July 2019

Prosecco receives UNESCO World Heritage status

The status was officially announced on Sunday for the Prosecco landscape, and includes Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene, and the DOCG vine growing area; “characterized by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni — small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces — forests, small villages, and farmland,” states UNESCO.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, met in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday to congratulate Italy and its Veneto Prosecco region.

The campaign to nominate Prosecco started in 2008, and Italy’s National Commission for UNESCO officially gave its support January 2017. The application included submitting a 1,300-page dossier.

‘For centuries, this rugged terrain has been shaped and adapted by man.’
In particular, the training of vines since the 17th century has helped contribute to the unique aesthetics of the landscape.

This region spans over 500 towns, with 15 towns producing Prosecco Superiore DOCG – the top-quality bubbly produced.

Italy has more UNESCO sites than any other country in the world, with a total of 55.
Some wine regions, including Barolo and Pantelleria, with seven UNESCO sites in Tuscany.

Sales of Prosecco rose six percent in 2018 to 460 million bottles, of which 75 percent were exported.

Official UNESCO details:
N45 57 10.9 E12 13 34
Date of Inscription: 2019
Property : 20,334.2 ha
Buffer zone: 43,988.2 ha
Ref: 1571rev
Full description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1571/

LCBO ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING OF A LANDMARK STORE IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO

LCBO is welcoming it’s newest addition to its retail store network. The King and Spadina store is relocating two blocks south to 49 Spadina Ave. – Clarence Square. The 22,000 square foot store includes 13,935 square feet of retail selling space.

Housed on the main floor of the Steele Briggs Seed Company building, a Toronto heritage landmark, the space has been converted into one of the most impressive and enticing stores to-date. Located in the vibrant King West district, the new store serves the growing areas of Queen Street West, King Street West, the Entertainment District, and the Waterfront District.

The in-store features include:

Same Day Pick Up: The new location offers the Same Day Pick Up service, where customers have the option to place orders online at LCBO.com and visit one of the designated stores for pick up within hours of ordering.

Tasting Bar: A walk-around tasting bar in the Vintages section is a learning hub for year-round events and tastings, offering engaging experiences and opportunities to interact with makers, brand ambassadors and special in-store appearances.

Tasting Stations: Incorporated throughout the store, tasting stations spotlight new products for customers to sample and purchase.

Product Expansion: The new store is expanding the product offering, with over 1,900 products available for purchase with a large focus on VQA and Ontario Craft Brewer products for customers to bring local home.

Spirits Shops: Along with the established Whisky Shop, the store features the newly launched rum, gin and tequila shops with over 40 new, exclusive or premium selections.

Customers are invited to attend the grand opening on July 9 at 9:30 a.m. and enjoy week-long in-store tasting activations with brand partners and suppliers including: Stella Artois, Nütrl, Stoli, Pelee Island, Ketel One Botanicals, Family Wine Merchants, Côtes des Rosés and Steam Whistle Brewing.

49 Spadina by the numbers:

· 2,740 brands

· 134 VQA wines

· 219 Ontario wines

· 797 Vintages products

· 40 new spirits releases

· #1 LCBO store in Ontario Craft Beer sales

· 146 Local Ontario Craft Brewer listings

· 22,000 square feet

· 13,935 square feet of retail selling space

· 328 linear feet of beer refrigeration

· 40 linear feet of wine refrigeration

· 11 customer service checkouts

· 1 Same Day Pick Up Counter

· 42 employees, including 2 Product Consultants

Store hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.., Friday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m., Sunday, 10:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Cocktails are becoming one of Britain’s fastest-growing drinks categories, according to new research

The popularity of cocktails and the fact they are more widely available has helped boost sales through Britain’s pubs, bars, and restaurants by 10 % over the past 12 months taking the market value to £587m, says CGA’s Mixed Drinks Report Q1 2019.

The number of licensed premises selling cocktails has risen 7 % in the past year, with 42,000 on-trade outlets. Drinks-led pubs have been particularly fast to respond to demand, with a growing number opting to sell pre-prepared or draught cocktails.

Based on the on-trade, number one in the Top 10 list of mainstream cocktails is the vodka-based Pornstar Martini, served with a shot of Prosecco on the side. Sales of Pornstar Martini have risen 2 % over the past 12 months and accounting for 15.3 % of cocktails sold.

Having fallen from its top slot, the white-rum based Mojito is Britain’s second favorite cocktail, accounting for 12.4 % of mainstream sales, down 1.2 % from last year.

Occupying the rest of the Top 10 are: Long Island Iced Tea, Sex on the Beach, Daiquiri, Woo Woo, Espresso Martini, Martini, Pina Colada and Collins.

