Wine news, stories and events 2003-2004
 

'Biggest ever' Canadian Icewine harvest begins
The Canadian Icewine harvest has begun – in temperatures plummeting to minus 35C... Brrr, and I thought it was chilly in Europe!
Decanter.com News Alert 22/12/04

Generic advertising for Languedoc wines
Languedoc wines are to be promoted under the umbrella name of ‘Languedoc’, decanter.com has learned....
News alert 14/12/04 (story by your faithful correspondent).
More on Languedoc wines: Fête des Vignes Montpellier - Vinisud 2004

Supreme court judges 'openly sceptical' on interstate shipping laws
After an hour-long Washington hearing on Tuesday, the US Supreme Court began considering a ruling that could revolutionise America’s wine buying and selling...
Decanter.com News Alert

KWV sacks winemakers in additive scandal
South Africa’s second-biggest and best-known producer has fired two much-lauded winemakers after it was discovered they had adulterated the company’s Sauvignon Blanc...
Decanter.com News Alert 11/12/04
Unadulterated SA wines and Shiraz

Picpoul de Pinet goes Bag-in-Box
The 'Syndicat Coteaux du Languedoc/Picpoul de Pinet' has come up
with the idea of creating a generic 3 litre bag-in-box design, which
can be used by all AOC Picpoul de Pinet producers. This crisp floral
and sometimes complex dry white wine is made around the Bassin de
Thau between Agde, Pézenas and Sète (on the Languedoc coast),
entirely from the interesting Picpoul variety. Bag-in-box wines are
selling very well in France, as they are in the UK and other
countries. Les Costières de Pomerols is the first cellar to launch
one. Future plans include BIB for Côtes de la Malepère wines and
Languedoc rosés.
8/12/04
Languedoc wines at Vinisud 2004


Michelin Star for Saziani Stub'n, Austria
Saziani Stub'n is the restaurant and wine bar owned by Weingut
Neumeister located in Straden, Styria (southeast Austria). They've
bagged a Michelin star in the first Austrian edition of the guide;
only four restaurants have been awarded two stars, and nobody has
yet clinched the ultimate 3 star accolade. So, when touring the
region, why not pop into the winery to taste their wines then have a
nice lunch?
More info at www.neumeister.cc and www.michelin.at

Posted 7/12/04.

Lots more great Austrian wines here


California growers' alliance gets top environmental honour
The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance has just been
awarded California’s most prestigious environmental honour...
Decanter.com news 4/12/04


Bubbles and book signing in San Francisco...
Author Catherine Fallis, aka 'grape goddess', is offering free
Champers if you buy one of her new books: Erotic Foods ($10.95) and
Champagne & Sparkling Wine ($11.95)! Event takes place on Dec. 18th
2004 between 1-4pm at VinoVenue, San Francisco (415-341-1930,
wendy@vinovenue.net).
6/12/04


German growers wait for big freeze
Growers in all of Germany's main wine regions are hoping and gearing
up for their Eiswein (ice wine) harvest, as soon as the temperature
drops to -7 degrees C or below. Weather reports look favourable for
the right conditions to freeze the remaining grapes and produce
naturally very sweet (but balanced) wines by frost concentration!
It's a gamble many growers take each year to see if they can produce
a few precious bottles of Eiswein nectare. If it doesn't get cold
and dry enough, these last selected bunches deliberately left on the
vines will be lost.
Keen producers waiting and ready with their woolly gloves and hats
include Weingut Clauer in Baden, Christian Reiss in Franken, Ernst
Loosen in the Mosel, Monika Schneider in the Nahe, Ralf Anselmann in
Pfalz, Balthasar Ress in the Rheingau and Louis Guntrum in
Rheinhessen. More info on the German Wine Institute website.
6/12/04
Lots of German wines here, here and here!


