The Etna wine region, situated on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, is renowned for producing high-quality wines, particularly those made from the indigenous Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grape varieties. Here are some key details about the Etna wine region: Volcanic Terroir: Grape Varieties: Altitude: Wine Styles: Read on: click
History: The history of winemaking in the United States traces back to the seventeenth century when European pioneers began cultivating grapes and producing wine in the New World. Here is an overview of the history of wine in the United States. Early Colonization: European settlers, primarily from Britain, Spain, and France, brought with them grapevines […]
After 30 years of advocacy on behalf of the ÖTW group of upscale wineries, Austria is now the only nation outside of France to have legalized grape site classification. Read more: click Have a look at our great job board where you can easily create a job alert by country: Sommelier vacancies
In recent years, there has been an increase in the production of high-quality sparkling wines in Great Britain, which encompasses both England and Wales. The success of British wines has been attributed to its terroir and cold environment. Here is a description of British wine. Wine from England The chalk limestone soils of Sussex, Kent, […]
Professor Attilio Scienza, a viticulture expert at the University of Milan, claims that older vines produce fewer grapes than younger ones do and that the extra work an older vine puts into maturing its fruit results in grapes with higher acidity, less sugar, and a dimmer color. What makes the difference between old and young vines? The difference between old and young vines in the context of grapevines lies primarily in their age and […]
The Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (or AOC) sets the rules on all French wines. This regulatory commission makes sure that producers who wish to use a certain name for their wine (Champagne, for example) must follow a certain set of rules in making their product. White Bordeaux wine is also produced in other appellations. Today, close […]
WHAT`S THE STORY ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION DE LA SOMMELLERIE INTERNATIONALE (ASI): The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) is a nonprofit organization founded in Reims in 1969 as an umbrella organization to raise the bar for restaurant service professionals internationally. While its historical roots are in Europe, ASI is now represented on 6 continents. Every three […]
Some incredible reds were miraculously born during the long and hot summer, which should stand the test of time. In memory of Bordelais, the 2022 vintage is going to live a long time. The year was hot and dry so in some of the regions irrigation had been allowed for the first time, forest fires dominated the news during July. […]
More than 300 Bordeaux vineyards are to switch to growing olives and walnuts and thousands of hectares of vines will be uprooted in an attempt to rescue the claret industry. The measures announced by the French government and local authorities are aimed at softening the impact of a drop in demand for the lower-end appellation wines, which […]
Winegrowers in Mendoza are struggling to fight a tiny – but tenacious – vineyard pest. Winegrowers in Mendoza in Argentina are being terrorized by a species of fauna that has them on the run. This particular nuisance is capable of lifting 10-50 times their body weight and sometimes more. Read on: https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2023/03/argentinas-attack-of-the-killer-ants
Have you noticed that some wine producers use different types of wine closures than others? If so, and you’re curious about the benefits and challenges of different cork types, we’ve built the following guide on wine closures just for you. Why Do Wines Use Corks? Wine corks have been the preferred wine closure option for […]
“Surface, superficial roots [in compacted soils] do not work well, and eat badly – the topsoil is like a Big Mac, while deep down is the gourmet food.” Read on: click
If you enjoy red wine or drink more affordable wine on a regular basis, then using a decanter is a great idea. Decanting may not look like much, but the increased oxygen exposure to wine greatly improves the taste by softening astringent tannins and letting fruit and floral aromas come out. If you’re searching for […]
Five Mother Sauces of Classical Cuisine and Their Pairings The five mother sauces are the base sauces from which most other cooked sauces are made. By incorporating additional ingredients into a mother sauce, you can create numerous small or compound sauces. Béchamel Sauce: This is a simple sauce to make, which is one of the […]
From the 2023 vintage, we will have the pleasure of presenting a white Gigondas. Indeed, the committee of the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) has accepted the request to extend the AOC Gigondas to white wines. This is a great victory for the winegrowers of the appellation, who have seen their […]
If you enjoy red wine or drink more affordable wine on a regular basis, then using a decanter is a great idea. Decanting may not look like much, but the increased oxygen exposure to wine greatly improves the taste by softening astringent tannins and letting fruit and floral aromas come out. If you’re searching for […]
Burgundy is never not in demand. It’s a tiny region, which accounts for approximately just 0.3% of the world’s wine production. The trouble is, this production includes the greatest, most prestigious, most famous Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays on Earth. Every top restaurant, every wealthy wine connoisseur wants these wines in their cellars and there is simply […]
Die Ergebnisse des härtesten Weinwettbewerbs Österreichs liegen vor: 275 Weine haben es heuer in den SALON geschafft. 21 davon sind SALON Sieger. Erstmals wurden die Weine nach ihrer Herkunft und nicht nach Rebsorten verkostet und bewertet. Alle Weine sind unter salonwein.at zu finden. Read more…… CLICK Looking for an interesting Sommelier position? Have a […]
The National Weather Service began recording temperature across the U.S. in 1901. The year 2016 was the warmest, followed by 2020. This past decade was the warmest 10-year span on record. Vintage write-ups have been filled with notes of extremes in addition to record-breaking heat: drought, humidity, fires. Grape farmers and winemakers across regions are faced […]
According to provisional figures released by International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) the top 10 countries that drank the most wine in 2021 are listed below. The US led the field by a comfortable margin over France and Italy. The greatest increase from the previous year was recorded by Argentina (+11%) followed closely by Spain […]
During a time of change, the wine industry is once again proving its resilience. Read on: click Looking for an interesting Sommelier position? Have a look or create a job alert by country: Sommelier vacancies
