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 other month, we wrote in the Brief about rules and regulations in the wine industry. The other day, I had reason to ponder this subject again when discussing how to interpret a wine label
— All the strange things that you can find on a wine label — The other month, we wrote in the Brief about rules and regulations in the wine industry. The other day, I had
Irrigation has always been strictly regulated in the European vineyards. But drought affects more and more wine vineyards, and the rules are loosened. It has been generally allowed in France for several years to irrigate
Alsace wants to try out 16 new grape varieties to see if they can help wine producers in the region cope with climate change and reduce their use of plant protection. The 16 grapes are
Skin-macerated white wine has been made here and there before today’s trend of orange wines started. One such wine district in Spain is Terra Alta in Catalonia, whose white wines with skin contact have now
The South African wine industry is recovering from the pandemic, but challenges remain. This is according to the latest Outlook report 2023-2032 from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP). In 2022, the surface
In several European wine regions, fungal diseases in the vineyard have been a major problem this summer. Severe attacks by, not least, downy mildew can be difficult to manage with only organic spraying (i.e. copper).
Our heads are spinning right now from all the impressions from the autumn wine tours, the wine regions we visited and above all the many growers we met. The Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Champagne, Tuscany, Ribera
— Contrasts, people, experiences — Our heads are spinning right now from all the impressions from the autumn wine tours, the wine regions we visited and above all the many growers we met. The Loire
Even if you missed it, it is never too late for an apéro! (But go for a real one! Not the sugary fizzy-drinks version spritz.) Where did that classic French aperitif go? Byrrh, Noilly Prat,
I have just returned from Champagne – late August 2023 – where the producers are confidently looking forward to the harvest, which will start around September 12. But, as they say, nothing is certain until
Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. – Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating among winegrowers. Our answer is no. Besides the fact that most of them are
— Rules, rules, rules… — Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating among winegrowers. Our answer is no. Besides the fact that
Perhaps this year, the growers in Roussillon in the southwest of France will have their lowest harvest yield ever. There has not been much rain this year, not even 200 mm. And last year was
— How do you choose wine at a restaurant? — Much has been written about the anxiety one feels when having to choose a wine at a restaurant. How do I avoid choosing the “wrong”
Saint Emilion is small-scale and very different from the Médoc on the other side of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. Saint Emilion has an pretty, rolling and green landscape. The chateaux are smaller and not
Bordeaux is about to become smaller again. The last time it happened was in 2008-2009, after the financial crisis. 10,000 hectares disappeared at the time. Now it is happening again. The plans are to pull
2023 was the smallest harvest in Australia in 23 years. The problem this season has mainly been various diseases in the vineyard. The Riverland in South Australia has been badly affected and a whopping 32%
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
The other month, we wrote in the Brief about rules and regulations in the wine industry. The other day, I had reason to ponder this
— All the strange things that you can find on a wine label — The other month, we wrote in the Brief about rules and
Irrigation has always been strictly regulated in the European vineyards. But drought affects more and more wine vineyards, and the rules are loosened. It has
Alsace wants to try out 16 new grape varieties to see if they can help wine producers in the region cope with climate change and
Skin-macerated white wine has been made here and there before today’s trend of orange wines started. One such wine district in Spain is Terra Alta
The South African wine industry is recovering from the pandemic, but challenges remain. This is according to the latest Outlook report 2023-2032 from the Bureau
In several European wine regions, fungal diseases in the vineyard have been a major problem this summer. Severe attacks by, not least, downy mildew can
Our heads are spinning right now from all the impressions from the autumn wine tours, the wine regions we visited and above all the many
— Contrasts, people, experiences — Our heads are spinning right now from all the impressions from the autumn wine tours, the wine regions we visited
Even if you missed it, it is never too late for an apéro! (But go for a real one! Not the sugary fizzy-drinks version spritz.)
I have just returned from Champagne – late August 2023 – where the producers are confidently looking forward to the harvest, which will start around
Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. – Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating among winegrowers. Our answer
— Rules, rules, rules… — Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating
Perhaps this year, the growers in Roussillon in the southwest of France will have their lowest harvest yield ever. There has not been much rain
— How do you choose wine at a restaurant? — Much has been written about the anxiety one feels when having to choose a wine
Saint Emilion is small-scale and very different from the Médoc on the other side of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. Saint Emilion has an pretty,
Bordeaux is about to become smaller again. The last time it happened was in 2008-2009, after the financial crisis. 10,000 hectares disappeared at the time.
2023 was the smallest harvest in Australia in 23 years. The problem this season has mainly been various diseases in the vineyard. The Riverland in
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