France has many nurseries that provide winegrowers with new vines. These nurseries are now worried that the French vines have become too expensive compared to other European countries. They keep losing market shares. Exports have
The French Ministry of Agriculture is discussing a decision to ban nitrogen fertilisation to farmland with an inclination of more than 15 %. This is to reduce nitrate emissions into the environment. This has naturally
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
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
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.
This spring has been the worst we have ever experienced in Paris. And in most parts of France, it has been as cold and rainy. We hope that the vines have not suffered too much
Starting this year, the government in France has annulled some of the exceptions to the social security contributions for seasonal workers that the agricultural employers have previously enjoyed. In other words, it is now more
Since 1st of January this year, it has become significantly more expensive in France to hire seasonal workers in the vineyard because of increased employer contributions. In Champagne producers have even begun to discuss the
Four new varieties have been born in France. And it’s really four brand new varieties. With names we have never heard of: gaminot, beaugaray, picarlat and granita. These are crossings that have been made at
To have fine, healthy grapes when it is time to pick means everything, or at least a lot, to the quality of the wine. And that means that you must ensure that both the vines
Copper is an effective way to fight the fungal disease mildiou. However, spraying too much copper in the vineyard is not good for the soil and the water and this has been known a long
Swiss researchers have discovered fungal molecules in lignified vine branches that can slow the progression of mildiou, oidium and gray rot, all three dreaded fungal diseases in the vineyard. The Research Station Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil in
Vitinord is a conference on the theme of wine growing in cold and northern (or southern) climates. This it will be the third time the conference takes place. The location is Neubrandenburg in Germany and
The Maison des Vins de Sancerre has just created what is, as far as I know, the world’s first simulator for rognage, canopy management. As opposed to flight simulators, it is not, as I initially
After a hard winter the wine growers had hoped for a nice spring and early summer. But instead, diseases have spread in the vineyards. La Vigne informs about cool and rainy weather during flowering, which
We all like ladybirds, don’t we? But maybe not the taste of them! Drinks Business reports from the “Cool climate conference” that recently took place in Tasmania that ladybugs often are seen as a positive
Sub-title: The Life of a Vigneron. We suspect that it is actually a so called viral video that tries to market the wines of Domaine Mazet de Croses, a vineyard in the Languedoc. But it
We have just been awarded the prize “World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals” by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris. The competition showcases leading cookbooks and wine books from all over the world. Our
Viticulture – An introduction to commercial grape growing for wine production By: Stephen Skelton MW Self-published This is very detailed book on viticulture, written by Master of Wine Stephen Skelton, who lectures on viticulture to
In the last Brief we were proud to announce that we had won the prize for The Best Wine Book of the Year in Sweden for our book on vine growing and winemaking (original title
A group of around 60 vandals broke during the night of august 15 into an experimental plantation created by the French agricultural research institute (INRA) in Alsace. The tore up and destroyed 70 vines that
Interview (part 2) with Denis Dubourdieu. Denis Dubourdieu is a wine consultant and wine maker, as well as a professor in oenology at the University of Bordeaux. Part 2 of a two part interview. We
Denis Dubourdieu is one of the world’s best known wine consultants. He is perhaps to modest to call himself ‘flying winemaker’ and does not really boast his various assignments. BKWine met with him at one
Sexual confusion is a viticultural practice that aims to protect the vineyards from insects without the need to spray insecticides. One of the pests that vineyards may suffer is the grape worm (eudemis and cocylis
The French agricultural research institute (INRA) has – again – planted an experimental vineyard with genetically modified vines. Out of the 500 vines in the test vineyard 70 have been genetically modified to see if
What would you say if someone offered you a red muscadet? No doubt you would not believe it. Muscadet is made at the mouth of the Loire river from the grape variety called muscadet (or
Yes, another note on champagne, one on more champagne. The production in the Champagne region has shot up substantially over the last 50 years or so. Here are some numbers (source: CIVC/the Drinks Business): Total
Genetically modified grapes, or any other crop, is a very sensitive issue in Europe. A trial plantation of GM grapes in Alsace was destroyed by vandals. But perhaps there is a slight change in attitudes
Grape harvest with a harvest machine (tractor) A winegrower can either harvest manually with people in the vineyard, or do mechanical harvest with a machine. Mechanical harvest is done with a dedicated harvester or with
A big problem in many vineyards today is ’maladie de bois’ (wood disease?). It is a fungal disease that attacks the vine and finally kills it (there are several different types, e.g. esca and eutypiose).
France has many nurseries that provide winegrowers with new vines. These nurseries are now worried that the French vines have become too expensive compared to
The French Ministry of Agriculture is discussing a decision to ban nitrogen fertilisation to farmland with an inclination of more than 15 %. This is
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
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
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
This spring has been the worst we have ever experienced in Paris. And in most parts of France, it has been as cold and rainy.
Starting this year, the government in France has annulled some of the exceptions to the social security contributions for seasonal workers that the agricultural employers
Since 1st of January this year, it has become significantly more expensive in France to hire seasonal workers in the vineyard because of increased employer
Four new varieties have been born in France. And it’s really four brand new varieties. With names we have never heard of: gaminot, beaugaray, picarlat
To have fine, healthy grapes when it is time to pick means everything, or at least a lot, to the quality of the wine. And
Copper is an effective way to fight the fungal disease mildiou. However, spraying too much copper in the vineyard is not good for the soil
Swiss researchers have discovered fungal molecules in lignified vine branches that can slow the progression of mildiou, oidium and gray rot, all three dreaded fungal
Vitinord is a conference on the theme of wine growing in cold and northern (or southern) climates. This it will be the third time the
The Maison des Vins de Sancerre has just created what is, as far as I know, the world’s first simulator for rognage, canopy management. As
After a hard winter the wine growers had hoped for a nice spring and early summer. But instead, diseases have spread in the vineyards. La
We all like ladybirds, don’t we? But maybe not the taste of them! Drinks Business reports from the “Cool climate conference” that recently took place
Sub-title: The Life of a Vigneron. We suspect that it is actually a so called viral video that tries to market the wines of Domaine
We have just been awarded the prize “World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals” by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris. The competition showcases leading
Viticulture – An introduction to commercial grape growing for wine production By: Stephen Skelton MW Self-published This is very detailed book on viticulture, written by
In the last Brief we were proud to announce that we had won the prize for The Best Wine Book of the Year in Sweden
A group of around 60 vandals broke during the night of august 15 into an experimental plantation created by the French agricultural research institute (INRA)
Interview (part 2) with Denis Dubourdieu. Denis Dubourdieu is a wine consultant and wine maker, as well as a professor in oenology at the University
Denis Dubourdieu is one of the world’s best known wine consultants. He is perhaps to modest to call himself ‘flying winemaker’ and does not really
Sexual confusion is a viticultural practice that aims to protect the vineyards from insects without the need to spray insecticides. One of the pests that
The French agricultural research institute (INRA) has – again – planted an experimental vineyard with genetically modified vines. Out of the 500 vines in the
What would you say if someone offered you a red muscadet? No doubt you would not believe it. Muscadet is made at the mouth of
Yes, another note on champagne, one on more champagne. The production in the Champagne region has shot up substantially over the last 50 years or
Genetically modified grapes, or any other crop, is a very sensitive issue in Europe. A trial plantation of GM grapes in Alsace was destroyed by
Grape harvest with a harvest machine (tractor) A winegrower can either harvest manually with people in the vineyard, or do mechanical harvest with a machine.
A big problem in many vineyards today is ’maladie de bois’ (wood disease?). It is a fungal disease that attacks the vine and finally kills
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