Fête du Millésime, Bandol 5 December 2004
If you're in the Bandol area (on the Var coast between Toulon and
Marseille) on Sunday 5th Dec., then come on down to the port to
taste the just-born 2004 vintage. The majority of the 50-odd Bandol
producers will be offering tastings of their whites, rosés and reds,
the latter made mostly from still youthful Mourvèdre, from this
year's promising vintage. Judging by last year's event, this should
be a fun day out and open to all for a mere 4€ for your Bandol 2004
tasting glass. My advice - stay the night and don't try to taste all
the wines!
27/11/04
Recent Bandol tasting notes
Fête du Millésime 2003


Sideways: a very funny wine film
Sideways is about wine and the love of wine – and before your
eyelids gently close, it’s a very funny film indeed...
According to Decanter.com news 24/11/04


Wine vs health war rages in France
The French government is 'demonising' wine with a 'quasi-scientific'
and alarmist advertising campaign, France's top wine professionals
claim...
From Decanter.com news 24/11/04


"Near record" 2004 English harvest predicted
The 2004 vintage in the UK got under way in September with the bulk
picked early to mid October, and predictions are positive. Reports
from vineyards around the country claim this year is "an excellent
harvest for both quality, and, crucially, quantity."
A warm dry spring preceded an unremarkable summer, which still saw
bursts of sunshine and dry weather among the wet spells. Many
vineyards green harvested during the summer, as the vines were
cropping heavily. These damp conditions unfortunately meant spray
programmes had to be applied to combat potential rot and mildew
problems. But dry weather, particularly at the beginning of
September, ensured proper ripening.
Numerous vineyards report record, or near record yields, whilst
maintaining good sugar levels. As one vineyard commented: "with
sales burgeoning, this is a much needed result as stocks were
getting low." Potential alcohol figures were surprising, in many
cases the musts requiring "minimal or no chaptalisation" (addition
of sugar to enrich the must before fermentation, also common in
parts of France).
2003 has been declared an exceptional year attracting wide public
interest. 2004’s more ordinary weather has "nevertheless produced
good quality and quantity" and winemakers are predicting this year’s
wines will have "excellent structure, balance and longevity." The
anticipated yield could excede 25,000 hectolitres (for comparison,
Germany produced about 10 million hl and France over 50 m hl), a
significant increase on the average 2003 of 14,500hl or 1.93 million
bottles (new plantings are also coming on stream).
More info @ englishwineproducers.com
21/11/04


Danish government plans to lower wine taxes
Because of the volume of cross-border shopping, Denmark is looking
to decrease duty on wine and beer in 2005 (again). According to the
Danish press, if this comes into force, the price of a 75cl bottle
of wine will go down by 0.85 DKK...
Full story (in French) on www.journee-vinicole.com 17/11/04


Figaro publishes 20 ideas to save French wine
French newspaper Le Figaro has published a 20-step guide to getting
France out of its current wine crisis...
From Decanter.com news 18/11/04


New Zealand takes lead in screwcaps as wine closures
By Terry Dunleavy MBE
Leadership of the worldwide move to screwcaps as wine closures has
passed to New Zealand following the 1st International Screwcap
Symposium just completed in Marlborough's main town, Blenheim. Over
260 delegates from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, UK,
France, Italy, USA, Chile, and India, agreed to a committee to
establish an international organization dedicated to promoting and
improving screwcap wine closures.
The symposium was conceived and organized by the New Zealand
Screwcap Initiative, started in 2001 by a group of Marlborough
wineries frustrated by rising levels of contamination of their wines
from TCA in natural corks. Since then, screwcap use in New Zealand
has spread rapidly and it is estimated that over 70 per cent of the
country's 2004 vintage wines will be sealed by screwcap...
Editorial comment - interesting stuff even if rather one-sided.
There are dissenters who aren't yet so convinced about screwcaps due
to the relative lack of long term research data for all types of
wine; in particular concerning ageing effects for fine reds ("redox
potential") and reductive flavour taint (click on Laroche Chablis
below for more on this).
Some NZ Pinot Noirs under screwcap
German wines screwed
Read on...
more information