Within the next decade, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the power to transform the wine industry forever. Right now, applications of AI for the wine industry are limited – but AI promises to be one of those immersive technologies that are embedded in everything we do, one way or another. According to a growing number of wine experts, […]
Read on to report: click ***** Looking for an interesting Sommelier position? Have a look or create a job alert by country: Sommelier vacancies
Chateau La Gaffeliere History, Overview First Growth B. Premier Grand Cru Classe B. Formerly labeled as Chateau La Gaffeliere-Naudes Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. Since 2017, the grape blend of Château La Gaffeliere has been 40% Cabernet Franc and 60% Merlot. Before the modern era of Chateau La Gaffeliere took hold, from all the ruins left behind […]
The sugar in wine is called “Residual Sugar” or RS. That means the sugar in wine is what remains after grapes have gone through the winemaking process. Grapes contain fruit sugars (fructose and glucose) and the residual sugar is what’s left after yeast has chomped on those sugars. Read on: click Looking for an […]
Grapes exposed to smoke absorb chemicals that can alter—and sometimes ruin—the taste and smell of resultant wines. This so-called “smoke taint” has become a growing concern for the industry. Chemicals in smoke obscure wine’s flavor and fragrance. Read on: click Looking for an interesting Sommelier position? Have a look or create a job alert […]
Limestone can produce great wines, but it’s not the only choice. Limestone offers beneficial nutrients to grapes that make them grow better and produce sweeter grapes. It’s special because it retains moisture in dry weather, but also offers good drainage in cool weather. Read on: click Looking for an interesting Sommelier position? Have a […]
Cork is an impermeable buoyant material, the phellem layer of bark tissue that is harvested for commercial use primarily from Quercus suber (the cork oak), which is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa. Because of its impermeable, buoyant, elastic, and fire retardant properties, it is used in a variety of products, the most common […]
The French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system may not be perfect, but for winemakers, it can provide crucial recognition of their terroir’s greatness—and serve as a valuable marketing tool. Read on: click Sommelier Interview Series – interested in some Sommelier’s point of view? click or are you looking for an interesting Sommelier job? click
The rapid pace of technological innovation will likely have a dramatic impact on the wine industry over the next decade. In some cases, technology will offer solutions to problems facing grape growers and winemakers; in other cases, technology will revolutionize how we package, buy and consume wine. Read on: click Sommelier Interview Series – […]
Some 48% of respondents stated that the regions being represented were the most important factor on a restaurant’s wine list, while 29% highlighted the price point as the key consideration. Read on: click
Ireland introduced minimum prices for alcohol in a bid to cut abuse and underage drinking, but critics fear the move may drive buyers to seek cheaper drinks in Northern Ireland instead. Read on: click
A positive attitude, humble, Storyteller, passion, great communication skills, work under pressure, empathy, knowledge, curiosity, open-mindedness, and being a hospitality professional are just a few of the skills needed to be a world-class sommelier. Read on: click
Indian food is incredibly diverse. It’s also extremely complex, featuring a vast array of spices and flavors. It’s the bold, intense flavors that make Indian food so exciting. When it comes to wine pairing with Indian food, it’s those same characteristics that also make the process daunting. Read on: click
The Château has been one of the four ‘first growths’ of Saint-Émilion and classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A since 2012. Before that, it had been a Premier Grand Cru Classé B since 1996. Read on: click
Bad winemaking weather in Europe is being blamed for taking down the global production to its third below-average year in a row. Frostbitten France saw one of its worst years in decades. Read on: click
Archaeologists in Iraq revealed on Sunday their discovery of a large-scale wine factory from the rule of the Assyrian kings 2,700 years ago, along with stunning monumental rock-carved royal reliefs. Read on: click
Production across Europe is estimated to plummet 18 percent this year. Read on: click
270 SALON Weine und 17 SALON Sieger: Österreichs härtester Weinwettbewerb hat die besten Weine des Landes ermittelt. Rund ein Drittel der Weine entstammen biologisch bzw. biodynamisch oder „Nachhaltig Austria“-zertifizierten Betrieben. Alle Weine sind unter salonwein.at zu finden. Read on: click
As more new world producers start to take an interest in terroir, scientists are turning their attention to defining it and explaining how it affects wine. Read on: click
Some of the world’s most prestigious winemakers list five top regions for making wine in the future. Read on: click
3 Reasons Why Wine Corks Are Making a Welcome Comeback: Cork Aids in the Aging Process Cork Taint Can be Eradicated Cork is the Most Sustainable Stopper Read on: click
Champagne growers have voted to change a century-old rule that establishes the necessary distance between vines, a move that has sparked an angry response from some sceptics. Read on: click
Wine is naturally gluten-free, but some practices — including using gluten during the fining process and aging it in oak barrels sealed with wheat paste — may add tiny amounts of gluten. Read on: click
Châteaux Cheval Blanc and Ausone have questioned the judging criteria for the classification’s renewal in 2022, as St-Emilion’s wine council expressed ‘regret’ at the two famous estates’ decision to withdraw but also defended the process. Read on: click
Glass recycling facts for the UK on https://lnkd.in/ezBm3Pj : – It takes a tonne of glass to make around 4000 bottles or jars. – The average UK household uses 500 glass bottles and jars every year. – Glass is 100% recyclable and can be reused over and over again, without losing quality. – The UK recycles […]
Alejandro Fernandez, who revolutionized Spain’s Ribera del Duero region with his determination and his iconic wine, Pesquera, died May 22 in Santander. He was 88. Read more: click Copyright ©: Dominik Kozlik – Zeitgeist Sommelier – www.sommelier-jobs.com
Continuing with the downward trend, worldwide consumption of wine dropped declined for the third time in a row to 2.8 percent in 2020 and was at the lowest level since 2002 Read on: click
On this subtropical island, Chien-hao Chen fought typhoons and monsoons to develop his vineyards — and to produce wines admired by some of the most important oenologists. Read on: click
