Category: Wine Tourism

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/

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.

Chablis Invests €4.8M in innovative methanation system for winegrowers

The BIVB in Chablis has confirmed that the Chablis Winegrowers Union is to implement a new innovative methanation system that will recycle all by-products from the winemaking process. This is a breakthrough in the region’s move toward greater sustainability.

The £4.8m methanation facility is expected to be up and running by the fall of 2021. It follows a six-month study in Belgium to test the feasibility of the project using a ‘pilot’ system, with wine by-products brought over from Chablis to find the most efficient method of methanation.

Methanation is the conversion of carbon oxides and hydrogen to methane and water through hydrogenation. It can also be used as a means of producing a synthetic natural gas, and as a way to store energy produced from solar or wind power, which would allow it to serve as a potential carbon capture mechanism.

Last month the Union’s general assembly voted in favour of the project.

The methanisation processing area will be located in the south of Chablis where 700 winemakers, belonging to the Union, will be able to bring the by-products of their winemaking to be processed.

Grape pomace will be passed through a machine to separate any seeds, which research found unsuitable for the process. These will instead be set aside for alternative uses such as cosmetics.

The remaining wine pomace will then be placed in covered silos where the fermentation process begins; then finally into the methanisation machine.

The biogas (gasses) produced by the machine will be directly injected into the Gaz Réseau Distribution France (GRDF) circuits, the natural gas distribution network in France. The remaining product left in the machine will be sold as fertilizer.

Louis Moreau, president of the BIVB Chablis, said: “We are proud to be one of the first wine regions to put in place a methanation process of this kind and on this scale as well. Sustainability is a key focus for Chablis and the rest of Bourgogne so our winemakers are always looking at new innovations on both small and large scale projects.

“We believe the new system will be a success and with a younger generation of winemakers who have traveled the world for their studies and then come home to Chablis, we will work hand-in-hand with them to bring in new practices to protect the environment and our terroir.”

https://www.chablis-wines.com/what-is-the-bivb/what-is-the-bivb,1872,7709.html?

Soave Adopts Cru System

After a lengthy process that started a number of years ago, the Soave DOC has officially adopted a hierarchical, Burgundian-style classification system, where ‘cru’ sites sit at the top of the quality spectrum.

The new DOC regulations will feature 33 distinct cru areas that have been selected for their potential to yield grapes of superior nature.

As of next vintage, these are the crus (officially called Unità Geografiche Aggiuntive) you will find on Soave labels:

Castelcerino, Colombara Froscà, Fittà, Foscarino, Volpare, Tremenalto, Carbonare, Tenda, Corte Durlo, Rugate, Croce, Costalunga, Coste, Zoppega, Menini, Monte Grande, Ca’ del Vento, Castellaro, Pressoni, Broia, Brognoligo, Costalta, Paradiso, Costeggiola, Casarsa, Monte di Colognola, Campagnola, Pigno, Duello, Sengialta, Ponsarà, Roncà – Monte Calvarina.

Most of the crus, whose vineyard area covers 40% of the appellation, are found on Soave’s hillsides, with 29 out of 33 located within the prized Soave Classico area.

The selection process, which started back in 2000, involved a number of factors that affect fruit quality, including altitude and gradient of the hills as well as training system.

‘The approval of the crus is another great step forward for our appellation,’ commented Aldo Lorenzoni, director of the Consorzio di Tutela del Soave. ‘The place of origin of the grapes has always been a crucial part of our communication strategy.’

Inter Rhône has launched a new campaign across key markets for Côtes du Rhône Wines

Following a soft launch during Wine Paris, the new campaign for Côtes du Rhône Wines is being rolling out across key markets including the  UK, US, Germany, Belgium and France.

The Campaign will engage consumers between 30 and 45 and will include the tagline ‘Distinctive wines since 125 BC‘ which celebrates the region’s long history and its impact on the character, profile and quality of Côtes du Rhône wines.

The new, eye-catching campaign focuses on the intrinsic features of the appellation which have enabled the Rhône to become one of France’s leading AOC. The campaign highlights its history, the expertise of its winemakers and wine merchants, cultural heritage and provenance with a contemporary feel and a touch of wit.

Etienne Maffre, co-president of the appellation, said: “As we become increasingly globalized – notably through the internet and social media – we felt it was a good time to focus our message on our roots. The ‘Made in France’ concept continues to be a highly successful trend, synonymous of quality and authenticity. Tapping into our provenance will resonate internationally and support our premiumisation strategy”.

“Our new campaign showcases the key qualities that have made our wines so popular,” says Philippe Pellaton, joint president of the appellation.” We’re celebrating our terroir, experience, rich diversity and extraordinary heritage – elements that are truly unique to us. We’re convinced this visual approach will resonate with both the trade and curious wine lovers, in the UK and globally.”

Côtes du Rhône has always been a trail blazer when it comes to advertising, from its iconic and multi-award-winning Think Red campaign, to the data-driven ‘Everyday Sophistication’ London underground campaign of 2017.

Alongside the new ads, Côtes du Rhône is introducing a new logo which is reflective of the region’s geographical and historical roots. In a design that is both modern and heraldic, the logo links three icons of the Rhône: The Bridge of Avignon (Pont Saint-Bénézet), the river and the vine – strongly cementing Avignon as the capital and historic birthplace of the appellation.

About Côtes du Rhône Wines

The majority wines come from the southern region. 80% of Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages wines are red, along with producing whites and rosés. The reds are primarily made from a blend of fruity Grenache, spicy Mourvèdre and full-bodied Syrah. Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages are easy-drinking, food-friendly wines that are excellent served with a slight chill.