AguaTierra launches "first organic Chilean rosé"
Only 1000 cases of AguaTierra Organic Rosé 2004 have been released,
made from selected Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Limari Valley
in northern Chile. The project started in 1999 with the arrival of
Canadian viticulturist James Pryor; the wine stems from a joint
venture using grapes from Punitaqui and the winemaking skills of
Giorgio Flesatti of Viña Falernia. AguaTierra's organic grape
production now amounts to 33 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Carmenère and Syrah. The grapes are certified organic in Europe and
North America by IMO Suiza. The 2004 rosé is exported to England,
Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Thailand, China, Russia and Korea (so
not much to go around). More info at Andeswines.com
I'll let you know if I taste it - meanwhile click here for more
organic wines from Chile
14/11/04


Wines and Travels of Thomas Jefferson
Passions: The Wines and Travels of Thomas Jefferson, by Jim Gabler,
is now available from Amazon.com, at book stores or online at
www.thomasjefferson.net
Sounds like a rollercoaster wine ride through history, accompanying
Jefferson to the vineyards of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne,
Hermitage, through Provence, along the French and Italian Rivieras,
through Languedoc and also down the Rhine. "You'll eavesdrop on
dinner conversations at Jefferson's Paris mansion on the
Champs-Elysées, the White House and Monticello," so says the blurb,
"where the finest wine was served. You'll bear witness through
Jefferson's eyes to the emerging signs and the beginning of the
French Revolution..."
Wine critic Robert Parker said: "Jim Gabler has not only authored a
brilliant book about one of America's most fascinating and gifted
Presidents, but he has also constructed a compelling historical
account of the nation's first wine enthusiast and connoisseur."
Passions is $29.95, ISBN: 0-9613525-3-1. Bacchus Press Ltd,
Publisher,
1751 Circle Road, Baltimore, MD 21204. Tel: 410-828-9463,
Bacchuspr@aol.com
13/11/04


www.beer-pages.com: it's all about beer
Tom Cannavan, publisher of www.wine-pages.com, and world beer expert
and author Roger Protz have launched an online magazine devoted to
speciality beers. Their blurb says: "The main focus is bottled beers
- bottle-conditioned ales, world beers, and anything that catches
our attention as a distinctive "real beer" - but there will be
coverage of cask ales, breweries and pubs too." Seems like a good
idea to me, and it's already packed with info: click on the glass of
beer (OK, so it looks more like lager...)
12/11/04


French winemakers plan day of action
French winemakers are planning a national ‘day of action’ which will
see them stage demonstrations across France on 8 December...
From Decanter.com news 12/11/04.
Comment: there's no doubt certain regions and types of winegrower
(particularly old-fashioned co-op operations) in France have serious
hurdles ahead of them and should receive an element of properly
focused government support; but let's not forget some of the
problems are self-inflicted. So why on earth have they just produced
the biggest vintage for 4 years (including a lot of wine nobody
wants) yet still expect to be bailed out?
Some top French wines here and here.


Wine tasting movie tipped for Oscars
A Hollywood movie about a Californian wine-tasting trip has opened
to rave reviews across America – and UK critics are tipping it for
the Oscars...
From Decanter.com news 11/11/04
Some top California wines


Constellation-Mondavi merger sealed
Constellation Brands and Robert Mondavi have announced they have
signed the merger agreement which will see Constellation acquiring
the entire Mondavi Corporation...
From Decanter.com news 5/11/04
The world's biggest wine company just got bigger... scary...


