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Fri, 26 Mar 2004
- Mondavi gets the
Cabernet just right
Unless you've been trapped under a wine box for the past 30 years, you've probably
heard of the Robert Mondavi Winery, and perhaps tasted one of its many California
wines. What you might not know is that Mr. Mondavi turned 90 last year. But instead
of resting on his well-deserved wine laurels, he continues to lead the crusade to
help us all enjoy the wonders of the grape.
US:
'03 grapes: Quality up, quantity declines
Between tremendous amounts of spring rain and a hectic harvest when many varieties
reached maturity at the same time, grape growers and vintners had their hands full
in 2003. Last year's harvest and upcoming challenges were discussed during the Sonoma
Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance annual seminar on Thursday when topics ranged
from weather tracking and root-stock performance to direct shipping and the global
market.
US:
Why are some vintners reluctant to put a wine's true geography on the label?
Is geography becoming redundant in the world of wine? I sometimes fear so and it
sends a shiver down my spine. For it is wine's ability to express the spot on the
globe that was responsible for it that is for me one of the most thrilling ways it
differs from any other drink (and most foods).
Positive signs for wine industry
Latest statistics from the wine Industry reveal new wineries are springing up in
New Zealand at the rate of one a week. The half year statistical update from New
Zealand Winegrowers predicts the vintage now being harvested could be 35-percent
above the previous record two years ago, and more than double last year's severely
frost affected vintage
Thurs, 25 Mar 2004
- Late grape harvest yields record crop
Wine producers in Hawke's Bay are in a buoyant mood as a bumper harvest is being
picked in top condition. "It's going very well - the weather's been perfect
in Hawke's Bay," Grape Growers Association president Chris Howell said. "The
fruit's very clean and the yield is as expected, or just slightly above. The harvest
has been a bit slow to get under way but we're picking semillon, a bit of chardonnay,
and pinot noir.
Antinoris buy Marlborough
vineyards
Tuscan producers Lodovico and Piero Antinori have just bought a major tract of vineland
in New Zealand. The US$1.5m purchase is the newest addition to the brothers' Campo
di Sasso joint venture which they founded in 2001 when they bought a winery of the
same name near Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast.
Aussie
red dirt begets fine red wine
COONAWARRA, Australia - The first thing you notice about Australia's most famous
region for cabernet sauvignon is the wide-open terrain, dotted with big eucalyptus
trees that the locals call red gums. This region southeast of Adelaide is no cozy
valley, like Napa. It's downright flat.
AUS:
Millar calls for cut in wine tax
The owner of one of Australia's leading wine companies has joined the chorus of those
calling for the federal government to reform the Wine Equalisation Tax to save boutique
winemakers and regional jobs.
Syrah
Decline
A mysterious condition is affecting Syrah vineyards in California and France about
which very little is known. It is not clear, at present, whether Syrah Decline in
France is related to a similar condition in California, provisionally called Syrah
Disorder. Although the cause of these two conditions is unknown, the symptoms associated
with affected vines in both regions are similar.
FRANCE: Leading
winemaker dies in crash
Yves Barry, one of the most prolific winemakers in France has died in a car crash
near his home town of Béziers in the south of France. He was 37. Barry
had been head winemaker at the Michel Laroche project in the Languedoc, Mas la Chevaliere
since its foundation in 1996.
AUS:
Expansion benefits wine region
Local vineyard and winery Toms Waterhole has doubled its capacity and gained organic
certification, bringing a welcome boost to the region's wine producing capabilities.
The expansion is the result of Toms Waterhole contract winemaking for another local
vineyard, Rosnay, with the eventual 24,000 bottles headed for export to the European
market.
Claus
Riedel, Austrian wine glass pioneer, dies in Italy at age 79
GENOA, Italy (AP) - Claus Riedel, an Austrian who pioneered and made glasses in different
shapes according to the variety of wine being consumed, has died, his company said.
He was 79.
Wed, 24 Mar 2004
- Moderate
drinking may benefit high blood pressure patients, too
Drinking in moderation appears to reduce heart-related deaths in men with high blood
pressure, new research suggests, challenging the belief among many doctors that alcohol
should be off-limits to such patients.
Egyptians
preferred red wine, so says science
The ancient Egyptians clearly appreciated wine. The walls of various noblemen's tombs
were decorated with images of grape growing and winemaking, and clay wine jars have
been recovered from temples and tombs - some even bearing the vintner's name.
Clouds parting
There's a couple of ways to read the recent departure of two of the leading wine
men behind New Zealand's most celebrated and phenomenally successful wine label,
Cloudy Bay. One, they got a better offer. Two, there was some kind of mid-life crisis
involved.
