Category: Wine Trends

The “2022 World’s Best Vineyards” revealed last night

World’s Best Vineyards has revealed this year’s top wine destinations for 2022 at an event held last night in Argentina’s wine capital, Mendoza. The annual list which highlights the world’s finest and most diverse vineyards across the globe announced the Top 50 with the innovative Antinori nel Chianti Classico in Tuscany, Italy, topping the list for the first time. Italy also celebrated the highest climber accolade with sparkling wine producer Ferrari Trento moving 50 places up the list to 11.

Spain’s Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal with its longstanding history and breathtaking architecture took second place for two years in a row, whilst Chilean vineyards, Montes and VIK Winery, achieved third and fourth place. Montes also took continent winner for South America, with Robert Mondavi Winery which is described as the ‘soul of Napa Valley’ topping North America. The best in Africa was revealed as Creation in South Africa, whilst Henschke in Australia topped the list with the stunning winery in the Eden Valley. France and Portugal had the highest overall split of vineyards with each taking 11 spots on this year’s Top 100 list.

The 2022 list includes more countries than ever before with 20 from all six continents being featured. It also includes exciting first-time entrants from India, Bulgaria and Greece highlighting the recent growth in the industry. There were more English entries than ever before with Balfour Winery (78), Gusbourne (85) and Nyetimber (93) joining Ridgeview at number 73.

This year’s host, Zuccardi Valle de Uco has been promoted to the World’s Best Vineyard’s Hall of Fame after coming top of the list three years in a row. Going forward the new category will be formed of vineyards that top the annual vote of the World’s 50 Best Vineyards and are therefore no longer eligible to be voted for on new editions of the list.

Andrew Reed, Managing Director Wine and Exhibitions at William Reed, commented that, “The World’s Best Vineyards highlights wine tourism destinations around the globe and now that travel is back on the cards, this year’s list is more important than ever for raising profiles with tourists and those looking for authentic and unique trips. We are so pleased to have been able to travel to Mendoza for this year’s event. It is a place of extraordinary beauty and of course, lots of amazing vineyards – the perfect wine tourism destination. Gracias!”

Dr Nora Vicario, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Province of Mendoza, said that: “We were thrilled to be able to host this year’s World’s Best Vineyards event in Mendoza. Here you can breathe in wine and a culture unlike anywhere else in the world. It is one of the great wine capitals and the combination of mountains, wine and ever-increasing diversity and innovation makes it a perfect travel destination. Congratulations to all the wineries listed this year!”

Congratulations to all the vineyards and estates. Here is a list of the top 50 winners:

1 @marchesiantinori
2 @marquesderiscal
3 @monteswines
4 @vik_wine
5 @schlossjohannisberg
6 @bodegastiopepe
7 @robertmondavi
8 @quintadocrasto
9 @catenawines
10 @bodegagarzon
11 @ferraritrento
12 @champagne_billecart_salmon
13 @smithhautlafitte
14 @dr.loosen
15 @champagnetaittinger
16 @quinta_soalheiro
17 @trapichewines
18 @closapalta
19 @aveledawines
20 @domaenewachau
21 @elenemigowines
22 @chateaumoutonrothschild_
23 @yquem
24 @opusonewinery
25 @salenteinbodega
26 @chateaupapeclement
27 @pichonbaron
28 @quintadoinfantado
29 @abadiaretuerta_
30 @casasdelbosque
31 @quinta_da_pacheca
32 @viumanentwinery
33 @ruinart
34 @familiatorreswines
35 @chateauhautbrion_
36 @henschke
37 @quintadobomfim
38 @creationwines
39 @kleinconstantia
40 @estate_argyros
41 @craggyrange
42 @quinta_nova
43 @chateaudeberne
44 @vivancoculturadevino
45 @donnafugatawine
46 @jordanwinery
47 @tokarawine
48 @quintadonoval_official
49 @penfolds
50 @winery.schlossgobelsburg

The top vineyards list can be found on www.worldsbestvineyards.com

#worldsbestvineyards2022 #worldsbestvineyards #awards #winetourism #vineyards #wine #winelovers #winery #bestwineries #winesoftheworld

The Sweet White Wines of Bordeaux

Bordeaux has been producing sweet white wines since 1630 and at that time were considered an after-dinner drink by wealthy landowners who liked the sweet style. Recently these wines have become popular again among younger consumers, gourmands, and chefs.

