There is a lot of talk about fungus resistant grapes (sometimes called PIWI, from German pilzwiderstandsfähige). But the descriptor is maybe poorly chosen. The “fungus resistant” grapes used today are hybrids, in other words crosses
More and more fungus-resistant hybrids are being allowed in France. Or perhaps a better wording: lesser prone to disease. Four new varieties, two whites and two reds, were recently introduced. These can be planted and
Vranec, or vranac, is a grape that almost only exists in the Balkans. It has an intense colour, intense fruit with blackberries and other dark fruit and very present tannins. Wines made from vranec are
Nebbiolo has changed over the years, not least in the last 40 years. Its world fame is rather recent. Its most famous wines, Barolo and Barbaresco, triumphed on the export market from the 1980’s. Before
Sometimes it is difficult to know what grape variety you have in the vineyard or at home. For example, in Chile, people thought they had merlot in the vineyard until someone noticed that it didn’t
Alsace wants to try out 16 new grape varieties to see if they can help wine producers in the region cope with climate change and reduce their use of plant protection. The 16 grapes are
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
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,
We already wrote last year (2022) that it might soon be possible to make white appellation wine in the Médoc, which is currently not allowed. The white wine made on the Médoc peninsula today can
The rootstock on which all our well-known grape varieties are grafted does not always get the attention it deserves. In fact, choosing the right rootstock is of the utmost importance as they can have different
In the appellations of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur, and probably soon in the Haut-Médoc, they are allowed to plant certain non-traditional Bordeaux grapes varieties that are believed may possibly help the region cope with a
A long time ago, when I started doing wine tastings for groups, I noticed some strange perceptions among the participants about certain things. One was that white wines are not as serious as red, so
France’s vine nurseries had their annual congress recently and announced that in 2022 they grafted and sold a total of 235 million vines, which is 15 million more than in 2021. (A quick calculation: say
Interest in local, half-forgotten grape varieties is increasing. Thierry Navarre, a skilled wine grower in Saint Chinian, Languedoc, has discovered that the ribeyrenc, morastell, terret and œillade grapes have a lot to offer, not least
There is a lot of talk about which grape varieties will best adapt to climate change. However, less is said about the (“American”) rootstocks, although they do all the work in the soil. Whenever a
Old grape varieties, more or less forgotten, are now being honoured again. A variety called lignage was grown before the phylloxera around the city of Blois in the Loire Valley and produced wines with high
Today, 45 different “resistant” grape varieties are permitted to be planted in France. And so far, they have been planted on 1,200 hectares. There is an interest among winegrowers to plant these grape varieties that
Say Andalusia and I’ll start thinking about olive trees. There are an estimated 70 million olive trees in Andalusia on just less than two million hectares. On a recent trip between Malaga and Cordoba, it
More and more fungus-resistant grape varieties are allowed to be used in France. These grapes are hybrids but with a fair amount of Vitis vinifera blood, which guarantees a good taste. In January, an Italian
Sangiovese is intimately associated with Tuscany. It is used in Chianti and Chianti Classico and for other world-famous wines such as Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. But it is also widely cultivated
New grape varieties are regularly approved in France. First, they are preliminarily approved for a few years and then they are entered in the official French grape vine catalogue. Recently, these 8 grapes were enrolled,
Malbec is a French grape variety, although people might be forgiven for thinking it is Argentinean. France has 6,000 hectares, Argentina 40,000 ha. Just like many of the other Bordeaux grapes, malbec has been adopted
Chenin blanc is one of the world’s top white grape varieties. Yet, sometimes chenin wine producers in Vouvray are frustrated. Selling a chenin blanc is not as easy as selling a sauvignon blanc, they say.
