The UGCB, Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, is an exclusive association for the classified châteaux of Bordeaux (the 1855 classification in Médoc and Sauternes and the classifications in Graves and Saint Emilion), as well
The fact that France has extensive oak forests is widely known, oak used for all the barrels. But France also has cork oaks. Once upon a time, there was a thriving industry around products from
Many people are familiar with cava, and many have gotten used to the fact that it is affordable bubbles, good to have when money is tight or the number of guests is large. But the
The red wines from Etna DOC have taken the wine world by storm in recent years. The elegant and flavourful nerello mascalese grape from the mighty and very active volcano is an exciting new acquaintance.
Catalan DO Penedès is just south of Barcelona. The region was a pioneer of organic viticulture in Spain 40 years ago. It was decided some time ago that the entire appellation would be organically grown
Last year, Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand became the twelfth member of the Great Wine Capitals of the World. Great Wine Capitals is a global network consisting of 12 of the world’s great wine regions.
It is hard to believe that it is true. And maybe it is not. But Decanter is our source and it is a serious wine magazine so it is probably true. According to them, Champagne
All wine regions need new customers. But global consumption is shrinking and if the global wine consumption continues to fall, consumers will become fewer and fewer. I just returned back home after 10 days in
A new report provides an interesting insight into the world of French wine cooperatives. The cooperatives do not get big headlines in newspapers, but they are very important for the wine industry. The cooperatives produce
Riesling is the flagship grape of Alsace, along with gewurztraminer. But the latter is no longer profitable to produce and the riesling harvests are getting smaller and smaller due to warmer weather. How will this
We hear it all the time nowadays: young people don’t drink wine. The wine industry is worried, in Europe and the USA. Sowine, a French consulting firm, has conducted a study on what French wine
On our Austria tour in September, we visited Birgit Braunstein in Burgenland, a biodynamic producer and tasted some of her delicious wines. Her focus is on sustainability, and her entire range is bottled in bottles
Many European countries (including Sweden) drink and appreciate South African wines. It has been that way ever since Sweden and other countries started importing the wines again after the fall of the apartheid regime in
Oak ageing is closely associated with quality wines, and the French barrel makers are masters at producing the oak barrels wanted by the entire wine world. After several difficult years affected by fires in California
Nebbiolo has changed over the years, not least in the last 40 years. Its world fame is rather recent. Its most famous wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, triumphed on the export market from the 1980’s. Before
Sauvignon blanc is the primary grape in the New Zealand vineyards. But several other grapes do very well in the country. If you travel around the different regions, you realise that the variety in wine
We have tasted some rare grape varieties recently when we were on a wine tasting tour around the country. We want to share this experience with you and recommend a few wines. Maybe you will
Once, a while back, I was harvesting grapes in the middle of the night. It was in Cachapoal in Chile. We had headlamps to see what we were doing and to avoid as much as
In Europe, people are exhaling after a challenging harvest season that has just ended (a fair few weeks ago by the time you read this). In South Africa, the new growing season has started and
Not many grapes are still fermenting in cellars in Napa Valley although the harvest this year was unusually late. The growing season started late, and flowering was 2-3 weeks later than usual, which meant the
Heat, drought, moisture, downy mildew, powdery mildew, grey rot, hail… The winegrowers in France have not lacked challenges in 2023. Now the harvest is finished and despite difficulties the result is excellent. In Burgundy, everyone
The Rhône Valley has an enormous wealth of wines to offer. You will find wines here for most occasions. We have recently tasted wines from three prestigious appellations in the northern Rhône, Hermitage, Côte Rôtie
Sweet Christmas delights can be chocolate, marrons glacés or a sweet wine. Here are some last-minute recommendations and inspiration. Christmas is not quite complete without a sweet wine, often fortified, to go with the blue
In the US, the big news from the wine world this week has been that the American Court of Master Sommeliers is said to have scrapped the Old World and New World definitions in their
— Not yet time to abandon the New World — In the US, the big news from the wine world this week has been that the American Court of Master Sommeliers is said to have
OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine) announces that the 2023 wine harvest is the lowest in more than 60 years due to severe weather conditions such as early frost, heavy rain, and drought in
