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
There is nothing that says a wine must be a vintage wine. “Vintage wine” isn’t necessarily a quality label. But we have gotten used to it and might feel a little lost if we suddenly
The Southern Hemisphere is in full swing with the 2024 harvest—or they have already finished. We visited South Africa in mid-February, and some producers had already almost finished. Andrew Wightman at Wightman & Sons in
We ended up in the middle of the harvest when we visited Bordeaux around September 20th. We had expected to see some gloomy faces, but it was mostly happy faces. We knew about the severe
Last autumn, our wine tours took us to a number of wine regions and wine countries, including France, Italy, Portugal, and Austria. We took the occasion to ask some of the winemakers what they thought
Admittedly, they had to fight spring frosts and very high temperatures, but winegrowers across California are happy to announce an excellent quality vintage for 2022. The harvest period was long and varied regarding when the
We have tasted a wide range of the top echelons of red Bordeaux from 2018, the latest vintage released from the big chateaux. 2018 is an acclaimed vintage, but challenging weather meant the producers had
If 2021 will be a year for celebration for all of us remains to be seen. So far there is reason to be optimistic. It will certainly be an improvement from 2020. If you are
On October 27, OIV Secretary-General Pau Roca presented the first estimates of the world wine production in 2020. Volumes in the EU were lower than the average as several regions deliberately reduced their harvest despite
One of our very few autumn wine tours went to the Douro Valley in late October. All the winemakers we met agreed on one thing: the 2020 harvest was a challenge, and it was not
In some places, the harvest started earlier than ever this year. Overall, the quality of the grapes has been exceptional. In Champagne, they started picking already on August 17. The quality of the grapes was
Someone told me once that malbec is a friendly grape, easy to work with. Apparently, many Argentineans think so as it is by far the most planted grape in the country. It is best known
Anniversary wines to drink in 2020 It is always a surprise to notice that you are coming to the end of a year – and of a decade – even if, as a fine wine
Should we lament that the taste of wines have changed? That the wines we are accustomed to drinking will eventually change is probably inevitable in the wake of climate change. Some regions may need to
Stop harping on about “good” years and “bad” years! The harvest is in full swing. And so, inevitably, the discussion whether or not it will be a good year. But what is a good year?
Every year in the spring, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano presents its latest vintages at the “anteprima”. This year they presented the 2016 and the riservas of 2015, the latter with some extra ageing. Vino Nobile,
Also Chianti Classico has a “primeur season”, just like Bordeaux. But in Chianti Classico it is perhaps even more interesting because most of the wines are actually finished and bottled, and not the barely-finished-fermenting wines
Leaving a troubled 2018 behind for a better 2019? Anniversary wines to go with it. Leaving behind a troubled 2018, both in vinous terms, with difficult weather, and for the world as a whole, it
A purchase of a special wine from the cellar of a special house with special owners, a story told by BKWine Magazine guest writer, as well as exclusive wine expert at Vins Extraordinaires, Stuart George.