Delpeuch urges rapid and radical reform
CIVB president Christian Delpeuch has urged the Bordeaux wine trade
to rapidly reform to avert the present crisis...
Story from Decanter.com news 2/11/04
A couple of good quality/value Bordeaux reds here


La Fête des Vignerons des Baux de Provence 13-14 November 2004
Spend a day or two tasting the rare wines of Les Baux - only ten
estates in the AOC not found much outside of Provence - within the
ancient walls of this fascinating mediaeval hilltop town. They've
also invited growers from Bellet to present their wares this year,
an equally obscure wine region near Nice. All wrapped up in
accompanying jazz in the streets, a 'menu du terroir' and photo
exhibition. For more info ring +33 (0)4 90 54 34 39.
25/10/04
Click here for Baux de Provence wines


Portland scoops Manchester Wine Merchant Challenge
The inaugural Manchester Wine Merchant Challenge took place on
October 5th 2004 at top Italian restaurant Stock in the city centre.
The results were as follows:
Best wines - Sparkling: Champagne Montaudon Brut Réserve Première
NV, France (£19.99 Loves Saves the Day).
White: Billaud-Simon Chablis 2002, Burgundy, France (£11.50
Selfridges).
Red: Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Syrah 2002, Rapel Valley, Chile
(£16.99 Selfridges).
Fortified: Churchill's White Port NV, Douro, Portugal (£10.95
Portland Wine Company).
Best value wines - Sparkling: Saumur Brut La Grande Marque NV,
Loire, France (£6.95 Portland Wine Company).
White: Palacio Bornos Verdejo 2003, Rueda, Spain (£5.99 Corks Out).
Red: Domaine St Marthe Vin de Pays De Cassan Syrah 2002, Languedoc,
France (£5.35 Carringtons).
Fortified: Churchill's White Port NV, Douro, Portugal (£10.95
Portland Wine Company).
Wine of the show - Churchill's White Port NV, Douro, Portugal
(£10.95 Portland Wine Company).
Journalist and organiser Simon Woods commented on the event, part of
the annual Manchester Food & Drink Festival: "It was a pleasure to
see the quality and diversity of the wines entered by the various
merchants. Competition was fierce, particularly for the Best Value
awards, but, helped by an astonishingly good white port, Portland
Wine Company emerged as the top merchant of the Manchester region."
18/10/04


Lingenfelder tours Oddbins stores in birdy Smart car
Building on the success of his original Bird Label Riesling, Rainer
Lingenfelder has released a whole 'vineyard creatures' series of
funky German wines: Fish-label Mosel Riesling, Hare-label
Gewürztraminer, Bee-label Morio Muskat, Owl-label Pinot Grigio,
Fox-label Dornfelder red and the Bird-label Riesling, all priced
between £5.99-£6.99. To promote the wines, Lingenfelder aims to
visit 240 Oddbins branches in the UK within the next nine months.
"Competition is fierce for shelf space in the stores and, even once
one has secured listings, there's no guarantee the bottle will be
picked up," he commented. "While this is true for all wines, it's
particularly true for German wine. Short of funds to create a pull
for consumers, I'm targeting the interface between consumer and
shelf: the shop staff."
Good thinking Rainer; pity others aren't as enthusiastic as you.
Check out his website for more info: Lingenfelder.com, and on German
wines: Winesofgermany.co.uk
17/10/04
Tasting notes on these wines - more German wines

Cru bourgeois listing ‘not impartial’
The procedure of classifying the Médoc cru bourgeois was ‘not
impartial’ and ‘tainted with illegality’ according to a French
government representative at a Bordeaux tribunal this week...
Decanter.com news 15/10/04
Scroll down this page for previous stories on the saga of the Médoc
classification


Bandol harvest finishes early
The vintage in Bandol in Provence has finished early, with the
annual harvest of 225 Mourvèdre vines planted on a motorway
roundabout north of the town of Bandol...

