BKWine Blog
It’s hard not to raise an eyebrow when you see that a bottle of wine has been sold at auction for 800,000 USD. But everything is explained when you see that it is a Romanée-Conti
2024 was a brilliant vintage for port wine, and many of the major Port wine houses have “declared” in April (as is done in the Port wine district) that they will make a vintage port
Our Champagne tour at the end of April brought fantastic spring weather and high temperatures (albeit lower in the mornings and evenings). Spring has been early and warm in Champagne. This has caused problems. Vegetation
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) has announced a new strategic collaboration with the Italian marketing and event company firm 5 Hats and the young Swedish online wine platform, Free Grape Society. The partnership centres
The annual Bordeaux Primeur Week has just concluded. The 2025 vintage from the most prestigious and renowned châteaux has been tasted and judged by a large number of buyers, importers and journalists. What they have
Most Swedish vineyards are in the southernmost region named Skåne, not surprising given the warmer climate this part of Sweden offers compared to the rest of the country. Some of them are in the northwest
Five new Guarda Superior Paraje Calificado Cavas have been approved in Spain. The DO CAVA category Guarda Superior Paraje Calificado now includes 15 wines that represent the very highest quality of Cava. Three of the
Growing wine in the UK has its weather challenges. But sometimes everything is perfect, and 2025 was one such year, an exceptional year for wine from England and Wales. Total production increased by 55% compared
Phylloxera is still a threat, mainly to those vineyards that have chosen not to plant grafted vines but instead graft own-rooted vines. But it turns out that even grafted vines can be at risk. The
Just in time for the summer of 2025, sales of wine at the winery became possible in Sweden, even though Sweden has a state monopoly on all sales of alcoholic beverages; cellar-door sales or in
Bordeaux is the stronghold of structured, age-worthy red wine. Without intending to stop producing this type of wine that many chateaux do so well, Bordeaux today realises that some changes are needed. Bordeaux has lost
After eight years of discussions, a free trade agreement between the EU and Australia has now been signed. The ratification process remains, but as soon as the agreement enters into force, Australia will be opened
In September 2025, the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) published a report on “new genomic techniques” (NGT) to improve and develop the planting material (vines) used in viticulture. This is an area of
Five new grape varieties are well on their way to being approved in Languedoc-Roussillon. They belong to a group of grapes called “bouquet” after the person who developed them, Alain Bouquet. The grapes are “hybrids”
As in France, where vineyard prices vary from under €10,000/ha to over €5 million, the range is enormous around the world. It is primarily the prestige of the name of the label that drives prices,
There is a lot of talk about a “crisis” in the wine industry today. If the market is working, it should lead to falling prices for vineyard land. We do not have any really up-to-date
There was a dramatic profit decline for Systembolaget in 2025. Operating profit for the full year was 30 million SEK, compared to 338 million SEK in 2024 (-91.1%), net profits 24 MSEK (92.7%). Sales, however,
Sometimes you wonder if wine media likes the “big brother society”. The trend towards sweeter “dry” wines is often and vehemently criticised. “Systembolaget shouldn’t sell so many sweet red wines” they say in Sweden. “Should”…
Harvest may seem important and in a way it is. But it is relatively simple: harvest ripe, healthy grapes. Pruning, which is done in winter, is far more complicated and requires both knowledge and skill.
