Gastronomy and Wine Portal

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.

Bought last summer by Emmanuel Clausel, former real estate developer, Domaine de Valcyre, in Valflaunès, in Pic Saint-Loup, changes its name to become Domaine Uma. Supported by the brilliant Australian oenologist, Karen Turner, the new owner will create an upscale welcoming place, including a 5-star hotel, two restaurants, an art gallery and a tasting school.

Exit the Domaine of Valcyre, make way for the Domaine Uma. In Valflaunès, an emblematic village of the Pic Saint-Loup appellation, Emmanuel Clausel, the new owner, wants to make a clean sweep of the past: “We had to write a new story, give ourselves a real ambition by leaving our mark, our identity.”

The former real estate developer, who bought the 120-hectare estate (including 60 of vines) last summer, aims to create a wine tourism site capable of receiving around 60,000 people per year and of employing around fifty people. On the program, a 5-star hotel with 23 rooms and a 400m² spa, a gourmet restaurant, a bistro, a tasting area, a boutique, an art gallery and a tasting school. “We have already made good progress on the project with the town hall, and we even held an information meeting with the inhabitants before the end of the year celebrations,” continues Emmanuel Clausel. We are now waiting for the final return of the municipality to start the work.”

First project: the new cellar. This will be enlarged and modernized on the basis of an existing building in order to be able to work by gravity and with equipment adapted to the style of the wines (small vats). “The foundation of the project, the starting point of everything, is the wine!” confirms the owner.

No wood, Italian grape varieties and bubbles!

That’s why he chose the expertise of oenologist Karen Turner. The Australian has a strong CV with experiences at Hugel in Alsace, at Chapoutier in the Rhône Valley or more recently at the Priory of Saint-Jean-de-Bébian, in Pézenas, in Hérault. She has also traveled a lot: Tuscany, Douro, South Africa… “My strength is to have known a lot of terroirs, not to be focused on France, to have this open-mindedness”, she explains. So don’t forbid yourself anything. Because “only” a third of the estate is classified in the Pic Saint-Loup appellation.

“On the other, we are going to plant Italian grape varieties such as Fiano (Campania), Sangiovese (Tuscany) or Carricante (Sicily) and we want to make bubbles”, continues Karen Turner, whose bias is not to use wood. On this very fresh terroir, the winemaker has chosen to focus on whites (4.5 ha planted in 2021) and rosés. Ultimately, total production should be around 300,000 bottles around fifteen cuvées. The 2021 vintage, the first vinified by the Australian, and composed of five cuvées in a unique bottle, will be presented at the next Organic Millésime in Montpellier (postponed from February 28 to March 2, 2022): two Pic Saint-Loups, a rosé (Syrah-Grenache), a red rosé (Cinsault) and a white (Vermentino-Roussanne) can be tasted. This is a start of a new adventure!

Based on the material of www.terredevins.com

Bought last summer by Emmanuel Clausel, former real estate developer, Domaine de Valcyre, in Valflaunès, in Pic Saint-Loup, changes its name to become Domaine Uma.

In 2022, sommelier and restaurant managers intend to be creative in doing business.

Gradually, the hospitality industry is recovering from lockdowns, people are eating out again, but many restaurants are still short of visitors and ready to get creative. So, let’s see!

• Wine-to-Go is becoming more and more popular. According to analytical data, during the pandemic, 30-40% of restaurant revenues came from wine sales, which became an important source of income. Wines in cans have become a convenient option for restaurants, such containers can be used together with the takeaway menu.

In the United States, the canned wine segment has grown sharply: according to the international marketing company Nielsen, which is represented in more than 100 countries, there are now 386 variants of this product available in the United States. It remains an ideal choice for to go orders, and thanks to millennials, sales will only increase.

• Optimal cost of wine. Gathering at a restaurant with friends and family has been a common practice and even a tradition in recent years, but visitors and restaurants are now looking at each other in a new way. Visitors are becoming more cost-conscious and will look for great deals, affordable and quality wines.

