BKWine Blog
China’s wine consumption has dropped by more than half since 2018, according to the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine). It is one of the sharpest declines the global industry has ever experienced, writes
In the 2026 edition of the excellent “Platter’s South African Wine Guide”, we read that the guidebook has named Diemersdal Wine Estate in Durbanville “Winery of the Year 2026”. The estate is known, among other
Often, people talk about new trends every year, but trends in the wine world develop slowly and last for many years. For instance, we met him Alexandre Penet of Champagne Penet-Chardonnet in Verzy on our
Poland, like Sweden, is not an obvious wine country. It is too cold and too rainy, with a too-short growing season, for most pure Vitis vinifera. Instead, Polen has planted hybrid grapes that are crosses
What do guests drink at Michelin-starred restaurants? The answer is obvious. Expensive wines. Everyone who goes to a restaurant regularly knows that the more expensive the food, the more expensive the wines. And now this
In the middle of summer, many glasses sparkle with rosé. The pale rosé wines from Provence are widely considered to have set the trend for what a rosé should look like. But the success of
A press release published on May 8 (2026) from the Swedish Public Health Agency announces that “as of June 1 this year, the requirement to verbally inform about the harmful effects of alcohol at cellar
Like many others, Chianti DOCG winemakers have seen their sales decline in recent years. Therefore, the official approval of a new category, Chianti Rosé, will surely come as good news. Until now, Chianti has been
As I write this, the Cannes Film Festival is in full swing. Between red-carpet appearances and film sessions, wine is needed to wash it all down. But not just any wine. The official festival wines
There’s something of the ugly duckling about the aligoté grape in Burgundy. For a long time, it was relegated to being blended with blackcurrant liqueur for the aperitif kir. But things are happening now —
We often read about wine auctions where wines go for prices worthy of a Picasso painting. But wine auctions are not just about super expensive and exclusive wines. You can buy wine at auction at
There is still much we don’t know about the history, origins, and relationships of different grape varieties. A report in the scientific journal Nature provides us with a wealth of new insights into this fascinating
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”…
China’s wine consumption has dropped by more than half since 2018, according to the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine). It is one of
In the 2026 edition of the excellent “Platter’s South African Wine Guide”, we read that the guidebook has named Diemersdal Wine Estate in Durbanville “Winery
Often, people talk about new trends every year, but trends in the wine world develop slowly and last for many years. For instance, we met
Poland, like Sweden, is not an obvious wine country. It is too cold and too rainy, with a too-short growing season, for most pure Vitis
What do guests drink at Michelin-starred restaurants? The answer is obvious. Expensive wines. Everyone who goes to a restaurant regularly knows that the more expensive
In the middle of summer, many glasses sparkle with rosé. The pale rosé wines from Provence are widely considered to have set the trend for
A press release published on May 8 (2026) from the Swedish Public Health Agency announces that “as of June 1 this year, the requirement to
Like many others, Chianti DOCG winemakers have seen their sales decline in recent years. Therefore, the official approval of a new category, Chianti Rosé, will
As I write this, the Cannes Film Festival is in full swing. Between red-carpet appearances and film sessions, wine is needed to wash it all
There’s something of the ugly duckling about the aligoté grape in Burgundy. For a long time, it was relegated to being blended with blackcurrant liqueur
We often read about wine auctions where wines go for prices worthy of a Picasso painting. But wine auctions are not just about super expensive
There is still much we don’t know about the history, origins, and relationships of different grape varieties. A report in the scientific journal Nature provides
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
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