Blaye in Bordeaux becomes Blavia?!
2026-03-05
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
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
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
Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, was shocked when he recently found ready-made spaghetti carbonara with the wrong ingredients in the shop at the European Parliament. Carbonara is made with four ingredients (plus spaghetti, of
The French winemaker we had in front of us the other week on the Rhône wine tour looked a little stumped. He had just been asked a question that seemed to be quite straightforward: “Is
Are the rules and regulations of the French appellations keeping pace with climate change? At least Château Lafleur doesn’t think so, as from this vintage, 2025, it will leave the Pomerol appellation and sell its
As in several other wine regions right now, it is whites and sparkling wines that are gaining ground in Languedoc-Roussillon. White wines increased by 5% in 2024, and sparkling wines from Limoux, especially Crémant de
The Médoc peninsula in Bordeaux is known for its many prestigious chateaux. And for its red wines. The eight Médoc appellations have always been red-only. (Small quantities of white has been made but had to
Southern Burgundy is in the spotlight. Côte Chalonnaise and Mâcon make affordable wines in villages that are not as hyped as in the Côte d’Or. In Mâcon, two small white wine appellations, Pouilly-Loché and Pouilly-Vinzelles,
New Zealand producers who worry that too much commonplace sauvignon blanc is being made in Marlborough can join the Appellation Marlborough Wines. This association has strict requirements for its members’ wines. We wrote about Appellation
In Champagne, the permitted harvest for 2024 has now been determined. It is estimated that the harvest will begin around September 12. The determined harvest output has been set at 10,000 kilos per hectare (ca
A wine can be typical or not typical. Typical of what? It can be typical of a grape, a region, a vintage, or a producer. However, most people who taste wine know that it is
The EU now allows de-alcoholised wines to use geographical designations of origin (IGP, AOP, etc.). But it is up to each country’s appellations to decide whether to allow it in their local rules. It is
The red wines from Etna DOC have taken the wine world by storm in recent years. The elegant and flavourful nerello mascalese grape from the mighty and very active volcano is an exciting new acquaintance.
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
The other day we drank a Côtes d’Auvergne that proudly proclaimed “Terroir Volcanique” on the label. Volcanic wines are all the rage right now. Perhaps it started with the Sicilian Etna wines but other regions
We already wrote last year (2022) that it might soon be possible to make white appellation wine in the Médoc, which is currently not allowed. The white wine made on the Médoc peninsula today can
Do you remember when prosecco was still a grape? That was before 2009. Then, Italy decided that from now on, prosecco is a protected geographical origin, and the grape is instead called glera. An effective
Soon you will have to be careful when you order a glass of Entre-deux-Mers with your oysters. Entre-deux-Mers is an appellation in Bordeaux for white wines in a refreshing and light style, often with a
New appellations don’t often appear in France. But sometimes, it happens. (Modifying existing ones happens more often.) On October 14, Vézelay in northern Burgundy became an Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP). From the beginning, Vézelay was
Some appellations only come in one colour, like Gigondas in the southern Rhône valley, which is always red (or rosé, but these are rarely seen). From 2023 however, Gigondas will also be able to be
Two months of wine tours to different European countries have given us many opportunities to talk about the laws and regulations in various wine regions. I met a wine grower in the Loire Valley in
Prosecco is today the world’s most-sold and most-consumed sparkling wine, with some 700 million bottles. It is made in the north-eastern corner of Italy in a region called Prosecco. Most of it is a light,
The appellations Côtes-du-Rhône et Côtes-du-Rhône Villages have the ambition to reduce the spraying of their vineyards and make them more resistant to drought. As part of these efforts, they have now included four new grape
Alsace now has its first grand cru wines made with pinot noir. Until now, the Alsatian red grape has been banned from grand cru wines. But not anymore. At least not from two of them.
