Austria is not just white wines. Increasingly its red wines grab our attention. We have tasted wines from Neusiedlersee DAC in Burgenland in easternmost Austria. Lake Neusiedl has long been famous for its noble sweet
Château Raymond-Lafon, the chateau and wine estate of the Meslier family, is next door to the legendary Château d’Yquem. Only a few meters apart, the vineyards differ and both chateaux have the same strict selection
The Growers’ Association (Syndicat Général des Vignerons, SGV) in Champagne decided on July 29 to allow vineyards with lower planting density from 2023. Today it is mandatory to have at most 1.50 meters between the
Classification of wine estates is notoriously tricky. (And of debatable or no value to consumers.) In 2022, Saint Emilion will update its classification, and the drama has already started. When the application for participation in
Predicting the future of organic wines may seem easy. The number of certified hectares is steadily increasing in Europe. Small wine growers convert, as well as famous Bordeaux chateaux. Consumers increasingly buy organic wines. Bulk
In July every year, the houses and growers in Champagne agree on the year’s harvest yield. A curious regulation in this region. In 2021, it will be 10,000 kilos per hectare (approx. 64 hl/ha). The
Saint Emilion is updating its classification. But Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Ausone no longer want to be part of it, which is fine. It is voluntary to take part in the new update (scheduled
–– The newsletter on wine and wine travel –– –– Read by wine lovers and wine professionals all over the world –– –– On the internet since 1996 –– Classifications, do they serve any useful
In just a few years, the South African region of Elgin has made a name for itself as an exciting place for grapes such as pinot noir, syrah, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc. It is supposedly
The discussion about sulphites in wine has been going on for a long time. Sulphites are added to most wines to stabilize them and protect them from premature oxidation and defects. How much you add
Earlier this year, Wine Intelligence conducted a market survey on consumer trends in the Swedish wine market. During a webinar, some of the results were presented. Ulf Sjödin, category manager at Systembolaget, the Swedish retail
Wine lovers enjoy looking at maps of their favourite districts. Austrian Wine has now launched a digital atlas of the country’s wine region, the first in the world. The atlas shows all the regions, from
Col d’Orcia in Montalcino is one of our favourite producers to visit on our wine tours to Tuscany. Recently we tasted several of the estate’s Brunello di Montalcino wines together with the owner, count Francesco
The battle for sustainability labels in France is intensifying. France’s first such label, Terra Vitis, has increased significantly in the past year. They have doubled their membership and now have 1,800 members with 45,000 hectares,
We sometimes come across people from the Nordic countries who have changed careers and are now seen among the vineyards somewhere in Europe. Riku Väänänen left Finland around five years ago and now owns and
Which rootstock you choose for grafting does not affect the taste of the wine. But the rootstock provides the roots, so it must be compatible with the soil and the local climate. As part of
Customers want to make sustainable choices, and therefore Systembolaget (the Swedish alcohol retail monopoly) will introduce its own sustainability label in 2022. This was announced by Ulf Sjödin, category manager at Systembolaget, during a digital
Swedish wine producers have created a new trade association called Swedish Trade Organization for Oenology & Viticulture (SBOV). Emma Serner, the founder of Långmyre Winery on the island of Gotland, is the new association president.
The world drinks more and more rosé wine, a fact that probably hasn’t escaped anyone. The rosé wine market has been revolutionized over the past 20 years. We recently listened to Gilles Masson, CEO of
Txakoli is a special type of white wine from the Basque Country in northern Spain. It is always refreshing, sometimes slightly fizzy. You drink it as an aperitif or with fish and seafood and always
A definite sign of spring was the start of the Bordeaux primeur campaign in April. Now, several chateaux have also “released” their primeur prices for the 2020 vintage. We have seen both increases and reductions
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
For many, the month of July means sun and holidays. A few weeks to relax and do whatever you like. And what about the wines? Shouldn’t they be undemanding as well? Probably, and the good
–– The newsletter on wine and wine travel –– –– Read by wine lovers and wine professionals all over the world –– –– On the internet since 1996 –– Lazy summer days with undemanding wines?