Charlie Mitchell, CGA drinks expert said: “There are two clear trends coming through in the mainstream consumer’s preference for cocktails – that of shorter, more complex drinks with a higher ABV like the Martini cocktails, but also a growing preference for longer, more refreshing drinks such as the Collins which has a more sophisticated, less sweet flavor profile.”

“Tastes have moved away from fruity, sweet drinks with the Woo Woo, Sex on the Beach and Cosmopolitan losing the most favor over the past 12 months.

“The growing popularity of Aperol Spritz and other spritz serves are part of the trend towards a lighter, more refreshing drink with a lower ABV and fewer ingredients allowing the taste of the base spirit to come through.”

Champagne Castelnau is the official sponsor of the Tour de France 2019

Champagne Castelnau has announced its partnership with Amaury Sport Organisation, organizer of the Tour de France and other cycling events.

The annual epic cycling race will begin in Brussels today (6 July), making its way to Épernay and Reims in the Champagne region. The peloton will arrive in Epernay on Monday 8th July, departing Reims on Tuesday 9th July.

In its capacity as official Champagne of Amaury Sport Organisation, organizers of the Tour de France, Castelnau has released a limited edition of its Brut Reserve NV to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the famous Yellow Jersey. The Cuvée Siècle Jaune is a blend of 50% Pinot Meunier, 40% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, with 40% reserve wines and it comes in a black bottle with yellow writing.

Champagne Castelnau will also be served at the end of each stage of the Tour de France and hosting a series of events in celebration. The race traverses several wine regions in eastern France, including Alsace, before making its way through Provence and the Languedoc.

The race’s inaugural edition was 1903 – it has been held annually since that year, except for the period during the Two World Wars.

Filippo Magnani of Fufluns Celebrates 20 years of Wine Tours in Italy

Filippo Magnani’s wine tourism company Fufluns has been a pioneer in creating authentic wine tourism for 20 years. To mark this 20th anniversary Magnani has launched two new websites:
www.filippomagani.it which will focus on Filippo Magnani and his work in the wine industry, and www.fufluns.com which will incorporate the wine tour operating side of the business. Both are linked by a common concept of wine and are rebuilding their presence in the digital age.

“Our aim is to create a tailor-made, unique and unrepeatable wine tours, which gives the opportunity to experience the Italian way of life that is so loved and respected around the world. As well as this, we enable the bringing together of global wine lovers and wine professionals, with Italian food and wine producers throughout the Italian regions.”

This is the philosophy of both Filippo Magnani and Fufluns, the first Italian Wine Tour Company to create a series of itineraries that truly reflect the wine experiences in the “Bel Paese”.

“Exactly as with the blending of great wine, to create an itinerary in Italy requires knowledge passion and love and appreciation of our homeland,” explains Filippo Magnani on the 20th anniversary of his company. “Often when we think of Luxury Wine Tours, we don’t only reflect on the obvious riches of our land, but to share authentic experiences which cannot be found elsewhere. “

Fufluns Wine Tours was founded in July 1999 in Suvereto, Tuscany with the express aim to push the borders of wine tourism, by focusing on the “Made in Italy” idea of showcasing the best of Italian Wine and Food.

Taking their company name from the Etruscan God of Wine, they were the first tour operator purely dedicated to wine tourism in Italy. Filippo Magnani, the founder of the company was inspired by a visit to Napa Valley in California in 1996 where wine tourism had already become well-established.

An enthusiasm to explore the exciting potential in wine tourism in Italy led Filippo Magnani to create this company with a fresh approach to wine tourism, which today, some 20 years after its creation, involves a knowledgeable team and wine experts resulting in being considered a leader in its field.

These travel experiences are appreciated by international visitors from those who are passionate about the wine, the food, the beauty and lifestyle of Italy through to professionals who work in the wine & food trade including importers, sommeliers, wine clubs, journalists, wines associations and restaurants from around the world.

“In order to design personalized top end itineraries, I traveled far and wide both at home in Italy and abroad, to explore at first hand the regions and the people involved in wine. Today, I understand that my journey into the discovery of wine will never end. To mark the 20th anniversary of this pioneering and ambitious project has been personally very fulfilling, and it is also a way to thank those who have had faith in us and our project. From producers to winemakers, those working in this profession on a daily basis, it is thanks to their support, that I am able to bring a huge wealth of knowledge to this project” states Magnani.

Filippo Magnani also has a strong history within the wine trade, where he has worked for many years with specialist associations such as organizing Wine & Spirit Education Trust courses in Italy. He has also organized educational tours for journalists, buyers, and b2b events as well as lecturing at universities specializing in hospitality and the wine trade.