Gastronomy and Wine Portal

Carried out in the Côtes d´Auvergne and in Canada, a study shows organoleptic markers specific to volcanic wines.

“The volcanic wines have clearly identifiable chemical and organoleptic markers”. This is demonstrated by the first results of the scientific study conducted by the VINORA association (Salon International des Vins Volcaniques) from September 2020 to June 2021.

The association, which created the first exhibition dedicated to volcanic wines in January 2020 on the Vulcania site, near Clermont-Ferrand, wished to list the international volcanic vineyards with an official label.

The study brought together many international specialists in mineral analysis, chemistry and sensoriality of wine, including John Szabo, Master Sommelier, Canadian journalist and writer. It was carried out on 8 test plots of Gamay d’Uvergne. “The two types of plots turned out to be geochemically distinct and present a low water deficit, but even lower for the four basalt plots, compared to the four clay-limestone plots. Certain elements and parameters are statistically more present in basaltic soils: pH, volatile acidity, lactic acid, tristimular b coordinate (colorimetry), tint, sodium and strontium; also, a lower manganese concentration”.

At the same time, organoleptic criteria have been demonstrated. A typical profile emerged during blind tastings, with very marked characteristics: intense peppery notes, salinity, roundness (lower acidity).

The next stage will continue for the 2021 vintage. On the program, plot micro-vinifications, work to characterize the plant material with an emphasis on the mineral fraction, integration of other types of volcanic soils: nuggets, pumice stones… and continuation analyzes of two vintages.

An ambitious project that will result in specifications for the future “Volcanic wine” label, the objective of which will be to guarantee the volcanic origin of wines to buyers and consumers and to provide winegrowers with a scientifically validated recognition tool.

Photo: MP Delpeuch

Based on the material of www.terredevins.com

Carried out in the Côtes d´Auvergne and in Canada, a study shows organoleptic markers specific to volcanic wines.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed a law on the abolition of excise stamps for natural wines and honey drinks.

Back in May, the parliament approved in first reading bills 5118 and 5119, which are aimed at supporting craft brewers, including a proposal by Robert Horvat to abolish excise stamps for producers of natural wines and honey drinks.

Recently, the main initiator of the proposal to abolish excise stamps for producers of natural wines and honey drinks, Ukrainian politician, MP of VIII and IX convocations, member of the parliamentary group “Trust” Robert Horvat has announced on his page that the law was passed.

Among other things, the parliament approved amendments to the legislation regarding the import of test samples of alcoholic beverages by economic entities, defined the procedure for electronic licensing and established the indefinite validity of licenses. For connoisseurs of natural wines and honey drinks, they can be bottled in 0.33 liters metal cans from food aluminum.

“From January 1, 2022, these legislative changes minimize the cost of time and money of Ukrainian producers,” – said Robert Horvat.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/R.Gorvat/

Photo: Arsen Fedosenko, agropolit.com

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed a law on the abolition of excise stamps for natural wines and honey drinks.

On November 18, 2021, Scarlett Johansson was honored to receive the American Cinematheque Award for her lifetime achievements. Château Malartic-Lagravière was served at the gala dinner but was also alongside the famous actress to present her with a 2016 red wine magnum engraved with her name.

Since 1986, this prestigious Hollywood institution has honoured, each year, an emblematic figure of the Seventh Art. In 2019, Château Malartic-Lagravière had the privilege of being alongside Charlize Theron for the presentation of her Award during a memorable evening.

This year, the gala dinner brought together 700 people at the Beverly Hilton hotel and the presence at the tables of Château Malartic Lagravière was no accident. Séverine Bonnie, Marketing and Communication Director of Château Malartic-Lagravière explains “We know people from the world of cinema, in Latin America, and we collaborate regularly for films. We send bottles to the production sites, and we are lucky enough to see them appear in films from time to time. Through this, we had the opportunity to offer our wines to the American Cinematheque Award Tribute, and to see them served at the tables at the annual gala dinner starting in 2019”.

This November 18, 2021, the Bonnie family was represented at the ceremony by Véronique Bonnie, co-manager with her brother of Malartic vineyards. It was a great satisfaction to see that the Malartic-Lagravière white 2016 and red 2014 were perfectly matched to the dishes, and that they delighted the palate.

