Hot of the press, Issue 28 of Noble Rot has now hit the Ex Vinum newsstand and, if we can use a vinous analogy—it's a cracking vintage. Dan Keeling’s articles on Piedmont’s newest winemakers and domaines, and the Côteaux Champenois are two of the standout pieces, but this is just the start. With its cosmic new collection of writing about wine, food and culture, Issue 28 doesn’t put a foot wrong. Professor Brian Cox blows our tiny minds moving effortlessly between explaining that black holes are made of curved space and time and his passion for Chardonnay, while the ‘Good Doctor’ Cooper Clarke whisks Noble Rot’s Suzanne Moore away on an epic extended lunch. Meet some of Piedmont’s most exciting new winemakers, and profile Gattinara in Alto Piemonte. Reprise of the Rotters’ ‘New Food and Wine Dictionary’ from Noble Rot 14 with fresh contributions from Brian Eno, Angela Hartnett and Ed Balls et al John Niven reports on LA’s food scene and Marina O’Loughlin tells us why she HATES brunch.

If you are into the anniversary gifting scene, traditionally it is tin or aluminium that is intended to commemorate the 10th milestone. Both are known for their inability to rust, and so it is with Noble Rot Magazine. Although gold might be a better fit in this case? To quote editor Dan Keeling, “from the first issue of Noble Rot, published in February [of 2013], we’ve been riding the tidal wave of change that’s been sweeping wine culture and, holy Hermitage, it’s been fun.” Of that, there can be little doubt. So, Issue 31 is a celebratory issue and a rollicking one at that. A decade’s worth of reflection, it's packed with the usual articulate contributions from a typically illustrious cast of crazy diamonds. Kicking the celebrations off is Marina Hyde, a columnist who epitomises the phrase, ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’. Marina O’Loughlin then offers an engaging narrative on the most influential restaurants of the decade and Mike D charts falling in love with Burgundy during the early days of The Beastie Boys in ‘The Hip Hop Burgundy Wine Cult’. William Kelley, Jancis Robinson and Alice Feiring are amongst a merry cast of writers reflecting on some of the wines that brought them joy over the last ten years—choices then tasted and given the seal of approval by, wait for it, The Chemical Brothers. Only in Noble Rot! Kate Spicer looks back on ten years of Noble Rot Sessions and assesses, “What We’ve Learnt About Humanity from a Decade of Noble Rot interviews” while Jay McInerney celebrates 60 years of Paul Draper’s Ridge Vineyards and Keira Knightley writes eloquently about her favourite meal. Then there are feature articles on Chassagne-Montrachet, Priorat, Oslavian Ribolla, wine auctions, digestifs, and the much-loved and missed wine importer Becky Wasserman-Hone. All up, a don’t-miss issue that is rot-to-trot.

In Noble Rot’s 30th Issue, Editor Dan Keeling asks, “Are the Sulphur Wars finally coming to an end?”. Keeling’s impassioned essay reels in the recent experiences of two talismans of the zero-sulphur movement, quotes the Bird (Charlie Parker) and, ultimately, argues for a cessation of hostilities. “We’re delighted that divisions over one of the most important methods for wine preservation and hygiene are fast giving way to a middle ground,” writes Keeling. Amen. Also in this issue…Saint-Joseph with Jean-Louis Chave and Jean Gonon, a profile of Corsica’s Sciaccarellu grape, France’s tiniest domaines, culinary legends Angela Hartnett and Delia Smith, Alice Feiring on temporarily losing her smell, and Brawn chef Ed Wilson on Beurre Blanc with Muscadet (RIP The Green Man & French Horn). All this, and more words of wisdom from columnists Marina O’Loughlin, Simon Hopkinson and John Niven, among much more.

Editor Dan Keeling has introduced the issue 29 as ‘a personal favourite for a while’. We can see where he is coming from. So many great articles: Keeling himself on Blind Tasting, Róisín Murphy talking to John Niven about her dad buying a shark down the pub, Jake Missing attempting to interview the king of interviewers Louis Theroux, profiles on Sherry, Vin Jaune and Cretan wine, and Alice Feiring’s brilliantly titled The Mouse of Ill Repute. And not to be outdone with the puns, Grower Pair sees Rob Walters back this month with an article reflecting on two pivotal Champagne vintages. It’s also worth noting the artwork in this Issue is in ‘best ever’ territory.

Victoria—feel the love. Following Noble Rot’s recent visit to the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Issue 35’s ‘Ravenous for Melbourne’ chronicles founders Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew and executive chef Stephen Harris’s time in ‘Oz’s most gastronomic city’. During their short time here, they dined at an impressive array of iconic venues, old and new, including France-Soir, Flower Drum, Bacash, Tipo 00 and Carlton Wine Room, to name just a handful.Then, in ‘Pacific Vim’, Chef Stephen Harris gives his two cents on Australian restaurant culture, describing it as “one of the great places in the world to eat”. On the wine side of things, Dan Keeling’s ‘The Vine Twitcher’ salutes a few of Victoria’s artisanal producers―including our very own Lambert Wines and Place of Changing Winds.Also in this issue:“Old footballer and crisp magnate” Gary Lineker talks wine, football dads, the Hand of God, and becoming a born-again cook in ‘Gary on Regardless’. Norman Cook―or Fatboy Slim to all you ’80s babies out there―makes a valiant effort to remember his greatest meal, though admitting it could all have been “a beautiful dream”.Keira Knightley spends her 39th birthday reviewing an eclectic selection of wines, from 1995 Nyetimber to 1978 Château Giscours and Trediberri Barolo ‘Berri’ 2018, the latter described as “what you imagine Michael Corleone would drink before he becomes a mob boss”.Then, Marina O’Loughlin reviews the iconic Chez Bruce, Jon Bonné dives deep into the state of play in Californian wine, Hannah Crosbie gives a ‘How to’ guide for judging your date by their wine choice, and Alice Feiring reminisces on better days when Jura icon Pierre Overnoy threw her a party.

Forget everything you thought you knew about wine. Discover a whole new universe of wine culture and experiences with the founders of London's award-winning Noble Rot Magazine and Restaurant. “In a realm too often weighted by pretence and peacocking, the Noble Rot boys have drained wine of its bullshit, with a brilliant road map to loving bottles both great and small.” JON BONNÉWinner: Guild of Food Writers Drinks Book Award 2021Shortlisted for the Andre Simon Food and Drink Book Awards 2020The Times Drink Book of the Year 2020