During the pandemic, there was a sharp contrast between retail and restaurant wine prices, which left visitors questioning the appropriateness of the price they pay for wine in the restaurant. Optimizing the wine list and carefully combining the menu will mean rethinking what wines to offer the visitor.

• Small wine lists. Some restaurants in the world with large wine cellars sold out a lot of equipment during the pandemic to pay rent and salaries to employees. Creating huge wine lists takes time and money. In 2022, there will be a trend towards small wine lists. Such lists allow staff to provide visitors with more information about wines and wineries.
• Better for health. The Better for You category of wines, such as low-calorie wines, will definitely not disappear from wine lists. The pandemic has forced people to take care of their own health and well-being, and Generation Z and Millenials in particular are a clear example of this – they care about what they eat and drink. Sales of low-alcohol wine are projected to continue to grow. The trend towards the production of organic, biodynamic and environmentally friendly wines is also expected to intensify.
• Emphasis on local wines. COVID has influenced wine production and distribution channels: restaurants operating in or near wine regions will actively sell local beverages. Due to the increase in taxes and import costs faced by many wine producers, restaurants have the opportunity to present local wines to visitors. The development of domestic wine tourism, the desire of consumers to support local wineries – these are trends that will continue to dominate.

Based on sommelierschoiceawards.com prepared by O. Pinevych-Todoryuk

Photo: sommelierschoiceawards.com

In 2022, sommelier and restaurant managers intend to be creative in doing business.

From 16 to 26 June 2022, Bordeaux Wine Week will take place for the first time in Bordeaux. This ground-breaking event will bring together several events dedicated to French and foreign wines and spirits.

Bordeaux Wine Week will be full of events dedicated to wine, economics and science, as well as culture, tourism and wine festival. Bordeaux Wine Week is designed to showcase the great diversity of wine regions, as well as the environmental initiatives used by wineries in France and other parts of the world.

Vinexposium, co-organizing Bordeaux Wine Week, organizes two major international meetings for trade and industry from around the world:

• June 20-21: Act for Change – a series of conferences organized by well-known international speakers, theme – “Wine of 2030”, venue – Cité du Vin. The symposium will focus on climate change, considering three practical issues – production, consumer expectations, marketing.
• June 22-23: WOW! Meetings will bring together representatives of French and foreign industry in the Hangar 14 exhibition space. Issues for discussion: sustainable wine business, spirits, both organic and certified under the environmental scheme.

The Bordeaux Wine Week program will also feature:

• June 23-26: Bordeaux Fête le Vin, organized by the CIVB (Bordeaux Wine Marketing Board) and the Bordeaux Tourist Information and Congress Office (OTCBM), co-organizing the Bordeaux Wine Week. A full-fledged open-air wine route will be launched along the Bordeaux promenade, where wines from the Bordeaux and New Aquitaine regions can be tasted, most of which are organically made or eco-certified. The Bordeaux Wine Festival will also take place on Thursday, June 16, on the eve of the main event, in restaurants and wine boutiques, with music at concert venues or in coastal cafes.

Bordeaux Wine Week will also include high-level cultural and wine events, namely:

• An outstanding, unique exhibition “Picasso, the effervescence of shapes”, which will be held at the Cité du Vin from April 15 to August 28. The place of wine in the artist’s work will be marked for the first time with the help of 80 works donated by the Picasso Museums in Barcelona and Paris, as well as private collections.
• Bordeaux Grands Crus weekend (June 16-19), a series of tastings organized by the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux. The event will provide an opportunity to discover 120 Grand Crus Bordeaux through tastings, visits to restaurants and dinners in castles and in the city of Bordeaux.

More detailed information can be found here.

From 16 to 26 June 2022, Bordeaux Wine Week will take place for the first time in Bordeaux. This ground-breaking event will bring together several events dedicated to French and foreign wines and spirits.