The producers of Provence are ready to try new grape varieties that are more resistant to drought and disease. By 2022, several new ones will probably be allowed in limited quantities. One of them is
I remember my first cabernet franc in France, many years ago. The restaurant served it freezing cold. It was customary at the time to keep the wines from Chinon and Bourgueil in the fridge with
Sauvignon blanc is a popular grape. It has increased enormously in the last 20 years. A dozen countries have significant plantings, and another ten have a smaller, but growing, surface. Sauvignon blanc grows best in
Everyone knows Californian wines and probably also Washington and Oregon wines. But the fact is that most states in the United States, perhaps even all of them, make wine. One of the most important, after
Some people call them international varieties, but they are, in fact, French. These have increased in the world’s vineyards, from 29% of the global vineyard area in 2000 to today’s 39%. Most significant is the
Grenache was the first grape variety I ever harvested. It was in Banyuls in southern France, a beautiful vineyard by the Mediterranean Sea. Big bunches with ripe grapes. Maybe that is why I like it
Caprettone is a grape that until recently was often confused with coda di volpe, another native grape variety from Campania. A small group of wine producers are now making a big effort to bring caprettone
There is a lot of talk about fungus resistant grapes (sometimes called PIWI, from German pilzwiderstandsfähige). But the descriptor is maybe poorly chosen. The “fungus
More and more fungus-resistant hybrids are being allowed in France. Or perhaps a better wording: lesser prone to disease. Four new varieties, two whites and
Vranec, or vranac, is a grape that almost only exists in the Balkans. It has an intense colour, intense fruit with blackberries and other dark
Nebbiolo has changed over the years, not least in the last 40 years. Its world fame is rather recent. Its most famous wines, Barolo and
Sometimes it is difficult to know what grape variety you have in the vineyard or at home. For example, in Chile, people thought they had
Alsace wants to try out 16 new grape varieties to see if they can help wine producers in the region cope with climate change and
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
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
We already wrote last year (2022) that it might soon be possible to make white appellation wine in the Médoc, which is currently not allowed.
The rootstock on which all our well-known grape varieties are grafted does not always get the attention it deserves. In fact, choosing the right rootstock
In the appellations of Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur, and probably soon in the Haut-Médoc, they are allowed to plant certain non-traditional Bordeaux grapes varieties that
A long time ago, when I started doing wine tastings for groups, I noticed some strange perceptions among the participants about certain things. One was
France’s vine nurseries had their annual congress recently and announced that in 2022 they grafted and sold a total of 235 million vines, which is
Interest in local, half-forgotten grape varieties is increasing. Thierry Navarre, a skilled wine grower in Saint Chinian, Languedoc, has discovered that the ribeyrenc, morastell, terret
There is a lot of talk about which grape varieties will best adapt to climate change. However, less is said about the (“American”) rootstocks, although
Old grape varieties, more or less forgotten, are now being honoured again. A variety called lignage was grown before the phylloxera around the city of
Today, 45 different “resistant” grape varieties are permitted to be planted in France. And so far, they have been planted on 1,200 hectares. There is
Say Andalusia and I’ll start thinking about olive trees. There are an estimated 70 million olive trees in Andalusia on just less than two million
More and more fungus-resistant grape varieties are allowed to be used in France. These grapes are hybrids but with a fair amount of Vitis vinifera
Sangiovese is intimately associated with Tuscany. It is used in Chianti and Chianti Classico and for other world-famous wines such as Brunello di Montalcino and
New grape varieties are regularly approved in France. First, they are preliminarily approved for a few years and then they are entered in the official
Malbec is a French grape variety, although people might be forgiven for thinking it is Argentinean. France has 6,000 hectares, Argentina 40,000 ha. Just like
Chenin blanc is one of the world’s top white grape varieties. Yet, sometimes chenin wine producers in Vouvray are frustrated. Selling a chenin blanc is
The producers of Provence are ready to try new grape varieties that are more resistant to drought and disease. By 2022, several new ones will
I remember my first cabernet franc in France, many years ago. The restaurant served it freezing cold. It was customary at the time to keep
Sauvignon blanc is a popular grape. It has increased enormously in the last 20 years. A dozen countries have significant plantings, and another ten have
Everyone knows Californian wines and probably also Washington and Oregon wines. But the fact is that most states in the United States, perhaps even all
Some people call them international varieties, but they are, in fact, French. These have increased in the world’s vineyards, from 29% of the global vineyard
Grenache was the first grape variety I ever harvested. It was in Banyuls in southern France, a beautiful vineyard by the Mediterranean Sea. Big bunches
Caprettone is a grape that until recently was often confused with coda di volpe, another native grape variety from Campania. A small group of wine
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