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
The foil on the neck of a champagne bottle no longer compulsory The Comité Champagne has just decided to make it optional for producers to have the familiar foil around the neck of the bottle.
The 2025 wine-growing season looks promising in Champagne. The vineyards are relatively homogeneous thanks to generally mild weather conditions that have limited fungal diseases. While the vineyards offer promising prospects, the global economy is still
Who would have thought the French drink so much prosecco? Or is the harsh truth that everyone drinks prosecco now? Either way, the Italian fizz has seen a remarkable rise on the French market in
Cremant d’Alsace is becoming more and more important for the Alsatian wine producers. During our spring wine tour in Alsace, we learned that the sparkling wine now accounts for 35% of total wine sales in
If you prefer looking for small growers when you buy champagne instead of the big houses, maybe it is time to do the same when you buy Cava, the Spanish sparkling. Cava from the big
The severe drought in Catalonia over the last three years has considerably reduced the production and supply capacity of the D.O. Cava. Thankfully, the rain did come at last this winter, and hopefully, the producers
Does the state of the world discourage people from opening a bottle of champagne? That is what Maxime Toubart, one of the two presidents of the Comité Champagne, thinks when he comments on the decline
Prosecco continues to increase its production and sales. In 2024, 660 million bottles of Prosecco DOC were produced, an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. Prosecco is made in northeastern Italy, in Veneto
Champagne has houses, independent growers, and cooperatives, some very big and some much smaller. One of the smaller co-operatives is one that I find quite interesting, Champagne Beaumont des Crayères. The main grape here is
Barone Pizzini was the first winery in Franciacorta to become organic. Today, it is one of the leading producers in this small district of Lombardy, which is not far from the beautiful northern Italian lakes.
The effervescent world of Cava produces 250 million bottles each year from 38,000 hectares of vineyards, not unlike Champagne, which makes around 300 million bottles from 34,000 hectares. But while champagne often basks in the
Many people are familiar with cava, and many have gotten used to the fact that it is affordable bubbles, good to have when money is tight or the number of guests is large. But the
It is hard to believe that it is true. And maybe it is not. But Decanter is our source and it is a serious wine magazine so it is probably true. According to them, Champagne
It certainly looks festive with bubbles in the glass of a sparkling wine. It is also beautiful. And then it adds some atmosphere. Small, fine bubbles and lots of bubbles are a sign that it
The Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards is one of the big wine competitions in South Africa with a few thousand entries. I was part of the jury, the people tasting and judging the wines,
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
Champagne had a successful year – commercially – in 2021, with a record turnover and excellent sales also in volume, a stark contrast from the meagre 2020. From a grower’s perspective, it was a more
It is interesting to look at in what kind of “container” wine is exported: bottle, bag-in-box, or bulk. This gives quite a clear indication of the price and quality level of the wines. A country
Everyone who tastes wine knows that you learn more if you compare two, or more, wines at the same time. You will often discover things you wouldn’t find if you taste the wines separately. It
No one had dared to hope for such high sales figures. In 2021, Champagne sold 322 million bottles. An excellent result and an increase from 2020 by 32%, which was admittedly the worst year in
There is no stopping Prosecco’s popularity. In 2021, 627.5 million bottles of Prosecco DOC were bottled (and, presumably, sold). Of this amount, 71.5 million bottles are rosé, a category created in 2020. Prosecco is, without
The DO Cava appellation in Spain has decided that from 2025, organic certification will be mandatory for cavas de guarda superior, the higher quality of cava. This category includes cavas reserva (with at least 18
Julien and Sarah Launois are champagne producers in the small village of Mesnil-sur-Oger. They started only six years ago but they already export most of their production. We visited Julien and Sarah during the very
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
People drink a lot of sparkling wine during the end of year holidays. There is a lot to choose from. Admittedly, champagne is still the most prestigious bubble, but in volume, prosecco is the winner.