We certainly like small organic and sustainable producers, but for the overall result, it is essential that also the big ones make commitments. Therefore, it is a good thing that Mouton Cadet is now launching
Wine defects. No-one wants them. But what is it really? Numerous things can spoil a wine. No doubt many wines were spoilt back in the old days when wine producers had little knowledge of wine
Maybe you find it strange that I call Willi’s Wine Bar the first real wine bar in Paris. You could, of course, drop in at many Parisian bars and cafés before 1980 and have a
Chiaretto comes from the Italian word “chiaro”, which means light or pale. Chiaretto means something even paler, quite simply, a lighter shade of pale. This is a good description of the colour of Chiaretto di
Austria is so much more than grüner veltliner. You will notice this not least when you come to Burgenland. Drinking the regions red wines from zweigelt, blaufränkisch, sankt laurent and merlot will forever change your
A few suggestions for wines to explore now when summer is getting going. Château de la Liquière 2019, Faugères, Languedoc, ~12 euro. Grenache, syrah and carignan from the famous schist soil in Faugères, elegant and
Austria is not just white wines. Increasingly its red wines grab our attention. We have tasted wines from Neusiedlersee DAC in Burgenland in easternmost Austria.
Château Raymond-Lafon, the chateau and wine estate of the Meslier family, is next door to the legendary Château d’Yquem. Only a few meters apart, the
The Growers’ Association (Syndicat Général des Vignerons, SGV) in Champagne decided on July 29 to allow vineyards with lower planting density from 2023. Today it
Classification of wine estates is notoriously tricky. (And of debatable or no value to consumers.) In 2022, Saint Emilion will update its classification, and the
Predicting the future of organic wines may seem easy. The number of certified hectares is steadily increasing in Europe. Small wine growers convert, as well
In July every year, the houses and growers in Champagne agree on the year’s harvest yield. A curious regulation in this region. In 2021, it
Saint Emilion is updating its classification. But Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau Ausone no longer want to be part of it, which is fine. It
–– The newsletter on wine and wine travel –– –– Read by wine lovers and wine professionals all over the world –– –– On the
In just a few years, the South African region of Elgin has made a name for itself as an exciting place for grapes such as
The discussion about sulphites in wine has been going on for a long time. Sulphites are added to most wines to stabilize them and protect
Earlier this year, Wine Intelligence conducted a market survey on consumer trends in the Swedish wine market. During a webinar, some of the results were
Wine lovers enjoy looking at maps of their favourite districts. Austrian Wine has now launched a digital atlas of the country’s wine region, the first
Col d’Orcia in Montalcino is one of our favourite producers to visit on our wine tours to Tuscany. Recently we tasted several of the estate’s
The battle for sustainability labels in France is intensifying. France’s first such label, Terra Vitis, has increased significantly in the past year. They have doubled
We sometimes come across people from the Nordic countries who have changed careers and are now seen among the vineyards somewhere in Europe. Riku Väänänen
Which rootstock you choose for grafting does not affect the taste of the wine. But the rootstock provides the roots, so it must be compatible
Customers want to make sustainable choices, and therefore Systembolaget (the Swedish alcohol retail monopoly) will introduce its own sustainability label in 2022. This was announced
Swedish wine producers have created a new trade association called Swedish Trade Organization for Oenology & Viticulture (SBOV). Emma Serner, the founder of Långmyre Winery
The world drinks more and more rosé wine, a fact that probably hasn’t escaped anyone. The rosé wine market has been revolutionized over the past
Txakoli is a special type of white wine from the Basque Country in northern Spain. It is always refreshing, sometimes slightly fizzy. You drink it
A definite sign of spring was the start of the Bordeaux primeur campaign in April. Now, several chateaux have also “released” their primeur prices for
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
For many, the month of July means sun and holidays. A few weeks to relax and do whatever you like. And what about the wines?
–– The newsletter on wine and wine travel –– –– Read by wine lovers and wine professionals all over the world –– –– On the
We certainly like small organic and sustainable producers, but for the overall result, it is essential that also the big ones make commitments. Therefore, it
Wine defects. No-one wants them. But what is it really? Numerous things can spoil a wine. No doubt many wines were spoilt back in the
Maybe you find it strange that I call Willi’s Wine Bar the first real wine bar in Paris. You could, of course, drop in at
Chiaretto comes from the Italian word “chiaro”, which means light or pale. Chiaretto means something even paler, quite simply, a lighter shade of pale. This
Austria is so much more than grüner veltliner. You will notice this not least when you come to Burgenland. Drinking the regions red wines from
A few suggestions for wines to explore now when summer is getting going. Château de la Liquière 2019, Faugères, Languedoc, ~12 euro. Grenache, syrah and
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