Decanter.com news
14/10/04

Latest Bandol wine reviews here

French winemakers go naked for calendar
First the UK Women’s Institute went naked, then the New York fire
department and British prison officers, and now the winemakers of
the Côtes de Bourg are releasing a nude calendar...
Decanter.com news


Governor signs Bill that could terminate Foie Gras in California
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill on Sept. 29
that bans the force-feeding of ducks and geese for the production of
foie gras and outlaws the sale of foie gras made from force-fed
birds...
From Winespectator.com


US wine market achieves a new record level
The U.S. wine market reached a new record level in 2003, as
consumption approached 260 million 9-liter cases. This represents an
increase of nearly 6 percent over 2002, according to the
soon-to-be-released The U.S. Wine Market: Impact Databank Review and
Forecast, 2004 Edition. The exclusive research indicates that the
wine market will continue to expand, and reach more than 320 million
cases by 2015...
From Winespectator.com


Viña Casa Silva launch 'micro-terroir' project
Family-owned Viña Casa Silva claims this will be "the first of its
kind, not only for the Colchagua Valley but also for Chile." The
objective of the study is to "identify the methods that will enable
us to ensure the highest sustainable quality of fruit and to create
wines that are the true expression of the character of the
vineyards,” explains Mario Pablo, Managing Director of Casa Silva...

more information

Thieves steal award-winning Amarone
Technically advanced thieves struck top Amarone producer Masi last
weekend, stealing 12,000 bottles of the cult classic Vaio Amaron
1999...
Decanter.com news 2/10/04


Big Turkish export push
Turkish wines are set to hit the UK as importer Alaturka teams up
with two major producers to concentrate on exports...
Decanter.com news 1/10/04
Further editorial on Turkey to follow with tasting notes on the best
wines...


Joshua goes forth
Graham Beck Wines have released their much hyped flagship red wine
The Joshua 2002 from the company's Franschhoek cellar. This £20 a
bottle South African Shiraz has 7% Viognier in the blend, mimicking
the classic styles of Côte-Rôtie et al in the northern Rhône, and is
the baby of winemaker Charles Hopkins. I haven't tasted it yet but
I'll let you know when I have...
29/9/04
More top SA Shiraz/Syrah


Michel Laroche puts screwcaps on Grands Crus wines
Laroche, who now has winemaking operations in the Languedoc, Chile
and beyond, is the first producer in France to take the bold step of
bottling Grand Cru Chablis under screwcap. I'll spare you the 17
page report on why they've done this; but, needless to say, loss of
credibility in corks and the so-far promising performance of
Stelvins for this style of wine are cited as the main reasons.
More info and tasting notes
23/9/04


Alsace: viticultural ‘terrorist’ at large
Three Alsace vineyards have been heavily vandalised in apparently
motiveless attacks across a two-month period...
Decanter.com news 23/9/04


Errazuriz to go biodynamic
Chilean winery Errazuriz is launching itself into full biodynamic
viticulture with part of a new 160ha hillside property...
Decanter.com news 15/9/04

Bumper crop for France and Spain
According to La Journée Vinicole, provisional figures for the 2004
vintage indicate large increases on the last two (admittedly lower
than average) years. French wine production could reach over 57
million hectolitres, and in Spain 47 m hl could be filling tanks by
the beginning of 2005. With all the stories of crisis in the
European wine industry and falling sales (although not for
everyone), it seems absolute madness to pick this much fruit. If all
of the wine that will be made was good quality and there was a
market for it, then I'd say bravo to the many hundreds of thousands
of hard working growers. But I suspect at least some of this will
end up in the gigantic EU distillation vat...
21/9/04


Pregnant women safe to drink two glasses of wine
Pregnant women can safely consume two glasses of wine a week, the UK
government’s Department of Health has announced...
Decanter.com news 16/9/04


Sharpshooter infestation near Napa
Californian wine country could face widespread devastation if an
infestation of the glassy-winged sharpshooter cannot be contained...
Decanter.com news 17/9/04
N.B. Vacaville is between Napa and Sacramento i.e. not in "South
West California."


