February 2021

Great Italian Wines Masterclass – Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties – The “Noble” Nebbiolo and Valpolicella Varieties

I attended an amazing Masterclass last week: “Great Italian Wines – Understanding Indigenous Grape Varieties.” The seminar was led by the knowledgeable Sandra Colosimo, a member of the Associazione Italiana Sommeliers. Sandra led us to explore and learn about the “Noble” Nebbiolo and Valpolicella varieties, their qualities, traceability, terroir and unique characteristics.

Here are details on the two wines tasted:

2016 “Rocolo” Valpolicella DOC Superiore (Agricola Piccoli Daniella S.S.)

Grape varieties: Corvina 40%, Corvinone 25%, Rondinella 30%, Oseleta, Molinara and Croatina 5%
Alcohol:14.5% vol.

Notes:
Ruby red hue with hints of purple; elegant yet complex nose with floral notes and berries evolving to eucalyptus, and slight touches of smokiness and balsamic; very well-balanced wine, some flavours of cherry and raspberry with hints of vanilla – long elegant finish

Food pairings: red meat, game dishes and strong hard cheeses

2018 Oddero Langhe Nebbiolo DOC

Grape Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo
Alcohol: 14% vol.

Notes:
typical Nebbiolo with a ruby-red hue, perfumed bouquet of violets and red fruits, with dusty chalky tannins – lovely long finish.

Food Pairings: Aged cheeses, Meat or mushroom-based pasta and rice dishes

To enhance the tasting experience, the wines were paired with and appetizer plate of Italian specialty foods: Prosciutto di Parma DOP, Grana Padano DOP, Salame Finocchiona Toscano IGP, Piave DOP, Olive Taggiasche, and Olive Baresane, Taralli.

This masterclass series is organized in collaboration with Cavinona, Terroni’s exclusive wine agency.

@trueitaliantaste

#ExtraordinaryItalianTaste

#TrueItalianTaste

#iffoodcouldtalk

#torontowineevent

#Terroni #terroniwine

#italianwine #nebbiolo #valpolicella

@italchambers

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@piccoliwines

#piccoliwines #recioto #valpolicella #wine #italianwine #valpolicellawines #wine #winelovers #torontowinetasting #winetoronto #zoomtasting #cavinona #terroni #vino #winelovers #Italianwinelovers

Institute of Masters of Wine Webinar: Climate Change & Global Wine Trade – February 17th, 2021

The Institute of Masters of Wine is continuing its webinar series next Wednesday February 17, 2021 with a session on “The Impact of Climate Change on the Global Wine Trade.”

This webinar will examine the impact of climate change from vine to glass with leading experts climatologist Dr Greg Jones, economist Mike Veseth and CEO of Wine Intelligence Lulie Halstead sharing their views in a discussion covering the impact on growing grapes and wine quality, trade and distribution and on wine consumers.

Climate change is having an impact on wine production. Increasing temperatures affect vine phenology with reduced winter dormancy, and earlier physiological ripening. They also affect the spread of disease and pests. Climate change is leading to more frequent and more extreme, extreme weather events with increased drought conditions and wildfires in regions such as Australia, California, Spain and South Africa, spring frosts and more violent storms leading to flooding. This means greater variation in quantities of wines produced from one year to the next with increased volatility in wine prices. Climate change imperils the smooth flow of goods as transport infrastructure and ports are vulnerable. Wine consumers are increasingly concerned about climate change and are becoming more demanding in terms of wanting to know what goes into the products they buy and how they are made. This discussion will cover each of the aspects across the entire global wine supply chain.

The event will be moderated by Jane Masters MW and there will be an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

The panel includes:

Dr Greg Jones – Chair, Evenstad Center for Wine Education / Wine Studies
Lulie Halstead – CEO Wine Intelligence
Jane Masters MW (moderator) – view MW profile
Mike Veseth – Wine Economist, Professor emeritus of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, Washington)

This webinar is open to everyone, but capacity is limited. Follow this link to register.

GTA’s premium wine cellar @dymonwinecellar is now open at 1460 The Queensway, Toronto!

The modern concept of wine storage has changed dramatically with collectors, agents, and enthusiasts eager to show off their precious wines more daring and inventive ways.

I found the most perfect state-of-the-art fine-wine storage facility in our own back yard (Toronto). I recently went on a private tour of Dymon Wine Cellar has with General Manager, Christian Frayssignes, and found it to be a place of inspiration and elegance, offering high-quality professionally controlled private cellars with precision humidity, insulation, temperature controls with modern technology! What else stood out for me was the exclusive wine club facilities, including tasting rooms and member’s lounge.

Dymon Wine Cellar has certainly been designed to be exceptional, like the wines you keep!

The wine cellars are now open. The wine club will be open once the COVID restrictions are lifted.

