Gastronomy and Wine Portal

A system for guaranteeing authenticity, aimed at the protection of producers and consumers of DOC-branded bottles: it is the system of government labels, which from January 1st, 2022 accompanies the DOC Sicilia wines and traces all the phases of the life of each bottle.

A path that started some time ago by the Consortium for the Protection of DOC Sicilia Wines, which already in 2018 had made the decision to introduce the label issued by the Government Mint.

Moreover, the State label, which is mandatory only for DOCG denominations (in Sicily the Cerasuolo of Vittoria wine) is now the exclusive asset of the most important Italian DOCs: adopting and attaching the alphanumeric system that characterizes the band means being able to have control over the entire cycle of grape processing, from the vineyard to the bottle. The steadily increasing production of DOC Sicilia branded bottles sold in Europe and throughout the world, increases the risk of counterfeiting and the risk of improper use of the name of the Denomination on foreign markets.

The initiative was strongly supported by the Board of Directors of the Consortium for the Protection of DOC Sicilia Wines chaired by Antonio Rallo. «Enhancement, protection and supervision: these are the key words in reference to the activity of the Consosrtium of DOC Sicilia Wines – affirms the President. – And it is precisely with regard to supervision and protection that the introduction of State labels from January 1st, 2022 represents an important innovation that guarantees the traceability of all the stages of the life of our bottles. Moreover, if on the one hand, the continuous growth of the number of DOC Sicilia wines, sold in Europe and around the world rewards the work of the island’s wineries, on the other hand, it requires strengthening supervision. The introduction of the labels contrasts in the best way possible any counterfeits and thus it protects both consumers and producers who respect the rules of DOC Sicilia brands.”

The new system is managed by the Regional Institute of Wine and Oil, a regional public body with the function of control that is recognized by Accredia (the national validation agency). “DOC Sicilia – declares the director of the Regional Institute of Wine and Oil, Gaetano Aprile – represents almost 86% of the certified bottled products of Sicily and has about 500 bottlers: these numbers give an idea of how the management of labels represents a complex challenge, which our institute is ready to take on. In order to meet the needs of the sector, it will not only be neccessary to have a large number of labels available, but rapid distribution times will also have to be guaranteed”.

How the label works

The system of labels guarantees the complete traceability of each bottle thanks to the anti-counterfeiting measures of the State labels. The labels are printed by the Polygraphic Institute and Government Mint using special watermarks and fluorescent inks, visible and invisible elements that certify the authenticity of the product. The system of applying the label when sealing the bottles makes it impossible to reuse them, with the maximum guarantee of veracity. Each special mark has an alphanumeric indication containing a progressive identification number that distinguishes each single bottle placed on the market. In addition, each label on the bottles can be read by all smartphones on which the Trust Your Wine App has been previously installed, which can be downloaded for free from the iOS and Android stores.

A system for guaranteeing authenticity, aimed at the protection of producers and consumers of DOC-branded bottles: it is the system of government labels, which from January 1st, 2022 accompanies the DOC Sicilia wines and traces all the phases of the life of each bottle.

Every January, the largest Beaujolais wine competition brings together winemaking professionals from 12 appellations. Wines are tasted blindly, evaluated, the best receive awards.

Beaujolais’ largest wine competition, the Concours des Grands Vins du Beaujolais, is organized annually by Inter Beaujolais together with Armonia, a company that has been organizing world-famous wine competitions since 2009, such as Concours International de Lyon, Concours International des Cabernets, Concours des Grandsis du Grajos etc.

This year Concours des Grands Vins du Beaujolais took place on January 27, at which the Hospices de Beaujeu wines were awarded silver medals.

Since 2015, Maison François Martenot has been the exclusive partner of Hospices de Beaujeu. This partnership allows the Burgundy-based wine company to restore this historic estate to its former glory and at the same time enhance Beaujolais’ image through its marketing and sales experience.

D+ Files

In the 13th century, wealthy Beaujolais organized hospices to help the elderly, the sick and the needy, and the lords regularly donated money there. At the end of the 14th century, hospices were given the first vineyard, the wines of which were later sold at auctions. The first such auction took place on March 26, 1797, resulting in the sale of 30 lots of red wine from the Hospices winery. The funds raised were donated to the needy and sick, who receive help in the hospice to improve their treatment, as well as to accommodate new patients. Despite the fact that the practice of auctions has stopped since 2007, Hospices de Beaujeu continues to sell wines from wineries through direct sales. From each bottle sold, part of the proceeds goes to Beaujolais Hospital, as well as to help Alzheimer’s sufferers. Today, Hospices de Beaujeu wines are sold in France and more than 30 countries.