Premium wine exports
follow cultural changes
There's been a turn around in the fortunes of boutique and premium wine exporters,
with markets recovering after the bird flu epidemic in Asia, and a more stable Australian
dollar. Greg Corrra from the Inland Trading Company near Canberra, exports boutique
wines from 40 wineries to markets in Asia and Canada. With his business due to hit
record sales this month, Mr Corra says the turnaround is also due to cultural change,
particularly in Asia.
AUS: Taxing time
for wine producers
The general manager of the Tangaratta Vineyards near Tamworth, Bill Tapp, says the
wine equalisation tax of 29 per cent is paralysing when it is coupled with the goods
and services tax. Wine producers must pay the tax when they sell their product to
bottleshops and restaurants.
Glass half empty
for Spanish wine drinkers
Wine drinkers in Spain are drinking a tiny proportion of the amount they once did.
The consumption of wine in the country is over 40 per cent lower than it was just
fifteen years ago.
SA:
Best grape harvest in 30 years signals good year for juicy stuff
Cape Town - An expected wine surplus from a grape harvest that is said to be the
best in 30 years should give wine lovers a bonus. Industry talk is that a long, cool
summer has ensured the quality of wine would range between "very good"
and "phenomenal". Bruce Jack, the wine maker and viticulturist at Flagstone
Winery and Vineyards, said that while this year's harvest had had its challenges,
wine producers in the traditionally hot areas like Robertson, the Breede River and
Wolseley did not have to contend with the usual summer heat waves.
US:
Wine clubs grow as makers unload surpluses
In vino veritas. "In wine there is truth," goes the Latin maxim. In wine
clubs, however, it pays to read the fine print. The wine-club business is booming
as wineries look for new ways to unload excess bottles. In the past year, Internet
retailer Wine.com's club has more than doubled in size to 13,000 members, the company
says. Overall, sales at wine clubs grew 16 percent in 2002, according to the most
recent data from MKF Group, a wine consulting firm.
Tue, 23 Mar 2004
- California's
Low-Cost Wine Craze Reaches New York State
The California craze for $2 bottles of wine has now reached New York State. Liquor
stores in the Buffalo Niagara area started selling $1.99 bottles of Portuguese wine
last week. Sold under the brand name Lost Vineyards, the wine is imported by Brothers
International Food Corp., a Batavia company.
Entrepreneur
creates device to rescue 'corked' wine
Even if wine isn't sold before its time, one taste often sends shudders through a
connoisseur who realizes it had still passed its prime. A wine aged to perfection
can be tainted by a problem as old as the tradition of wine making itself. But a
local chemist has used his scientific expertise to design a solution to cork taint,
which is caused when chlorine used to disinfect cork comes into contact with chemicals
in wine.
SA: Wine makers feel the heat in the
UK as the rand eats into margins
Cape Town - Wine producers who made good profits in the UK when the rand was weak
are now seeing margins squeezed by large supermarket groups and price-resistant consumers
as the rand continues from strength to strength.
Rising Aussie dollar
threatens wine industry
Is the rising Australian dollar bringing an end to the dream run of the Australian
wine industry? Last year saw a large number of mergers and acquisitions between the
big players and the medium-sized wineries. However, this year there's been noticeably
less activity.
AUS:
Government funds Grape Escape Festival
In a confident show of support the State Government has announced a $22,500 funding
injection for the Grampians Grape Escape Wine and Food Festival. Formerly known as
the long running Grampians Gourmet Festival, the event has been repackaged in a move
to increase tourism promotion of the Grampians region.
Wine
entrepreneurs establish roots in Nebraska soil
The buds are just visible now, but by the end of summer, the vines University of
Nebraska-Lincoln professor Paul Read tends will sag heavily with grapes -- some a
gorgeous pale ruby, others in pretty symmetrical bundles, but all to fuel Nebraska's
small-but-growing wine industry.
Exports
give Chilean group vintage year
Strong volume growth to Europe and a slight rise in average prices helped Concha
y Toro, Latin America's biggest wine exporter, offset a weak dollar and difficult
market conditions to post a 12.8 per cent increase in net income for 2003.
FRANCE: Bordeaux
producers mull uprooting vines
Bordeaux wine growers are considering the uprooting of some of their vineyards in
the light of over-production high stocks and poor demand. Trade groups such as the
Federation des Syndicats des Grands Vins de Bordeaux and farming group, the FDSEA,
are now talking openly of such a drastic option in order to cope with one of the
worst crises to hit the sector in recent years.
