Wine + Spirts “Royal Warrants” become void after Queen’s death

There is a collection of well-known spirits and Champagne brands that will have their royal warrant status reviewed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Brands and suppliers including Gordon’s gin, Champagne brands: Mumm and Moët, and wine merchants Corney & Barrow and Berry & Bros & Rudd all carry the Queen’s coat of arms as regular suppliers to the royal household.

Warrant Rules

A Royal Warrant of Appointment is strictly a document that permits a company to use the Royal Arms in connection with its business in an appointed trading capacity.

Brands and suppliers receiving a royal warrant are allowed to display the relevant coat of arms and the nature of the goods or services to which the warrant applies.

After a monarch’s death the warrants become void, but the holders can continue to use the crest for two years “provided there is no significant change within the company concerned”, according to the Royal Warrant Holders Association.

The Royal Household will review warrant grants upon a change of monarch, it also states.

Until her death, the Queen and (Prince of Wales) were the only two members of the royal family able to grant royal warrants.

Drinks firms and brands with royal warrants from the late Queen II include, but not limited to: Angostura, Martini, Berry Bros & Rudd, Bollinger, Mumm, Krug, Lanson, Roederer, Moët, Veuve Clicquot, Dubonnet, Harveys sherry, Dewar’s, Johnnie Walker, Justerini & Brooks, Lea & Sandeman, Matthew Gloag, Pol Roger, Symington Family Estates, Tanqueray, Gordon’s, Taylor’s port, Royal Lochnagar whisky, Pimm’s, Hine, Valvona & Crolla, Walker & Woodhouse and Windsor & Eton Brewery.

#wineandspirits #royalwarrants #royalwarrant #queenelizabeth #royalfamily #queen #britishroyals #champagne #Angostura #Martini #BerryBros&Rudd #Bollingerchampagne #Mummchampagne #Krugchampagne #Lansonchampagne #Roedererchampagne #Moëtchampagne #VeuveClicquot  #Dubonnet #JohnnieWalker #PolRogerchampagne #Tanqueray #Gordons #Taylorsport #Pimms #Hine #wine #winelovers #winenews #London #travelling

 

 

Stellenbosch “Sommelier Bootcamp” Launches September

Stellenbosch Wine Routes will hold its inaugural “Sommelier Bootcamp” this September, in a bid to educate wine professionals about the region’s terroir. There will be an intensive five-day course aimed at sommeliers, hospitality professionals and wine media across South Africa with the aim is to immerse participants in the stories of the region and enlist them to help spread the word about its micro terroirs. There will also be tutored technical tastings, and site visits with producers and experts.  Bootcamp attendees will complete a practical exam at the end of the course to earn their Stellenbosch Ambassador’s pin.

“It’s our job to tell people the story and create a value proposition for someone or for something [like Stellenbosch wine],” said Spencer Fondaumiere, chair of the South African Sommeliers Association. “Marketing terroir will increase price points and value.”

“There are so many wine brands,” said Thomas Webb of Stellenbosch wine producer Thelema. “We need to do everything we can to promote our wines. And our terroir is the most obvious one. It’s important to look at the wards of Stellenbosch and promote them. The more we look at the smaller level, the more we push up the whole region and country. Now is definitely the time for specialisation.”

“Quite frankly that information isn’t out there,” said Fondaumiere. “There’s no one beating the drum for the different wards in Stellenbosch and saying this is what we’re good at and this is what to expect. If you’re trying to gain information, there’s not much, other than lived experiences which may or may not be correct.”

The bootcamp aims to create a single, relatable story on the region’s typicity. “Stellenbosch is a recognised quality brand in key markets, but it is much more exciting to learn about the region in an immersive experience,” said Elmarie Rabe of Stellenbosch Wine Routes.

Here is the website to apply somm.wineroute.co.za; the deadline is September 2nd, 2022 and a second bootcamp is planned for November.

#southafrica #stellenbosch #wine #capetown #winetasting #winelands #vineyard #capewinelands #wineinfluencer #winelover #winenews #sommelier #winelife #sommlife#wineeducation #somm #Stellenboschwineroutes #winemedia #winesofsouthafrica

Pinot Noir resurgence in Alsace with two AOC’s

Pinot Noir can now be included as part of the AOC Alsace Grand Crus in two territories which has been a long-awaited move for a grape variety that has perhaps been overlooked in the region.

France’s appellation body, the National Institute of origin and quality (INAO) had formally approved the addition of Pinot Noir to the list of varieties that are permitted in Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr (Barr, Bas-Rhin) and Grand Cru Hengst (Wintzenheim, Haut-Rhin). The move officially ratifies Pinot Noir Grand Crus from these two prestigious terroirs for the 2022 vintage.

The amendment noted that vines intended for the production of red wines in Alsace grand cru Hengst should have a density minimum plantation of 5,500 vines per hectare, with vines in Alsace grand cru Kirchberg de Barr having a minimum planting density of 5,000 vines per hectare and an average maximum yield of 7,000 kg per hectare.