Prepared by O. Bantysheva based on facebook.com/LesGrandsChaisDeFrance.Ukraine, facebook.com/ConcoursGrandsVinsduBeaujolais

Photos: facebook.com/LesGrandsChaisDeFrance.Ukraine, facebook.com/ConcoursGrandsVinsduBeaujolais

Every January, the largest Beaujolais wine competition brings together winemaking professionals from 12 appellations. Wines are tasted blindly, evaluated, the best receive awards.

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles splits in four sessions for different kinds of wine / Rosé competition from March 11 – 13 in Valladolid.

Valladolid is due to host the Rosé Wine Session of Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) in 2022. The event will take place on March 11, 12 and 13 at the Patio Herreriano and will be attended by some sixty international judges. For the first time, CMB splits in four sessions for different kinds of wine – each one to be organized in another month and country. Thus, each type of wine can be judged professionally. The evaluations will be handled by specialist experts, chosen for their knowledge and their ability to taste every type of wine depending on their specific characters. With more than 10,000 samples in total, Concours Mondial has reached a size difficult to manage in one spot alone.

By holding the rosé session already in March, the aim is to respond to the needs of the marketplace and growing consumer interest for rosé wines. This will provide award-winning producers with promotional and marketing tools as soon as the wines are released for sale. The aim is also to develop a platform for dialogue and engagement, with a focus on rosé. The organisers chose Valladolid for the particular relevance of rosé to the province, which is the only one on the Iberian Peninsula that boasts five appellations: Cigales, Rueda, Ribera del Duero, Toro and León with over 27,000 hectares of vines planted.

Between 1,200 and 1,300 entries will be tasted in Valladolid from March 11 to 13.

Registrations are open until 18 February 2022. In addition to the gold and silver medals, the following trophies will be awarded:

• Still Rosé Wine Revelation
• Sparkling Rosé Wine Revelation
• Medium-Dry Rosé Wine Revelation
• Sweet Rosé Wine Revelation
• Organic Rosé Wine Revelation

The biggest of the four CMB events this year, however, will focus on red and white wines and will be hosted from May 19 – 22 by the Italian province of Cosenza. Nearly 350 judges are expected to travel to the region in the heart of Calabria, an area where winegrowing dates back for over 2,500 years. Registration deadline is March 21.

From July 1-3, all kinds of sparkling wines will be tasted in the third event of this year. The session for sweet and fortified wines is scheduled for September 20 – 22.

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles splits in four sessions for different kinds of wine / Rosé competition from March 11 – 13 in Valladolid.

London Wine Fair, an EXPO partner of the Wine Travel Awards, have announced new dates for the 2022 event. The Fair will now take place in-person from Tuesday, 7^th to Thursday, 9^th June. The change has come about as a result of ProWein’s decision to move their dates to directly clash with the London Wine Fair’s usual May timing.

London Wine Fair, an EXPO partner of the Wine Travel Awards launched by Drinks+, took a decision to change the dates of the event. However, it did not influence our cooperation. Now in June, the WTA organizers will prepare a program within the Fair, which our nominees are first to know about.

Consultation with exhibitors and supporters has been a priority for the London Wine Fair organisers since ProWein’s announcement last week, and their feedback has very much shaped the decision to move the dates.  Many exhibitors were booked in to both events, with several U.K. agents and importers concerned that whilst they would be in London, their producers would be split between London and Düsseldorf.

Hannah Tovey, Event Director of London Wine Fair, said: “Our objective is simply to create the best outcome for the wine industry. Being forced to decide between the two events was proving extremely unpalatable and clearly being in two places at once simply isn’t possible. When we pitched the possibility of moving The Fair to June, the response from our exhibitors was a resounding “yes”.  Our adaptability during the pandemic enabled us to create an unmatched digital event for the industry to meet and trade within, whilst Covid-19 restrictions were in place. Once again acting with flexibility and in the interests of our industry creates more opportunities for the trade at such a critical time of recovery for many.

“We now have the London Wine Fair directly following the Platinum Jubilee celebrations which take place between Thursday, 2^nd and Sunday, 5^th June.  The eyes of the world will be on London in early June, when celebrations not seen since the 2012 Olympics will take place.  This is a really exciting opportunity for The Fair and the wine industry at large. We invite visitors and exhibitors to take full advantage of London – one of the World’s greatest cities – at its absolute best. Over the coming weeks we will unveil a campaign centred around our own celebrations – our 40^th anniversary – and the role The Fair has played in shaping the U.K. and global wine industry over the years.”

London Wine Fair, an EXPO partner of the Wine Travel Awards, have announced new dates for the 2022 event. The Fair will now take place in-person from Tuesday, 7th to Thursday, 9th June.

For more than twenty years now, Nebbiolo Prima has been a “must-attend” for the world of wine, a dramatic stage with the spotlight trained for four days on the star, Nebbiolo, Piedmont’s most ancient red grape variety. Drinks+ cannot miss this event, so we are actively participating in it.