The prototype is made by a Danish company from an extra-strong paper shell that still contains a thin plastic liner. But the goal is to create a 100% recyclable, plastic-free bottle capable of preventing gas from escaping from carbonated drinks. The barrier must also ensure no fibres flake off into the liquid Read on: click
Changes are afoot across the whole of the Prosecco region in the north. Alessandra Piubello summarises shifts in styles and standards…… Read on: click
A wine list should be a living document that responds to guests’ taste and preference and that pair well with the food dishes being served every dinner and last but not least, it has a huge influence on profitability. *** By country of origin or region – In many ways, this approach that focuses […]
German wines are produced according to an imperfect scale based on the ripeness of the grapes at harvest time. In general, riper grapes produce richer, more complex wines. This system was put into place in 1971 because of Germany’s cool, northern climate, where full ripeness was often difficult to achieve. With global climate change, however, […]
A group of French wine connoisseurs have detected a sprinkle of stardust at their latest tasting, after becoming the first people in the world to sample and review wine that spent a year in space. Read on: click
Influencer marketing is a hot topic these days. In the wine arena, the influencers whose metrics reveal a sheer number of followers seem to stand out from the larger Instagram community, despite their short-lived history. More often than not, many will challenge the younger generation of wine Instagrammers as non-experts and question their credentials. Read […]
The last year of self-imposed quarantine have tipped the wine market on its edge. The retail sector has benefited enormously while restaurants, bars and hotels are suffering. Read on: click
Burgundy grape varieties put to the climate change test. Read on: click
“Taste and smell are of primal importance to people in our field,” says food and wine writer Jordan Mackay, who contracted COVID-19 in early March while visiting New York City. “I believe that it’s a heightened responsiveness to these senses that drew many of us into the gastronomic world in the first place. Losing them […]
Some of the country’s winemakers realized 40 years ago that farming methods had to change. We talk to three forward-thinking producers who are still looking for new solutions. Read more: click
White: Liliorila: This white grape variety is a new cross between Baroque x Chardonnay. The crossing took place in 1956 on behalf of INRA by the Basque Pierre Marcel Durquéty (1923-2016) in France with the support of the University of Montpellier. Alvarinho: Albariño or Alvarinho is a variety of white wine grape grown in Galicia and Northwest Portugal, where it is also used to make varietal white wines. Albariño […]
Cork taint is a contaminant in wine caused by musty aroma compounds. The most common culprit is 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA). While some wine flaws, such as brettanomyces and volatile acidity, can be subjective as to whether they hurt or enhance a wine, cork taint is universally considered a flaw at any detectable level. Read more click
An American Viticultural Area, or AVA, is a specific type of appellation of origin used on wine labels. An AVA is a delimited grape-growing region with specific geographic or climatic features that distinguish it from the surrounding regions and affect how grapes are grown. Using an AVA designation on a wine label allows vintners to describe […]
A new immigration system will apply to people arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021 and EU citizens moving to the UK to work will need to get a visa in advance. EU citizens applying for a skilled worker visa will need to show they have a job offer from an approved employer sponsor to be able to apply. Read […]
The Austrian Wine Marketing Board has launched a new series of Covid-safe tastings using a ‘hybrid’ format to ensure the safety of participants; with the first session having already taken place in Moscow and the next scheduled for London in 2021. Read on…
You might try to pair a wine with beef… but it’s not JUST going to be beef, is it? Of course not! It will have herbs or spices, a side dish of veggies and a sauce. There are many things to think about when pairing a dish, but in the end, you have to choose […]
New grape varieties were approved last year and some growers have been quick to take advantage. Read on…
Based on information collected from 30 countries, representing 84% of the world production, global wine production this year is estimated to be 1% up on 2019 at 253.9mhl and 262.2mhl, with a mid‑range estimate at 258mhl. Read on…
After the resignation of Geoff Kruth (founder and president of GuildSomm) at the end of October, Devon Broglie (Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas) has stepped down from his role following the sexual harassment scandal within the organization. Read on…
With the pandemic having shuttered restaurants in England for a month, Lucy Shaw explores the shifting role of the Sommelier, which many venues can no longer afford, and how a flexible approach will be key to their survival. Read on…
Report Details Litany of Sexual Abuse Experienced by Women in Master Sommelier Training Read on… Statement from Female Master Sommeliers click The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas apology click
In many key markets, wine continues to be a ‘beneficiary’ of lockdown and restrictions, with consumers increasingly enjoying wine across a broader range of at-home occasions. Read on…
The 10 year wait for the granting of premier cru status to vineyards in Pouilly-Fuissé is finally at an end, with 22 climats now officially recognised and classified as such. Read on…
If the romantic notion of launching your own wine label is something you’ve daydreamed about, you’re not alone. Many celebrities and pop-culture icons have had the same idea. Some have chosen to partner with established producers to create their own custom labels, while others went all-in and built their own wineries from the ground up. Read on… […]
Whether sweet or dry, white or red, robust or light, wine requires very specific serving procedures in order to reach its full flavor potential. In addition to proper serving temperatures, each type of wine requires a specific style of glass for service. To get the most out of your wine collection, browse through the links […]
Identifying trends in consumer behaviour has been something of a growth industry for several decades. Exciting and game-changing things are happening more quickly than ever before in many consumer goods categories, as communication technology blurs cultural and community boundaries. New and (mostly) useful goods and services are adopted at a speed that would surprise even […]
Cork taint is typically caused by 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), but it can be caused by a number of other compounds. It presents itself as a musty aroma or taste often described as reminiscent of a damp basement. Most often, the cork is the culprit, though it can have other causes, like TCA tainted barrels. Read on…….
