and Clos Henri was born. Named in honour of their father, now a certified organic estate crafting Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that honours everything Sancerre taught them. I had tried and love the restraint of NZ Clos Henri Savvy B back in their Sancerre winery, as it stylistically reminded me more of Sancerre. My favs Clos Henri Savvy B to look out for: Waimaungo, Otira and Stones - the latter showcasing how beautifully Sauvignon Blanc can age in the right hands. 📍 Chavignol, Sancerre @domainehenribourgeois 📍 Wairau Valley, Marlborough @closhenrivineyard #sauvignonblancday #Sancerre #Marlborough #WineTravel #shehnazlikeshiraz

Birthday weekend in Margate with my gorgeous girlies. Had the best time, sunny skies ☀️perfect company and lots of laughs! ❤️❤️❤️

From historic wine bars to buzzing city hotspots, these are the best spots that our editors keep coming back to 🍷

Calling all champagne and wine lovers! We are on the hunt for those who celebrate life’s little moments with a glass in hand. From bubbly brunches to cozy wine nights, we want to see how you toast to joy and connection. Share your favourite sips and let’s raise a glass to the memories we create together! ⁠ ⁠ 📷 @shep310 ⁠ ⁠ #RefinedElegance⁠ #TheOzenCollection⁠ #OzenLifeMaadhoo

Sip. Float. Unwind. ⁠ From fine wines at sunset to breakfast served on water, framed by endless turquoise views - this is island living, perfected.⁠ ⁠ 📸 @shep310 ⁠ ⁠ #RefinedElegance⁠ #TheOzenCollection⁠ #OzenReserveBolifushi

From little girls told what we ‘should be’, to women shaping the wine world - today we celebrate the journeys and achievements of the women of Decanter 🍷

It's been a busy month at Phillips-Hill Wine Marketing PR & Events! Here are our highlights: Launch of Babydoll Sauvignon Blanc for the UK on-trade: a great crew of wine and lifestyle digital media got together over a round of crazy golf whilst sampling this zingy and bright New Zealand Savvy B from @yealands , both as a delicious glass of wine and in creative cocktails at @swingersldn Tastings and meetings for Yealands Chief Winemaker @natchristensenwine with top UK wine Press to spread the news about the latest developments and wine releases Star billing for Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc which featured on all the tables at the @drinksretailingawards Press lunch on Waitangi Day showing off the best in Kiwi style with an amazing range of wines from Yealands, perfectly paired with a delicious menu by @thebarleymowmayfair including some typically tasty NZ treats - have you ever tried Kiwi Dip??! 😋 Attending @vinexposium Wine Paris to work with our clients, including: ✔️ A great presentation by @susanabalbowines Head Winemaker @josejlovaglio on Leading Argentina's White Wine Revolution ✔️ @thedrinksbusiness Master Winemaker 100 Awards Ceremony where Winner of Best Orange Wine, Susana Balbo Signature Limited Edition Torrontés de Raiz Naranjo 2022, was on pour ✔️ Tastings and meetings with global commentators and wine friends Celebration of Chinese New Year with @cheng_international and their iconic baijiu brand @fenjiu_london at a sumptuous event to launch a new collection of luxury accessories and hats by superstar millinar @victoriagrant and to welcome in The Year of the Fire Horse Bring on March! #wineandspirits

Last week Sukhinder hosted a New Year luncheon @alta.london , attended by a few of our industry friends. We toasted to the year ahead - guaranteed to be a busy one for Elixir Distillers - with our newly launched Elixir Trails series, alongside a few other drams and a delicious menu from ALTA. Thank you to everyone who joined, and to those who couldn't, we look forward to sharing a dram soon.

We’re deeply grateful to @decanter and Julie Sheppard @shep310 for their beautiful feature celebrating our South African wine bar and immersive experience in the heart of London, at House of Sisters Grimm. The iGoli Wine Bar - proudly pouring exclusively South African producers - to stand-out bottles described as “fresh, mineral” and “characterful,” it means so much to see our wine philosophy recognised in print. To be mentioned alongside the culture, art, and music that surround the bar - and with INALA gently taking centre stage - is a true honour. Thank you for shining such a thoughtful light on the stories in our glasses and the spirit behind them. 🍷 #houseofsistersgrimm #igolibar @the_ahrens_family @dainty_bess_cap_classique . . . #londonwinetasting #southafricanwine #finewine