Home | BKWine Magazine |

New Zealand celebrating 200 years as a wine nation

Congratulations! On September 25, 2019 it is 200 years since the first vine was planted in New Zealand. An anniversary...

Cloudy Bay’s founder makes “revolutionary” wine in Bordeaux

David Hohnen is a renowned winemaker. He first founded Cape Mentelle Vineyards in Margaret River in his native Australia. He...

100 hectares of Swedish vineyards

The fact that you make wine in Sweden often surprises foreigners. This is understandable. It is not an obvious wine...

Swiss wines and winegrowers celebrated at the 2019 edition of the Vevey Fête des Vignerons

The Fête des Vignerons de Vevey, held in the beautiful wine region of Canton of Vaud four times a century,...

Can California save its cabernet sauvignon from climate change?

How to best prepare for climate change is a major topic of discussion at vineyards around the world. Some people...

The new “no sulphur” trend | New Brief out, #192 | The Wine & Wine Travel Newsletter

The new "no sulphur" trend There is a new trend, still in its infancy. But it will – most likely...

BKWine Brief nr 192, August 2019

The new "no sulphur" trend There is a new trend, still in its infancy. But it will – most likely...

Big wine fest: National Wine Day in Chisinau, Moldova, 5 and 6 October, 2019

On October 5 and 6 this year, the wine is the big star in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. It’s...

New Zealand’s vineyards vineyards grow, new numbers show

There is a new report on New Zealand’s vineyards and grapes. The area has increased by 2% and the country...

Rioja puts more focus on origin and terroir, less on barrel ageing

Rioja is experiencing something of a renaissance right now. To some extent, it is thanks to young, dynamic producers who...

This post is also available in: Swedish

New Zealand celebrating 200 years as a wine nation

By Britt Karlsson on September 22, 2019 in News

Congratulations! On September 25, 2019 it is 200 years since the first vine was planted in New Zealand. An anniversary well worthy of a celebration, don’t you think? It was the Reverend Samuel Marsden, Chaplain to New South Wales, Australia, who on this day in 1819 planted vines in Stone Store in Kerikeri in the […]

Cloudy Bay’s founder makes “revolutionary” wine in Bordeaux

By Britt Karlsson on September 20, 2019 in News

David Hohnen is a renowned winemaker. He first founded Cape Mentelle Vineyards in Margaret River in his native Australia. He then moved to New Zealand and founded Cloudy Bay in Marlborough. The year was 1986. It was a stroke of luck (probably not only luck). Cloudy Bay is today one of the most famous (the […]

100 hectares of Swedish vineyards

By Britt Karlsson on September 11, 2019 in News

The fact that you make wine in Sweden often surprises foreigners. This is understandable. It is not an obvious wine country. David Morrison, in his blog The Wine Gourd, has taken a closer look at the wine “industry” in Sweden. David is originally from Australia but lives in Sweden. He’s made a good summary of […]

Swiss wines and winegrowers celebrated at the 2019 edition of the Vevey Fête des Vignerons

By Alexandra Foissac on September 9, 2019 in More

The Fête des Vignerons de Vevey, held in the beautiful wine region of Canton of Vaud four times a century, is a tribute to the vine, wine and winegrowers. The 2019 edition attracted more than 1 million visitors during three weeks and gave a fantastic show celebrating the terroir and its treasures but also life […]

Can California save its cabernet sauvignon from climate change?

By Britt Karlsson on September 4, 2019 in News

How to best prepare for climate change is a major topic of discussion at vineyards around the world. Some people talk about changing grape varieties, to ones that can better withstand heat and drought. But some are very attached to their grapes. The University of California has therefore started an interesting research project. The idea […]

Big wine fest: National Wine Day in Chisinau, Moldova, 5 and 6 October, 2019

By Britt Karlsson on August 30, 2019 in News

On October 5 and 6 this year, the wine is the big star in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. It’s time for the annual National Wine Day. This is actually the eighteenth time this event is being held in Chisinau. It has grown in size of course. It is now an eagerly awaited opportunity for […]

New Zealand’s vineyards vineyards grow, new numbers show

By Britt Karlsson on August 29, 2019 in News

There is a new report on New Zealand’s vineyards and grapes. The area has increased by 2% and the country now has 38,680 hectares (~a third of Bordeaux) of which 30,921 hectares are white grapes and 7,758 hectares are red grapes. Sauvignon blanc is still the most important grape with 26,850 hectares, which is 69% […]