15% of the Provence estates make ultra-premium rosé today, says Master of Wine Louise Sydbeck who has made a study of this wine segment. And many more are thinking of making one. Nearly all of these prestige rosés were launched after 2006. So it is a fairly new phenomenon. Although some people are sceptics and […]
Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality, such as artistic value or environmental value. Upcycling is the opposite of downcycling, which is the other face of the recycling process. Downcycling involves converting materials and products into new materials of lesser quality. […]
Read on… WHAT IS RIESLING? Riesling is a highly aromatic and fruity grape variety. It has been regarded as the greatest white wine grape for hundreds of years. Throughout history, Riesling has been revered for its vibrant personality, its pure fruit flavors, its astonishing diversity of styles, its ability to show you where it […]
The vineyards along the Mosel and its tributaries shape a unique landscape. They represent the largest continuous steep slope wine-growing area in the world. The foundations for viticulture along these steep slopes reach far back into the history of the Earth: soils have developed on the dark mineral-rich slate which was formed 400 million years […]
Blind tasting is a term we winos use in reference to our ubiquitous penchant for tasting wines without seeing the label or otherwise knowing what the wine is. Apart from being a popular sport among wine geeks, it is also a useful means of testing the abilities of wine students and occasionally a manner of […]
The wine industry may evoke images of slow life and bucolic landscapes, but it is a significant business sector. Wine is and always has been enmeshed in certain cultures while completely ignored or even outright banned by others. Many cultures in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa (except for the renowned wine-growing country of South Africa) do […]
The world is returning to its original state albeit with some changes. As restaurants gear up to reopen their doors in the Netherlands we couldn’t help but notice how innovatively they are planning to bring customers back while keeping safety on high priority. Read on…
French winemakers will transform wine that went unsold during the country’s two-month coronavirus lockdown into hand sanitizer and ethanol to make room for the next harvest, a farming agency said on Thursday. Wine sales and exports, particularly to the US, plunged at the height of the coronavirus crisis, leaving winemakers with millions of liters of […]
Noble grapes are any grapes traditionally associated with the highest quality wines. Noble grapes are said to retain their character no matter where they are planted. This concept is not as common today, partly because of the proliferation of hybrid grape varieties, and partly because some critics feel that it unfairly prioritizes varieties grown within France. Historically speaking, […]
The way we eat, where we eat, and what we eat all might change as a result of the coronavirus. Countries around the world are beginning to lift lockdown restrictions, and people are searching for missed experiences. One commonly missed experience is dining at a restaurant. Restaurant owners, chefs, and hosts are all searching for […]
So you’re creating a new wine list, overhauling your existing list, or just looking at ways to improve. Read on…
Following the outbreak of coronavirus, countries around the world started to implement a number of policy measures aimed at avoiding the further spread of the disease and some trends arising…. Read on…
The role of yeast in winemaking is the most important element that distinguishes wine from grape juice. In the absence of oxygen, yeast converts the sugars of wine grapes into alcohol and carbon dioxide through the process of fermentation. The more sugars in the grapes, the higher the potential alcohol level of the wine if the yeast is allowed to carry out fermentation to dryness. Sometimes winemakers will stop fermentation early in order […]
Picking during social distancing, an early harvest, and processing grapes in two months rather than four are just some of the ways wineries experienced an “unforgettably challenging” harvest in 2020, according to Wines of Argentina. Read on…
A three-Michelin starred restaurant in the US has decided to use mannequins dressed in 1940s-themed outfits to aid social distancing when it reopens. Read on…
The rise of mechanical destemming over the course of the the 20th century means that nowadays the great majority of wines are made from fruit without stems. Traditionally, that wasn’t the case, and a number of producers—for a variety of reasons—still find advantages to fermentation with whole clusters of grapes on their stems. Read on…
Some experts warn that the coronavirus can be spread through ventilation systems, and that means this summer could require a major rethinking of how often we turn on the air-conditioning. Read more ….. click
Masked waiters, half-empty dining rooms, and mobile ordering may all be part of the new reality when restaurants open their doors again. Read more ….. click
The most established wine markets are in Europe: Portugal, Italy, and France have the highest per capita consumption at over 35 liters per person per year, compared with 23.9 for Australia, 9.9 for the US, and just 3.5 for China. Europe remains the world’s consumption center, at 58% of volume and 50% of the total […]
An economic downturn would certainly impact the wine industry. Wine is, after all, a discretionary good for most consumers. I haven’t heard of anyone filling their Costco wagon with wine the way they have done with toilet paper, although I have seen reports of people stocking up for an anticipated quarantine period. People don’t stop […]
Though much of the industry is suffering from temporary layoffs, companies are trying to provide financial and emotional support as well as food to employees in need. Here’s what two management companies and one California hotel are doing. Read more ….. click
Can virtual wine tastings be saved? by Robert Joseph click OR Can Virtual Wine Tastings Ever Really Substitute for Real-Life Interaction? by Kelly Magyarics click
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the 14th century onwards. Read on…
The law firm that sued insurers on behalf of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group in California and Cajun Conti in Louisiana has formed a coalition to take on the insurance industry on behalf of restaurants. read more..
Low temperatures under 32 °F (0 °C) and freezing conditions present a great threat to crop growth and could result in partial or total losses if not handled appropriately. Sprinkler irrigation can provide the highest level of protection when compared to a vast majority of currently available systems. It is also one of the most economical frost […]
A restaurant’s wine list is crucial to creating a sense of place and identity. The wines that are added to the list will have all kinds of positive reflections for a restaurant beyond the plate. Even for the most seasoned veterans, creating a wine list—whether from scratch or by reorganizing an existing list—is a challenge. […]
This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of international wine trade complexities. Since 2000 the wine trade has grown significantly and its structure has experienced major changes. Such changes are shaping the current competitive scenario of the wine market and are the base elements for its future development. Read on…
Defining microbial terroir: In any fermentative process, the impact of the native microbial community is hugely important. Read on…
As restaurants, shops, airlines and factories shut down around the world, from New York to Paris and Madrid, economists are warning that a global recession is no longer a looming threat. It’s here. Read on…
The aromas of wine are more diverse than its flavors. The human tongue is limited to the primary tastes perceived by taste receptors on the tongue – sourness, bitterness, saltiness, sweetness and savoriness. The wide array of fruit, earthy, leathery, floral, herbal, mineral, and woodsy flavor present in wine are derived from aroma notes sensed by the olfactory bulb. In wine tasting, wine is sometimes smelled before being drunk in […]
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing massive financial and operational headwinds for food and beverage companies operating inside China and beyond. Cargill, Mondelez International, the Coca-Cola Co., and other of the top manufacturers are scrambling to protect their workers, safeguard their supply chains, and adjusting earnings estimates as COVID-19 spreads. Read on…
While many wine marketers have been focusing on selling wine to Millennials, more than 20 million Generation Z consumers have reached legal drinking age since 2016, according to US Census figures. Of course wineries should still pay attention to the other lucrative generation segments of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials, but the fact that […]
Cognitive offloading refers to our reliance on the external environment in order to reduce cognitive demand. For instance, people write notes on paper or smartphones in order not to forget shopping lists or upcoming appointments. Read on…