Champagne Palmer is a fairly small cooperative, counted in champagne dimensions. They have around 400 hectares of vineyards. They are known for the long ageing of the wines and their fondness for magnum bottles. Amazone
Finally. The growers from Champagne visit Stockholm again Meeting the winemakers adds an extra dimension to the wine and the experience. It makes you better understand what they want to achieve. It gives you even
The Prosecco bubble does not seem to want to burst. Consumption of sparkling wine from Veneto, in north-eastern Italy, does not appear to be declining. In 2009, the area for production was expanded and recently
To blend a champagne to perfection demands a good nose and experience. When we drink the finished product, the bubbles play a significant part in the overall experience. They add freshness and a special sensation
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
The foil on the neck of a champagne bottle no longer compulsory The Comité Champagne has just decided to make it optional for producers to
The 2025 wine-growing season looks promising in Champagne. The vineyards are relatively homogeneous thanks to generally mild weather conditions that have limited fungal diseases. While
Who would have thought the French drink so much prosecco? Or is the harsh truth that everyone drinks prosecco now? Either way, the Italian fizz
Cremant d’Alsace is becoming more and more important for the Alsatian wine producers. During our spring wine tour in Alsace, we learned that the sparkling
If you prefer looking for small growers when you buy champagne instead of the big houses, maybe it is time to do the same when
The severe drought in Catalonia over the last three years has considerably reduced the production and supply capacity of the D.O. Cava. Thankfully, the rain
Does the state of the world discourage people from opening a bottle of champagne? That is what Maxime Toubart, one of the two presidents of
Prosecco continues to increase its production and sales. In 2024, 660 million bottles of Prosecco DOC were produced, an increase of 7% compared to the
Champagne has houses, independent growers, and cooperatives, some very big and some much smaller. One of the smaller co-operatives is one that I find quite
Barone Pizzini was the first winery in Franciacorta to become organic. Today, it is one of the leading producers in this small district of Lombardy,
The effervescent world of Cava produces 250 million bottles each year from 38,000 hectares of vineyards, not unlike Champagne, which makes around 300 million bottles
Many people are familiar with cava, and many have gotten used to the fact that it is affordable bubbles, good to have when money is
It is hard to believe that it is true. And maybe it is not. But Decanter is our source and it is a serious wine
It certainly looks festive with bubbles in the glass of a sparkling wine. It is also beautiful. And then it adds some atmosphere. Small, fine
The Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards is one of the big wine competitions in South Africa with a few thousand entries. I was part
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
Champagne had a successful year – commercially – in 2021, with a record turnover and excellent sales also in volume, a stark contrast from the
It is interesting to look at in what kind of “container” wine is exported: bottle, bag-in-box, or bulk. This gives quite a clear indication of
Everyone who tastes wine knows that you learn more if you compare two, or more, wines at the same time. You will often discover things
No one had dared to hope for such high sales figures. In 2021, Champagne sold 322 million bottles. An excellent result and an increase from
There is no stopping Prosecco’s popularity. In 2021, 627.5 million bottles of Prosecco DOC were bottled (and, presumably, sold). Of this amount, 71.5 million bottles
The DO Cava appellation in Spain has decided that from 2025, organic certification will be mandatory for cavas de guarda superior, the higher quality of
Julien and Sarah Launois are champagne producers in the small village of Mesnil-sur-Oger. They started only six years ago but they already export most of
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
People drink a lot of sparkling wine during the end of year holidays. There is a lot to choose from. Admittedly, champagne is still the
Champagne Palmer is a fairly small cooperative, counted in champagne dimensions. They have around 400 hectares of vineyards. They are known for the long ageing
Finally. The growers from Champagne visit Stockholm again Meeting the winemakers adds an extra dimension to the wine and the experience. It makes you better
The Prosecco bubble does not seem to want to burst. Consumption of sparkling wine from Veneto, in north-eastern Italy, does not appear to be declining.
To blend a champagne to perfection demands a good nose and experience. When we drink the finished product, the bubbles play a significant part in
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