Next year's 33rd International Organisation of Vine and Wine conference will take place in Georgia – for the first time in nearly 50 years.
Georgia hopes that attention garnered by hosting the conference – in June 2010 – will help its 100 commercial wineries to sell their annual 500m cases.
In 2006 Russia – the main buyer of Georgian wine – banned Georgian wines, leading to nearly 200 winery closures and a drop in exports of 75%. (Source: Decanter.com)
The vintage, friends, is over, And here sweet wine makes, once again, Sad eyes and hearts recover, Puts fire into every vein. Drowns dull care, Everywhere And summons hope out of despair.
The first verse of the Slovenian national anthem states clearly that this small country is a land of wine, and the lines of the poem even form the shape of a wine glass.
Between 80 and 100,000 million litres of wine are produced in Slovenia per year on about 22,000 hectares, principally in three regions: Primorska, Posavje and Podrajve.
Nine terroirs and about fifty grape varieties give Slovenian wines a wide range of diversity; 70% of them are white. (Source: Revue Vinicole Internationale)
“Wine ideally highlights the three pillars of a sustainable development: a source of income and of emplyment, the respect towards nature and a good deal of humanness... but one must not slip into excessive marketing, even though this has now taken a major role in our potential sucess.” Julie Campos, General Managing at Cave du Tain (Source : Vinexpo Daily News / Numéro spécial RVI)
Wine has trounced beer and spirits in a new poll to find the UK’s favourite alcoholic drink.
The Wine Intelligence survey revealed that one in three (34%) British drinkers prefer wine to any other alcoholic drink.
When alcohol drinkers were asked to specify why they like certain drinks, they put wine top in terms of taste (77%), as a relaxing drink without food (75%) and good for food (89%). (Source: The Drinks Business)
The INAO has approved the plan to allow the areas of ‘Bugey’ and ‘Roussette du Bugey’ to become AOCs. At the crossroads of the wine-producing region of Savoie, Burgundy and Jura, Bugey has produced wines recognised as Appellation d’Origine Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (AOVDQS – the classification below AOC) since 1958. The producers from the appellation should see their passage crowned, following their efforts to build an identity for the wines in their region. The vineyard of Bugey represents around 500 hectares, encompassing 67 communes in the department of Ain. (Source: WineAlley.com)
Since 2008, winemakers in the Napa Valley have been working to put in place the Napa Green Certified Land farming programme, certified by 19 environmental protection agencies. The goal is to identify and apply sustainable techniques to achieve responsible and biodynamic agriculture. Adapted to each vineyard, Napa Green has already converted 25% of the region covering 16,000 hectares. The programme includes recycling of water and other materials, energy saving, reduction of greenhouse gas emmision and chemicals and the protection of fauna and flora. The programme is more stringent than the current legal requirements. (Source: Vinexpo)
The final of the 2009 Best Sommelier in Thailand, organised by Wine Today magazine, will take place on 31 July at the Dusit Thani hotel in Bangkok. This final will be sponsored by Hotel Thani, 20 Thai importers, the German Wurttemberg region, the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux, Sopexa and Pommery champagne. (Source: VSB)
Asian consumers struggle to grasp traditional Western wine descriptions, says Jeannie Cho Lee.
Cho Lee explains that wine writers need to discover new ways to communicate with Asian wine drinkers, but that it may take two generations to come up with a language that is relevant and meaningful to Asian wine lovers.
The traditional Western language of wine has been subject to inaccurate translations and means little to many Asian consumers, according to Cho Lee.
When it comes to the Asian palate there is a need for more familiar reference points which relate to their cuisine and dining habits. (Source: Decanter.com)
An agreement between the EU and Turkey, eliminating tax discrimination against Scotch Whisky, has given a major boost to Scotch Whisky’s prospects in Turkey.
Scotch Whisky has been taxed at double the rate of locally produced Raki, making excise reform in Turkey a longstanding priority for The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).