The Cru Bourgeois classification lists some of the châteaux from the Médoc that were not included in the 1855 Classification of Crus Classés, or Classed Growths. Notionally, Cru Bourgeois is a level below Cru Classé, but still of high quality (formerly there were additional grades of Cru Artisan and Cru Paysan). Many wine writers consider that there is some overlap in quality between the Classed Growths and the Cru Bourgeois, although […]
Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow. Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, weather events are becoming more extreme and greenhouse gas emissions are now at their highest levels in history. […]
The impacts of the outbreak is so damaging that many economists and think tanks are downgrading growth target for China, with many expecting the country’s growth rate to slip below 6%…… Read on…
Early settlers in Marlborough planted vines as early as the 1870s. A small block of Brown Muscat was planted in 1873 by David Herd, but in 1931 his son pulled up the last of the vines, and no others were recorded in the region for the next forty years. Commercial wine-making began in earnest only in 1973 when […]
While design for high-end wines continues to build on visual cues that communicate luxury and tradition, with glass bottles being key to that, those reaching to a majority of consumers below that level increasingly are embracing aluminum packaging. Read on…
Glyphosate is an herbicide. It is applied to the leaves of plants to kill both broadleaf plants and grasses. The sodium salt form of glyphosate is used to regulate plant growth and ripen specific crops. Glyphosate was first registered for use in the U.S. in 1974. Glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides […]
Take the whirlwind tour of the decade that was: Read on…
The acids in wine are an important component in both winemaking and the finished product of wine. They are present in both grapes and wine, having direct influences on the color, balance and taste of the wine as well as the growth and vitality of yeast during fermentation and protecting the wine from bacteria. The measure of the amount of acidity in wine is known as the “titratable acidity” or […]
Novice and experienced wine drinkers share the need for basic wine knowledge, particularly when it comes to entertaining. With some basic knowledge and understanding, you can confidently select, buy, and serve wine. Read on…
Having proposed tariffs of up to 100% on certain French goods earlier this month, the US government has now said it may up its tariffs on European wine and Scotch as part of an ongoing dispute over subsidies given to Airbus. Read on…
Producing sustainable wine begins at the vineyard and grows from the ground, up. To choose the right grape variety and rootstock is the first step in wine production. To make the right decision it is important to have a clear understanding of the region climate, the farm soil and other environment aspects (e.g., wind, water, […]
as Trump Confronts France Over Tech Taxes A report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative renewed a conflict between the countries, which had negotiated a temporary truce in August. Read on…
Vatican City is at the very top of the wine-drinking league with an average resident consuming an impressive 54.26 liters a year. Although it may seem surprising that the Holy See grabs top spot, it does have a uniform and unusual demographic. Its residents are older and tend to eat together in large groups while the […]
Michelin Guides are a series of guide books published by the French tyre company Michelin for more than a century. The term normally refers to the annually published Michelin Red Guide, the oldest European hotel and restaurant reference guide, which awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few establishments. The acquisition or loss of a star can […]
Wine production in the UK has historically been perceived as less than ideal due to the cold climate. The current market, however, is growing. Recent warmer summers have played a role in increasing investment and sale of wines. Most of the wine produced is of a white and sparkling variety, with the majority of vineyards in […]
The highly anticipated results of the 2019 China’s Wine List of the Year Awards – Mainland China and also Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan were announced on 22nd October 2019, to an audience of greater China’s leading sommeliers, VIPs, Award Partners and Supporters, Wine judges from around the world, government representatives and media with a […]
Four weeks after the United States slapped a punishing 25 percent tariff on many European wines in retaliation for subsidies to airplane manufacturer Airbus, wine professionals on both sides of the Atlantic are grappling with evaporating profits as they navigate an uncertain business environment… Read on…
As the 2019 harvest in the Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja drew to a close, the denomination has declared a smaller yield. However the “outstanding overall health of the vines” is said to be made possible by good weather conditions throughout October. Read on…
Sustainable winegrowing is a comprehensive set of practices that are environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically viable. The sustainable vineyard and winery practices conserve water and energy, maintain healthy soil, protect air and water quality, enhance relations with employees and communities, preserve local ecosystems and wildlife habitat, and improve the economic vitality of vineyards and […]
How did the sommelier cheating scandal get to the point where people are afraid to talk about what happened? Read on… more on it read the article from the New York Time from 18th October 2018 – click
Despite the worldwide rise in temperatures, many agricultural products will continue to be cultivated without any noticeable difference or change discerned by consumers. This is not the case with the wine industry, where wine quality may be impacted. According to Spanish winemaker Miguel Torres, “Climate change is the greatest threat for the wine business in […]
THE SUMMER OF 1540 was burning hot in the vine-covered hills of Burgundy, France—so hot as to be “almost unbearable,” according to one written account from the time. In fact, it was hot all across Europe that year. In the Alps, glaciers melted, their snouts retreating up steep-sided valleys. Fires burned from France to Poland. And […]
Napa wineries are confronting climate change by planting new experimental vineyards — without the region’s lifeblood, Cabernet Sauvignon. Read on…
Conflicting immigration policies being floated by ministers are not just unworkable, they risk causing economic chaos… Read on…
The latest figures from Agreste show that wine regions across France have been affected by frost, heat and damp. Read on…
Mediterranean regions have a growing number of extreme weather events due to rapid change of climate. Cork oak, which is located in the western Mediterranean area, has become a very valuable resource within the western Mediterranean forests. Therefore, assessment of the impacts of climate extremes upon cork oak can help us produce better forest management […]
I read it and hear it from wine critics all the time (and if they don’t say it, they’re cheating, right?). Indeed, judging wine blind has long been the ethically noble way of doing it. Wine competitions everywhere taste “blind”, as do most publications. But it’s a lie. Or at the very least, it’s not […]
Jane Anson visits the Bordeaux estate already looking at the new permitted grape varieties in Bordeaux… Read on…
Authorities in Corsica have launched an investigation into a producer of “naturally” blue wine after a study published earlier this year found an “unusually high” quantity of an artificial blue dye in the product. Read on…
The Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur wine producers’ syndicate has approved the use of seven new grape varieties, in an attempt to grapple with climate change. Read on…
At a ceremony in Singapore, chefs from around the world gathered to learn whose restaurants were named one of the World’s 50 Best on a list sponsored by San Pellegrino. The list, which has faced years of criticism for acting as a self-perpetuating collection of expensive, European-leaning tasting menu restaurants run by white men, finally […]
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT POINTS The principal acids of wine are tartaric and malic. Volatile acidity (undesirable) is due to acetic acid (vinegar). Cool climate grapes have high acid and low sugar. Warm climate grapes have low acid and high sugar. The malolactic fermentation can be used to lower acidity of wine. Total acidity is reported […]
A taster’s judgment can be prejudiced by knowing details of a wine, such as geographic origin, price, reputation, color, or other considerations. Scientific research has long demonstrated the power of suggestion in perception as well as the strong effects of expectancies. For example, people expect more expensive wine to have more desirable characteristics than less expensive wine. […]
Champagne is facing its fourth August harvest in the past 15 years as the recent heatwave continues – but 2018 could turn out to be an ‘iconic’ vintage, with quality described as ‘very promising’ so far. Read on…..
