It is really too early to ask if 2024 will be a year for Vintage Port, as we learned on our Douro Valley tour recently. Although the winemakers may know deep down. Kay Bouchard at
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
The wine world is being flooded with labels. I recently read that Champagne Bollinger was awarded the label “Entreprise du Patrimoine vivant” (roughly “a company that keeps historical tradition alive”); I didn’t even know one
— Are we drowning in labels? — The wine world is being flooded with labels. I recently read that Champagne Bollinger was awarded the label “Entreprise du Patrimoine vivant” (roughly “a company that keeps historical
Local grapes are on the rise in many parts of Europe. This is also noticeable in Mallorca, an island that is so far better known for its beaches than for its wines. But it is
That France has the world’s largest production of oak barrels will come as no surprise. Most of the world’s wine regions buy French oak barrels of various sizes and shapes. But which country buys the
Mealybugs are a feared enemy in the vineyards in California, Oregon, South Africa, and other places. These tiny bugs are dangerous because they spread the leaf roll virus (court noué in France) which causes the
Some countries are primarily associated with one grape variety, such as malbec in Argentina and sauvignon blanc in New Zealand. However, this latter country makes wine from a variety of other grapes (and so does
More and more fungus-resistant hybrids are being allowed in France. Or perhaps a better wording: lesser prone to disease. Four new varieties, two whites and two reds, were recently introduced. These can be planted and
Everyone who reads the Brief is probably more or less a wine enthusiast. We are, of course. We have been called geeks and it has probably happened to one or two of our readers as
— 100 points! — There is no such thing as perfection. At least not in wine. If anything, the perfect wine is the one you currently have in your glass. Yet one gets the impression
The word minerality continues to fill columns and research reports. A new one has explored the concept of minerality by analysing tasting notes from 16,542 Chablis Premier Crus recorded on Cellar Tracker between 2003 and
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
Everyone who reads the Brief is probably more or less a wine enthusiast. We are, of course. We have been called geeks and it has probably happened to one or two of our readers as
— Is a number worth a thousand words? — Everyone who reads the Brief is probably more or less a wine enthusiast. We are, of course. We have been called geeks and it has probably
In France, sales of organic wines are a bit slow now. But there are export markets with a growing interest in these wines, says ISWR, a global company for data, analysis, and trends in the
Dry Jurançon is one of our favourite white wines. Jurançon is traditionally a sweet wine. Jurançon Sec (completely dry – as opposed to sparkling wine, champagne included, that is not dry when called “sec”) has
Much is written about the fact that the young generation does not drink wine. That is not entirely true; the young drink wine, at least some of it (but not as much as the 60-plus).
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
South Africa has two world-renowned wine research institutes, the University of Stellenbosch and Nietvoorbij, also in Stellenbosch. The South Africa Wine Research, Development, and Innovation Team has recently presented its “2024 Research Book”. This publication
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
FranceAgriMer, under the French Ministry of Agriculture, publishes interesting figures on agriculture, including viticulture in France. Sometimes, they also publish figures for wine countries outside of France, such as how much of some wine countries’
What can others learn from Italy? The country has been incredibly dominant in the Swedish market for several years. Italy sells twice as much as Spain and almost twice as much as France. Are the
— Why is Italy doing so well? — What can others learn from Italy? The country has been incredibly dominant in the Swedish market for several years. Italy sells twice as much as Spain and
The Torres family in Catalonia in northern Spain are some of the wine world’s foremost environmentalists. One project is to increase the use of reclaimed water (=water that has been purified after previously being used
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
Many countries like to put food on the outdoor grill. The South Americans have their asado and in South Africa they have braai. People love their braai in South Africa. The food is important, of
It is really too early to ask if 2024 will be a year for Vintage Port, as we learned on our Douro Valley tour recently.
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
The wine world is being flooded with labels. I recently read that Champagne Bollinger was awarded the label “Entreprise du Patrimoine vivant” (roughly “a company
— Are we drowning in labels? — The wine world is being flooded with labels. I recently read that Champagne Bollinger was awarded the label
Local grapes are on the rise in many parts of Europe. This is also noticeable in Mallorca, an island that is so far better known
That France has the world’s largest production of oak barrels will come as no surprise. Most of the world’s wine regions buy French oak barrels
Mealybugs are a feared enemy in the vineyards in California, Oregon, South Africa, and other places. These tiny bugs are dangerous because they spread the
Some countries are primarily associated with one grape variety, such as malbec in Argentina and sauvignon blanc in New Zealand. However, this latter country makes
More and more fungus-resistant hybrids are being allowed in France. Or perhaps a better wording: lesser prone to disease. Four new varieties, two whites and
Everyone who reads the Brief is probably more or less a wine enthusiast. We are, of course. We have been called geeks and it has
— 100 points! — There is no such thing as perfection. At least not in wine. If anything, the perfect wine is the one you
The word minerality continues to fill columns and research reports. A new one has explored the concept of minerality by analysing tasting notes from 16,542
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
Everyone who reads the Brief is probably more or less a wine enthusiast. We are, of course. We have been called geeks and it has
— Is a number worth a thousand words? — Everyone who reads the Brief is probably more or less a wine enthusiast. We are, of
In France, sales of organic wines are a bit slow now. But there are export markets with a growing interest in these wines, says ISWR,
Dry Jurançon is one of our favourite white wines. Jurançon is traditionally a sweet wine. Jurançon Sec (completely dry – as opposed to sparkling wine,
Much is written about the fact that the young generation does not drink wine. That is not entirely true; the young drink wine, at least
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
South Africa has two world-renowned wine research institutes, the University of Stellenbosch and Nietvoorbij, also in Stellenbosch. The South Africa Wine Research, Development, and Innovation
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
FranceAgriMer, under the French Ministry of Agriculture, publishes interesting figures on agriculture, including viticulture in France. Sometimes, they also publish figures for wine countries outside
What can others learn from Italy? The country has been incredibly dominant in the Swedish market for several years. Italy sells twice as much as
— Why is Italy doing so well? — What can others learn from Italy? The country has been incredibly dominant in the Swedish market for
The Torres family in Catalonia in northern Spain are some of the wine world’s foremost environmentalists. One project is to increase the use of reclaimed
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
Many countries like to put food on the outdoor grill. The South Americans have their asado and in South Africa they have braai. People love
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