All spirits will be taxed at the same level from 2018. (Source: The Scotch Whisky Association)
Bordeaux's new oenology university and research institute has finally opened.
The Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin (ISW), which has taken ten years to plan and build, will be entirely dedicated to the study of winemaking.
Costing €25m, the ambitious project – the largest in Europe – was created using both local and EU funding.
“You can sum up in three words this exciting new centre's mandate,” says Professor Denis Dubourdieu, one of Bordeaux's leading winemakers. “Research, training and communication.” (Source: Decanter.com)
1,500 Bacchus vines, a variety made by crossing Silvaner and Riesling with Müller-Thurgeau, have just been planted in London at Forty Hall Organic Farm. These high quality vines are being cultivated using biodynamic principles in order to produce a wine especially for the London market.
Forty Hall plans eventually to plant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Auxerrois also. (Source: Vitisphère)
Joseph Mellot - The Original accelerates its sustainable development plan while becoming the first viticultural company in the Loire Center to obtain ISO 14001 certification. This certification shows the strong involvement of Joseph Mellot in a continuous and global improvement of environmental aspects within the company.
“Being respectful of the environment does not only mean producing organic wines! Be respectful of the environment means putting in place innovative solutions in order to make quality wines issued from vineyards farmed in respect with the soil and the people. Joseph Mellot wines, either in our wine cellar or after delivery to customers, must deliver a true environmental message attached to our strong company values” stated Catherine Corbeau Mellot. (Source: Vinexpo)
A Torres wine which was caught up in a poisoning scare is back on the market after being given the all-clear by the authorities.
San Valentin had been removed from the stores of Norwegian wines monopoly Vinmonopolet after potassium cyanide was found in a bottle of the white wine.
A police investigation has concluded that the poison was introduced into the bottle after its purchase. (Source: Harpers.com)
When his latest film “A l’Origine” (In the Beginning) was competing at the Cannes film festival, Gérard Depardieu decided to shun the red carpet of the Cannes Festival Palace and go instead to a tasting of his wine.
“Good eating, good drinking as well as knowledge of a terroir and a culture, is as important for me as the film industry”, explained Gérard Depardieu to the newspaper Le Parisien. (Source: Vinexpo)
The airline Korean Air has just selected Laurent-Perrier champagne for its long distance flights in first and business class.
Today, the Korean Air wine list consists of 42 wines from 11 countries. It has been awarded the title of “Best Cellar in the Sky” several times by the magazine Business Traveler. (Source: VSB)
Diageo, the world's biggest spirits group, announced Wednesday the closure of a grain distillery and a packaging plant in Scotland with the loss of nearly 900 jobs to cut its costs in the current downturn.
The London-based maker of Johnnie Walker and J&B scotch whiskies said it would create some 400 jobs at its largest packaging plant in eastern Scotland, which would result in the group's Scottish workforce being cut by a net 500 to 4,000. (Source: Reuters)
In an article entitled “Chronique du harcèlement ordinaire” (The chronicle of ordinary harassment), Doctor Lanzmann-Petithory contradicts a study by the French National Cancer Institute published by the anti-alcohol lobby. According to this researcher the risk of cancer of the mouth, pharynx and/or larynx is 58% lower in wine drinkers.
“Wine contains two components, which exert opposing effects: alcohol, which increases the risk of certain cancers and fruit which lowers this risk. Therefore, for moderate drinkers, the influence of fruit is stronger”, points out Doctor Lanzmann-Petithory. (Source: VSB)
To become more visible in the American wine market, which is widely dominated by Californian wines, the producers of Oregon have decided to highlight their commitment to sustainable winegrowing. The movement began in 2005, but the certification programme for the wine industry was launched in 2008 by the Oregon Wine Board. Today, 29% of the vineyards and 11 wineries have obtained certification from one of the different accredited certifying bodies - Life Certified Sustainable, Demeter, USDA Organic, etc. The programme set up last year aims to promote sustainable principles both in the vines and in winemaking amongst 384 other wineries.