But Véronique Bonnie also had the privilege of presenting the actress with a magnum engraved in fine gold: “Scarlett Johansson American Cinémathèque Award 2021”. It was the occasion of an exchange during which the actress was “warm, human, not at all distant and very interested in the property and its wines”. She took the opportunity to dedicate the 2016 Malartic-Lagravière magnum engraved in her honor, a bottle that will be offered to Solar Responders, the charitable foundation that Scarlett Johansson runs with her twin brother Hunter Johansson. A foundation created in 2017 following the devastation Hurricane Maria inflicted on the island of Puerto Rico and which has since worked to raise funds for the rebuilding of homes for hurricane victims.

The Bonnie family sees in this meeting points in common between the production of a grand cru and the making of a film: the passion to tell a story, that of the terroir and the people who shape it and share the same universal values: knowledge – doing, emotion, sharing, transmission.

Based on the material of terredevins.com

Photo Credit: Bryan Beasley

On November 18, 2021, Scarlett Johansson was honored to receive the American Cinematheque Award for her lifetime achievements. Château Malartic-Lagravière was served at the gala dinner but was also alongside the famous actress to present her with a 2016 red wine magnum engraved with her name.

Soneva Fushi in the Maldives presents Flying Sauces, the world’s first gourmet zipline.

Soneva Fushi in the Maldives presents Flying Sauces, the world’s first gourmet zipline attraction. After descending a 200-meter zipline trail above the tropical jungle, guests find themselves in a panoramic restaurant with a gourmet menu (12 meters above the ground).

“At Soneva we are passionate about elevating the guest experience to something that is unique and rare, and our new Flying Sauces does just that – creating an experiential dining moment to create long-term memories for our guests. This new experience gives our guests a new perspective of our unique island eco-system, allowing them to reconnect with the sights and sounds of nature while enjoying fine dining hospitality at the same time,” said Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and Co-Founder, Soneva.

Those wishing to make a “flight” over the tropical forest are securely fastened with seat belts, afterwards the descent along the zipline track begins. There is a stop halfway through – the brave heroes will be offered shots and light snacks. The final stop of the journey is a gourmet restaurant.

Set on a tree-topped veranda, the establishment offers sumptuous panoramic views and gourmet cuisine from Chef Rasal Jayawardene. Everything is prepared here, in the open kitchen.

To create his culinary masterpieces, Rasal Jayawarden uses local seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs and mushrooms, fish and seafood are provided by local fishermen. Particular attention is paid to the selection of wines from the Soneva cellars, in the collection of which there are more than 9000 items.

The zipline and Flying Sauces restaurant are open during daylight hours. In addition to lunches, breakfasts and teas are prepared for guests. You can also go for a zipline ride without a gastronomic component. The attraction is available for adults and children from 8 years old. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete the route.

More detailed information can be found here.

Photo: Collection-PR

Soneva Fushi in the Maldives presents Flying Sauces, the world’s first gourmet zipline.

Californian winemakers decided to produce drinks other than wine to show the world that Napa Valley is not only about viticulture.

Winemakers from Treasury Wine Estates, David Arthur Vineyards, Daylight Wines & Spirits and E&J Gallo have expanded their product lines, according to reports in the Napa Valley Register.

“We were excited about dealing with a different fruit. There are some really cool orchards with five or 10 or 50 trees all over the place, and people don’t know what to do with them. This was a good way for us to explore those corners of Napa and try our hand at something different,” after all, he reminded: “We deal with grapes all day, every day,” said Treasury Wine Estates director of technical viticulture, sustainability and research, Will Drayton, who is also a co-creator of Sawhorse Ciders.

Winemaker from David Arthur Vineyards Nile Zacherle is going to expand his range of beer production: “after two decades of making wine, the idea was to approach beer with more of a winemaker lens. I want people to think about beer on a different level. I think the challenge is getting people to look at beer differently and to be a little bit more open minded.”

Nile is the co-founder of Mad Fritz Brewing, a brewery that offers 14 beer varieties, including “The King and the Frogs” with a recipe dating back to the 13th century. The winemaker-brewer is convinced that this beer will help consumers understand how complex and multi-layered it can be.