The week of Tuscan previews, anteprima, ended with the presentation of Brunello di Montalcino 2013 and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012. An appointment you do not want to miss. Even Sting came by and played
During the week of Tuscan previews, anteprime, invited journalists travel from one town to the next starting in Florence, to taste new vintages of the region’s wines. When it was time for Vino Nobile di
Having an ideal wine cellar with a temperature of around 10-14 degrees year-round is not common. And the wine “fridges” that are available on the market are so expensive that hesitates to buy one when
It was a year that might turn even the most devout teetotaller to drink – unless their name is Trump In 2017, we witnessed the inauguration of a Twitter-obsessed reality TV star as US President
Rust en Vrede is not only South Africa’s first specialist in red wines only, but also one of the very best. A vertical tasting of ten vintages of the Estate wine 1995-2013 provides a great
Overall it has been a very good year in France. We have seen many happy faces in the vineyards. But nothing is perfect and some regions have had problems. Burgundy: Very high quality. Early flowering,
Exclusive distillate at exclusive prices Among the most exclusive of whiskies is the Dalmore Constellation Collection. It is a series of vintage whiskies created by the legendary Master Blender Richard “The Nose” Paterson. The entire
Some people find a vintage chart with year ratings invaluable. Others think it is unnecessary. If you want a small, convenient and reliable vintage chart you can do worse than to try the one published
A harvest report from Chablis Here is a summary of the vintage 2013 as seen by the growers’ association BIVB-Chablis. In summary, they say: A difficult growing season due to the weather, that led to:
Sigfried Pic from Maison Louis Jadot presents a selection of wines Early after the harvest 2011 in Burgundy the wines were said to be of mixed quality, some outstanding, others of more modest quality. What
The International Wine and Food Society publishes a yearly updated wine vintage chart. The “vintage card”, as they call it, is a handy pocket / wallet size. It has vintage ratings for most of the
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
There is nothing that says a wine must be a vintage wine. “Vintage wine” isn’t necessarily a quality label. But we have gotten used to
The Southern Hemisphere is in full swing with the 2024 harvest—or they have already finished. We visited South Africa in mid-February, and some producers had
We ended up in the middle of the harvest when we visited Bordeaux around September 20th. We had expected to see some gloomy faces, but
Last autumn, our wine tours took us to a number of wine regions and wine countries, including France, Italy, Portugal, and Austria. We took the
Admittedly, they had to fight spring frosts and very high temperatures, but winegrowers across California are happy to announce an excellent quality vintage for 2022.
We have tasted a wide range of the top echelons of red Bordeaux from 2018, the latest vintage released from the big chateaux. 2018 is
If 2021 will be a year for celebration for all of us remains to be seen. So far there is reason to be optimistic. It
On October 27, OIV Secretary-General Pau Roca presented the first estimates of the world wine production in 2020. Volumes in the EU were lower than
One of our very few autumn wine tours went to the Douro Valley in late October. All the winemakers we met agreed on one thing:
In some places, the harvest started earlier than ever this year. Overall, the quality of the grapes has been exceptional. In Champagne, they started picking
Someone told me once that malbec is a friendly grape, easy to work with. Apparently, many Argentineans think so as it is by far the
Anniversary wines to drink in 2020 It is always a surprise to notice that you are coming to the end of a year – and
Should we lament that the taste of wines have changed? That the wines we are accustomed to drinking will eventually change is probably inevitable in
Stop harping on about “good” years and “bad” years! The harvest is in full swing. And so, inevitably, the discussion whether or not it will
Every year in the spring, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano presents its latest vintages at the “anteprima”. This year they presented the 2016 and the riservas
Also Chianti Classico has a “primeur season”, just like Bordeaux. But in Chianti Classico it is perhaps even more interesting because most of the wines
Leaving a troubled 2018 behind for a better 2019? Anniversary wines to go with it. Leaving behind a troubled 2018, both in vinous terms, with
A purchase of a special wine from the cellar of a special house with special owners, a story told by BKWine Magazine guest writer, as
The week of Tuscan previews, anteprima, ended with the presentation of Brunello di Montalcino 2013 and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012. An appointment you do
During the week of Tuscan previews, anteprime, invited journalists travel from one town to the next starting in Florence, to taste new vintages of the
Having an ideal wine cellar with a temperature of around 10-14 degrees year-round is not common. And the wine “fridges” that are available on the
It was a year that might turn even the most devout teetotaller to drink – unless their name is Trump In 2017, we witnessed the
Rust en Vrede is not only South Africa’s first specialist in red wines only, but also one of the very best. A vertical tasting of
Overall it has been a very good year in France. We have seen many happy faces in the vineyards. But nothing is perfect and some
Exclusive distillate at exclusive prices Among the most exclusive of whiskies is the Dalmore Constellation Collection. It is a series of vintage whiskies created by
Some people find a vintage chart with year ratings invaluable. Others think it is unnecessary. If you want a small, convenient and reliable vintage chart
A harvest report from Chablis Here is a summary of the vintage 2013 as seen by the growers’ association BIVB-Chablis. In summary, they say: A
Sigfried Pic from Maison Louis Jadot presents a selection of wines Early after the harvest 2011 in Burgundy the wines were said to be of
The International Wine and Food Society publishes a yearly updated wine vintage chart. The “vintage card”, as they call it, is a handy pocket /
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