2004 vintage build-up at Hugel
The harvest officially starts in about 4 weeks time, but the
high-tech Hugels of Alsace have already teed off coverage of their
2004 season, which can be followed via their webcam. Should be fun
watching other people do the hard work!
7/9/04


Médoc Marathon 11th September
Richard Bampfield MW, along with six other MWs in fancy dress, will
be running the Médoc Marathon this Saturday the 11th and is seeking
sponsors "to raise as much money as I can for Christian Aid." This
legendary event passes through the famous names of the Médoc, who
offer the brave runners refreshment in the form of wine tasting,
oysters and foie gras! Seriously though, if you're interested in
supporting this please contact Richard by email; or the organiser at
www.marathondumedoc.com or + 33 (0)5 56 59 01 91. Further details of
the work of Christian Aid can be found at www.christian-aid.org
7/9/04


Madonna's father slams 'untrue' reports
Tony Ciccone has dismissed reports his daughter gave him nearly a
million dollars to bail out his wine business as ‘totally untrue’...
Decanter.com news alert 1/9/04


New survey offers portrait of American wine scribes
The revelation that writers aren't being well served by the wine
industry’s public relations people is just one of the many findings
in the 2004 American Wine Writer Survey, conducted by Wark
Communications:
- Wine writers are overwhelmingly men (similar to France, for
example, but not the case in the UK).
- The internet is a surging medium for quality wine prose (hoorah).
- Press releases are rarely useful (quelle surprise).
- The 100-point rating system is over rated (shock horror: I'm not
keen on it either, even though this site uses it!)
- Wine writers are bullish about wine sales.
The entire survey is available at the Wark Communications website:
http://www.warkcommunications.com/pages/downloads.html
31/8/04


La Semaine du Goût 11-17th October
The 15th edition of 'national taste week' will take place in
markets, restaurants etc. throughout France. The emphasis will be on
"creativity, originality and imagination" with a host of gastronomic
surprises. Info at www.legout.com
From La Journée Vinicole - Edition 21178-31/08/2004


7th Pinot Noir 'world cup'
Out of 1000 wines tasted in this year's competition in Sierre
(Switzerland), the jury awarded the top prize to... a sparkling
Pinot from Zurich. Hmm. Germany garnered 8 'Vinea d’or', France 5,
and the US and Austria 3 medals. Italy, Argentina and New Zealand
each got one 'Vinea d’or'. Champagnes also performed well with two
golds.
Full results from www.mondial-du-pinot-noir.com
Story from La Journée Vinicole - Edition 21177-30/08/2004


Wine Report 2005
The second edition of this intensive annual edited by Tom Stevenson
will be published on 2nd September by Dorling Kindersley. Forty
contributors around the world provide reports on new wines,
viticulture, science, trends in consumption, health, vintages,
auctions, wine on the web, organics... you name it. Looks like a
useful handbook for the trade and enthusiast, although perhaps a
little dry for anybody else. £9.99 from all major bookshops - see
www.dk.com for further info.
27/8/04



Cliff Richard opens his new winery
Sir Cliff Richard celebrated the opening of his new winery in
Portugal’s Algarve on Saturday with a party for 150, a pig roast,
and copious quantities of wine...
Story from Decanter.com 25/8/04


French plans to test genetically modified vines prompt outcry from
many European winemakers
Stirring up controversy in Europe, French researchers may plant
genetically modified grapevines in a test vineyard in Alsace this
fall if the government approves the project, which is backed by
government scientists but strongly opposed by some leading
winemakers...
Story from WineSpectator.com 17/8/04