Oregon has 78,000 hectares (193,000 acres) of vines, almost 60% of which are Pinot Noir, a variety that has acclimatised very well to this region and its cool weather. (Source: Vitisphère.com)
The total area of German vineyards growing Riesling vines increased by 700 hectares (1,730 acres) in 2008 and has now reached 22,434 hectares (55,437 acres). Riesling, which is especially popular in the Moselle and Rhineland-Palatinate regions of Germany, now covers 22% of the total German winegrowing surface area.
Germany alone accounts for 60% of the total surface area in the world on which Riesling is grown. (Source: VSB)
According to OIV, the total wine harvest in the southern hemisphere should not exceed 50,000 hectolitres in 2009, down 6.1% compared to 2008.
Of the 4 leading producer countries – Chile, Argentina, Australia and South Africa, who account for more than 85% of the total volume – only Chile increased its volume to 8,800 hectolitres, a 1.3% rise. (Source: Décision Boissons)
The debate has raged on for weeks now; winegrower trade unions, and wine producers all over France have appealed to the public to express its opposition to the proposed plan by Brussels to authorise the production of rosé through the process of blending to produce table wines without any specific geographic origin. The latter represents around 10% of rosé wine production in France and overall the production of rosé wine makes up 10 to 12% of French wine production. The issue could have been seen to be minor it has, however, created a heated public debate. On Monday 8th June Marianne Fischer-Boel announced the European Commission’s decision to maintain the ban on making rosé wine by blending red and white wine together to make wines without a specific geographic origin. The European commissioner for Agriculture commented, “It is important to listen to our wine producers when they are worried about changes in EU regulations. It was clear from what we have seen over these last few weeks that the majority of our wine-producing sector thought that to put an end to the ban on blending would taint the traditional image of the rosé wine.” (Source: WineAlley.com)
Since 2005, OIV has had figures enabling the observation of trends in Turkish vineyards, which decreased in overall surface area from 555,000 hectares (1.359 million acres) to 500,000 hectares (1.236 million acres) by 2008. (Source: La Revue Vinicole Internationale)
According to the figures of the Argentinean commission for wine tourism, the number of people who visited Argentinean wineries between 2003 and 2008, increased by 142%. In 2008, about 1.2 million tourists visited the 163 cellars open to the public (of which there were only 62 in 2004), especially in Mendoza province. (Source: VSB)
On Reunion Island, vines that grow in really extreme conditions produce a wine at an altitude close to 1,100 metres: a vin de pays with the appellation ‘Cilaos’.
17 winegrowers share the 9 hectares (22 acres) of vines, an area that is expected to double in the coming 5 years.
The brand new cellar commercialises 30,000 bottles of sweet and dry whites, rosé and red in 30%, 65% and 5% proportions respectively. (Source: la Revue du Vin de France)
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and the Rioja Consejo Regulador finally authorised a set of new varieties.
The new white varieties are Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdejo, Maturana Blanca, Tempranillo Blanco, and Turruntés.
The red varieties now incorporated are Maturana Tinta, Maturana Parda, and Monastel.
Ricardo Aguiriano San Vincente, director of marketing for Rioja's Consejo Regulador, told: 'With these new varieties we are trying to make wines more fruity and fresh as that is what consumers want.' (Source: Decanter.com)
Korea and the European Union have just finalised a free trade agreement that provides for the complete elimination in three years of customs duty on practically all the goods traded between them. The Korean Minister of Agriculture foresees a substantial increase in the importation of European wines into his country.
Since a similar free-trade agreement between Korea and Chile was implemented in 2003, the Korean market share of Chilean wines has increased from 7 to 18%. Chile even became market leader in 2008, exporting 660,000 hectolitres to Korea. (Source: VSB)
Rita Lau, the Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, has just announced that the government of the former British colony intended to organise an invitation to tender at the end of 2009, for transformation work to Haw Par Mansion, a listed building erected in 1935, to turn it into a venue dedicated to wine.