“These are time machine beers that take you back in time with ingredients that add a whole other dimension of flavours. That is the journey – exploring all the flavours and dynamics and layers of beer that these different origins can provide, not just producing something that people want or think they want,” said Zacherle.

Andy Wahl, co-founder of Daylight Wine and Spirits, is expanding his bourbon production. The drink is aged in wine barrels. The winemaker says that the idea came to him one evening when he poured himself whiskey into a glass with the remnants of Pinot. “I immediately noticed how it changed the colour of the whiskey, and it was a bit more aromatic.” Wahl uses three-to four-year-old barrels to infuse his bourbon with berry notes.

Winemakers at E. & J. Gallo say they set aside large quantities of wine for distillation in order to then produce products from the California Brandy House, which they founded, to demonstrate that California has much more to offer the consumer, even in lean years.

Based on thedrinksbusiness.com

Photo: facebook.com/davidarthurvineyards, davidarthur.com, folksland.net

Californian winemakers decided to produce drinks other than wine to show the world that Napa Valley is not only about viticulture.

The panel of judges of the Wine Travel Awards (WTA) is fully staffed. It consists of 12 experts of the wine industry, the last one of which became Robert Joseph.

Robert Joseph is one of the most experienced and successful representatives of the wine world. He is the wine critic of the London Sunday Telegraph and award-winning author of more than 28 books on wine, including French Wines, Bordeaux and its Wines and The Complete Encyclopedia of Wine.

He also contributed to the progress of winemaking by founding the world’s largest International Wine Challenge competition. Currently, he shares the objective of promoting and rebooting the wine tourism industry with the Wine Travel Awards since he joined the project as the 12^th judge.

Robert Joseph appears regularly on television and radio. Decanter magazine named him as one of the 50 people who would influence wine drinking in the 21st century. Besides, Robert Joseph is an editorial consultant and columnist for Meininger’s Wine Business International.

Besides Mr. Joseph, there are other 11 experts from around the world in the field of enogastronomy and tourism, marketing and journalism, wine business and education in the WTA jury panel. They are Felicity Carter, Fiona Morrison, Ricardo Nunez, Philippe Massol, Olga Bussinello, Einat Klein, Gergely Szolnoki, Per Karlsson, Saverio Savio, Stéphane Badet, Maximilian Tafel.

The panel of judges of the Wine Travel Awards (WTA) is fully staffed. It consists of 12 experts of the wine industry, the last one of which became Robert Joseph.

The Red Dot Award, gained by the Ukrainian company R Agency, is the prestigious award given to designers and manufacturing companies for excellence in consumer product design.

The advertising agency specializing in complex advertising campaigns and creative concepts has received the prestigious Red Dot Award in the Best of the best category (Brands & Communication Design) for the design of the Father`s wine label.

“Now we are also a part of this story: we received the Best of the best – Brands & Communication Design for Father`s wine. This year, about 1000 awards have gone to different countries, but the Best of the best is only 8% of all the awardees, and we are among them!” said Oleksiy Provorotskyy, the founder and CEO of R Agency.

The Red Dot Award is one of the world’s oldest and most respected design awards for exceptional achievement in consumer product design. The first awarding took place in 1955. The prize is awarded by the North Rhine-Westphalia Design Center. The award-winning works are exhibited at the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen.

“The design by R Agency is based on the geometric symbolism used by our ancestors, it combines the history of succession of generations, connection with the elements, family traditions and simplicity. All this can be seen in the logo, on the labels, and in the names of the wines,” say the followers of Volodymyr Buyachok, the founder of Father`s wine.

The main symbol of the award is a stylized red dot, designed by graphic designer Otl Aicher, the final edition belongs to the Peter Schmidt Group.

Photo: facebook.com/aleksey.provorotsky, facebook.com/FathersWineVB, djournal.com.ua

The Red Dot Award, gained by the Ukrainian company R Agency, is the prestigious award given to designers and manufacturing companies for excellence in consumer product design.

On December 11 and 12, wine lovers will be able to taste Bordeaux’s different vintages and participate in various master classes at the Bordeaux Tasting 2021.