The Grands Vins Liquoreux de Bordeaux or Union des Grands vins de Bordeaux Sweet was established in 2009. There are eight appellations and based on terroir, each focuses on a different interpretation of sweetness:

  • AOP Cadillac – Sweet and subtle
  • AOP Loupiac – Sweet and sensual
  • AOP Saint Croix-du-Mont – Sweet and generous
  • AOP Saint-Macaire – Sweet and tangy, medium sweet
  • AOP Bordeaux Superior – Sweet and diaphanous
  • AOP Bordeaux Moelleux – Sweet and fresh
  • AOP Cerons – Sweet and refined
  • AOP Premiers Cotes de Bordeaux – Sweet and elegant

Grape Varieties

The sweet white wines of Bordeaux tend to be a blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes. Semillon is the main grape varietal used; they have thin skins, and they easily get infected with Botrytis fungus. Semillon also adds texture to the wines.  Sauvignon Blanc adds acidity and crispness to the wines. Muscadelle adds floral aromas to the wine blend.

What makes this wine different from other dessert wines is noble rot. This rot is caused by the fungus Botrytis Cinerea, which increases the wine’s natural sweetness.

Botrytis Cinerea

This starts in the vineyard, and the winemakers in these eight appellations are world-renown for their mastery in producing these wonderful wines.  Also known as “Noble Rot”. Botrytis is a unique kind of fungus that affects the Semillon grape during fall season and before harvest. The affected grapes are sticky and full of aromatics, maintaining a shriveled appearance that evolves over time.

How this fungus attacks the grape clusters, and the length of time it takes to infiltrate the cell structure has a substantial effect on the aromas and flavors. As Botrytis spores expand, it depletes the juice from the grapes by 50%. While this improves the sugar concentration of the grape quite measurably, it also results in specific aromas coming from this” newly” crystallized fruit.

This is a natural process and it’s very rare that Botrytis will affect an entire grape cluster uniformly. Therefore, harvests are done by hand, over several passes sometimes 4-5 times, over days or weeks.

I was in the vineyards a few weeks ago and did a first pass picking for three rows.  A second, third/fourth pass will occur some days later in order to finish picking the cluster.

I found out that the grape pickers hired must have experience to recognize a botrytis-affected grape and to know they are ready to be picked. This meticulous process has been refined for over 400 years.

This process is also called “successive selection” or “sorting”. This particular harvest process results in extremely low grape yields.

The Terroir

For Botrytis to affect the grapes both the soil composition and weather are equally important. These semi-sweet wines benefit from soils that are chalky with limestone, clay, gravel, and sand. There are also numerous microclimates, facilitated by the location of both the Garonne and Ciron rivers.

An essential element to the onset of Botrytis is the early morning mist, which I also witnessed a few weeks ago. What a magical moment!  The mist appears exclusively in the fall season, preceding harvest. Usually by mid-day with much of the mist has been burned off by the sun.

The Numbers

There are 8 Appellations

1,800 Hectares of Vines [surface area]

350 Estates

1% of Bordeaux Volumes

2% of Bordeaux Area

84,000 Hectoliters Produced

9 Million Bottles Produced Each Year

38 % is Exported

 

@charmeu_usa @charmeu_canada and @vinsblancsdebordeaux_usa #loupiac #enjoyitsfromeurope #euAgriPromo #MadeintheEU #thecharmingtasteofeu #charmeu #cadillac #saintmacaire #cerons #saintecroixdumont #bordeauxsuperieur #premierescotesdebordeaux #bordeauxmoelleux  #bordeauxwine #bordeauxwinelover #madeinfrance #wine #winelover #sweetwine #sweetwinelovers #sweetbordeauxwine  #sweetbordeaux #winelife #winedestinations #womeninwine

Ingredients listed on a wine label: a consumer’s perception study

 A study dealing with: “Wine labeling with the list of ingredients: context, consumer’s perception and future challenges” was just released in anticipation of the new European Réglementation. The study questions the perception by the consumer of different types of ingredients on the label.

You can view this study here: https://www.wine-law.org/index.php/en/ingredients-on-wine-label-a-consumers-perception-study/

#wine #winelabelling #winenews #winestudy #winelovers #wineconsumer #winebottle #consumerresearch #winemaking

Mumm Releases Tasmanian Sparkling Wine

Maison Mumm has joined with Pernod Ricard Winemakers Group White and Sparkling Winemaker Trina Smith to create a Tasmanian sparkling wine.

The newest sparkling wine in the Mumm Terroir range, Mumm Tasmania Brut Prestige, joins the Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige and Mumm Marlborough Vintage Rosé from New Zealand that launched in 2020 to great accolades.

Tasmanian sparkling wine sales in the domestic off-trade have grown at an astronomic rate over the past two years, from $46million in July 2020 to $74million in July 2022.