If this first initiative is successful, other buildings may be given over to the wine business to extend implementation of the strategy to make Hong Kong a regional wine trade hub. (Source: Revue Vinicole Internationale)
As Brazil increases its production and vine area, the country is set to improve the quality of its wines with the launch of a new national technical network.
The National Viticulture Science and Technology Network is worth €500,000, and is charged with investments in oenology, research and modernisation throughout the country. Run by wine industry professionals and local government, it will cover three wine regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Pernambuco. (Source: Decanter.com)
A Canadian woman, Elyse Lambert, has won the first Best Sommelier of the Americas competition, which took place in Buenos Aires.
The first competition for this title was organised in Argentina by the Pan-American Sommeliers Alliance (Apas) and the International Sommellerie Association (ASI) with support from the Argentinean Association of Sommeliers. (Source: VSB)
The photographer and graphic designer, Olivier Diaz de Zarate has just been hailed as the winner of the first international biennial festival of vine and wine photography. Photographers were asked to compete in five winegrowing subject areas: portraits, vineyards, chateaux and cellars, places where wine is consumed, contents and packaging. Olivier de Zarate photographed a black and white portrait which so impressed the jury that he was chosen as winner of all five categories. This photo will be exhibited in Bordeaux during Vinexpo 2009. (Source: Vinexpo)
Hot Irishman, one of the most dynamic and innovative drinks companies will break a record during Vinexpo.
Hot Irishman will attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest Irish coffee which will hold…60litres!
(Vinexpo Hall 3 TU 353 / Monday, June 22nd / 15.30) (Source: Vinexpo)
2009 is to be celebrated as the Year of Sommellerie in Burgundy. The Burgundy winegrowers and sommeliers are working together to promote the event. A unique competition has been launched. A sommelier and French chefs have to develop a dish from one of the “world flavour” cuisines, that of France being excluded, and suggest an ideal wine match for it. The winner will be revealed on 22 November during the General Assembly of French sommeliers, which will take place in Beaune. (Source: Bourgogne Aujourd’hui)
“The sommelier’s profession is passionately interesting and has many facets. 21st century sommeliers are both consultants, buyers, managers, restaurateurs and most importantly ambassadors. Today’s sommeliers are truly international standard-bearers for wines, gastronomy and the renaissance of the art of living. By skilfully combining modern and traditional approaches, the latest generation of sommeliers has succeeded in conquering the five continents,” emphasized Robert Beynat, Chief Executive of Vinexpo. (Source: Vinexpo)
On 21 June, François David, President of the French trade risk management firm COFACE, will present the information required by international traders when taking export or investment decisions. He will comment on the main trends of the world economy and will assess the possible impact of these on businesses, especially with regard to specific country risks. (Sunday, June 21st / 17.00 / Room H1-H2 in the Convention Centre) (Source: Vinexpo)
Hong Kong signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in wine-related business with Hungary. Under the agreement, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in the promotion of wine-related trading, investment, tourism and education and in the fight against counterfeit wine.
Wine exports from Hungary to Hong Kong increased by as much as 78% by value in 2008. (Source: China.org)
If you disregard the absence this year of some of the big American names, who are seriously affected by the crisis, Vinexpo remains the most important gathering of the industry and is still the best place and the best time to maintain your business relationships. (Vinexpo Hall 1 BD 270) (Source: Objectif Aquitaine)
The exhibition, organised by the Musée d’Aquitaine, explores the history of wine through the containers used to market and consume in through the ages, from amphorae to bottles: over 300 items, works of art and everyday objects, engravings, and lithographs… in vast, 700m2 exhibition. (Musée d’Aquitaine - Bordeaux - from June, 20th) (Source: Vinexpo)
People have been talking about it for 15 years in Bordeaux; the wine cultural centre could finally come off the drawing board by 2013.