Mon, 22 Mar 2004
- Majestic
Wine seeks to topple stout as Irish favourite
Majestic Wine is poised to expand its specialist wine empire into Ireland, in an
attempt to displace the black stuff as the nation's favourite drink. The group, which
has three outlets in France, is planning to open up to five stores, including one
in Belfast. It has set its sights on Dublin, but would also consider Cork, if it
can find enough suitable sites.
Sauvignon
blanc's long-term future is research centre's initial focus
Research to ensure the long-term future on world markets of New Zealand's acclaimed
sauvignon blanc will be the initial focus of the Marlborough Wine Research Centre
opened in Blenheim on 18 March.
Australia
takes grape joy to Finland
Finnish people may be known as connoisseurs of vodka rather than wine but an Australian
company is turning that around.A wine produced by the Hardy Wine Company has become
an "overnight sensation" in Finland after winning a gold medal at the country's
only annual wine festival.
US: Unusual heat
puts budding grapevines at risk from frost
Unusually hot weather has caused grapevines to pop green buds 10 to 14 days early,
putting the grape crop at greater risk from killer frosts that can occur through
May. "I've never seen the vines push out buds this fast this early. It caught
us all by surprise," said longtime grape grower Angelo Sangiacomo, 73, of Sonoma.
Breast
cancer risk tied to wine
A new Swedish study finds postmenopausal women who consume high amounts of alcohol,
especially wine, are at a higher risk for breast cancer.
US:
Golden Vine Winery Adds A Touch Of The Wine Country
The Golden Vine Winery envelops guests of Disney's California Adventure in the ultimate
wine experience. Featuring extraordinary food, deluxe wines and knowledgeable cast
members, the Winery encourages guests to explore the world of wine through a variety
of sensory activities.
The
queen of red wines
If Cabernet Sauvignon is 'king of wines' in Bordeaux, Pinot Noir is its female equivalent
in Burgundy. Like Cabernet, the grapes are found wherever vineyards are located.
But, unlike Cabernet, only one percent of the world's vineyards are planted with
Pinot Noir, used to make the 'queen of red wines'.
SPAIN:
Sherry Joins List Of "Good" Alcohol
Scientists in Spain have added Sherry to the list of alcoholic drinks that are good
for you, when drunk in moderate amounts. Sherry now joins the ranks with Guinness
and Red Wine.
US:
For lovers of wine and of good prices, the party is over
Wise shoppers should buy 2000 and 2001 vintages. I've had to make a lot more inexpensive
wine simply because that's what everyone wants. In the 1990s, everyone was free-spending.
No more.
Sun, 21 Mar 2004
- Higher-priced
merlot should come with complex flavors
If you pay a higher price for an American merlot, you have a right to expect more
layers of flavors, a complex wine with sophisticated texture and appeal.
Portuguese
wine recalled for high lead content
Toronto -- The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is recalling bottles of a fruit spirit
from Portugal and suspending sales of the alcoholic drink because of high lead levels.
The 750-millilitre bottles of Aguardente Bagaceira Paraiso, an Eau-de-vie de Marc
spirit, were sold in 69 LCBO stores, board spokesman Chris Layton said yesterday.
Determinining
the Caloric Content of Wine
To start with, wine is really a mixture of alcohol (ethanol), water and some flavoring.
The grape juice that the winemaker starts with is acted on by the yeast the winemaker
adds. The sugar and oxygen is converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide. So really,
since water has no calories, and the flavoring is pretty minute, you're interested
in the alcohol you're drinking
Australian wines need reappraisal
The success of Australia's wine producers has been their ability to adapt to the
changing tastes of wine lovers. But recently, this adaptability has been put in peril
by large companies that have bought out smaller ones, causing a homogenization in
the wine industry. Many Australians now believe it is time to rethink their game
plan.
AUS: Wineries look
for US export opportunities
Two central Victorian wineries are getting a chance to promote their handcrafted
wines in the United States and Canada. Sally's Paddock, north-west of Maryborough,
and Sandhurst Ridge at Marong will join 10 other Victorian wineries on a trade mission
to the countries to meet importers.
SA: Vintage assessment
comes of age
Many a wine lover can be forgiven if their personal assessment of a wine does not
live up to expectations, especially when tasted some 30 years down the line. After
all, when still youthful, it is difficult to judge what maturity and adulthood will
bring. It is no different with wines! A memorable tasting of three decades of Nederburg
Cabernet provided a platform to re-examine the perceptions of the so-called great
vintages and even some lesser ones. And, what an eye-opener it was too
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