Smith worked closely with G.H. Mumm Chef de Caves, Laurent Fresnet, to perfect Mumm Tasmania, with Fresnet travelling to Australia to see the 2022 vintage wines and the quality of the vineyards in northern Tasmania.

Fresnet said: “Maison Mumm has been celebrating pinot noir from the terroir of Champagne since 1827. Partnering with Trina opened up knowledge of the terroir and producers to source the best grapes. With Mumm Tasmania, we are revealing a new expression of pinot noir, with the same quest for the utmost quality, and in line with Maison Mumm’s style.”

Smith said: “I was thrilled to introduce Tasmania as the region to source grapes for our Terroir series and couldn’t wait to collaborate with Laurent Fresnet. There’s no better Australian region for sparkling wine, and I look forward to sharing this new release with sparkling wine appreciators around the nation.”

Mumm Tasmania Brut Prestige is produced using méthode traditionnelle, the same process used by Maison Mumm. A complex, long and demanding practice that allows the wines to fully develop a wealth of flavours.

Mumm Tasmania emphasises this sophisticated style with complex aromas of warm spices and red berries balanced by delicate acidity, resulting in a refined wine with powerful length.

Mumm Tasmania Brut Prestige is available from late October for RRP $40, joining Mumm Marlborough Brut Prestige RRP $40 and Mumm Marlborough Vintage Rosé RRP $45.

 

#mummsparklingwine #sparklingwine #winesoftasmania #MaisonMumm #MummTasmania #sparklingwinelovers #winenews #wine #winelovers

Eugenio Collavini Winery – Part l

The History
Eugenio Collavini is one of the original, pioneering wine producers in Friuli-Venezia Giuli. Not only was Collavini the first in the area to introduce many different styles and techniques to the region, he also revived Ribolla Gialla and created the first sparkling wine from this varietal.

The history of Eugenio Collavini is quite interesting – beginning with the founder, Eugenio Collavini, who supplied wine to stores and noble families back in 1896, followed by his son Giovanni who led the wine estate and business through both world wars. The next generation, Manlio Collavini, who was Giovanni’s son, move the wine business to Corno di Rosazzo and where he introduced “advanced science of oenology” as well as established the head office with the purchase of a XVI Century Manor.

Manlio Collavini is a true pioneer and one of the most respected producers in Italy and is best known for reviving Friuli’s renowned autochthonous grape variety Ribolla Gialla, and bringing Friuli wines to global markets. Here are some of his accomplishments:

  1. Producing a new Pinot Grigio [fermented off the skins] vinified in white;
  2. Began bottling in transparent Bordeaux bottles [to show the pale and bright colours of his wines];
  3. In 1971 he created lI Grigio [trending sparkling wine/from Pinot Grigio grapes]; and
  4. At the end of the ‘70s he produced sparkling Ribolla Gialla, his biggest success to date! [this variety is rare and an ancient native Friuli variety] – this is known as the “Collavini Method”.

The wine estate remains family-owned and continues to be managed by Manlio and his two sons Giovanni and Liugi.

Dachshund Image in Corporate Branding
This logo is a symbol of love between Manlio Collavini and his first dachshund “Ribolla”, who has since passed and is now a tribute.  You will find Ribolla on the Pinot Grigio label.

Location
The wine estate is located in Corno di Rosazzo, with the vineyards being located in both Collio and Collio Orientali DOC appellations.  These two DOCs have had the highest accolades and awards in Friuli. Collio has an abundance of hills, slopes and terraces and is on the border of Slovenia. Collavini currently has 170 hectares under vines and produce 1.5 million bottles/year, with 50% being exported to 50 international markets.

Soil and Climate
Friuli has unique soil and climatic conditions.

The soils here consist of layers of marl and sandstone or ponca – this imparts salinity and a slight mineral edge to the wines.  Ponca is composed of marine fossils from the Adriatic Sea.

Winegrowing in Friuli is marked by the meeting of mountain and sea, rain and wind. This region exists on the edge of the Mediterranean climate, where summers are warm, springs threaten frost, fall is typically rainy, and vintage variation can be considerable

Grape Varieties:
The focus is on local indigenous varieties, including: Ribolla Gialla, Pignolo, Schiopettino and Fruliano, as well as some international varieties, particularly for sparkling wines.

Continues with …Eugenio Collavini Winery – Part ll – Tasting through the range with Luigi Collavini

#collaviniwines #eugeniocollavini #studioCru #makeyourmark #madeinitaly #italianwine #italianwinelovers #italiansparklingwine #vino #winetasting #collliodoc #winetravel #winelife #friuliveneziagiulia #collavinimethod #rosso #colavini