The centre with its modern architecture will serve three purposes: culture, tourism and business. It would aim to appeal to the widest possible range of visitors with attractions designed to offer learning with a gamey approach. Everything remains to be invented in this venue, which will also be a winegrowing hub, acting as an interface connecting visitors with the various estates. In terms of business, it has been suggested that the centre could accommodate a wine bar, a restaurant or even a hotel. (Source: Sud Ouest)
Secrets began to emerge after George W. Bush left the White House and Barack Obama arrived, and we have just learnt that the Presidential wine cellar was a simple room next door to the kitchen, where only 5 to 600 bottles of exclusively American wines were kept. (Source: VSB)
Wine bars in France are a cosmopolitan urban phenomenon that have exploded in popularity over the last three years. They are frequented by young people with money to spend, who seek to develop a new wine culture. Wine bar patrons are encouraged to be adventurous, because they can vary the wines they drink to match the different dishes on offer. Tasting wines brings like-minded people together, who discuss what they are drinking, look for food-wine matches and play with the aromas and tastes. It’s not just a question of tasting enjoyment; it becomes an intellectual pastime. Wine plays a socialising role. (Source: Bordeaux Aujourd’hui)
To allow their patrons to continue enjoying wine without having to worry about driving home safely, the Luxemburg National Federation of Hotel Operators, Restaurateurs and Café Owners has worked with road safety authorities to re-launch the use of wine bags. These enable customers to take their unfinished bottles of wine home. The idea was launched some years ago, but with little success. Wine bags make it possible to enjoy wine with moderation without having to leave behind a half-full bottle. (Source: point24.com)
Wine connoisseurs may balk at the thought of drinking a fine vintage from a can, but glugging from a ring-pull rather than cracking open a full bottle of plonk seems to be catching on.
Sales of cans to the wine industry are rocketing, albeit from a low bases, with consumers seeing the attraction of drinking one glass at time, becoming more environmentally aware and opting to drink on the go.
John Revess, of Rexam, one of the world’s largest can makers, said that the group had sold 6 million cans to the wine industry in 2006, a figure that increased to 35 million in 2008. He expects sales to hit 100 million in the next couple of years, with more than a billion cans of wine being consumed each year in the long run. (Source: TimesOnLine.com)
The 16,500 hectares (40,775 acres) of Medoc vines produce wines that are reputed the world over. The names of these appellations that announce exceptional wines, have always travelled to the four corners of the earth, taking with them the aura of Medoc prestige and top flight winegrowing quality: Margaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe, Moulis-en-Médoc, Pauillac, Haut-Médoc and Listrac-Médoc. (Source: Vinexpo)
Wine drinkers are not getting to grips with the concept of regionality, with New World regions the biggest sufferers, according to new research.
Marlborough in New Zealand and Barossa in Australia were the least well-known major wine regions in the survey, which polled the views of 2,000 regular wine drinkers in the US and a further 1,000 in the UK, and was conducted by research group Wine Intelligence.
Just 10% of US respondents had heard of the Barossa Valley, and only 12% of Marlborough; among UK wine drinkers, the figures were 38% and 27% respectively. (Source: Decanter.com)
Due to climatic conditions, this year's wine harvest in Argentina will be down 25% as compared to last year.
According to Argentina's National Wine Institute, hail in some provinces, and overall higher temperatures in February and March, are factors in the lower production output this year.
The lower production this year has occurred despite Argentina having a 12% increase in land under cultivation for wine grapes. (Source: Decanter.com)
Offering 32 local and international wines by the glass and 450 by the bottle, Dionisos Wine Bar is the first of its kind in a country.
“Wine drinking has doubled in the last eight years, it’s tiny compared to France or Italy, only about 1.2 litres a head, but it’s growing”, said one of four co-owners.
