The South African wine industry is recovering from the pandemic, but challenges remain. This is according to the latest Outlook report 2023-2032 from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP). In 2022, the surface
In several European wine regions, fungal diseases in the vineyard have been a major problem this summer. Severe attacks by, not least, downy mildew can be difficult to manage with only organic spraying (i.e. copper).
Our heads are spinning right now from all the impressions from the autumn wine tours, the wine regions we visited and above all the many growers we met. The Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Champagne, Tuscany, Ribera
— Contrasts, people, experiences — Our heads are spinning right now from all the impressions from the autumn wine tours, the wine regions we visited and above all the many growers we met. The Loire
Even if you missed it, it is never too late for an apéro! (But go for a real one! Not the sugary fizzy-drinks version spritz.) Where did that classic French aperitif go? Byrrh, Noilly Prat,
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
Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. – Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating among winegrowers. Our answer is no. Besides the fact that most of them are
— Rules, rules, rules… — Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating among winegrowers. Our answer is no. Besides the fact that
Perhaps this year, the growers in Roussillon in the southwest of France will have their lowest harvest yield ever. There has not been much rain this year, not even 200 mm. And last year was
— How do you choose wine at a restaurant? — Much has been written about the anxiety one feels when having to choose a wine at a restaurant. How do I avoid choosing the “wrong”
Saint Emilion is small-scale and very different from the Médoc on the other side of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. Saint Emilion has an pretty, rolling and green landscape. The chateaux are smaller and not
Bordeaux is about to become smaller again. The last time it happened was in 2008-2009, after the financial crisis. 10,000 hectares disappeared at the time. Now it is happening again. The plans are to pull
2023 was the smallest harvest in Australia in 23 years. The problem this season has mainly been various diseases in the vineyard. The Riverland in South Australia has been badly affected and a whopping 32%
A trend right now is that wine consumers want lower levels of alcohol in their wines. This can be a challenge for wine producers when the temperature rises in the summer. One solution is to
We are in the peak of summer, and many glasses are probably filled with rosé wine. Many people are happy that rosé wine exists. In a recent report, FranceAgriMer (a body under the French Ministry
The other day we drank a Côtes d’Auvergne that proudly proclaimed “Terroir Volcanique” on the label. Volcanic wines are all the rage right now. Perhaps it started with the Sicilian Etna wines but other regions
Whether we call these grape varieties hybrids or fungus resistant, we must talk about them. That is what an association called Vitis Batardus Liberata (freely translated: Release the fake Vitis) thinks. Behind the association is
It is vital for all wine producers today to think strategically and to adapt to the circumstances. It is important not least for a cooperative, but with many members who need to be persuaded, changes
The popularity of Mallorcan wines has surged in recent years. More and more wine estates are established on the island. The wines have improved in quality, appealing to discerning tourists and upscale restaurants. However, there
There is a lot of experimentation going on in the world’s wine regions, all with the aim of tackling the impending climate change. Vinopole in Bordeaux, a research centre, is currently preparing to plant this
It feels like Domaine Saladin is doing everything right. Because it is not enough to make good wine, you must also be able to sell it. As soon as you see Saladin’s minimalist labels, you
The glass bottle entails heavy costs in carbon dioxide emissions to produce and to transport. Changing to lightweight bottles or other packaging may seem obvious. But how people reason differs in different countries. Prowein, the
The Loire Valley has really gained a boost in the export market. The region is more popular than ever. On our tours there, we visit some phenomenal producers that we would like to recommend to
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)
Has the summer so far been too much rosé and aromatic white? Maybe it is time to look for white wines with “structure”. But what is “structure”? Well, these are wines that do not live
History always repeats itself. Now it is time for crisis distillation again in Europe. It has been a while since the last time. We remember Languedoc’s overproduction during large parts of the 20th century with
