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Time for Pinotage to come out of the closet? | New Brief out, #198 | The Wine & Wine Travel Newsletter

Time for Pinotage to come out of the closet? The apple never falls far from the tree. Well, sometimes it...

BKWine Brief nr 198, February 2020

Time for Pinotage to come out of the closet? The apple never falls far from the tree. Well, sometimes it...

Consumers demand more organic wine

Organic wine continues to increase its sales and market shares. Now, consumer demand drives the three largest wine countries, Italy,...

Can you tell which grape variety is which in the vineyard? Homage to an ampelography pioneer

People sometimes wonder how you can tell the difference between one grape variety and another in a vineyard. After all,...

Beaujolais genius Georges Dubœuf dies at 86

The greatest of them all in Beaujolais, Georges Dubœuf, has passed away. Beaujolais has lost a great promotor. Of course,...

Criolla, Argentina’s unique grapes

Criolla is the collective name of the grapes in South America that were either brought here as seeds or cuttings...

New grape varieties in California to combat severe disease

Pierce’s disease affects vines especially in California and the rest of the United States. But it exists also in South...

The OIV 2019 Awards Ceremony when our book received the OIV Prize

Sometimes you get tied up in things, so this has been a long time coming. Last year we were very...

Are we wine consumers ready to stand up for our environmental commitment? | New Brief out, #197 | The Wine & Wine Travel Newsletter

Are we wine consumers ready to stand up for our environmental commitment? Or are we merely paying lip service? A...

BKWine Brief nr 197, January 2020

Are we wine consumers ready to stand up for our environmental commitment? Or are we merely paying lip service? A...

This post is also available in: Swedish

Consumers demand more organic wine

By Britt Karlsson on February 10, 2020 in News

Organic wine continues to increase its sales and market shares. Now, consumer demand drives the three largest wine countries, Italy, Spain and France, to increase their organic surface at a quicker pace, according to a report by Millésime Bio, an organic wine fair that takes place in Montpellier at the end of January. Not least, […]

Can you tell which grape variety is which in the vineyard? Homage to an ampelography pioneer

By Britt Karlsson on February 8, 2020 in News

People sometimes wonder how you can tell the difference between one grape variety and another in a vineyard. After all, they look pretty much the same. And the truth is that it’s not easy. Pierre Galet, who passed away on December 30 at the age of 98, could tell them apart without a problem. He […]

Beaujolais genius Georges Dubœuf dies at 86

By Britt Karlsson on February 7, 2020 in News

The greatest of them all in Beaujolais, Georges Dubœuf, has passed away. Beaujolais has lost a great promotor. Of course, his wines will continue to thrive through his son Franck. Georges Duboeuf was born into a winemaking family and he was only 18 years old when he started working full time with wine. He successfully […]

Criolla, Argentina’s unique grapes

By Britt Karlsson on February 5, 2020 in News

Criolla is the collective name of the grapes in South America that were either brought here as seeds or cuttings by the Spaniards in the 17th century or which are the result of spontaneous crossings that took place in South America between these European grape varieties. Listán negro, listan prieto, moscatel de alejandría and pedro […]

New grape varieties in California to combat severe disease

By Britt Karlsson on February 4, 2020 in News

Pierce’s disease affects vines especially in California and the rest of the United States. But it exists also in South America. The disease is spread through insects called sharpshooters. It is difficult to cure and the vines usually die within five years. Now, the University of California Davis has released five new grape varieties that […]

The OIV 2019 Awards Ceremony when our book received the OIV Prize

By Per Karlsson on February 3, 2020 in Languedoc-Roussillon, the book

Sometimes you get tied up in things, so this has been a long time coming. Last year we were very honoured and proud to receive the OIV Book Award for best book in the category “Discovery and presentation of wines” for our latest book “Languedoc-Roussillon, the Wines of Southern France”. OIV is the International Organisation […]

View over the vineyards from Quinta da Gaivosa

8 of our favourites in the Douro Valley | Britt on Forbes

By Britt Karlsson on January 15, 2020 in Wine Regions

It is inevitable to be wow-ed when you come to the Douro Valley. It is one of the world’s most spectacular wine regions. These days they make both excellent “table” wines and the famous fortified port wines. We are frequent visitors to the Douro Valley. The Douro is one of our most popular travel destinations […]

Vineyards, a winery and mountains in Franschhoek, South Africa

Platter’s 2020 South African Wine Guide launched

By Britt Karlsson on January 15, 2020 in News

The 2020 edition of the excellent wine guide “Platter’s South African Wine Guide” was launched in November. A total of 125 wines and one brandy received the coveted 5 stars. “Editor’s Award Winery of the Year” went to the well-known Boekenhoutskloof in Franschhoek. “Best newcomer of the year” was Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique. Pieter Ferreira […]

David Cvach, French ambassador, and Per Karlsson

Our book “Languedoc-Roussillon” named “Book of the Year, Drinks” by Gourmand Awards

By Per Karlsson on January 14, 2020 in Languedoc-Roussillon, the book

Our latest book “Languedoc-Roussillon, Wines From The South of France” (Languedoc-Roussillon, södra Frankrikes viner) has been named Drinks Book of the Year 2019 (it actually happened a couple of months ago). Not the best wine book as such, but the best book in Sweden about any kind of drink, wine, spirits, tea, coffee, water. So […]

Bottles of organic (ekologiskt) wine in a shop

Does it cost more to be organic?