Wise or not? The Bordeaux appellation Blaye AOC wants to change its name to Blavia. It does sound a bit strange, at least until you get used to it. It is, some say, the nuclear
Chile is dominated by large producers (more on that below), but it is with all the others that you can find special experiences. Here are some examples, inspired by our recently completed wine tour in
We are living tough and uncertain times. Traditional peace-keeping frameworks are put in danger by America. The USA is waging a destructive trade war against almost everyone, something that will make life more expensive for
The first French appellation (appellation d’origine contrôlée, AOC) was created in 1936, so in 2026 it will celebrate its 90th anniversary. It is a rather surprising list of six appellations that were created first, on
There are far more exciting producers in Mendoza than you might think. Most export markets are dominated by the three-four giant producers (I’m sure you know the names). It is often difficult to find smaller,
More and more people are looking for wines with a lower alcohol content. And by ‘lower,’ you can mean anything from 12.5% and below. Sophie and Jean-Christian Bonnin, a winemaking couple in Anjou in the
Since 1983, Millesima has offered direct sales of exceptional wines on its website to private individuals. The selection is massive; 13,000 wines from 800 producers, directly from the estates. Millesima is already present on many
The 2025 harvest in Champagne was record‑early. It began on August 20 and ended on September 10. “We had never seen such high potential alcohol levels so early in August,” says Sébastien Debuisson, technical director
In less than a week, the big wine fair Wine Paris / Vinexpo opens its doors. If you have not already planned a visit there, there is still time. It is a purely professional fair
That a Swedish wine was served with the main course at the Nobel dinner of 2025 is something of a sensation. It is great that they take the opportunity to show that wine is actually
The Cava Meeting is held every two years in and around Barcelona, and in November this year (2025), around 100 journalists, including BKWine, buyers, and others, gathered to take stock of the cava industry. In
It’s hard not to raise an eyebrow when you see that a bottle of wine has been sold at auction for 800,000 USD. But everything
2024 was a brilliant vintage for port wine, and many of the major Port wine houses have “declared” in April (as is done in the
Our Champagne tour at the end of April brought fantastic spring weather and high temperatures (albeit lower in the mornings and evenings). Spring has been
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) has announced a new strategic collaboration with the Italian marketing and event company firm 5 Hats and the young
The annual Bordeaux Primeur Week has just concluded. The 2025 vintage from the most prestigious and renowned châteaux has been tasted and judged by a
Most Swedish vineyards are in the southernmost region named Skåne, not surprising given the warmer climate this part of Sweden offers compared to the rest
Five new Guarda Superior Paraje Calificado Cavas have been approved in Spain. The DO CAVA category Guarda Superior Paraje Calificado now includes 15 wines that
Growing wine in the UK has its weather challenges. But sometimes everything is perfect, and 2025 was one such year, an exceptional year for wine
Phylloxera is still a threat, mainly to those vineyards that have chosen not to plant grafted vines but instead graft own-rooted vines. But it turns
Just in time for the summer of 2025, sales of wine at the winery became possible in Sweden, even though Sweden has a state monopoly
Bordeaux is the stronghold of structured, age-worthy red wine. Without intending to stop producing this type of wine that many chateaux do so well, Bordeaux
After eight years of discussions, a free trade agreement between the EU and Australia has now been signed. The ratification process remains, but as soon
In September 2025, the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine) published a report on “new genomic techniques” (NGT) to improve and develop the planting
Five new grape varieties are well on their way to being approved in Languedoc-Roussillon. They belong to a group of grapes called “bouquet” after the
As in France, where vineyard prices vary from under €10,000/ha to over €5 million, the range is enormous around the world. It is primarily the
There is a lot of talk about a “crisis” in the wine industry today. If the market is working, it should lead to falling prices
There was a dramatic profit decline for Systembolaget in 2025. Operating profit for the full year was 30 million SEK, compared to 338 million SEK
Sometimes you wonder if wine media likes the “big brother society”. The trend towards sweeter “dry” wines is often and vehemently criticised. “Systembolaget shouldn’t sell
Harvest may seem important and in a way it is. But it is relatively simple: harvest ripe, healthy grapes. Pruning, which is done in winter,
Wise or not? The Bordeaux appellation Blaye AOC wants to change its name to Blavia. It does sound a bit strange, at least until you
Chile is dominated by large producers (more on that below), but it is with all the others that you can find special experiences. Here are
We are living tough and uncertain times. Traditional peace-keeping frameworks are put in danger by America. The USA is waging a destructive trade war against
The first French appellation (appellation d’origine contrôlée, AOC) was created in 1936, so in 2026 it will celebrate its 90th anniversary. It is a rather
There are far more exciting producers in Mendoza than you might think. Most export markets are dominated by the three-four giant producers (I’m sure you
More and more people are looking for wines with a lower alcohol content. And by ‘lower,’ you can mean anything from 12.5% and below. Sophie
Since 1983, Millesima has offered direct sales of exceptional wines on its website to private individuals. The selection is massive; 13,000 wines from 800 producers,
The 2025 harvest in Champagne was record‑early. It began on August 20 and ended on September 10. “We had never seen such high potential alcohol
In less than a week, the big wine fair Wine Paris / Vinexpo opens its doors. If you have not already planned a visit there,
That a Swedish wine was served with the main course at the Nobel dinner of 2025 is something of a sensation. It is great that
The Cava Meeting is held every two years in and around Barcelona, and in November this year (2025), around 100 journalists, including BKWine, buyers, and
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