Bordeaux Tasting 2021 edition will take place on December 11 and 12 at three different locations: the Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux, the Saint Rémi chapel and the National Customs Museum! Bordeaux Tasting brings wine lovers and professionals together for its 10 years anniversary. At the event, there will be not only the greatest Bordeaux wines presented, but also great guests from other French regions. The Bordeaux Tasting 2021 includes numerous workshops and master classes led by big names in the world of wine.

The great wines of the region are in the spotlight. The space of the Palais de la Bourse, on the ground floor as well as upstairs, will be completely devoted to the Grands Bordeaux. The Espace Saint-Rémi will host around twenty Champagne houses and winegrowers, and the National Customs Museum and its courtyard, a new location this year, will be reserved for “Grand Guests”, winegrowers from other French and foreign wine regions.

The workshops of the Bordeaux Wine School

The workshops are offered in partnership with the Bordeaux Wine School, free of charge with the purchase of an entry ticket to the Bordeaux Tasting event, throughout the two days.

Saturday December 11

• 11:00 Wine’s up – Do you know the Time’s up game? Here, we play the Wine’s up – players must make their team guess as many words as possible or answer wine-themed questions!
• 11:45 Wine’s up
• 12:30 Festive agreements
• 13:15 Festive agreements
• 14:00 Wine and cheese pairings
• 14:45 Choco’Bordeaux, with Bordeaux wines and chocolate pairings
• 15:30 Choco’Bordeaux
• 16:15 Bordeaux Playlist – Musical blind test related to wine tastes
• 17:00 Bordeaux Tonic – Bordeaux wine-based cocktail workshop
• 17:45 Bordeaux Tonic

Sunday December 12

• 11:00 Wine’s up
• 11:45 Wine’s up
• 12:30 Festive agreements
• 13:15 Choco’Bordeaux
• 14:00 Choco’Bordeaux
• 14:45 Bordeaux Tonic
• 15:30 Wine and cheese
• 16:15 Bordeaux Playlist
• 17:00 Wine’s up

The workshops of the Syndicat Général des Vignerons de Champagne

Hosted by Geoffrey Orban, oenologist and expert in geo-sensory tasting, in partnership with Italian PDOs Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto di Parma.

Anthology master classes

Saturday December 11:

• 11:00 – Château Montrose, a monument of 4 vintages: 2019, 2009, 1999 and 1989.
• 13:30 – Riedel – The impact of the shape of the glasses on the nose and the taste of the wine.
• 16:00 – Three legendary Bordeaux wines represented by the Château Brane-Cantenac with its 2010 and 2000 vintages, the Château Pavie Macquin with its 2010 and 2000 vintages and the Château Malartic-Lagravière with its 1998 and 2010 vintages.

Sunday December 12, two master classes led by Serge Dubs, best sommelier in the world:

• 11:00 – Grands crus Classé de Saint-Émilion, a mosaic of terroirs with the Château Dassault 2018, Grand Corbin-Despagne 2018, Clos des Jacobins 2018, the Château Franc Mayne 2018 and the Château Bellevue 2018.
• 14:00 – In the secrets of La Fleur-Pétrus and Bélair-Monange with the Château Bélair-Monange, 2010, the Château Bélair-Monange, 2015, the Château La Fleur-Pétrus, 2010, the Château La Fleur-Pétrus, 2018.

Tariffs:

• 1 day pass: 25 euros
• 1 day pass + subscription: 28 euros
• 1 day pass (on site) + subscription: 32 euros
• 2-day pass + subscription: 39 euros

A full program and entry tickets sale can be found here.

Source: www.terredevins.com

On December 11 and 12, wine lovers will be able to taste Bordeaux’s different vintages and participate in various master classes at the Bordeaux Tasting 2021.

A private collection of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is 100% sold, achieving €1.3 million / $1.5 million.

Sotheby’s inaugural wine sale in France – an outstanding private collection of exceptional wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti – was 100% sold, achieving a total of €1.3 million / $1.5 million – double the pre-sale low estimate, and with 100% of the lots achieving prices above their high estimates.

