Month: April 2006

Invest in wine cheaply – in Fenouilledes

That is one of the arguments in a recent press release from the wine growers in Fenouilledes (Languedoc-Roussillon). The other argument is that the region will be “the next Pic St Loup” in Languedoc. Compared

Masculine wine

No, it is not Hermitage or Côte Rôte (sometimes called the most “masculine” of wines, as opposed to more feminine wines like Burgundy). A vineyard in California has launched a range of wine targeted and

How to survive a wine harvest

If you are thinking of taking part in the grape harvest this autumn, now is the time to organise it. But you should not think that it is a nice way to get a week

Auction prices go upwards at Sotheby’s

Some encouraging or discouraging (depending on if you are buying or selling) prices from Sotheby’s recent auction L06603 (98.5% of all wines sold): 12 bt Lafite 1982: £7,130 12 bt La Mission haut Brion 1989:

Champagne with screw cork?

No, at least for the moment that is unlikely. But the champagne growers’ association (CIVC) has created a project group to study alternative closures. They have done tests with synthetic corks and have concluded that

The wine fair in Brussels cancelled

Brussels Wine Expo has been cancelled according to information on their site. Perhaps there are too many wine shows around the world now: Vinexpo (in 2005), Vinisud on February 20-22, Vinitaly on April 6-10, Prowein

World’s best Tempranillo

On May 22-24 the World’s Best Tempranillo competition will be held i Cologne. The competition is organised by a Spanish organisation which perhaps is not surprising since much of the world’s Tempranillo is made in

Salaries up 5.8% in the wine business

According to a report from Wine Business Monthly and Western Management Group salaries have gone up with on average 5.8% in the wine industry during 2006, compared to 3.5% for all sectors. A wine maker’s

The genetic code of Pinot Noir established

A group Italian researchers at the agricultural research institute Michele all’Adige have identified the genome (the genetic code) of Pinot Noir. It is the first grape that has had its DNA mapped. The researchers say

René Renou reappointed chairman of the INAO

René Renou will continue as chairman of the semi-governmental control authority INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) that supervises much of what has to do with wine production in France. Renou is a wine maker

Screaming Eagle in California sold

The Californian cult vineyard Screaming Eagle has just changed hands. Charles Banks and Stanley Kroenke, two financiers, acquired it from Jean Phillips who, according to press information, had liquidity problems – in spite of sometimes

Chateau Cantenac-Brown sold

Chateau Cantenac-Brown, a 3rd Cru Classé in Margaux (Médoc), has just been sold to Simon Halabi, a British financier. Seller is AXA, an insurance company that owns numerous other wine properties in Bordeaux and elsewhere

Bordeaux producers continue price fixing cartel

A while back, the producers’ association for Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur decided by vote that anyone selling his wines for less than 1000 euro per tonneaux (900 litre) would be denied to use the Appellation

One step closer to oak chips

A French government report has proposed to allow oak chips in the wine making. As we have mentioned previously in the Brief there is a EU proposal on the way to being accepted that would

Vieux Château Gaubert, Graves | BKWine Pick

Dominique Havelan’s family has been wine growers in Graves for three generations and in 1988 Dominique bought the quite run down Vieux Château Gaubert that he has been renovating and replanting since. His wines, both

Wine Tours in English

Wine Tours September 27 – October 1: The Northern Rhône Valley If you love the Syrah grape, this is the trip for you! The northern part of the Rhône Valley is mostly about powerful red

Finnish Language Wine Tours – Viinimatkoja Ranskan viinialueille!

Finnish Language Wine Tours – Viinimatkoja Ranskan viinialueille! Tours on the schedule (in Finnish): 20.9 – 24.9 2006: Viinimatkan kohteena Bordeaux Bordeaux on viininystävälle ehdoton matkakohde! Siellä ovat tunnetut isot viinitilat, klassiset viinit mutta myös

Just back from Burgundy and Champagne

I’ve just been on quite an exhausting 3-day trip to Champagne, Chablis and Burgundy, visiting winemakers and seeing how far the vines have progressed in the vineyards. (Not very far at all actually. There are

Do you like our Blog (or not)

We just joined Blogtopsite. Mostly for fun, not sure what good it can do…? If you like our blog you can rank us on Blogtopsites. (Well, you can of course also rank us if you

Thomas Jefferson

Link tip: About Thomas Jefferson, president, ambassador and wine enthusiast: In Forbes

Winewoman@Bergerac.France

Book Review:Winewoman@Bergerac.France Helen Gillespie-Peck, Melrose Books Wine educator, wine writer and wine maker Helen Gillespie-Peck arrived in France 30 years ago. The book is not so much an autobiography – even if she explains all

Masculine wine

No, it is not Hermitage or Côte Rôte (sometimes called the most “masculine” of wines, as opposed to more feminine wines like Burgundy). A vineyard

How to survive a wine harvest

If you are thinking of taking part in the grape harvest this autumn, now is the time to organise it. But you should not think

Champagne with screw cork?

No, at least for the moment that is unlikely. But the champagne growers’ association (CIVC) has created a project group to study alternative closures. They

The wine fair in Brussels cancelled

Brussels Wine Expo has been cancelled according to information on their site. Perhaps there are too many wine shows around the world now: Vinexpo (in

World’s best Tempranillo

On May 22-24 the World’s Best Tempranillo competition will be held i Cologne. The competition is organised by a Spanish organisation which perhaps is not

Salaries up 5.8% in the wine business

According to a report from Wine Business Monthly and Western Management Group salaries have gone up with on average 5.8% in the wine industry during

René Renou reappointed chairman of the INAO

René Renou will continue as chairman of the semi-governmental control authority INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) that supervises much of what has to do

Screaming Eagle in California sold

The Californian cult vineyard Screaming Eagle has just changed hands. Charles Banks and Stanley Kroenke, two financiers, acquired it from Jean Phillips who, according to

Chateau Cantenac-Brown sold

Chateau Cantenac-Brown, a 3rd Cru Classé in Margaux (Médoc), has just been sold to Simon Halabi, a British financier. Seller is AXA, an insurance company

One step closer to oak chips

A French government report has proposed to allow oak chips in the wine making. As we have mentioned previously in the Brief there is a

Wine Tours in English

Wine Tours September 27 – October 1: The Northern Rhône Valley If you love the Syrah grape, this is the trip for you! The northern

Just back from Burgundy and Champagne

I’ve just been on quite an exhausting 3-day trip to Champagne, Chablis and Burgundy, visiting winemakers and seeing how far the vines have progressed in

Do you like our Blog (or not)

We just joined Blogtopsite. Mostly for fun, not sure what good it can do…? If you like our blog you can rank us on Blogtopsites.

Thomas Jefferson

Link tip: About Thomas Jefferson, president, ambassador and wine enthusiast: In Forbes

Winewoman@Bergerac.France

Book Review:Winewoman@Bergerac.France Helen Gillespie-Peck, Melrose Books Wine educator, wine writer and wine maker Helen Gillespie-Peck arrived in France 30 years ago. The book is not

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