BKWine Blog
Just read this wonderful story by Tom Fiorina about how he became a truffle hunter. Hunting truffles not with a pig, not with a dog. But with flies. Truffle flies. I have participated in a
When talking to producers it is much more clear: they frequently say that they want to emphasise the fruit and avoid masking it with oak. They cut down on the portion of new oak used.
We think this is a trend but we’re not quite sure. Many people talk about this: less oak in the wine, but …. when you make a show of hands after a wine tasting to
We will want less beef and punch in the wines and more balance and elegance. It is less important to reach a high alcohol level and more important to find an equilibrium between fruit and
The trend to less environmentally ‘bad’ packaging will continue. Not least, we will see fewer of the ridiculous weight lifting bottles often used for prestige cuvees. We remember well (but not with joy) the bottle
It’s been a trend for some time now but we think it will continue and perhaps accelerate in 2010. We consciously say “eco-friendly” and not organic wines since there is a big group of producers
German researchers have concluded that wine tastes better (is perceived as tasting better? – a philosophical distinction perhaps) when tasted in light with a red or blue colour, compared to if the lighting is neutral
One of the most influential wholesalers of Bordeaux wine has closed down its Bordeaux business. It’s a potentially revolutionary story that has attracted surprisingly little attention. Diageo Chateaux and Estates has decided to abandon all
The DOCs Amarone della Valpolicella and Recioto della Valpolicella in Veneto in Italy have been promoted to DOCG status, according to Decanter.com. DOCG is the highest classification in the Italian wine laws. The DOCG label
The French sometimes put too much stock in the magic of words and in the value of appellations, as this story, just one of several about AOC and name wrangling, shows: In 2003 a new
The Portuguese wine region Terras do Sado is located just south of Lisbon. It Has recently been renamed Península de Setúbal in an effort to make it better known. The new name will be uses
They are discussing a reintroduction of the monopoly model for selling alcohol in the country. A working group is toiling to present a proposal in March 2010. The Prime Minister, who has initiated the project,
A very elegant bottle safely guarded in an elegant wooden box decorated with stylish calligraphy. Harvest made by hand, of course, and delicately treated to produce a unique beverage for the connoisseur. Produced in only
On December 18 a bit over 400 Bordeaux chateau were sold at auction in Paris. It wasn’t the actual wine estates that were sold of course, but depictions of them. In 1850 the first edition
We don’t know. But it’s the name of a new wine blog by Stuart George. Stuart. Stuart is a journalist which perhaps explains that is blog posts are on the long side compared to the
In August the University of Stellenbosch was given permission to plant en experimental plot with 1 ha of genetically modified vines. This touches a very infected debate. Some say that such trials must not be
It’s very popular with varietal wine competitions so for the first time in world history (!) there was recently an International Malbec Competition. Malbec perhaps not the world’s most wide-spread variety but you can find
Vinisud is one of the big wine shows. It is primarily focused on the professional visitor / wine buyer. It is a very interesting wine show, not least because there are plenty of small producers,
The University of British Columbia in western Canada runs a series of wine courses as part of their continuing studies program. In February they have a special interest course on the wines from Okanagan, in
Maybe they simply thought it was worth a try. For the fifth consecutive year the Association Fromage et Terroir publishes a calendar with cheesy photos. Each year they have featured lightly clad ladies, but this
No doubt it can contribute to the sales. The producer is called Domaine de l’Abbaye de Saint Hilaire. The monastic style seems to have been lost a long time ago, judging from their communications. A
– 51 ’lieu dits’ (place names) are included in the Grand Cru denomination, covering 1,750 hectares – 914 ha of GC is in production (compared to a total of 11,459 ha for Alsace and 3,162
– Some 500 grape growers: 259 independent producers, 171 cooperatuers – 3900 ha vineyards with red grapes, 25 ha (!) with white grapes – Red grape varieties: merlot 65%, cabernet sauvignon 20%, malbec 10%, cabernet
Côtes de Bourg will not be part of the newly created Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. It can be difficult to understand why one would choose not to be part of the collaboration (originally they were
There have been five “côtes”-appellations in Bordeaux: Premières Côtes de Blaye, Côtes de Francs, Côtes de Castillon, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and Côte de Bourg. INAO has just approved officially the merger of four of
Christmas time is often when we indulge (more than usual) in sweets and other goodies. Is chocolate filled with wine the perfect Christmas present for the wine lover? 80% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 72 %
The American Association of Wine Economists has launched a call for papers for their yearly conference in 2010. So if you have some good idea on a micro or macro economic subject on wine you
Johan Reuter, a member of the Association of American Wine Economists, wondered if advertisers in the wine magazines get a “kinder” treatment than those who don’t advertise. Or in other words: do advertisers get better
In our (recently started) series of galleries on slightly more technical issues around vine growing and wine making, and not just pretty grapes or beautiful chateaux, we have just published our second slide show. The
Sales of wine in October were up 7% according to numbers released by Nielsen for the US market. Sales dropped sharply at the beginning of the year but picked up a tiny bit in September.