The sorting machines and sorting tables worked overtime during the 2023 harvest in France. Overall quality has been excellent and in some places this equipment is to thank for that. Dried grapes, rotten grapes, grapes
China has received its first Demeter-certified vineyard. Demeter is the worldwide (private) certification for biodynamic agriculture. The winery is Silver Heights and is located in Ningxia in north-central China. We visited Silver Heights a few
We ended up in the middle of the harvest when we visited Bordeaux around September 20th. We had expected to see some gloomy faces, but it was mostly happy faces. We knew about the severe
We don’t usually write about olive trees and olive oil. But they are frequently seen close to vineyards, and they, like the vine, have a good resistance to heat and drought. So, when we came
The UGCB, Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, is an exclusive association for the classified châteaux of Bordeaux (the 1855 classification in Médoc and Sauternes
The fact that France has extensive oak forests is widely known, oak used for all the barrels. But France also has cork oaks. Once upon
Many people are familiar with cava, and many have gotten used to the fact that it is affordable bubbles, good to have when money is
The red wines from Etna DOC have taken the wine world by storm in recent years. The elegant and flavourful nerello mascalese grape from the
Catalan DO Penedès is just south of Barcelona. The region was a pioneer of organic viticulture in Spain 40 years ago. It was decided some
Last year, Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand became the twelfth member of the Great Wine Capitals of the World. Great Wine Capitals is a global
It is hard to believe that it is true. And maybe it is not. But Decanter is our source and it is a serious wine
All wine regions need new customers. But global consumption is shrinking and if the global wine consumption continues to fall, consumers will become fewer and
A new report provides an interesting insight into the world of French wine cooperatives. The cooperatives do not get big headlines in newspapers, but they
Riesling is the flagship grape of Alsace, along with gewurztraminer. But the latter is no longer profitable to produce and the riesling harvests are getting
We hear it all the time nowadays: young people don’t drink wine. The wine industry is worried, in Europe and the USA. Sowine, a French
On our Austria tour in September, we visited Birgit Braunstein in Burgenland, a biodynamic producer and tasted some of her delicious wines. Her focus is
Many European countries (including Sweden) drink and appreciate South African wines. It has been that way ever since Sweden and other countries started importing the
Oak ageing is closely associated with quality wines, and the French barrel makers are masters at producing the oak barrels wanted by the entire wine
Nebbiolo has changed over the years, not least in the last 40 years. Its world fame is rather recent. Its most famous wines, Barolo and
Sauvignon blanc is the primary grape in the New Zealand vineyards. But several other grapes do very well in the country. If you travel around
We have tasted some rare grape varieties recently when we were on a wine tasting tour around the country. We want to share this experience
Once, a while back, I was harvesting grapes in the middle of the night. It was in Cachapoal in Chile. We had headlamps to see
In Europe, people are exhaling after a challenging harvest season that has just ended (a fair few weeks ago by the time you read this).
Not many grapes are still fermenting in cellars in Napa Valley although the harvest this year was unusually late. The growing season started late, and
Heat, drought, moisture, downy mildew, powdery mildew, grey rot, hail… The winegrowers in France have not lacked challenges in 2023. Now the harvest is finished
The Rhône Valley has an enormous wealth of wines to offer. You will find wines here for most occasions. We have recently tasted wines from
Sweet Christmas delights can be chocolate, marrons glacés or a sweet wine. Here are some last-minute recommendations and inspiration. Christmas is not quite complete without
In the US, the big news from the wine world this week has been that the American Court of Master Sommeliers is said to have
— Not yet time to abandon the New World — In the US, the big news from the wine world this week has been that
OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine) announces that the 2023 wine harvest is the lowest in more than 60 years due to severe weather
The sorting machines and sorting tables worked overtime during the 2023 harvest in France. Overall quality has been excellent and in some places this equipment
China has received its first Demeter-certified vineyard. Demeter is the worldwide (private) certification for biodynamic agriculture. The winery is Silver Heights and is located in
We ended up in the middle of the harvest when we visited Bordeaux around September 20th. We had expected to see some gloomy faces, but
We don’t usually write about olive trees and olive oil. But they are frequently seen close to vineyards, and they, like the vine, have a
Newsletter:
Get our free monthly newsletter, the BKWine Brief and join 25,000 other wine and travel enthusiasts.
Text and images may not be used without our permission. More info on copyright.
25,000 subscribers get wine news every month. You too?
