Organically farmed vineyards have increased substantially in France: up with 20% compared with a fall in the total surface of vineyards with 2.3%. But the total of 22,000 ha organic vineyards still only represent 2.6%
Chateau Vignelaure is one of the best known wine producers in Provence. It was recently sold to a Swedish-Danish couple, Bengt Sundström and Mette Rode Sundström. The seller was the Irish couple Catherine and David
This year, for the first time ever, the Bocuse d’Or competition (the “World Cuisine Contest”) was held outside of Lyons in France. It took place in Stavanger in Norway. The Bocuse d’Or is a competition
Meeting Wine is a wine show/meeting place specifically targeting international buyers looking for Italian wines from Piedmont, Tuscany and southern Italy. Some 60 wine producers will be represented with opportunities to organise face-to-face meetings. Meeting
Meret Bøe took first place in the Nordic Sommelier Championship recently held in Norway. She is working as sommelier at the Bagatelle restaurant in Oslo. Second and third place was won by Sören Polonius (Sweden,
Jo Pithon, one of the producers who have put Anjou on the map for excellent dry and sweet whites from the heavily underrated chenin blanc grape, has left the vineyard carrying his name. A few
The rules for the St Emilion classification (Grand Cru Classé) stipulate that every ten years the ranking should be re-done. At the latest re-ordering of the chateau some properties were pushed out and the owners
The recently created European Academy of Wine Education (EAWE) has held its first congress in Austria. Representatives from 16 countries participated in the meeting. One of the outcomes of the meeting was that the EAWE
The exports of South African wine continue to grow. In 2007 the sales increased in all but two of the top ten export countries, the two exceptions being the Netherlands and France. 49% of exports
New Zealand is best known for its very fragrant sauvignon blanc wines, with much ”SB” typicity, yet full-bodied. But all is not sauvignon in Kiwi land. This is the split between different grape varieties according
I’m probably not alone in having some pré-jugées about Greek wines. A bit like, OK, a bottle of retsina can go down once in a (not very frequent) while, but hardly more than that. But
A biggish and well-maintained property with 170 ha of vines in the heart of Entre-deux-Mers. Since 1990 it belongs to the négociant CVBG-Dourthe-Kressman and they have put a substantial 4€M of investments into it. They
Marc Kreydenweiss is one of our big favourites in Alsace. He’s an outstanding winemaker and with biodynamic agriculture and low yields (in a region where producers often harvest 80 hl/ha) he produces excellent, complex wines
A new issue of the BKWine Brief is out! Summer is in full swing even if our weather here doesn’t quite live up to it. A few nice wines will always help to cheer up
The average price for vineyard land rose by 11% in 2007 according to the latest statistics from SAFER. Biggest rises were seen in Cognac (17.8%), in Champagne (17.1%) and in Bordeaux (13%). Some regions saw
The new appellation Appellation Côtes de Bordeaux has been approved by the INAO. It will be used from the 2008 harvest. The AC exists in two variants: “simple” CdB and CdB with the additional mention
The Californian wine legend Robert Mondavi died on May 16 at almost 95 years of age. Mondavi was one of the central personalities during many years in the American wine world and was perhaps the
The French government has presented a plan to reform, renew and revive the wine sector. Wines should be categorised in three new (rebranded?) categories: – VdF – Vignobles de France, that will replace Vin de
Perhaps, perhaps not. The cooperative Les Vignerons de Buzet has launched a new elegant bag-in-box called The Vinity Case that is designed to look like a, well, vanity case. The rosé box is in cute
The top-ten highest scoring wines in the competition Syrah du Monde was: – Australia Witchmount Estate Shiraz 2004 Witchmount Estate – Canada Pillitteri Estates Shiraz Icewine 2006 Pillitteri Estate Winery – South Africa Hartenberg the
Numbers recently published by the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) Acreage: – Argentina is since long the countries with most land under vine: 240,000 ha. Chile is approaching fast and has reache almost
Signature Bio is a competition for organic wines that is now in its 20th year. This years competition awarded a “Special Gold Medal” to Mas Costeplane Pioch de l’Oule Rouge 2006 Vin de Pays d’Oc
Sherry is not quite the hippest drink around these days. Unfortunately. Many sherries, especially the dry versions, are excellent wines and outstanding value. Not least good to sip as an aperitif now when its summer
Tuscany increased its exports last year by 5.6%. The biggest growth was reported for exports of white wine to India that was up by 661% (from an infinitesimal base one assumes). Among the more significant
Someone in Switzerland called wineman (or winegirl) has collected a wealth of more or less odd wine labels: www.winegirl.ch/Languages/English.html. The collection is organised according to theme, some rather surprising. For example: uniforms, bulls (Bull’s Eye
Both Domaine de Nizas and Chateau Saint Jacques d’Albas are part of the new wave wine makers in the Languedoc. St Jacques was created seven years ago by a British banker who wanted to change