Selling wine in a can is nothing especially new, it just hasn’t been embraced by wine producers, but is it time to look at canning wine as well as selling it in bottles? Read on…
The prominence of wine both for drinking and investment has spawned an entire industry of wine critics and journalists with their own trade publications, magazines and websites that regularly taste and score wines. A number of these critics have become extremely influential in their fields and hold a great deal of power as taste-makers and […]
Bâtonnage is a forum opening up a conversation about women in wine. Intention Bâtonnage is the brainchild of all those who identify as women working in all the different facets of the wine industry… even (especially) those who have traditionally been overlooked or spoken over. We strive to educate wine professionals as well as wine industry […]
“Great wine lists, simply put, should make wine feel fun, like the bacchanalian celebratory beverage it is,” says Aureole’s head sommelier, Morgan Harris Read on… Zeitgeist Sommelier – Sommelier jobs & more www.sommelier-jobs.com
The only wine lists that work for me are in high-end places where they focus on natural/authentic wines that I know pretty well, or where there is a good sommelier who can read the table well and make good suggestions. That’s a very small proportion of the restaurants out there. Not many of them have […]
Climate change has affected the wine industry, making Canada the world’s largest ice wine producer. But could those days soon be over? Read on… Zeitgeist Sommelier – Sommelier jobs & more www.sommelier-jobs.com
Part of what makes French wine so incredible — beyond taste — is the country’s wine history and its reverence of that history. For instance, in Bordeaux, the Wine Classification of 1855 still holds weight over 150 years later. But recently, the region has been looking to the past in an attempt to create an environmentally-friendly future — […]
For as long as we can reasonably remember, everyone in the wine industry has been chasing millennials. After comfortably selling wine to the baby boomer generation for years, millennials became the next big target of importers, producers, and PR firms. For several reasons, baby boomers are aging out of wine buying and drinking, and for […]
Midway between red and white wines, rosé is a style that requires precision—getting the balance right, in terms of color, aromatics, texture, and freshness. An appealing rosé needs aromatics, but to please a broad range of consumers it also needs to stay on the bright and refreshing side of things. Read on…
Wine may soon be distributed in flat plastic bottles, in a move that could reduce carbon emissions and costs in the industry’s supply chain. The bottles are a novel alternative to the glass model that has remained largely unchanged since the 19th century. The global wine industry is estimated to use more than 35bn glass bottles a year […]
The pursuit of ancient vine material provides an avenue for cultural and technological exchange in wine—from Croatia to California Read on…
Speaking at the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Celebration in Marlborough last month, Hanni spoke passionately about the need to completely rethink the concept of food and wine pairing. “A perfect wine pairing doesn’t exist. We’re doing a lot of damage the way we’re matching wine and categorising it. We need to start a campaign to stop wine […]
Mention climate change and some will think of Pacific island states disappearing under glacial meltwater, or global apocalypse like that depicted in The Day After Tomorrow. Calmer heads may consider the recent discussions in Poland over the Paris Agreement. Very few would think about impending changes to what we grow and eat. Even fewer would picture wine. Read on…
North Coast wineries and coopers may soon have a new line of defense against dreaded cork taint: former drug sniffing dogs from Chile. The musty bane of the industry, cork taint spoils wines from the highest prices to the lowest by way of chemical compounds that leave a “corked” wine with aromas of damp newspaper, […]
It’s a top tool of organic grape growers. But is copper sulfate truly safe for vineyards? A new push by European leaders to reduce—and eventually eliminate—copper compounds used by organic and biodynamic winegrowers is making the future of organic viticulture uncertain in some wine regions. Read on…
“The die is cast: the political debate on glyphosate, which is certainly not the most dangerous molecule, is a good example of what to expect”, said Jean-Marie Barillère, chairman of the association of Champagne houses, at the AGM of the Champagne winegrowers’ association on December 6 in Epernay. Read on…
The wine world and the UK on-trade, in particular, are in mourning following the announcement of the death of Gerard Basset MS MW MBA OBE. The godfather of British sommeliers passed away at home yesterday after a 15-month battle with oesophageal cancer. Read on…
LISBON (Reuters) – Wine output from Europe’s fifth-largest producer Portugal slumped by an estimated 20 percent this year to two-decade lows due to a heatwave in August and heavy rains that interrupted harvesting in October. The National Statistics Institute said all the country’s wine-producing regions were likely to churn out just 5.2 million hectolitres, in […]
In a modern wine landscape that values the offbeat and interesting, wine lovers need not look to far-off lands in order to find unique grape varieties. Dozens of native grapes are hiding in plain sight, tucked into the vineyards of Southwest France’s diverse appellations. Even for in-the-know oenophiles, there’s much to discover from the indigenous […]
The role of sommelier has been redefined by a younger generation looking for adventure. Sommelier. For many, the word evokes images of a long-held cultural stereotype: A sniffing French man sent to restaurants tables to shame guests into choosing an expensive wine they don’t particularly want and won’t enjoy. Saw-mill-eeeeeaaaahhhhr. The word sounds crusty, reminiscent […]
After several major wildfires up and down the West Coast the past couple years, “smoke taint” has become a popular topic in the wine world. Though smoke taint—which occurs when smoke-exposed grapes lead to unwanted flavors in the final wine—is a real threat, the phenomenon isn’t well understood, often causing winemakers to be overly cautious, which can be […]
