Category: Burgundy

Own a Piece of Bourgogne History – BIVB to Auction Iconic Appellation Signs

For any wine lover, having a tangible connection to the vineyards is a dream, and this dream can now become a reality with special thanks to the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB). After refreshing all their vineyard signs in 2023 they are offering wine enthusiasts and professionals the rare opportunity to acquire a piece of Bourgogne’s history. On Tuesday, November 12, 600 iconic vineyard signs will go under the hammer in an exclusive auction, allowing fans of the region’s illustrious appellations to bring a slice of Bourgogne home.

Taking place live from the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne in Beaune, this unique auction will be divided into 300 lots, many of which once graced the prestigious Grand Cru, Village, and Régionale appellations. Hosted by renowned auctioneers Jérôme Duvillard and Alexandra Chaillou-Weidmann (Quai des enchères), the sale will be accessible via drouot.com and interencheres.com, where bidders can follow along via livestream.

Bring Home an Appellation Souvenir
These signs have been a part of the landscape of Bourgogne for over two decades, proudly marking the regions from Côte de Beaune to Mâconnais. Imagine a sign from your favorite Grand Cru appellation adorning your home or wine cellar or adding a touch of vineyard charm to your garden. Each lot is a celebration of the unique terroirs that have made Bourgogne famous worldwide.

Highlights include:

29 Grand Cru appellation signs (1.30m x 0.6m)
280 Régionale or Village appellation signs (1.90m x 0.4m)
280 signs bearing the iconic “B” of Bourgogne wines (0.45m diameter)

The online catalogue gives bidders ample time to plan their purchases.

A Sale with a Cultural Cause
This auction isn’t just about acquiring a vineyard keepsake – it’s also a chance to contribute to the cultural richness of Bourgogne. All proceeds from the sale will support the Cité des Climats et vins de Bourgogne in continuing its diverse cultural activities, including conferences and exhibitions celebrating the art, history, and heritage of the region. After a successful first year, the Cité is growing in popularity, and this auction will help further its mission.

So, where will you display your piece of Bourgogne?

Source: The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB)

The 10 Most Expensive Wines in the World

Few things in the world improve in quality and value with age. Aged wine is one of those things, defined by elegance, rarity and finesse. If you are drawn to the thrill of owning something truly one of a kind, this niche market will certainly appeal to you.

We’ve all heard the expression “aging like a fine wine,” so you may not be surprised to learn seven of the 10 most expensive wines in the world are from 1947 or earlier. That includes three bottles that date back to the 18th century. No need to check the “best before” date.

Rank Wine Year Country Price
1 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 1945 France $558,000
2 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 United States $500,000
3 Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945 France $310,700
4 Cheval Blanc 1947 France $304,375
5 Château Lafite 1869 France $230,000
6 Château Margaux 1787 France $225,000
7 Ampoule from Penfolds, Block-42 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Australia $168,000
8 Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1787 France $156,450
9 Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1999 France $136,955
10 Massandra Sherry de la Frontera 1775 Spain $43,500

France leads the way for luxury wines
What conclusions can we draw from the list? We all already knew that they like their wine in France, so the fact they produce the most expensive wines around won’t come as a huge shock.

Seven of the top ten most expensive wines ever sold hail from France, although special mention must go to the United States’ own Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, made in Napa Valley in 1992. Only 175 cases were produced at a time when Screaming Eagle Cabernet hadn’t yet established itself as a premium wine producer.

Source: https://sothebysrealty.ae/

100% of Domaine Vaudoisey-Creusefond wine bottles are reusable

Alexandre Vaudoisey is concerned about the environment and decided to take steps to limit environmental impact. In 2009, following his arrival on the family estate, he stopped using weedkillers and planted grass, hedges, shrubs and fruit trees to encourage biodiversity. He is also gradually moving towards organic farming on the estate.

This year, with the 2022 vintage Vaudoisey-Creusefond is switching all their bottles to the deposit system through the “J’aime mes bouteilles” (I love my bottles) initiative. “J’aime mes bouteilles” is part of the France Consigne national network.