Rioja puts more focus on origin and terroir, less on barrel ageing

By Britt Karlsson on August 28, 2019 in News

Rioja is experiencing something of a renaissance right now. To some extent, it is thanks to young, dynamic producers who think it is time to refresh Rioja’s image in the world. Therefore, we have recently seen several changes introduced. Many producers are now keener to put on the label the geographical location of the vineyard […]

The author strolling in the vineyards with a wine producer

World’s vineyard surface increasing slightly. And wine? Read the stats carefully!

By Britt Karlsson on August 27, 2019 in News

It can be tricky to read statistics on viticulture in different countries. It is important to know whether the statistics apply to both grapes grown for wine production and for eating. The world today has 7.4 million hectares of grapes. Five countries account for 50% of the surface: Spain (13%), China (12%), France (11%), Italy […]

The traditional style restaurant at Asconi Winery in Moldova

Wine in Moldova: Château Vartely and Asconi Winery, two strong newcomers after independence

By Britt Karlsson on August 25, 2019 in Wine Producer Profiles

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Moldova gained independence. In 1991 the Republic of Moldova was founded. Since then, many new wineries have emerged. Two of the bigger ones of particular interest are Château Vartely and Asconi. Read our articles on Moldovan wines here. Château Vartely Château Vartely is one of the leaders in […]

Chat Fou 2016, Côtes du Rhône, vin artisanal et naturel

(New?) rules for natural wines?

By Britt Karlsson on August 24, 2019 in News

Natural wine is here to stay. And although the EU has said that there will be no official rules for this category, it does not prevent private groups from setting up their own. As, for example, Vinnatur in Italy (www.vinnatur.org) has done. Now Sébastien David, winemaker in Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil in the Loire Valley, is trying to […]

"Languedoc-Roussillon, södra Frankrikes viner", av Britt Karlsson, Bengt Rydén, Per Karlsson

“Few books have made me long for southern France like this one” – about our new Languedoc-Roussillon book

By Per Karlsson on August 23, 2019 in Languedoc-Roussillon, the book

It makes you happy when you read such things. “Few books have made me long for southern France like this one.” This is what Dag Sandahl writes in his review of “Languedoc-Roussillon, the wines of southern France”. Dag continues in his review “there are good reasons to read it and be fascinated by their knowledge […]

An excursion among the Riesling wines 2018 from the Mosel

By Sven-Olof Johansson on August 22, 2019 in Wine Regions

Secateur or spraying plane? Early morning in July 2019. A pre-arranged schedule involves alarm clock and strong coffee to have the time to go on a bike morning session. On a mountain-bike, Mosel’s makes it a playful educational ride to exhaust the body. Very hilly and with innumerable trails and passes to follow. That the […]

At Stark-Condé Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa

South African wines are changing thanks to these five brilliant winemakers (and others) | Britt on Forbes

By Britt Karlsson on August 21, 2019 in Wine Regions

Now is really the time to take a look at the South African wine scene. If you are mostly familiar with the easy going, inexpensive wines from this country, you will be surprised. Now much more attention is given to the terroir. To plant each grape in a suitable soil, to lower the yields and […]

Fredholms Vineyard receives medals again

By Britt Karlsson on August 20, 2019 in News

We congratulate Fredholms Vingård! It is not often we have the opportunity to write about a Swedish wine winning medals internationally… This small winery in the south of Sweden has once again obtained medals in an international wine competition. Elsa, a white wine made from the grape solaris, received a gold medal and the red […]

Bertrand Gautherot at Champagne Vouette et Sorbee explaining

“Bad boys of Champagne”, and brilliant champagnes at Vouette et Sorbée

By Sven-Olof Johansson on August 19, 2019 in Wine Producer Profiles

A vineyard visit in Champagne “Down here in Aube, we used to be called ‘the bad boys of Champagne’” says Bertrand Gautherot, winemaker and owner of Vouette & Sorbée. “But not anymore,” he adds, smiling broadly. Actually, there is no time for either tasting or visits, work in the vineyards must be prioritized, said Bertrand […]

Concrete oval egg tanks for fermentation in a winery in South Africa

Does the shape of the fermentation tank really matter?

