OIV (The International Organisation of Vine and Wine) has published the first preliminary figures for wine production in 2025. Production is estimated to reach around 232 million hectolitres. This represents a 3% increase compared to
We have heard a lot of positive things about the 2025 harvest around France during our autumn wine tours. But we have also heard about problems. People are happy with the quality but not always
The heatwave in France at the beginning of August was a bit of a problem for winegrowers. But the producers we have met so far this autumn (late September) have been satisfied with the quality
Green harvest (or cluster thinning, crop thinning) is when the grower removes some grape bunches in the middle of summer, before they are ripe (sometimes later), to lessen the harvest volume. Some years ago, this
Being a grape grower in California has not been easy this year. Nobody wants to buy their grapes. Even normally highly sought-after grapes like chardonnay from Sonoma and cabernet sauvignon from Napa have been hit
In Europe, the 2024 harvest has just finished and in South Africa the growing season for vintage 2025 is underway. The industry body SAWIS forecasts a good harvest. After a challenging 2024 season with extreme
Like many other wine countries in 2024, Germany has struggled against the forces of the weather. The overall harvest volume was not much lower than normal as the large regions of Rheinhessen, Palatinate and Baden
We recently got back from Austria and of course we were wondering how the vineyards had coped with the huge amounts of rain that came around the 20th of September. ”We will have one of
In France, the harvest and fermentation are in full swing. In many (most) places the harvest is finished. The weather has caused problems in many regions, and the Ministry of Agriculture estimates that the harvest
After three years of intense and persistent drought, it finally rained in the Cava vineyards in the heart of Penedès in Spanish Catalonia. A long-awaited rain fell this spring and allowed the vines to recover.
It has been a challenging year for many French wine regions. The Ministry of Agriculture predicts a slightly lower volume than the average of the last five years, which is just over 44 million hectolitres
The Southern Hemisphere is in full swing with the 2024 harvest—or they have already finished. We visited South Africa in mid-February, and some producers had already almost finished. Andrew Wightman at Wightman & Sons in
After three peculiar years, sales of champagne are now returning to the level they had before the pandemic. Sales in 2023 amounted to 299 million bottles, a decrease of 8.2% compared to 2022. Champagne sales
The UK had a bumper year in 2023, producing between 20 and 22 million bottles of wine, 50% more than the previous record. The harvest yield was high (almost 10,000 kg/ha, approx. 65hl/ha), the bunches
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
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
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
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
In Champagne, the yield for this year’s harvest, 2023, has now officially been set. It is negotiated every year. The Comité Champagne recently announced that the growers can pick 11,400 kg per hectare (73 hl/ha)
Argentina in January offers fantastic summer weather. But there can be violent hail storms so many producers are careful to make sure the hail nets are well secured. But some, like winemaker Hubert Weber at
Last autumn, our wine tours took us to a number of wine regions and wine countries, including France, Italy, Portugal, and Austria. We took the occasion to ask some of the winemakers what they thought
Admittedly, they had to fight spring frosts and very high temperatures, but winegrowers across California are happy to announce an excellent quality vintage for 2022. The harvest period was long and varied regarding when the
During our wine tour in Austria in mid-September, the harvest was in full swing. The producers were full of confidence after this year which has had some challenges, the hot weather in July and August
This year’s harvest was already finished when we arrived for our wine tour in Burgundy earlier this season. In many places, also the fermentation. The harvest started already on August 16 for the earliest plots
This year the harvest is very early in many places in France. At the beginning of August, some producers had already started in Languedoc-Roussillon. In Champagne, the first village to harvest was on August 20
The harvest in Champagne started early this year; the earliest villages already on August 20. I went to Champagne Chassenay d’Arce in the Côte des Bar, the southernmost part of Champagne, on the first of
This year’s harvest in South Africa is of exceptionally good quality. The volume of 1.3 million tonnes of grapes is slightly smaller than in 2021 but still larger than the five-year average. “An overall cool
Good weather during the growing season 2021–2022 has resulted in a sizeable harvest in 2022 for New Zealand’s wine producers. (They have, of course, already harvested the 2022 grapes.) Many are relieved. The 2021 harvest
Austrian wines had a brilliant year in 2021. Exports increased by 29.5 million euros to 216.8 million euros, an increase of 15.7%, the largest increase in value ever. The exported volume increased by 3.8% to
In 2021, extremely high June temperatures were measured in Washington State, above 48 degrees C. The rest of the summer continued to be very hot, and 2021 is considered one of the warmest on record.