Platter 'Five Star' wines announced
The following have been awarded Five stars by the tasting panel in
the forthcoming 2005 edition of the John Platter South African Wine
Guide. Full story on Grape.co.za:
Axe Hill Cape Vintage Port 2002 - Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2002 -
Boplaas Wine Cellar Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2002 - Cape Point
Vineyards Semillon 2003 - Ernie Els 2002 - Hamilton Russell
Vineyards Chardonnay 2003 - Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir
2003 - Jean Daneel Wines Signature Chenin Blanc 2003 - Joostenberg
Wines Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2003 - Jordan Winery Nine
Yards Chardonnay Reserve 2003 - Kaapzicht Estate Steytler Vision
2001 - Robertson Winery Wide River Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2001 -
Rust en Vrede Estate Wine 2001 - Sadie Family Wines Columella 2002 -
Steenberg Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2004 - Vergelegen
Semillon CWG 2003 - Vergelegen White 2003.
More top SA wines: Shiraz/Syrah - New South Africa
27/8/04


California 'cannot save itself' from global warming
The California wine industry is inevitably doomed by the end of the
century, with global warming causing increased heatwaves and
disrupting irrigation, researchers have found...
From Decanter.com/news 18/8/04


Treading Grapes
Rosemary George's new book, subtitled 'Walking through the vineyards
of Tuscany', was recently published by Bantam Press (£15 in the UK).
This hardback resembles a personal diary of several walking trips
undertaken in 2002-2003, from Chianti country, Montalcino and San
Gimignano to Bolgheri and Elba, taking in vineyards, restaurants,
interesting characters, hilly landscape and undiscovered coastline.
The style of the book appeals to me in particular, because I've
tried and failed to interest publishers in a similar idea (on
Provence) combining wine, food, people and travel, as apparently
it's considered too difficult to classify!
My full review of Rosemary's work to follow; further info etc. at
www.booksattransworld.co.uk
17/8/04


Loupiac: wine and foie gras get together
On the 27th and 28th of November, growers in Loupiac (underrated
sweet wine appellation across the river from Barsac and Sauternes)
are opening their doors in conjunction with local foie gras
producers to offer a food & wine trail. A signposted route will
direct visitors from cellar to cellar, where they can taste and
enjoy old vintages with foie gras and also find many photographs and
tools on display...
Story from La Journée Vinicole - Edition 21166-17/08/2004


What would Darwin say about drinking?
Some scientists believe humans evolved to enjoy alcohol...
From Winespectator.com daily news


Hardys trawls UK for new 'face' of wine
Wine giant Hardys has joined the reality TV bandwagon by launching
Wine Idol – its own version of the cult show Pop Idol...
Decanter.com/news 11/8/04


Wapping Food "re-casts" wine list
According to their recent press release harbouring theatrical
pretensions - the restaurant does form part of the 'Wapping Project'
located in "a matchless cultural space" - the "intelligent
all-Australian" wine list has been tweaked in response to customer
feedback. Seemingly based on the assumption that all London
restaurant-goers have more money than sense, only a dozen of the 75+
wines costs under £20 a bottle. One wonders how much they sell of
the others? However, it does offer many exciting wines (with over 20
available by the glass), such as Plantagenet Pinot Noir, Leconfield
Cab Sauv, Gary Crittenden Barbera, Shaw & Smith Ad Hills Sauvignon
Blanc and Pauletts Polish Hill Riesling.
Wapping Food, Hydraulic Power Station, Wapping Wall, London E1W 3ST,
020 7680 2080.
9/8/04


Nick Dobson goes Austrian
Mail order e-tailer Nick Dobson Wines has launched a new range of
wines from Austria, with the initial selection sourced principally
from the Wachau including around 50 wines from leading producers
such as Josef Jamek, Leo Alzinger, Karl Lagler, Dinstlgut Loiben,
and Michael Schweighofer.
"We aim to offer one of the broadest ranges of Austrian wines in the
UK. The initial list has a strong focus on Riesling and Grüner
Veltliner; later in 2004, we'll add a comprehensive selection of
reds and sweet wines from the Burgenland and Thermenregion." Nick
Dobson commented, “Austrian wines unquestionably deserve to be
better known."
For more information: +44 (0) 118 9771545,
nick.dobson@nickdobsonwines.co.uk
9/8/04