By Britt Karlsson on August 18, 2019 in News

We’ve all seen them. (Or perhaps not.) The egg-shaped tanks in concrete or in terracotta. A few years ago, they were a sensation, now it feels like every other winemaker is investing in at least one. But does the shape and material of the fermentation tank really play a role in the character of the […]

Vineyards in Collioure overlooking the Mediterranean

Pictures from the new book about Languedoc-Roussillon

By Per Karlsson on August 15, 2019 in Languedoc-Roussillon, the book, News

It is difficult to convey a sense of what it is like to travel in a wine district. It is just as difficult to convey a sense of what you may experience when reading a book. But at least we want to try. Earlier this year, our tenth book was published, a new book on […]

Moldovan wine classics in modern versions: Chateau Purcari and Castel Mimi

By Britt Karlsson on August 14, 2019 in Wine Producer Profiles

Moldova, the small wine country squeezed in between Romania and Ukraine, are making big efforts to make their wines more well known. Having been hampered in its dealings with the outside world during the Soviet years, it is now making up for lost time. Two of the biggest estates in the country, Purcari and Castel […]

Alain and Anne de Laguiche, Chateau d'Arlay, Jura, copyright SO Johansson

Wines from Château d’Arlay in the Jura become beautiful music in the glasses, with good reason

By Sven-Olof Johansson on August 12, 2019 in Wine Producer Profiles

The lord of the chateau who plays music for his wines A chateau in the Jura? Can there really be such a thing in this rural area with down-to-earth growers? Yes, there is at least one that fulfils all the desirable criteria for being called chateau. Dating back to the 16th century, a history of […]

Where is turruntés grown? In Rioja of course!

By Britt Karlsson on August 10, 2019 in News

Yes, turruntés, not torrontes. Rioja is best known for its red wines. But that is no reason to ignore the whites. You can find them in different styles. They can be seriously full-bodied wines with lots of mouthfeel or fresh and floral everyday wines. To put white wine in oak barrels is an old tradition […]

Redoma Niepoort 1996, Douro Valley, Portugal

Uncorked: Good wines we have tasted recently, July 2019

By Britt Karlsson on July 30, 2019 in Tastings

Uncorked: Under this heading, we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner at home, at wine tastings, press lunches, visits to vineyards, or other occasions. We describe the wines just with a few short sentences, tasting notes that we hope will give […]

Our book on the wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon wins prestigious award from the OIV

By Per Karlsson on July 29, 2019 in Languedoc-Roussillon, the book

The whole list of OIV book awards 2019 announced We worked for two years on the new book about Languedoc-Roussillon. Not full time, but when we could, and not least in the summers when we could go and visit vineyards. But on top of that, we had worked continuously for about ten years, since our […]

Bordeaux restaurants and wine bars: oysters, mussels, foie gras, duck and much more in the gastronomic city | Britt on Forbes

By Britt Karlsson on July 28, 2019 in Food and Wine

Here are some of our favourites The city of Bordeaux is a place where you can spend a lot of time. It is an elegant city with fabulous shopping, if that is what you are looking for. The food lover will not be disappointed either. If you like oysters, the ones from Arcachon close to […]

An orthodox church in a monastery in Moldova

Moldova, an exciting “new” wine country with a long history | Britt on Forbes

By Britt Karlsson on July 26, 2019 in Wine Regions

Moldova is not a new wine country. It has a very long history of wine making. But if feels new. More and more countries around the world are drinking Moldovan wines. But many wine consumers probably know very little about this small country, squeezed in between Romania and Ukraine. Since the breakup of the Soviet […]

Vineyard in Bordeaux with grass and grass removed

Corsican wine region bans glyphosate

By Britt Karlsson on July 23, 2019 in News

The discussion about the future of glyphosate continues. It is very contested if glyphosate is dangerous or not at all dangerous (when properly used). In 2022, it will again be on the EU agenda, until then it is allowed. But France (at least the government, but not all farmers) wants to ban glyphosate before that. […]

Older posts

TopMenuEN

Archives

Site Map

Wine Travel & Wine Tours

Professional Affiliations, journalism

All BKWine sites

Wine & Travel Photography

About BKWine Magazine

Sign up for our Newsletter!

Make your friends happy!