— Are we drinking too little wine? — History always repeats itself. Now it is time for crisis distillation again in Europe. It has been a while since the last time. We remember Languedoc’s overproduction
This month we have selected two wines from Château de Moulin-à-Vent, a vineyard with a long history in the Beaujolais village of the same name. In addition, we have tasted new vintages of John Riddoch
Gamay is the grape in Beaujolais. It is a charming grape, easy to recognise with a fruitiness that few other grapes can beat. Gamay produces an easy-drinking, berry-like wine, sometimes a little spicy, often unpretentious,
World wine consumption has been falling regularly every year since 2018. Now (2022) it stands at an estimated 232 million hectolitres, a 1% decrease compared to 2021. The decrease is mainly due to the Chinese
The South African wine industry is recovering from the pandemic, but challenges remain. This is according to the latest Outlook report 2023-2032 from the Bureau
In several European wine regions, fungal diseases in the vineyard have been a major problem this summer. Severe attacks by, not least, downy mildew can
Our heads are spinning right now from all the impressions from the autumn wine tours, the wine regions we visited and above all the many
— Contrasts, people, experiences — Our heads are spinning right now from all the impressions from the autumn wine tours, the wine regions we visited
Even if you missed it, it is never too late for an apéro! (But go for a real one! Not the sugary fizzy-drinks version spritz.)
I have just returned from Champagne – late August 2023 – where the producers are confidently looking forward to the harvest, which will start around
Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. – Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating among winegrowers. Our answer
— Rules, rules, rules… — Rules are helpful, but some of them are unnecessary. Sometimes, we are asked if there is a lot of cheating
Perhaps this year, the growers in Roussillon in the southwest of France will have their lowest harvest yield ever. There has not been much rain
— How do you choose wine at a restaurant? — Much has been written about the anxiety one feels when having to choose a wine
Saint Emilion is small-scale and very different from the Médoc on the other side of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. Saint Emilion has an pretty,
Bordeaux is about to become smaller again. The last time it happened was in 2008-2009, after the financial crisis. 10,000 hectares disappeared at the time.
2023 was the smallest harvest in Australia in 23 years. The problem this season has mainly been various diseases in the vineyard. The Riverland in
A trend right now is that wine consumers want lower levels of alcohol in their wines. This can be a challenge for wine producers when
We are in the peak of summer, and many glasses are probably filled with rosé wine. Many people are happy that rosé wine exists. In
The other day we drank a Côtes d’Auvergne that proudly proclaimed “Terroir Volcanique” on the label. Volcanic wines are all the rage right now. Perhaps
Whether we call these grape varieties hybrids or fungus resistant, we must talk about them. That is what an association called Vitis Batardus Liberata (freely
It is vital for all wine producers today to think strategically and to adapt to the circumstances. It is important not least for a cooperative,
The popularity of Mallorcan wines has surged in recent years. More and more wine estates are established on the island. The wines have improved in
There is a lot of experimentation going on in the world’s wine regions, all with the aim of tackling the impending climate change. Vinopole in
It feels like Domaine Saladin is doing everything right. Because it is not enough to make good wine, you must also be able to sell
The glass bottle entails heavy costs in carbon dioxide emissions to produce and to transport. Changing to lightweight bottles or other packaging may seem obvious.
The Loire Valley has really gained a boost in the export market. The region is more popular than ever. On our tours there, we visit
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
Has the summer so far been too much rosé and aromatic white? Maybe it is time to look for white wines with “structure”. But what
History always repeats itself. Now it is time for crisis distillation again in Europe. It has been a while since the last time. We remember
— Are we drinking too little wine? — History always repeats itself. Now it is time for crisis distillation again in Europe. It has been
This month we have selected two wines from Château de Moulin-à-Vent, a vineyard with a long history in the Beaujolais village of the same name.
Gamay is the grape in Beaujolais. It is a charming grape, easy to recognise with a fruitiness that few other grapes can beat. Gamay produces
World wine consumption has been falling regularly every year since 2018. Now (2022) it stands at an estimated 232 million hectolitres, a 1% decrease compared
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