Cape Winemakers Guild auction
This year's auction will be held on Sat. 2nd October at Spier winery
in Stellenbosch from 9am onwards. The Cape Winemakers Guild was set
up in 1982 and now has 34 members; membership is by invitation and
only offered to South African winemakers with a track record of at
least five years crafting outstanding Cape wines. The wines put up
for public auction are made exclusively for the event and should not
be sold anywhere else, having passed through a strict blind tasting
by guild members. These include Beyerskloof, Boekenhoutskloof,
Etienne le Riche, Thelema, Vergelegen and L'Avenir among other top
names. Telephone and proxy voting are available. A Silent Auction is
also held to raise funds for SA farm-working communities. Further
details from kate@capewinemakersguild.com, tel. +27 (0)21 883 8625.
24/7/04
SOUTH AFRICAN SYRAH - SHIRAZ
NEW SOUTH AFRICA


Passionwines add sensual touch
Birmingham (England) based wine merchant Passionwines.co.uk is now
offering bottle tags in Braille, and large print is available when
ordering wine online or by phone, giving sight-impaired wine lovers
the freedom of informed choice most of us take for granted. They've
also adapted their website to make it easier to use for the visually
impaired...
more information

Burgundy can't agree on AOC reforms
Growers and producers from Burgundy's main trade body have given a
hostile reaction to INAO president René Renou’s plans for AOC
reform...
Decanter.com news


Jean-Claude Mas is Arrogant Frog
Jean-Claude Mas, owner and winemaker at Domaines Paul Mas in
Pézenas, Languedoc has launched two new ranges called Hidden Hill
and Arrogant Frog; and his La Forge Estate Merlot 2003 scooped the
Merlot trophy in the inaugural 2004 Top 100 Vins de Pays
competition, organised by the Vins de Pays Association and British
trade paper OLN...
Click here for tasting notes
more information

Art et Vin 2004
For the 6th year running, les Vignerons Indépendants du Var (the
pretty touristy bit between Marseille and Cannes) are opening their
doors in July and August, offering tastings and exhibitions of local
artists. Click on the title for diary dates and participating wine
producers.
Wines from the Var
10/7/04


World's top producers resist GM
A group of major wine producers has declared its opposition to
testing of genetically modified vines. Terre et Vin du Monde counts
among its members Château Latour, Pichon Longueville, Cos
d’Estournel, Smith Haut Lafitte, Domaine de la Romanée Conti,
Château de Beaucastel in the Rhône, Spain’s Vega Sicilia, Egon
Müller in Germany, and many other world-renowned producers...
Source: Decanter.com news


New Zealand: record 2004 vintage and best varietals at US
competition
New Zealand Winegrowers estimate a total harvest of 166,000 tonnes
of grapes, an increase of 89,100 tonnes or 117% on the severely
frost-affected 2003 vintage. However, growers' and winemakers'
expectations about wine quality are high given the favourable
growing and ripening season in most regions...
Tasting notes NZ Pinots
more information

Gallo to launch first French wine
At this past weekend's Vinexpo Americas in Chicago, E. & J. Gallo
unveiled its first French wine, a line named Red Bicyclette that is
produced in the Languedoc region and will be widely available in the
United States by fall...
Source: Wine Spectator
Top Languedoc wines

What makes a white grape white? Scientists think they've found the
color key
Scientists have long observed that, in the wild, all grapes are
dark-skinned. Few and far between in nature, white grapes represent
a genetic mutation of grapes' typical color, but no one understood
just how they developed...
Source: Wine Spectator

Michelin's turbulent time: inspector spills secrets just before
guide changes directors
Amid an unusually tumultuous time for the secretive institution,
Michelin has revealed that the director of its celebrated Red
Guides, Derek Brown, is retiring this summer. Jean-Luc Naret, 43, a
Frenchman who has managed luxury hotels around the world, will
succeed him in September...
Source: Wine Spectator