Schist (slate) deserves more respect. Wine growers in Anjou in the Loire Valley are a bit upset about the fact that limestone gets all the attention. So they organized La Paulee de l ‘Anjou Noir
Sometimes it feels like every wine you drink is oaked. But the fact is that only 2% of all the world’s wines spend time in oak barrels, according to Drinks Business. And this is down
Wine growers talk about high and low yields in the vineyard. In Languedoc they have around 45 hectolitres per hectare, in Bordeaux 50 to 60 and in Champagne even higher. But when you talk about
While visiting Vinexpo in Bordeaux in June I stopped at the Turkish stand and tasted some of their wines. Quite a few of them were good. I especially liked a wine called Sade Öküzgözü 2011
The organic winegrowers in Languedoc-Roussillon say that the state, through advertising campaigns, should encourage French people to drink organic wines. It is difficult for us to do it ourselves, say the growers. They argue that
Champagne has now decided how many kilos of grapes that growers will be allowed to pick this fall. Champagne differs from other districts in France when it comes to determining the yield. In Champagne they
Uncorked: Under this heading we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner at home, at wine tastings, press lunches, visits to vineyards,
White Bordeaux wines can be really good. The fact is that we are rarely disappointed. And yet they are relatively unknown. Some white Pessac-Léognans made in small volumes are sold at high prices, but the
Burgundy suffered from disastrous hail storms on July 23. In the Côte de Beaune some wineries have had their entire vineyard destroyed. The agriculture minister Stephane Le Foll were quick to announce that victims would
Michel Chapoutier in the Rhone Valley is fond of saying controversial things. A few weeks ago he talked in Drinks Business about how to best get rid of some of the alcohol in high alcohol
Everyone agrees that the grape-must must ferment to become wine. However, when it comes to what type of yeast to use, opinions differ. The choice is open to the winemaker to let the must ferment
Alsace wines are often compared to German wines and it is said that the big difference is that the German wines are sweet and Alsatian wines are dry. There is some truth in this, although
More and more champagne houses decrease the dosage. This is the small dose of sugar that is added to the champagne just after the sediment has been removed (the disgorgement). Not adding any sugar at
The discussion about organic or not organic is often about the taste of the wine. Maybe there should be a greater focus on the possible harmful effects that pesticides can have on people working with
Uncorked: Under this heading we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner at home, at wine tastings, press lunches, visits to vineyards,
Irrigation in the vineyards is no longer taboo in France, nor is it prohibited. (It is curious how often one still hear people saying that irrigation in France, or even in Europe, is not permitted.
The bad spring turned into a cold, rainy and windy early summer in France. Hail, storms and even small tornadoes have occurred. Some regions have suffered worse than others. For example, Vouvray in the Loire
The planting rights in the EU were supposed to disappear. The decision was taken. And then it would have been possible for wine growers to plant more grapes if they thought they could sell more
A really good sparkling wine with 48 months on the lees. So it is complex and full-bodied. The grapes are 75% Pinot blanc and the rest is Riesling giving floral and citrus aromas on the
When in Rome do as the Romans. Certainly this is a good piece of advice. One should not, for instance, complain about the French breakfast when in France. (Actually the French breakfast is today much
At Vinexpo, recently held in Bordeaux, Amorim launched a new way to seal a wine bottle called Helix Concept. Helix Concept is in fact both a bottle and a cork. The cork is a slightly
Sauvignon blanc is grown around the world today but from the beginning it was Sancerre in the upper Loire Valley that made this grape famous. We have visited the Domaine Henri Bourgeois, a well-known family
Fifty kilometres and the Rhine River separate Alsace from Germany. Just like in Germany the white wines dominate here, and just as in Germany it is riesling that is the iconic grape. Perhaps this is
China has recently recognized the appellation Champagne. This means that in future in China you will not see any Chinese bubbles, or imported ones for that matter, that is labelled as Champagne if they do
The negociant house of Domaine Chanson is now one of the most interesting négoce houses in Burgundy. This is in part thanks to the wine maker since 2001, Jean-Pierre Confuron. We visited Chanson in Burgundy
Uncorked: Under this heading we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner at home, at wine tastings, press lunches, visits to vineyards,
In recent years, many new wine laws have been introduced in the EU. Among other things, the rules for “wines without geographical origin” have changed. These used to be called vin de table in France
One of our most popular tours is the one called 3 French Classics wine tour. This tour always includes Chablis. The wines of Chablis are popular in many countries and it’s easy to understand why.