Which country’s wines feature most prominently on global wine lists, what varietals are most in demand, and what trends are likely to emerge in the next two years? A Sopexa survey of nearly 800 wine trade professionals in six key global markets, all at the sharp end of the industry, including importers, retailers, wholesalers and […]
There’s more to what makes a wine expensive than just the materials that made the wine. Sure, a $100 wine is much more expensive to make than a $10 wine. But is there such a big gap between a $100 wine and a $100,000 wine? What makes the world’s most expensive wines so expensive? Outside […]
The Australian grape and wine community is well known for its experimental and innovative attitudes towards growing and producing wine.The Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (AAVWS) has both encouraged interest in different varieties and showcased new gems. With the next AAVWS to be held in Mildura from 7-10 November, it seems appropriate to gauge what’s happening […]
According to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), New Zealand has slipped from 14th to 16th largest wine producing country in 2017 after being overtaken by Hungary and Brazil. In 2018 wine production rose in Italy by 14%, France by 27% and Spain by 26%.Italy has been the largest wine producer since 2015 when it overtook France, […]
Bafflement and derision in capital as US president in spat with Macron slams wine trade tariffs as ‘not fair’…………. Read on…
With 282 million hectolitres (mhl), 2018 vitivinicultural production is one of the highest since 2000. ●In Europe: Italy (48.5 mhl), France (46.4 mhl) and Spain (40.9 mhl) recorded very high production levels. Germany (9.8 mhl), Romania (5.2 mhl), Hungary (3.4 mhl) and Austria (3.0 mhl) have also forecasted harvests above their 5-year averages. Portugal (5.3 […]
Sales of canned wine grew 43 percent in the U.S. from June 2017 to June 2018. While canned wine is still a tiny portion of the wider industry, it is one of the fastest growing categories thanks to millennial drinker. These cans can be brought to places that glasses cannot, like the beach, the park […]
“It may be the biggest ever,” said Latour and while the Maconnais and Chablis were the chief beneficiaries of this boon, white-producing villages across the region had enjoyed large crops. Read more…
Champagne has produced one of its biggest vintages ever, but grape prices are set to rise by as much as 5%, making 2018 the tenth consecutive year of increases. Read on….
During a discussion in Portugal last week, Cabral said that the headspace of a sealed bottle of wine was so moist that there was no need to place bottles on their side to keep the cork damp. Read on…
Future wine lovers may be able to eat the bottles as well as drink the contents, after receiving their latest order via drone, suggests a report on the future of wine ordering and drinking, published by Armit Wines in collaboration with a food futurologist. Read on…. Zeitgeist Sommeliers
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most popular white wine so why are consumers more confused than ever before about how to find the style they want to drink? Read on…
Wine lovers everywhere, regardless of nationality or preferred grape varieties, are fascinated by old vines. On the surface, the reasons are easy to understand. One is a fascination with longevity. Wine-loving has a powerful streak of antiquarianism running through. Nothing makes wine lovers dream more than sagas about impossibly old (and thus rare) wines that […]
For any man who has ever lifted a glass of wine to taste, hoping to feign an appreciation of vintage and terroir, it is a sobering discovery: women make better wine tasters than men. Read on….
Dr Cecilia Muldoon was on a train in Switzerland when she took a phone call from her boyfriend, who had a question. Why was nobody applying optical spectroscopy to wine? It’s not the kind of conversation most people have on the way to work. But Dr Muldoon, a physicist, thought about the question for the […]
Once upon a time, winemakers prepared their daughters for sales and hospitality roles while they groomed their sons to take over from them in the vineyard. Now, women are more prominent than ever in winemaking. Read on…
Scarecrows, raptors and robotic facsimiles, propane cannons, reflective flags, netting — farmers have been trying all kinds of methods over the centuries to keep birds from turning their hard work into a feast just as the crop is ready for market. One North Coast grower decided to bring in the lasers. Read on…
Which grape variety is the World’s favorite? Not what you think! Would you be surprised if I told you that the most grown grape variety in the world is Kyoho? Probably. That is because all grapes are not grown for winemaking. Some are destined to be table grapes or to be dried or to be […]
European wine production has fallen by 14.6pc last year because of ‘adverse weather conditions’, according to global industry trade group OIV….. Read on……
David Robertshaw, a social worker from McLaren Vale, is the brains behind Wine Baa – a plastic snout that can be attached to grazing sheep to protect low-hanging fruit while retaining the benefit of using sheep to tend vineyards. Read on….
David Robertshaw, a social worker from McLaren Vale, is the brains behind Wine Baa – a plastic snout that can be attached to grazing sheep to protect low-hanging fruit while retaining the benefit of using sheep to tend vineyards. Read on….
Disruption is the new political norm, with fundamental changes in consumer behaviour fuelling an ongoing global decrease in personal alcohol consumption, according to the latest research from Wine Intelligence. Read on…
What’s really the difference between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris? Syrah and Shiraz? Zinfandel and Primitivo? While these may be the same grape varieties with different names, local terroir can change their flavor more than you think. Learn how it works. Read on….
A screw cap is a metal cap that screws onto threads on the neck of a bottle, generally with a metal skirt down the neck to resemble the traditional wine capsule (“foil”). A layer of plastic (often PVDC), cork, rubber, or other soft material is used as wad to make a seal with the mouth of the bottle. Read on….