To book a safe tour and for more information: https://winecellar.dymon.ca/en / Christian Frayssignes @ 416-848-5951

Dymon Wine Cellar has just announced that they will be offering, for a limited time, new members receive “two months free”

#wine #winecellar #cellar #winestorage #winelovers #winetime #wineenthusiast #winecollector #winewednesday #instawine #winestagram #finewine #vino #cellaring #dymon #dymonwinecellar #gta #canadianownedcanadaproud #torontowineclub #torontowinestorage #winestoragetours #torontowine #winetoronto #wineinvestment #shoplocal

Wine News: Bourgogne wines held up on the International Market in 2020

BIVB has announced their 2020 export report – After a very good November in terms of volumes, exports of Bourgogne wines over the first 11 months of 2020 were slightly higher than over the same period in 2019 (up 0.5%), confirming a trend already witnessed in October. Revenue was also close to the record level seen in 2019, down just 2.6% by the end of November, having recovered from being down 9% just a month previously.

However, these figures should be set within a sluggish economy, impacted by both COVID and the 25% Boeing/Airbus tax, which severely penalized sales to the United States, down 14% by volume and 21% in terms of revenue, representing a loss of some €44 million. However, with volumes up 16% equating to 2.2 million bottles, the British market almost entirely offset the loss in volumes from the United States and once again became the leading export destination for Bourgogne wines.

Several territories saw big upticks in numbers, like Sweden, up 18.4% by volume and 14.2% in terms of revenue compared to the same period in 2019, and Denmark, up 24% by volume and 25.6% for revenue. Others enjoyed more moderate growth but for big volumes, like Canada (up 6.4% by volume and 6% in terms of revenue) and Belgium (1.2% and 5.5% respectively).

In France, Bourgogne wines grew their position in the retail sector, up 4.7% by volume and 5.7% in terms of revenue over the first 10 months of 2019, thanks in particular to their popularity in convenience stores and via click-and-collect. As yet, there is no data regarding the restaurant sector, which is in free-fall, or for wine stores that are enjoying a boom.

#winenews #wineeconomics #wineexports #frenchwine #Burgognewines #winesales #winemarketing #winelovers #wine #bivb #burgundy #winetrends

WINEGB ANNOUNCES ITS CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2021

WineGB has just released its 2021 calendar of activities as part of its UK market development strategy. This year there will be a strong focus on wine tourism and the retail sector, underpinned by industry values including sustainability, product excellence and innovation.

Activities kick off with a virtual three-day wine tourism conference next month. ‘Wine Tourism in the UK: the route to success’ will run 2nd – 4th March, 10 am-12 pm each day. Whilst aimed primarily at industry members, many of whom are actively engaged in wine tourism, the calibre and line up of speakers will be instructive and inspiring for anyone working within the wider tourism and hospitality industry.

English Wine Week is moving to June, taking place Saturday 19th – Sunday 27th June. Celebrating English vineyards and wines in a week that includes Summer Solstice and Midsummers Day as well as the beginning of flowering seemed a timely and seasonal move for both vineyards and the many retailers selling English wines. With the range of wines now readily accessible and reported record sales of English wines in the last year, the Week provides the perfect opportunity to team up with retailers to spread the strong message of availability, together with encouraging more people to visit the many vineyards that are open to the public (in times without lockdown restrictions). More information about how WineGB will be proposing to work with retailers will be released shortly.

There will be a separate Welsh Wine Week, scheduled to take place Friday 4th – Sunday 13th June. Supported by the Welsh Government’s Drinks Cluster, there will be a veritable toast to the growing number of vineyards across Wales. Further information will be available from https://drinkwelsh.co.uk

The pandemic last year meant that the annual WineGB Trade & Press tasting was cancelled. This year’s tasting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 7th September (subject to any restrictions of course) and promises to be the key showcase event for GB wines and the recent excellent vintages and releases.

The WineGB Awards will see judging taking place over the week of 7th June at Ashling Park Wine Estate, Sussex. Led by Co-Chairs Susie Barrie MW and Oz Clarke, the wines will go through a rigorous tasting process with the highest calibre of judges. The aim of the Awards is not only to celebrate excellence but to provide significant promotional opportunities for all the winners through an extensive social media campaign and supporting all stockists and resellers. The medal wins will be announced on Thursday 24th June (during English Wine Week). A trophy announcement and awards ceremony is planned and further details will be released in due course.

A number of dedicated social campaigns will also be rolled out over the year. Upcoming is a Valentine’s focus with a difference: #WineMyHeartAway is running in association with Susie Barrie MW and Peter Richards MW together with Majestic and encouraging followers and industry alike across their social channels (Instagram and Twitter) to share the first time they fell in love with wine. To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March, WineGB is teaming with Women in Wine London to run a series of Instagram Live interviews across that week until 15th March, featuring women from some of the many different areas of the Great British wine industry.

Comments Julia Trustram Eve, WineGB’s Marketing Manager: “Whilst last year was incredibly challenging for many of our members, the rise in retail and direct to consumer sales demonstrated that consumers are more clearly focussed on provenance, sustainability, buying from local producers – all of which our industry is proud to provide. Above all we want to set out a calendar of events and projects that focus on key consumer drivers and allows them and the trade to engage with this wonderful industry of ours, which is going through remarkable growth and bursting with confidence.

“We sincerely hope that the many tourism operations and our own trade tasting will be able to take place in person – we cannot wait to see everyone again and give the trade a chance to connect with our wines. Here’s to a great 2021.”

Further information – visit https://www.winegb.co.uk/trade/