Dr. Vino has created an entertaining (?) competition: Which is the world’s worst (ugliest, most tasteless…) wine label? There are many, many poor wine labels but few are truly awful. Dr. Vino has found some
Perhaps not a question you have asked. But it is actually quite a complicated process that still today relies to a great extend on manual craft skills. We recently visited a cooper, Tonnellerie Gillet, in
The downloadable e-zine Fine Wine has just come out with a new issue with various articles on e.g. the Rhône Valley, the new contamination-proof cork that for ever removes the corked wine-problem (it is said),
There are just under 5000 wine producers (“bonded wineries”) in the United States. Half of these are in California, all according to a report by MKF Research LLC. These are the most “vinous” states, measured
Organically farmed vineyards have increased substantially in France: up with 20% compared with a fall in the total surface of vineyards with 2.3%. But the
Chateau Vignelaure is one of the best known wine producers in Provence. It was recently sold to a Swedish-Danish couple, Bengt Sundström and Mette Rode
This year, for the first time ever, the Bocuse d’Or competition (the “World Cuisine Contest”) was held outside of Lyons in France. It took place
Meeting Wine is a wine show/meeting place specifically targeting international buyers looking for Italian wines from Piedmont, Tuscany and southern Italy. Some 60 wine producers
Meret Bøe took first place in the Nordic Sommelier Championship recently held in Norway. She is working as sommelier at the Bagatelle restaurant in Oslo.
Jo Pithon, one of the producers who have put Anjou on the map for excellent dry and sweet whites from the heavily underrated chenin blanc
The rules for the St Emilion classification (Grand Cru Classé) stipulate that every ten years the ranking should be re-done. At the latest re-ordering of
The recently created European Academy of Wine Education (EAWE) has held its first congress in Austria. Representatives from 16 countries participated in the meeting. One
The exports of South African wine continue to grow. In 2007 the sales increased in all but two of the top ten export countries, the
New Zealand is best known for its very fragrant sauvignon blanc wines, with much ”SB” typicity, yet full-bodied. But all is not sauvignon in Kiwi
I’m probably not alone in having some pré-jugées about Greek wines. A bit like, OK, a bottle of retsina can go down once in a
A biggish and well-maintained property with 170 ha of vines in the heart of Entre-deux-Mers. Since 1990 it belongs to the négociant CVBG-Dourthe-Kressman and they
Marc Kreydenweiss is one of our big favourites in Alsace. He’s an outstanding winemaker and with biodynamic agriculture and low yields (in a region where
A new issue of the BKWine Brief is out! Summer is in full swing even if our weather here doesn’t quite live up to it.
The average price for vineyard land rose by 11% in 2007 according to the latest statistics from SAFER. Biggest rises were seen in Cognac (17.8%),
The new appellation Appellation Côtes de Bordeaux has been approved by the INAO. It will be used from the 2008 harvest. The AC exists in
The Californian wine legend Robert Mondavi died on May 16 at almost 95 years of age. Mondavi was one of the central personalities during many
The French government has presented a plan to reform, renew and revive the wine sector. Wines should be categorised in three new (rebranded?) categories: –
Perhaps, perhaps not. The cooperative Les Vignerons de Buzet has launched a new elegant bag-in-box called The Vinity Case that is designed to look like
The top-ten highest scoring wines in the competition Syrah du Monde was: – Australia Witchmount Estate Shiraz 2004 Witchmount Estate – Canada Pillitteri Estates Shiraz
Numbers recently published by the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) Acreage: – Argentina is since long the countries with most land under vine:
Signature Bio is a competition for organic wines that is now in its 20th year. This years competition awarded a “Special Gold Medal” to Mas
Sherry is not quite the hippest drink around these days. Unfortunately. Many sherries, especially the dry versions, are excellent wines and outstanding value. Not least
Tuscany increased its exports last year by 5.6%. The biggest growth was reported for exports of white wine to India that was up by 661%
Someone in Switzerland called wineman (or winegirl) has collected a wealth of more or less odd wine labels: www.winegirl.ch/Languages/English.html. The collection is organised according to
Both Domaine de Nizas and Chateau Saint Jacques d’Albas are part of the new wave wine makers in the Languedoc. St Jacques was created seven
Dr. Vino has created an entertaining (?) competition: Which is the world’s worst (ugliest, most tasteless…) wine label? There are many, many poor wine labels
Perhaps not a question you have asked. But it is actually quite a complicated process that still today relies to a great extend on manual
The downloadable e-zine Fine Wine has just come out with a new issue with various articles on e.g. the Rhône Valley, the new contamination-proof cork
There are just under 5000 wine producers (“bonded wineries”) in the United States. Half of these are in California, all according to a report by
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