Following in the footsteps of the Cerço cuvée from Terres Secrètes and Nuiton-Beaunois, they are the first family estate in Bourgogne to switch 100% of its production to reuse.
Bottle reuse: how does it work?

Reuse means that the bottle is reused (washed and reconditioned) rather than recycled (broken and then remanufactured). There is number of environmental advantages. By reusing bottles, you reduce waste and, above all, the consumption of energy, water and CO2 associated with the manufacture of glass bottles.

“When a customer comes to buy a bottle of wine from us (with a deposit surcharge of 50 euros cents), they drink it, rinse it and return the bottle directly to us or to one of the collection points nearest to them (thereby recovering their deposit).”

Source: https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/

Chablis Launches Interactive Story Game

“Unlock Chablis” merges a historic wine region with modern digital technology. “Nowadays, so much of the world is focused on the digital, and the wine world is no exception. The Unlock Chablis game allows us to communicate our key messages to wine professionals in an entertaining, modern way; yet still remain educational,” says Paul Espitalié, Chablis Commission of BIVB president.

“Digital-heavy contexts allow us to increase the accessibility of Chablis wines, and gives us innovative ways to talk and learn about these, removing any barriers.”

The visually stunning interactive game involves 4 chapters in which participants will have in-depth knowledge about:

  • History and background of Chablis and the unique quality of Burgundy;
  • Wine making – from fermentation to bottle; and
  • Different types of Chablis and their food pairing.

“The idea originally came about as the world moved out of the Covid-19 pandemic, during which everyone – including the wine industry – saw an increased digital presence: whether this was online events, new ways of connecting with each other, or for research and educational purposes,” says Espitalié.

Unlock Chablis has been designed with wine professionals, taking them “on a journey to discover the history, terroirs, and versatility of Chablis wines in a fun and relaxing way”, in turn allowing them to learn more efficiently.

The multiplayer function of the game also allows groups of players to bond together while learning about the exciting world of Chablis.

Website: unlock.chablis-wines.com

 

 

Old World Wines Gaining Share Across US On-Premise

CGA by NIQ’s latest On-Premise Measurement Research explores the share of total wine, with a focus on domestic white and red wine categories across the US, to highlight the opportunities for suppliers as old-world wines continue to gain share.

Using insights from the latest 52-week period of CGA’s OPM data to 12/31/2022, it is apparent that domestic wines account for the largest share of total wine across the US On-Premise (66.4%), but opportunities emerging for suppliers and operators to capture changing consumer preferences as they explore and consume old-world origin varietals.

At a total US level, domestic wines still hold the largest share of the market, however, old-world wines have continued to gain share. While domestic share has largely been maintained (-0.8pp), recent share changes demonstrate that US consumers are increasingly opting for old-world wines, specifically of regions including Italy (+0.5pp), New Zealand (+0.3pp) and France (+0.2pp).

Within red, domestic wine continues to hold a significant proportion (72.8%) of the share of red wine, up 0.8pp vs YA – continuing to increase its importance in comparison to all other major origins. Within the category, international origin wines tracked are losing share, including Italy (-0.1pp), Argentina (-0.4pp) and Spain (-0.1pp).

Whereas, white domestic wine has lost share (-1.6pp) and holds 61% of total share of white wine. Consumers are increasing looking to old world regions for white varietals in the US On-Premise. Most notably, from Italy (+0.9pp) has seen the largest increase in share gain, followed by New Zealand (+0.5pp) and France (+0.3pp).

Andrew Hummel, Client Solutions Director for North America, states: “Category and varietal insights are so important to help shape effective strategies for the On-Premise. Consumer preferences are changing, and being armed with the knowledge and insight to adapt offerings will enable success in 2023. While domestic wines still hold the largest share of the market across the US, increasing competition and innovation is gaining traction with consumers. OPM data tracking over time gives a comprehensive view of how the channel is evolving and helps identify opportunities for growth.”

Here is the research link: https://cgastrategy.com/unlock-the-potential-of-opm/