A screw cap is a metal cap that screws onto threads on the neck of a bottle, generally with a metal skirt down the neck to resemble the traditional wine capsule (“foil”). A layer of plastic (often PVDC), cork, rubber, or other soft material is used as wad to make a seal with the mouth of the bottle. Read on….
“We have created and patented an innovative manufacturing process – says Tessitore, founder of Vegea srl and Wineleather’s inventor – that turns the fibers and vegetable oils present in grape pomace into an eco-friendly material with the same functional, esthetic and sensory characteristics as leather.” Read on….
Australian consumers pay more attention to the flavour descriptions on the back of a wine bottle than to shop staff recommendations, according to a report by global market research firm Wine Intelligence. Read on….
Brahm Callahan is used to being the most knowledgeable wine professional in the room. Thirty-two years old with a face that looks 10 years younger, Callahan is one of only 149 Master Sommeliers in the United States. Read on…..
Fashion comes and fashion goes in winemaking as in life. Hank Chorley got it right though, because oak has ruled for a very long time. The use of oak in the right amount can turn a merely average wine into a prize-winner. Read on….
Wine Label Design Is More Important Than You Think……. Read on…
Conveying the essence of both the style and flavour of a wine is an enduring challenge of the category. How can a few words on a wine label convey a whole sensory experience? Read on…..
Alert: wine controversy! The latest missile to ignite debate within the wine community comes from Bianca Bosker, who wrote in a March 17 New York Times article that “the time has come to learn to love unnatural wines.” Read on….
Synthetic corks are made from plastic compounds designed to look and “pop” like natural cork, but without the risk of TCA contamination. Disadvantages of some wine synthetic corks include a risk of harmful air entering a bottle after only 18 months, as well as the difficulty in extracting them from the bottle and using the plastic cork […]
There are about 2,200,000 hectares of cork forest worldwide; 34% in Portugal and 27% in Spain. Annual production is about 200,000 tons; 49.6% from Portugal, 30.5% from Spain, 5.8% from Morocco, 4.9% from Algeria, 3.5% from Tunisia, 3.1% Italy, and 2.6% from France.[3] Once the trees are about 25 years old the cork is traditionally stripped from the trunks every nine years, with the […]
Brexit is making it harder to recruit talented sommeliers from Europe, according to senior members of the UK trade – echoing growing concerns throughout the UK hospitality industry. Read on…..
If you’re a wine lover, chances are you’ve grimaced many-a-time as that post-pour dribble streams down the side of the bottle. It’s bad news all round, both for your alcohol intake and your white tablecloth but luckily, one biophysicist has the answer. Read on…..
If you’re a wine lover, chances are you’ve grimaced many-a-time as that post-pour dribble streams down the side of the bottle. It’s bad news all round, both for your alcohol intake and your white tablecloth but luckily, one biophysicist has the answer. Read on…..
Tens of millions of people are signed up to TripAdvisor-style wine apps, so who cares what sommeliers have to say? Read on….
Tens of millions of people are signed up to TripAdvisor-style wine apps, so who cares what sommeliers have to say? Read on….
Oak is used in winemaking to vary the color, flavor, tannin profile and texture ofwine. It can be introduced in the form of a barrel during the fermentation or aging periods, or as free-floating chips or staves added to wine fermented in a vessel like stainless steel. Read on…..
Eleven Madison Park in New York triumphed Wednesday in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, becoming the first U.S. establishment to win the top spot since 2004. Read on….
Pinot Noir continues to be a critical and consumer favorite, with growing awareness of the grape variety among even the newest wine-lovers. And Pinot’s reputation as an intrinsically high-quality wine has benefited even lesser bottlings: As with all grape varieties, perception can be a make-or-break phenomenon. Read on….
There’s a big deal? You’re kidding me? Take me higher! There really is. But, much of the noise is spin. Unwittingly perhaps, certain wine regions, countries and even individual winemakers have developed a “mine’s higher than yours” attitude when discussing vineyards’ height above sea level. Wine publicists and geeks alike are lapping it up. So, […]
Until the Islamic revolution, Iran had a tradition of wine-making which stretched back centuries. It centred on the ancient city of Shiraz – but is there a connection between the place and the wine of the same name now produced and drunk across the world? Read on….
The scientists – naturally – gave them an easy-to-spell name: quercotriterpenosides. Read on…
Located on the north island, east of Wellington, the Wairarapa Valley comprises the Martinborough GI, Gladstone GI and Masterton, regions connected by the Ruamahanga river. Read on….
But now, a number of studies are underway to introduce new traits in wine grapes through GMO techniques. While the techniques could help winegrowers face significant challenges to grape harvesting, many issues could stand in the way. Surprisingly, they nothing to do with anti-GMO activism. Read on…
During a joint presentation held at the Ritz Hotel in Paris, Presidents and CEOs of two global leading closure providers to the wine industry, Heino Freudenberg of Vinventions and Jochen Michalski of Cork Supply Group, have announced the market introduction of SÜBR, a next generation wine bottle closure made of natural cork and biodegradable materials. The product […]
In this, they are wrong. Wine packaging has remained the same for centuries – a bottle with a cork – and there is absolutely no reason to believe that canned wine’s future is any different than screwcaps or boxes. It will occupy a niche, and lots of people will like it. But most of us […]
Smoke can enter the leaves of the vines in the vineyards and then adhere to the sugars that grow in the berries,” Ms Davies said. Read on…..
France has the third-most acres of vineyards in the world, according to the United Nations, behind Spain, which has a whopping 25% more vineyard acreage than France, and China. Read on ……
Robots may soon have a bigger role in some of the world’s most prestigious vineyards, after successful trials in Bordeaux and Portugal this year, including at Château Clerc Milon, owned by Baron Philippe de Rothschild. Read on click right & video
To survive climate change, vignerons need a war on terroir. Click to Read On…
For many wine producers around the globe, 2017 was a year they were glad to see the back of. To say it was a challenging vintage is an understatement, from the Californian wildfires to frost and heatwaves gripping most of Europe. Read on….
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