Category: Champagne

Renowned wines and spirits logistics expert JF Hillebrand, which has been entrusted with shipping the world’s oldest bottle of Champagne to the London International Wine Fair, is also using the event to showcase its supply chain management services for wines of more recent origin.

The bottle of 18th Century Champagne, believed to be from the house of Veuve Clicquot, was recovered last summer from a shipwrecked schooner that had lain 55 metres below the Baltic Sea off Åland – an autonomous region of Finland – for some 230 years.

Still highly drinkable, this find, which predates the previous oldest Champagne in the world by at least 25 years, has generated tremendous interest in the world of wines and Grayling (the world’s second largest independent Public Relations, Public Affairs, Investor Relations and Events consultancy) has been authorised to host a bottle at this year’s event, at which JF Hillebrand is also exhibiting for the 12th year.

Understandably, given the high value of the shipwrecked champagne, Grayling sought the help of experts for the intricate shipment from Åland, which required meticulous packing, protection and temperature-control combined with expedited service to ensure that it arrived at London’s ExCeL in good time for the exhibition opening on May 17.

As the world’s leading specialist logistics provider to the wines and sprits trade, JF Hillebrand is used to serving the needs of clients with a much younger product than the shipwrecked Champagne, but who still require a exceptional level of transportation and inventory control.

At this year‘s London International Wine Fair, JF Hillebrand will showcase its powerful custom-developed Axis logistics management software, which delivers new levels of inventory control with cost and time savings to market, while providing full visibility of the supply chain from vineyard to destination.

“This is a prime opportunity for clients and potential customers to meet JF Hillebrand staff from around the globe and tap into their wealth of local expertise to identify potential efficiencies in the supply chain,” said JF Hillebrand UK Managing Director David Mawer. “Their knowledge is built on many years’ experience in handling wines with varying characteristics, but all with the common requirement for innovation, skill, control and value in delivery to client.”

Visitors to the event are cordially invited to contact JF Hillebrand to arrange a meeting by e-mailing g.harrington@hillebrandgroup.com. Alternatively, just turn up at stand L22.

About JF Hillebrand: With a global network headquartered in Mainz, Germany, JF Hillebrand employs 1800 people in 46 offices around the world.

Since 1844, it has dedicated itself to the efficient and cost-effective logistics of wines, spirits and beers. As well as offering first class logistics services, it also leads the way in the development of innovative products, services and IT tools to the global beverage industry.

Moet Hennessy has signed a joint venture deal with a Chinese company to make high-end sparkling wine on the Chinese mainland.

The deal will expand the country’s wine market by educating the public and wine producers in sparkling wine, observers said.

Moet signed the deal earlier this month with state-owned agricultural company Ningxia Nongken to produce wine from a 67ha site in the northern region of Ningxia Hui.

‘This will be the first sparkling wine in China made according to traditional methods,’ a Moet spokesman said, adding that the first wines would be ready in three years.

The venture would ‘enhance the winemaking skill level in China. There will be more companies to educate the public…and develop the sparkling wine market in China,’ Rex Yeung of Hong Kong-based mainland producer Dynasty Wines told the South China Morning Post.

LVMH, Moet’s holding company, already has a healthy market for Cognac and Champagne on the Chinese mainland: it is the company’s biggest market for Cognac and the Champagne market is growing every year.

The two companies expect the joint venture to attract many more companies to China. Nongken already has 670ha planted, which it aims to expand to over 2,000ha.

The Chinese mainland’s thirst for wine continues to expand. According to the latest figures from According to the latest figures from International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR), commissioned by Vinexpo, consumption of wine by China and Hong Kong increased by over 100% between 2005 and 2009, from 46.9m to 95.9m cases.

Vinexpo predicts that this figure will increase a further 20% by 2014, to 126.4m cases.

In terms of domestic production of wine, China is set to increase by 77% over the next four years, from an average 72m cases to 128m cases.

In terms of domestic production of wine, China is set to increase by 77% over the next four years, from an average 72m cases to 128m cases.

In 2009, mainland wine producers accounted for 83% of the country’s wine consumption.

China and Hong Kong together make up the world’s largest volume importer of Bordeaux wines.

Decanter

For all champagne lovers Henry Tuke has just launched the world’s most expensive Champagne sabre which is an exquisite piece launched in the gardens of Champagne house Canard-Duchêne in Ludes, France.

During the launch, Tom Tuke-Hastings, founder of the brand, sabred 35 bottles of Canard-Duchêne Champagne in one minute which broke the previous world record of 27 bottles.

One of its kind, the saber is hand-forged in England in stainless Damascus steel with solid sterling silver fittings and a shagreen grip. Made from exclusive ancient oak, the base is a part of original Roman docks of 70 AD. Available at selected outlets, the sterling silver sabre is priced at £27,000.