It also features a wall of pisco, a grape-based brandy and Peru’s national drink. (Source: Decanter.com)
According to Philippe Tapie, Managing Director of wine merchants and Grand Cru specialist HMS, Vinexpo 2009 is a chance for Bordeaux to restore its image vis-à-vis international buyers, who have been put off by the soaring prices of previous years and the current financial crisis. In this context, Vinexpo 2009 is a particularly important event for the sector. “We must send out a strong signal to buyers around the world in order to regain their trust and it is time to refocus on our mainstay, i.e. the consumer market”, said Philippe Tapie. (Source: Objectif Aquitaine)
Rosé d’Anjou Wines looks set to win the pink vote after becoming the official sponsor of the upcoming Gay Icons exhibition at London’s National Portrait Gallery.
The exhibition, which will run from July to October, celebrates the contribution of gay people – and the importance of the gay icon – to British history and culture.
Olivier Lecomte, president of Rosé d’Anjou, thinks pink wine is the perfect pairing for the exhibition. “Our wines are trendy and appeal to a broad range of wine drinkers from every walk of life”. (Source: Decanter.com)
Sylvain the coopers, will be putting on sale ready for the 2009 vintage an exceptional batch of sixty barrels made of oak that comes from one of the oldest trees in France, estimated to be 340 years old. The quality of the wood, its fine grain and its potential aromas for ageing wine make it an obvious match for great estates. These 300-year-old barrels will be offered first to the most famous names in Europe and in the southern hemisphere. (Source: Le journal du vin.com)
California wines are “woefully under-represented” by UK independent merchants, the head of Wines of California has said.
While California's big brands sell very successfully in supermarkets, its image has been tarnished by its mass market appeal, said John McLaren.
“The problem is the consumer thinks California is what they see on the supermarket shelf and this perception has been passed on to the independent sector,” he said.
Independent merchants agree but argue California has few mid-range wines and does not offer good value for money, particularly with the strength of the US dollar.
McLaren said his challenge is to change these perceptions, and he is working with California's tourist board on this. (Source: Decanter.com)
After Diageo’s announcement that it has just closed its London office, rumours are also circulating about closures of Constellation and Gallo premises. In this way, these groups would reduce the prohibitive expenses incurred in the British capital, while sales in Europe are relatively low. These are presumably temporary closures for a year or two, like that of the second largest champagne group Boizel Chanoine Champagne, which has also taken the decision to close its office until 2010. (Source: VSB)
The Union des Côtes de Bordeaux has announced the creation of the Côtes de Bordeaux AOC, which will replace the Premières Côtes de Blaye, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, Côtes de Castillon and Côtes de Francs AOCs starting with the 2008 vintage.
Representing 1/6 of the total production of all Bordeaux wines with a volume of 700,000 hectolitres grown on 14,000 hectares (34,600 acres), this new appellation is a revolutionary development in the organisation of Bordeaux AOCs. (Source: AFP)
New York legislators have rejected a plan to allow supermarkets and grocers to sell wine.
Supporters of the controversial proposal said the move would increase tax revenues by €121 million and boost wine sales in the state by 20%. But opponents said the move threatened 1,000 of the state’s 2,400 wine retailers with closure.
New York is one of only 15 US states where grocers are banned from selling wine. Wines and spirits must be sold in specialist licensed shops, which are not allowed to sell other goods. (Source: Harpers.com)
US wine exports no longer have permission to be labelled with traditional terms such as 'Chateau,' 'vintage' and 'clos,' after a clause in the wine trade agreement between the United States and the European Community lapsed.
A three-year extension was given to the US by the EC in order to give them time to cooperate with a previous ruling which banned US producers from using traditional wine terms considered specific to European wines. (Source: Decanter.com)
The cognac industry has developed a CD-ROM for teaching purposes at 3 different levels: “Initiation” for beginners, “Training” to improve knowledge and “Expert” for professionals. This interactive tool, which can be used to illustrate presentations, includes weblinks to cognac business sites, regulatory updates and sites illustrating the different ways to enjoy cognac. (Source: Décision Boissons)
The German Wine Institute has signed a long-term partnership with the airline Lufthansa, which is to highlight German wines on its flights. One of the promotional events planned is the organisation of wine tastings in mid-air for business class passengers. People flying Lufthansa economy will view a video clip and receive brochures. (Source: VSB)
Napa Valley vineyards could increase in area by more than 2%. The authorities have received requests to sign off applications for an extra 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) on top of the present 43,000 hectares (106,260 acres) of vines. (Source: L’Amateur de Bordeaux)
International rock star Sting is preparing to launch a red wine produced from his Tuscan vineyard.