Albeisa is a Consorzio, founded to promote the great wines of the Alba area to the world. For this reason, Albeisa has been organising, for 26 years now, Nebbiolo Prima, the official international preview introduction of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero, with the objective of heightening and promoting the winegrowing heritage of the Langhe and Roero, lands beloved and known throughout the world.

Nebbiolo is a demanding vine, needing exactly the right soil type, a south-facing hillside, pruning and training. A calcareous tufa-based soil is ideal for this vine that buds early – towards the middle of April – and ripens later than most other varieties, around the middle of October. It suffers sudden changes in temperature but oscillations between day and night temperatures are an advantage during the grape ripening phase. For a correct formation of tannins in the grape skins, south or south-west facing hillsides are required, at an altitude of between 200 m and 450 m above sea level and where spring frosts rarely occur.

Marina Marcarino, President of Albeisa highlights: “Nebbiolo Prima has become an important event now truly represents the very first moment of our wine year, the first opportunity to discover the new vintages of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Roero. And I want very much, right at the start of our programme, to extend my sincere thanks for the dedication and professionalism that you will display in the tastings over the days.”

The guests have the opportunity to discover afresh our corner of earth, the Langhe and Roero, and to evaluate the 311 wines produced by the 180 wineries here.

The stars, of course, are DOCG Barolo 2018 and Riserva 2016, DOCG Barbaresco 2019 and Riserva 2017, and DOCG Roero 2019 and Riserva 2018, all wines that, once again, will be eloquent witnesses to the myriad facets of our incredible terroir, testimony not only to the fabled quality of our earth, but also to the skills of our winegrowers and to the passionate commitment that they dedicate every day to fashion inimitable wines. To ensure the most effective representation and tasting rigour, the wines will be served blind, of course, and divided by denominations and sub-zones.

For more than twenty years now, Nebbiolo Prima has been a “must-attend” for the world of wine, a dramatic stage with the spotlight trained for four days on the star, Nebbiolo, Piedmont’s most ancient red grape variety. Drinks+ cannot miss this event, so we are actively participating in it.

In view of the currently very dynamic infection patterns, Messe Düsseldorf postpones ProWein in consultation with the partners and associations involved from 15 to 17 May 2022.

Dr. Stephan Keller, Lord Mayor of the North Rhine Westphalian capital Düsseldorf and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Düsseldorf, welcomes this decision: “All parties – participating companies and business at the location – are interested in successful and the safest leading Düsseldorf trade fairs possible. The currently tightened pandemic situation does not allow for sufficient planning security. Therefore, postponing the trade fairs to early summer makes most sense for all parties involved. Based on the experience of the past two pandemic years and the assessment of virologists, we then assume that the situation will improve considerably and that the trade fairs will be able to develop their positive effect much more strongly”.

Wolfram N. Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, emphasizes the backing for the new trade fair dates: “The tenor among our exhibitors is: We want and need ProWein – but at a point in time that promises the biggest prospects of success. Together with the partners and associations involved we regard early summer as the ideal period for this. We not only expect infection patterns to calm down but also more people to be able to enter the country and take part. This means exhibiting companies as well as visitors can do their business in an environment that is clearly less affected by Covid-19.”

“ProWein goes city” also postponed

By the same token “ProWein goes city”, the joint initiative of the trade association Destination Düsseldorf and Messe Düsseldorf, will follow this postponement and again become a central attraction for wine lovers and travel enthusiasts thanks to its diverse programme in restaurants, hotels and specialist retail stores.

Messe Düsseldorf changes the dates of other exhibitions, namely BEAUTY (May 6-8), TOP HAIR (May 7-8), Wire and Tube (May 9-13), METAV (June 21-24), EuroCIS (May 31-2 June).

Source: prowein.com, messe-duesseldorf.com

In view of the currently very dynamic infection patterns, Messe Düsseldorf postpones ProWein in consultation with the partners and associations involved from 15 to 17 May 2022.

Inter Rhône, whose mission is to foster knowledge and appreciation of the great wealth of the Rhone Valley’s AOC wines, created 5 educational videos for everyone who would like to learn more about this region.

Inter Rhône has developed 5 new videos as part of the training programs to better meet the needs of learners on an educational level. The objective is to bring a new dimension to its communication media, to offer attractive and lively tools in a short format.

Didactic and fun content has been worked on to facilitate understanding of the Rhone Valley Vineyards, show their uniqueness and make people want to know and discover them.

5 major themes are addressed to highlight the Rhone Valley specificities, particularly around:

• The geological history of Appellations of this region.
• The historical know-how.
• Rhone Valley, 2nd AOC Vineyard in France
• Diversity source of wealth
• The taste of the future

These tools are used to guarantee the “Rhone Culture” to all those who wish to know more about this wine region. Wine professionals of course, sommeliers, sommelier teachers, future sommeliers, restaurateurs, wine merchants, journalists, with the general public, wine lovers, within the framework of tasting workshops.