On a trip to the Piedmont wine region this spring we visited a grappa producer, Distillatori Mazzetti. And we discussed what actually happens to all the grape skins after they have been pressed. Is everything
In France the wine producers are struggling to get young people to drink wine. Plenty of young people today choose not to drink wine as they consider it being old fashioned and difficult to understand.
Schist (slate) deserves more respect. Wine growers in Anjou in the Loire Valley are a bit upset about the fact that limestone gets all the
Sometimes it feels like every wine you drink is oaked. But the fact is that only 2% of all the world’s wines spend time in
Wine growers talk about high and low yields in the vineyard. In Languedoc they have around 45 hectolitres per hectare, in Bordeaux 50 to 60
While visiting Vinexpo in Bordeaux in June I stopped at the Turkish stand and tasted some of their wines. Quite a few of them were
The organic winegrowers in Languedoc-Roussillon say that the state, through advertising campaigns, should encourage French people to drink organic wines. It is difficult for us
Champagne has now decided how many kilos of grapes that growers will be allowed to pick this fall. Champagne differs from other districts in France
Uncorked: Under this heading we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner
White Bordeaux wines can be really good. The fact is that we are rarely disappointed. And yet they are relatively unknown. Some white Pessac-Léognans made
Burgundy suffered from disastrous hail storms on July 23. In the Côte de Beaune some wineries have had their entire vineyard destroyed. The agriculture minister
Michel Chapoutier in the Rhone Valley is fond of saying controversial things. A few weeks ago he talked in Drinks Business about how to best
Everyone agrees that the grape-must must ferment to become wine. However, when it comes to what type of yeast to use, opinions differ. The choice
Alsace wines are often compared to German wines and it is said that the big difference is that the German wines are sweet and Alsatian
More and more champagne houses decrease the dosage. This is the small dose of sugar that is added to the champagne just after the sediment
The discussion about organic or not organic is often about the taste of the wine. Maybe there should be a greater focus on the possible
Uncorked: Under this heading we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner
Irrigation in the vineyards is no longer taboo in France, nor is it prohibited. (It is curious how often one still hear people saying that
The bad spring turned into a cold, rainy and windy early summer in France. Hail, storms and even small tornadoes have occurred. Some regions have
The planting rights in the EU were supposed to disappear. The decision was taken. And then it would have been possible for wine growers to
A really good sparkling wine with 48 months on the lees. So it is complex and full-bodied. The grapes are 75% Pinot blanc and the
When in Rome do as the Romans. Certainly this is a good piece of advice. One should not, for instance, complain about the French breakfast
At Vinexpo, recently held in Bordeaux, Amorim launched a new way to seal a wine bottle called Helix Concept. Helix Concept is in fact both
Sauvignon blanc is grown around the world today but from the beginning it was Sancerre in the upper Loire Valley that made this grape famous.
Fifty kilometres and the Rhine River separate Alsace from Germany. Just like in Germany the white wines dominate here, and just as in Germany it
China has recently recognized the appellation Champagne. This means that in future in China you will not see any Chinese bubbles, or imported ones for
The negociant house of Domaine Chanson is now one of the most interesting négoce houses in Burgundy. This is in part thanks to the wine
Uncorked: Under this heading we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner
In recent years, many new wine laws have been introduced in the EU. Among other things, the rules for “wines without geographical origin” have changed.
One of our most popular tours is the one called 3 French Classics wine tour. This tour always includes Chablis. The wines of Chablis are
On a trip to the Piedmont wine region this spring we visited a grappa producer, Distillatori Mazzetti. And we discussed what actually happens to all
In France the wine producers are struggling to get young people to drink wine. Plenty of young people today choose not to drink wine as
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