Twenty years ago, Pinot Noir represented 8.5% of Alsace’s total vineyard area. Today, that figure has risen to 11%. The changes mean that Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr are now currently the only AOC Alsace Grand Cru reserved for white wines and still reds, with the first to be released from the 2022 vintage.

According to some producers, getting to this point has been a twenty-year journey, and marks the renaissance of the variety in the region – which has grown from around 8% of hectarage under vine to 11% now – as well as recognition of the work carried out by existing producers of these wines.

The new rules means that these two AOCs can produce both white wines and still reds, the CIVA hopes that this will be expanded to include other AOC Grand Crus in the region over the next few years. Currently, there are 51 AOC Alsace Grand Crus, 49 of which can make Grand Cru wines from just five grape varieties (Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Riesling, and Sylvaner, which was also added by the INAO in May).

#pinotnoir #grandcrus #alsacewine #alsacevineywards #vineyards #winenews #frenchwine #madeinfrance #vin #wine #redwine #winelover #winesoffrance #drinkalsace #MillésimesAlsace

 

Welcome Event: Michelangelo International Wine + Spirits Competition, South Africa

On Sunday evening, invited international judges attended a “Welcome Party” to kick off the 26th Michelangelo International Wine + Spirits Competition at the beautiful  Lourensford Wine Estate, South Africa.

This year’s Michelangelo judges line-up include: Otto Batzer, Austria; Georgi Mihov, Bulgaria; Liz Palmer, Dame Chevalier de Coteaux de Champagne from Canada; Karel Novotný, Czech Republic; Thomas Rydberg, Denmark; Charlie Arturaola, France; Moshe Cohen, Israel; Michele Shah, Italy; Chris Alblas, importer of organic and biodynamic wines in Europe, from Netherlands; Wojciech Gogolinski, Poland; Achim Dörr, Germany, Nuno Jorge, Portugal; Heidi Duminy, Wilhelm Pienaar, Greg Mutambe and Cape Wine Master Elsie Pells from South Africa; Andrej Ondrejmiska, Slovakia; Dr Marin Berovic (OIV Commissioner and Chairman of European Wine Competitions from Slovenia); Jesús Bernad Dueñas, Spain; Per Karlsson, Sweden; Richard Phister, Switzerland; Serhat Narsap, Laura Clay (IWC Senior judge) and Geoffrey Dean from the UK.

The 2022 Distilled Spirits panel include:

  1. Bernard Schaefer, professional spirits taster and Master of the Quaich from Germany;
  2. René van Hoven, spirits and Rum specialist from the Netherlands;
  3. Johan Venter, former Master distiller and blender, South Africa;
  4. Ivan Dixon, drinks consultant and spirits buyer, United Kingdom
  5. Arthur Nägele, international spirits judge and trainer, Switzerland

“It is such a thrill to have a full team of international drinks experts serving on the judging panels again this year,” says founder and organizer of the competition, Lorraine Immelman. “25 of our judges have been sourced from other international competitions in Europe and the USA, based on their experience and standing in the industry.

#Lourensford #LoveLourensford #wine #winelovers #winetasting #winejudge #winecompetition #winejudging #internationalwinejudges #winelover #travelling #winetravel #womeninwine #wineexperience  #winetravels #vineyards #wineinfluencer #wineadventures #traveldiary #traveling  #winesofSouthafrica #southafricawines #WOSA

Wine News: Bollinger Group acquires Sancerre estate Hubert Brochard

The Bollinger Group, in addition to five other estates in France and the US, has recently acquired the Sancerre historic estate, Hubert Brochard.

The acquisition aligns with the Bollinger Group’s strategy to offer its customers and consumers a portfolio of top-quality wines and spirits.

The estate is comprised of 60ha of vineyards spread over the premier hills in the Sancerre appellation, which includes the villages of Chavignol, Ménétréol-sous-Sancerre, Thauvenay, Sainte-Gemme and Sancerre, as well as vineyards in Pouilly-Fumé.

Etienne Bizot, president and CEO states: “The Bollinger Group has 50 years of history in the Loire region where it acquired Maison Langlois Chateau in 1973. We have already made investments in the region, in the vineyards, the wine making process and in the distribution of its fine wines.” and

“The acquisition of Hubert Brochard estate represents an opportunity to consolidate our footprint in this region and to continue to promote, in France and internationally, its savoir-faire and the quality of its wines.”

The estate sits in a region renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc, comprising 60 hectares of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, farmed with a respect for the environment.

Daniel Brochard, president of Hubert Borchard Estate, added: “The hand-over to our partner Bollinger Group will ensure the continuity of this journey fueled by the same values of entrepreneurship, family spirit, and obsession for quality.”

The Bollinger Group also owns Champagne Bollinger and Champagne Ayala, and the group also controls an increasingly diverse portfolio of wines and spirits, including Delamain Cognac and Ponzi Vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

@Hubert_Brochard @Champagne_Bollinger @Champagne_Ayala

#vin #wine #HubertBrochard #sancerre #DomaineHubertBrochard #winenews #winelover #sancerrelovers #frenchwine #winebusiness