OIV (The International Organisation of Vine and Wine) has published the first preliminary figures for wine production in 2025. Production is estimated to reach around
We have heard a lot of positive things about the 2025 harvest around France during our autumn wine tours. But we have also heard about
The heatwave in France at the beginning of August was a bit of a problem for winegrowers. But the producers we have met so far
Green harvest (or cluster thinning, crop thinning) is when the grower removes some grape bunches in the middle of summer, before they are ripe (sometimes
Being a grape grower in California has not been easy this year. Nobody wants to buy their grapes. Even normally highly sought-after grapes like chardonnay
In Europe, the 2024 harvest has just finished and in South Africa the growing season for vintage 2025 is underway. The industry body SAWIS forecasts
Like many other wine countries in 2024, Germany has struggled against the forces of the weather. The overall harvest volume was not much lower than
We recently got back from Austria and of course we were wondering how the vineyards had coped with the huge amounts of rain that came
In France, the harvest and fermentation are in full swing. In many (most) places the harvest is finished. The weather has caused problems in many
After three years of intense and persistent drought, it finally rained in the Cava vineyards in the heart of Penedès in Spanish Catalonia. A long-awaited
It has been a challenging year for many French wine regions. The Ministry of Agriculture predicts a slightly lower volume than the average of the
The Southern Hemisphere is in full swing with the 2024 harvest—or they have already finished. We visited South Africa in mid-February, and some producers had
After three peculiar years, sales of champagne are now returning to the level they had before the pandemic. Sales in 2023 amounted to 299 million
The UK had a bumper year in 2023, producing between 20 and 22 million bottles of wine, 50% more than the previous record. The harvest
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
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
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
I have just returned from Champagne – late August 2023 – where the producers are confidently looking forward to the harvest, which will start around
In Champagne, the yield for this year’s harvest, 2023, has now officially been set. It is negotiated every year. The Comité Champagne recently announced that
Argentina in January offers fantastic summer weather. But there can be violent hail storms so many producers are careful to make sure the hail nets
Last autumn, our wine tours took us to a number of wine regions and wine countries, including France, Italy, Portugal, and Austria. We took the
Admittedly, they had to fight spring frosts and very high temperatures, but winegrowers across California are happy to announce an excellent quality vintage for 2022.
During our wine tour in Austria in mid-September, the harvest was in full swing. The producers were full of confidence after this year which has
This year’s harvest was already finished when we arrived for our wine tour in Burgundy earlier this season. In many places, also the fermentation. The
This year the harvest is very early in many places in France. At the beginning of August, some producers had already started in Languedoc-Roussillon. In
The harvest in Champagne started early this year; the earliest villages already on August 20. I went to Champagne Chassenay d’Arce in the Côte des
This year’s harvest in South Africa is of exceptionally good quality. The volume of 1.3 million tonnes of grapes is slightly smaller than in 2021
Good weather during the growing season 2021–2022 has resulted in a sizeable harvest in 2022 for New Zealand’s wine producers. (They have, of course, already
Austrian wines had a brilliant year in 2021. Exports increased by 29.5 million euros to 216.8 million euros, an increase of 15.7%, the largest increase
In 2021, extremely high June temperatures were measured in Washington State, above 48 degrees C. The rest of the summer continued to be very hot,
25,000 subscribers get wine news every month. You too?