Around 30,000 bottles of wine will go on sale in September, mainly in Britain and the United States, Paolo Rossi, his estate manager has confirmed.
A name has not yet been announced but it will be a 2007 vintage based on the Sangiovese grape, with a touch of Cabernet and Merlot. (Source: Decanter.com)
The Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers (FIVI), became an official member of the European Confederation of Independent Winegrowers (CEVI) at the recent General Assembly that was held in Logroño in the Rioja region on 20 April 2009. Italy thus joins Portugal, Spain (Rioja), France, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Hungary in this movement of European independent winegrowers, adopting the common slogan: “Independent Winegrowers: Making Wine Out of Terroir”. (Source: La Journée Vinicole.com)
Red wine increases the female libido, research has found.
According to a study carried out by the Santa Maria Nuova Hospital in Florence, drinking one to two glasses of red wine a day increases female sexual desire.
The study investigated 789 Italian women aged between 18 and 50.
Drinking red wine not only helps to release inhibitions, but also has a direct effect on sexual activity
Women who drink one to two glasses of wine a day were found to be more sexually active than those who abstain. (Source: Decanter.com)
400 merchants and 100 brokers make up what is referred to as the Place de Bordeaux (Bordeaux marketplace). These are wine merchants, who perpetuate the very old trading tradition of the city, which originated in part from its port. Bordeaux merchants sell about 75% of all wines produced in the area, sending them to all four corners of the world. Bordeaux merchants control most of the bulk wine market and buy directly from estates and cooperatives. They also buy all the finest Bordeaux wines that are mostly sold en primeur, accounting for the 200 most prestigious labels in the Bordeaux winegrowing area. Bordeaux merchants are estimated to provide more than 8,000 jobs. (Source: Bordeaux Aujourd’hui)
Heat resistant grape varieties from southern Europe have been imported into Australia in the McLaren Vale area with a view to carrying out tests. The experiments aim to provide new solutions for producers in this area, which has been badly hit by global warming and drought. In recent months, temperatures rose to 40°C, triggering losses of up to 75% of harvests. Around forty varieties from Spain, Italy, France and Portugal have been imported and placed in quarantine ready to be planted in Australian vineyards in two to three years. (Source: Vitisphère - Daily Wine News)
A fifth DAC, equivalent to a French AOC, has just been set up in Austria. The new appellation, Kamptal, covers 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres) around Langenlois, making one of the largest Austrian winegrowing areas. The DAC applies only to two grape varieties: Grüner Veltliner and Rhein Riesling. (Source: In Vino Veritas)
The glassware manufacturer Arc International has just launched a new range of wine glasses for its “Chef & Sommelier” brand. The range is called “Arom’Up” and consists of two series for white and red wines in two versions, “Fruity” or “Oaky”. The “Fruity” glasses emphasize the fruit aromas of young wines, while the “Oaky” goblets enhance the expression of tertiary aromas. (Source: VSB)
Chic women at the beginning of the last century put a glove in their glass to avoid being served. Today women winegrowers wear gloves to prune their vines, but definitely need none, not even of the kid variety, to discuss wine. And why shouldn’t the future of wine depend on women? Nothing would be more natural after all: winemaking takes 9 months from pruning through to harvesting. Then the wine needs to be raised and helped to grow so that it can leave in search of its real destiny: enjoyment! (Source: Vino Magazine)
The Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur Growers Association, which is currently re-drafting the Bordeaux AOC specifications, has recently made a request to the French Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) to allow experimentation with new grape varieties, including Chardonnay for white wine growing and Syrah for red. (Source: Bordeaux Aujourd’hui)
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