By Britt Karlsson on January 14, 2020 in News

What does it really cost to convert to organic farming? It is sometimes said that “certification is expensive so the producer X works organically but does not certify”. That’s not correct. The certification is a marginal cost. But what about the rest? A French report from consulting firm CerFrance Gard tries to work it out. […]

Eco-friendly cork wins award

By Britt Karlsson on January 13, 2020 in News

Every year, over 2 billion Diam corks are sold, so chances are you will now and then pull one out of your wine bottle. Diam Bouchage is a French company that 12 years ago introduced a technical invention that eliminates the molecule responsible for the annoying cork taste (2,4,6-trichloroanisole, TCA) from cork granules. Diam could […]

Swedish Wine Producers’ Association Chairman misquoted in the New York Times

By Britt Karlsson on January 11, 2020 in News

In the November Brief, we wrote about an article on Scandinavian wines in the New York Times. We recounted, among other things, a quote by Sveneric Svensson, chairman of the Swedish Wine Association, uniting many of the Swedish wine producers. Sveneric sent us an email immediately after he read the newsletter to refute this quote. […]

A grape name on the label sells better

By Britt Karlsson on January 10, 2020 in News

How much does a grape name on the label really mean? A lot. At least some people think so. During the international Chenin Blanc congress that took place in Angers in July, there was much talk about the importance of providing consumers with information on the label and what added value it provides. The still […]

Pinot Grigio: From Lady Gaga to a new consorzie delle Venezie

By Åsa Johansson on January 8, 2020 in Wine Regions

Not all grape varieties are so famous that Lady Gaga writes a song about them, but pinot grigio is. The north-eastern corner of Italy is the regions where most pinot grigio is produced in the whole world. Now the three regions Veneto, Friuli and Trentino are investing in common cause for pinot grigio to keep […]

The barrel cellar at Musella, Valpolicella, Italy

The Golden Glass Trophy to Musella in Valpolicella

By Britt Karlsson on January 8, 2020 in News

Every year, the Swedish food magazine “Allt Om Mat” (Everything About Food) selects a winery for the “Golden Glass” trophy, an award that goes to a winery that has distinguished itself for high quality and that is available to consumers in Sweden. In 2019 the award went to Musella in the Italian region of Valpolicella. […]

Miss Terre 2018, Vin de France, Domaine de la Sénéchalière, Marc Pesnot

One step closer to list of ingredients on wine bottles?

By Britt Karlsson on January 6, 2020 in News

Will there soon be a requirement for wines to list the ingredients on the label? The issue has been debated in recent years. (Just to be clear: it is not forbidden to have a declaration of contents, it’s just not compulsory.) Many consumers ask themselves why alcoholic beverages are exempt from the rule that all […]

Gigondas in the Rhone Valley – the constant underdog, that bites

By Sven-Olof Johansson on January 3, 2020 in Wine Regions

A little brother is always a little brother. Even as he grows up, catching up with his big brother, borrowing his moped and kissing his girlfriend. Anyone who is knowledgeable enough to put Gigondas on the map will then point to neighbouring Châteauneuf du Pape. If the Gigondas vineyards cover 1,230 ha, big brother’s is […]

Chateau Beaucastel 1999, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Twenty20 Vision: Anniversary vintage fine wines in 2020

By Stuart George on December 30, 2019 in More

Anniversary wines to drink in 2020 It is always a surprise to notice that you are coming to the end of a year – and of a decade – even if, as a fine wine merchant, you are expected to keep an eye on years (or vintages) that come and go. If, like me, you […]

Vineyard in Bordeaux with grass and grass removed

Less herbicides in the Loire and maybe in all of France, at a cost

By Britt Karlsson on December 30, 2019 in News

27 appellations in the Anjou and Saumur regions in the Loire Valley have recently published their new rules and regulations. The big news is that they all now prohibit chemical weed removal. These 27 AOPs together have 18,000 hectares. In the current climate of sustainability awareness more and more wineries reduce spraying with chemical herbicides. […]

Bottles in the cellars of a cava producer in Catalonia, Spain

More tips on exciting cava from Catalonia for the festivities

By Per Karlsson on December 28, 2019 in News

One should not make the mistake to believe that cava is a cheap alternative to champagne. No more than that sancerre is a cheap version of white burgundy (or vice versa). No, cava is its very own wine style, own grape varieties, own terroir. Why not make an inspired and slightly different choice for New […]

Mont d´Or, the cheese favourite of the French at Christmas

By Britt Karlsson on December 27, 2019 in News

No French dinner is complete without a good cheese. At Christmas, the cheese will probably be a vacherin de mont d’or, an AOP cheese from the Jura mountains. This is a true Christmas cheese and much loved by the French. It is only produced in the autumn and winter. In the spring and summer, the […]

Bottles "sur lattes" in a cellar in Champagne

Last-minute-recommendations for a sparkling New Year

By Britt Karlsson on December 23, 2019 in News

Do you need some inspiration to fins a different bubbly for the festivities (you don’t really need any help to find the big brands, do you?)? Here are a few sparkling wines that we recommend. Champagne Bonnet-Ponson Seconde Nature, ~45 euro. Cyril Bonnet is a very talented winemaker. No sulphur, no dosage. But a lot […]

Scandinavian wines in the New York Times and on France 3

By Britt Karlsson on December 20, 2019 in News

Scandinavian wines have received a great deal of attention in the international press lately. Like most other journalists, Eric Asimov, in his long article in the New York Times, points out that climate change makes it possible to commercially make wine in Scandinavia. But he also admits that this doesn’t make it easy. Climate change […]

Italian Christmas: pandoro or panettone, that’s the question

By Åsa Johansson on December 19, 2019 in Food and Wine

When it is Christmas in Italy, the eternal question is whether it should be pandoro or panettone. The high, sponge-cake-like cake sold in colourful cardboard boxes in every shop from supermercato to small delicatessen shops is a must. But should it be pandoro or panettone? And what is the difference? “Mom, this year, can we […]

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