These videos are available both in French and in English on the YouTube channel of Inter Rhone:

Inter Rhône, whose mission is to foster knowledge and appreciation of the great wealth of the Rhone Valley’s AOC wines, created 5 educational videos for everyone who would like to learn more about this region.

The cooperative group shows very good results for its financial year ending on July 31, 2021. Its president, Dominique Babé, is requesting a minimum yield of 11,000 kg/ha for the 2022 harvest.

The objective, delayed by the health crisis, has been achieved! The milestone of one million passes was overcome during the last financial year of Union Champagne, which ended on July 31, 2021. This union of 15 cooperatives has 2,330 members cultivating 1,470 ha.

“The share of the Saint Gall brand, whose turnover increased by 79% compared to 2019, represents a quarter of our sales, detailed Marc Ferté, general manager of Union Champagne, during the General Assembly which was held remotely this morning. The rise of the Orpale cuvée, whose selling price rose from €80 to €110, contributed to this increase. The export volumes of the St Gallen brand have doubled in three years and now represent 69% of sales”.

Members took back 1.4 million bottles, a stable figure after years of decline. On the investment side, the Oger building should be operational for the 2023 edition. It will provide Union Champagne with an additional storage capacity of 6 million bottles and will increase its riddling capacity.

Union Champagne’s turnover amounted to €112 million, compared to €113 million during the previous financial year, but with a lower appellation yield (8,000 kg/ha + 400 kg/ha of release). Net income amounted to €3.8 million, up 92.6% compared to the 2019-2020 financial year.

“Between 2020 and 2021, we experienced two diametrically opposed harvests, concludes Dominique Babé, Union Champagne’s President. We avoided the grape war thanks to our individual reserve. The reserve must be the subject of new reflections to support climate change and environmental certifications”. A few days before the official announcement of the results of champagne sales in 2021, which should exceed 320 million bottles for a record turnover of 5.8 billion euros, Dominique Babé estimates a minimum yield of 11,000 kg /ha for the 2022 harvest.

Prepared by O. Hryhorieva based on vitisphere.com

Photo credit: Union Champagne

The cooperative group shows very good results for its financial year ending on July 31, 2021. Its president, Dominique Babé, is requesting a minimum yield of 11,000 kg/ha for the 2022 harvest.

On the eve of the New Year, Henkell Freixenet Ukraine, a company with an excellent portfolio and the trust of consumers around the world, made a real gift to Ukrainian connoisseurs of wine, liqueurs and spirits.

On the shelves of the new store, the official importer presents recognized brands – products of Henkell, Freixenet, Mionetto, Furst von Metternich, Segura Viudas, Schloss Johannisberger, Cardenal Mendoza, Mangaroca Batida and others.

It should be noted that the wine boutique presents all the drinks offered by the online store champarty.com.ua. This is very convenient for those who do not like to shop online.

In addition, as in the online store, there are constant promotions and at a special price offer “Product of the Week”. Thus, buyers have the opportunity to buy luxury alcohol at a fair price.

The Henkell Freixenet Ukraine brand store is located in the center of Kyiv in the business-center Senator, located at Moskovska Street, 32/2. Exclusive offers, world-famous wines and spirits, as well as hospitable atmosphere and experienced vendors will help you make the right choice.

On the eve of the New Year, Henkell Freixenet Ukraine, a company with an excellent portfolio and the trust of consumers around the world, made a real gift to Ukrainian connoisseurs of wine, liqueurs and spirits.

In this quest for the finish cask that the Charentaise brandy has known for several years, the Park house has gone to Japan to refine its cognac. Meeting of two worlds that the taste for precision brings together.

The Tessendier family, who preside over the destinies of cognacs Park, offers a collection of cognacs ranging from the most traditional to the most unexpected. Of these, Cognac-based distillers have traveled across the globe in search of an oak variety, Mizunara, which is used for aging Japanese spirits, starting with premium whiskeys. We find these trees in the Nikko Forest.

From there, the Tessendiers chose a 12-year-old Borderies cognac to refine it in these special barrels for 9 months. Beyond the codes of the whiskey that serve the packaging, the eau-de-vie contained in the bottle is surprising with its suave notes of vanilla, citrus fruits with a spicy finish. At 44%, this Japanese oak finish is no less elegant. It is an experience in the world of cognac.

The Tessendier et Fils Distillery was founded 130 years ago. The cellar masters, Jérôme and Lilian Tessendier, represent the 4th generation.

Park Aged 12 Years Mizunara: 95 euros for 70 cl.

In this quest for the finish cask that the Charentaise brandy has known for several years, the Park house has gone to Japan to refine its cognac. Meeting of two worlds that the taste for precision brings together.