Featuring rare and coveted cases in a variety of bottle formats, including assortments and a large offering of extremely rare Methuselahs, in vintages spanning 1998 through 2011, Only DRC I From Bottles to Methuselahs I The Inaugural Wine Sale in France was led by a Methuselah of Romanée-Conti 2000, which sold for €350,000 / $404,600 (est. €140,000-180,000) – establishing a new world auction record for any Methuselah of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

Amayès Aouli, Head of Auction Sales for Continental Europe, Sotheby’s Wine, said: “The exceptionally strong results of our inaugural wine sale in France, clearly illustrated by every metric, is a remarkable way to start our regular series of sales in France, with the wines being located in either Beaune or Bordeaux. It also demonstrates that our fourth major international hub will provide our clients with an ease of access to the global market, and an opportunity for buyers to acquire the rarest bottles with excellent provenance. This sale saw the highest level of demand from all around the world with European, Asian and American buyers being strongly represented. This collection ranks alongside the many prestigious wine collections from private European collectors that we have brought to the market over the years.”

Acquired by a private collector on release directly from the Domaine, all the wines in the 25-lot sale are lying in Sotheby’s wine storage in Beaune.

A private collection of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is 100% sold, achieving €1.3 million / $1.5 million.

On October 29, the very first study began to measure the exposure of the population in wine-growing areas to plant protection products in France. Called PestiRiv, the study has been conducted by Santé Publique France and ANSES and will take place in two distinct phases.

Considering real estate pressure, historical establishment or not, the vines are often located near residential areas, often causing heated debates between residents and winegrowers during treatments, even in organic farming. PestiRiv therefore arrives as an arbitrator, in order to officially measure the dangerousness of exposure to around fifty molecules (glyphosate, folpet), but the professionals, who once again were not consulted on the methodology, remain puzzled.

This is the very first time that a study of this importance has been carried out in France. Especially when the latter is financed and carried out by institutions such as the National Agency of Public Health and the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES), in charge of health monitoring and safety. As a reminder, PestiRiv is included in the Ecophyto 2+ plan, which itself aims to reduce the use, risks, and impact of phytosanitary products.

The challenge of PestiRiv is therefore to understand the differences between exposure to pesticides of people living near vineyards and those living further away, in a context of ever-growing concern about the products used. Previously, between October and December 2021, a first stage had been initiated in four municipalities in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Grand Est regions. This step aimed to ensure involvement and interest. ANSES and Santé Publique France then tested the methodology, the adherence of local residents and helped to better understand the expectations of the participants in order to improve its operation at the national level.

A study on pesticides, which encompassed so many regions, and not only those which are often accused of a massive use of synthetic products, has never been carried out by the public authorities. Among them, there are Occitanie, Grand Est, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté where the participants live in the 250 zones of studies chosen for PestiRiv. Regarding the choice of participants in the chosen areas, no less than 3,350 people including children, adults, and the elderly (from 3 to 79 years old) were previously drawn. They were selected in two very distinct areas in order to measure the differences in exposure to plant protection products. The first in wine-growing areas, less than 500 meters from cultivated vines, and the second, outside wine-growing areas and more than one kilometer from all crops.

Two very distinct zones for two periods of the year

PestiRiv will analyze a first period between October 2021 and February 2022 when the treatments are the least frequent and then, on the contrary, when the treatments are the most frequent, from March 2022 to August 2022. During the latter, the exposure will be measured analyzing the impact both on and in the people concerned (urine, hair, dust, garden) and of course in the environment (outside air in and outside wine-growing areas).

To complete the measurements will be accompanied by additional analyzes, using questionnaires to analyze the daily lives of participants, descriptions of meteorological conditions, analyzes of the agricultural context (disease pressure) and national surveillance data of the water. Expected in 2024, the results of several million samples will finally allow a coherent and relevant analysis of the exposure of local residents to the many synthetic pesticides used. But this study forgets those first concerned, the winegrowers, and one wonders why. Outside, the sector is fully mobilized to improve its practices, from the cultivation of the vines to the shipment of its bottles. The various labels of environmentally friendly production (including the human environment) are all experiencing unprecedented progress. How is it that professionals are excluded from this reflection by institutions that are supposed to collaborate with them?

Based on terredevins.com

Photo: thespruceeats.com

On October 29, the very first study began to measure the exposure of the population in wine-growing areas to plant protection products in France. Called PestiRiv, the study has been conducted by Santé Publique France and ANSES and will take place in two distinct phases.