Wagram has become the 17th DAC region in Austria. Wagram DAC wines are divided into three different categories of origin: Gebietswein (regional wine), Ortswein (village wine) and Riedenwein (wine from a single vineyard). At the
I recently read that wine investors are buying a lot of wine at the moment. They fear that the specific character of various wines will soon be a thing of the past, that new weather
The story of Champagne’s price-fixing “l’échelle des crus” system and how it was abolished Grand cru and premier cru are famous words. You see them on many champagne bottles. Probably, most people take it as
Germany introduces a wine hierarchy based on geography Germany has introduced a new “classification” system for its wines, under the name Qualitätswein. It creates a hierarchy of wines – Area, Region, Village and Vineyard –
In 2009 the EU implemented a wine reform that structured wine in a few different groups. The intention was, and is, to harmonise the different systems that exist in the member countries. How this has
22 “climats”, a vineyard or a vineyard plot in Burgundian parlance, in Pouilly-Fuissé in southern Burgundy can from now on put “premier cru” on the label. It has taken ten years since the process started,
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
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
Francesco Lollobrigida, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture, was shocked when he recently found ready-made spaghetti carbonara with the wrong ingredients in the shop at the European
The French winemaker we had in front of us the other week on the Rhône wine tour looked a little stumped. He had just been
Are the rules and regulations of the French appellations keeping pace with climate change? At least Château Lafleur doesn’t think so, as from this vintage,
As in several other wine regions right now, it is whites and sparkling wines that are gaining ground in Languedoc-Roussillon. White wines increased by 5%
The Médoc peninsula in Bordeaux is known for its many prestigious chateaux. And for its red wines. The eight Médoc appellations have always been red-only.
Southern Burgundy is in the spotlight. Côte Chalonnaise and Mâcon make affordable wines in villages that are not as hyped as in the Côte d’Or.
New Zealand producers who worry that too much commonplace sauvignon blanc is being made in Marlborough can join the Appellation Marlborough Wines. This association has
In Champagne, the permitted harvest for 2024 has now been determined. It is estimated that the harvest will begin around September 12. The determined harvest
A wine can be typical or not typical. Typical of what? It can be typical of a grape, a region, a vintage, or a producer.
The EU now allows de-alcoholised wines to use geographical designations of origin (IGP, AOP, etc.). But it is up to each country’s appellations to decide
The red wines from Etna DOC have taken the wine world by storm in recent years. The elegant and flavourful nerello mascalese grape from the
Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. – Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating among winegrowers. Our answer
The other day we drank a Côtes d’Auvergne that proudly proclaimed “Terroir Volcanique” on the label. Volcanic wines are all the rage right now. Perhaps
We already wrote last year (2022) that it might soon be possible to make white appellation wine in the Médoc, which is currently not allowed.
Do you remember when prosecco was still a grape? That was before 2009. Then, Italy decided that from now on, prosecco is a protected geographical
Soon you will have to be careful when you order a glass of Entre-deux-Mers with your oysters. Entre-deux-Mers is an appellation in Bordeaux for white
New appellations don’t often appear in France. But sometimes, it happens. (Modifying existing ones happens more often.) On October 14, Vézelay in northern Burgundy became
Some appellations only come in one colour, like Gigondas in the southern Rhône valley, which is always red (or rosé, but these are rarely seen).
Two months of wine tours to different European countries have given us many opportunities to talk about the laws and regulations in various wine regions.
Prosecco is today the world’s most-sold and most-consumed sparkling wine, with some 700 million bottles. It is made in the north-eastern corner of Italy in
The appellations Côtes-du-Rhône et Côtes-du-Rhône Villages have the ambition to reduce the spraying of their vineyards and make them more resistant to drought. As part
Alsace now has its first grand cru wines made with pinot noir. Until now, the Alsatian red grape has been banned from grand cru wines.
Wagram has become the 17th DAC region in Austria. Wagram DAC wines are divided into three different categories of origin: Gebietswein (regional wine), Ortswein (village
I recently read that wine investors are buying a lot of wine at the moment. They fear that the specific character of various wines will
The story of Champagne’s price-fixing “l’échelle des crus” system and how it was abolished Grand cru and premier cru are famous words. You see them
Germany introduces a wine hierarchy based on geography Germany has introduced a new “classification” system for its wines, under the name Qualitätswein. It creates a
In 2009 the EU implemented a wine reform that structured wine in a few different groups. The intention was, and is, to harmonise the different
22 “climats”, a vineyard or a vineyard plot in Burgundian parlance, in Pouilly-Fuissé in southern Burgundy can from now on put “premier cru” on the
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