Just read this wonderful story by Tom Fiorina about how he became a truffle hunter. Hunting truffles not with a pig, not with a dog.
When talking to producers it is much more clear: they frequently say that they want to emphasise the fruit and avoid masking it with oak.
We think this is a trend but we’re not quite sure. Many people talk about this: less oak in the wine, but …. when you
We will want less beef and punch in the wines and more balance and elegance. It is less important to reach a high alcohol level
The trend to less environmentally ‘bad’ packaging will continue. Not least, we will see fewer of the ridiculous weight lifting bottles often used for prestige
It’s been a trend for some time now but we think it will continue and perhaps accelerate in 2010. We consciously say “eco-friendly” and not
German researchers have concluded that wine tastes better (is perceived as tasting better? – a philosophical distinction perhaps) when tasted in light with a red
One of the most influential wholesalers of Bordeaux wine has closed down its Bordeaux business. It’s a potentially revolutionary story that has attracted surprisingly little
The DOCs Amarone della Valpolicella and Recioto della Valpolicella in Veneto in Italy have been promoted to DOCG status, according to Decanter.com. DOCG is the
The French sometimes put too much stock in the magic of words and in the value of appellations, as this story, just one of several
The Portuguese wine region Terras do Sado is located just south of Lisbon. It Has recently been renamed Península de Setúbal in an effort to
They are discussing a reintroduction of the monopoly model for selling alcohol in the country. A working group is toiling to present a proposal in
A very elegant bottle safely guarded in an elegant wooden box decorated with stylish calligraphy. Harvest made by hand, of course, and delicately treated to
On December 18 a bit over 400 Bordeaux chateau were sold at auction in Paris. It wasn’t the actual wine estates that were sold of
We don’t know. But it’s the name of a new wine blog by Stuart George. Stuart. Stuart is a journalist which perhaps explains that is
In August the University of Stellenbosch was given permission to plant en experimental plot with 1 ha of genetically modified vines. This touches a very
It’s very popular with varietal wine competitions so for the first time in world history (!) there was recently an International Malbec Competition. Malbec perhaps
Vinisud is one of the big wine shows. It is primarily focused on the professional visitor / wine buyer. It is a very interesting wine
The University of British Columbia in western Canada runs a series of wine courses as part of their continuing studies program. In February they have
Maybe they simply thought it was worth a try. For the fifth consecutive year the Association Fromage et Terroir publishes a calendar with cheesy photos.
No doubt it can contribute to the sales. The producer is called Domaine de l’Abbaye de Saint Hilaire. The monastic style seems to have been
– 51 ’lieu dits’ (place names) are included in the Grand Cru denomination, covering 1,750 hectares – 914 ha of GC is in production (compared
– Some 500 grape growers: 259 independent producers, 171 cooperatuers – 3900 ha vineyards with red grapes, 25 ha (!) with white grapes – Red
Côtes de Bourg will not be part of the newly created Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. It can be difficult to understand why one would choose
There have been five “côtes”-appellations in Bordeaux: Premières Côtes de Blaye, Côtes de Francs, Côtes de Castillon, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux and Côte de Bourg.
Christmas time is often when we indulge (more than usual) in sweets and other goodies. Is chocolate filled with wine the perfect Christmas present for
The American Association of Wine Economists has launched a call for papers for their yearly conference in 2010. So if you have some good idea
Johan Reuter, a member of the Association of American Wine Economists, wondered if advertisers in the wine magazines get a “kinder” treatment than those who
In our (recently started) series of galleries on slightly more technical issues around vine growing and wine making, and not just pretty grapes or beautiful
Sales of wine in October were up 7% according to numbers released by Nielsen for the US market. Sales dropped sharply at the beginning of
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