Category: Wine Tourism

South African Wine Harvest 2021 declared to be “Exceptional Quality” 

The South African wine industry is celebrating an exceptional harvest this year thanks to cool temperatures, unusually high rainfall and a late harvest.

In terms of volume, the 2021 wine grape crop is estimated at 1,461,599 tonnes, according to the latest estimate of industry body SAWIS (South African Wine Industry Information & Systems) on 19 May 2021 – that makes it 8.9% larger than previous years.

Balancing 2020 and 2021

The 2021 harvest kicked off around two weeks later than normal due to unusually cool weather conditions throughout the season, which persisted throughout harvest time and resulted in some wine grape producers harvesting their last grapes in May.

Water resources were also replenished in most regions following the recent drought, which contributed to good vine growth, bunch numbers and berry sizes.

“Wine lovers can really look forward to remarkable wines from the 2021 crop,”​ said Conrad Schutte, consultation service manager of Vinpro. “The cooler weather enabled producers to harvest their grapes at exactly the right time, and viticulturists and winemakers are especially excited about good colour extraction, low pH levels and high natural acidity in cases where vineyards were managed effectively, which all point to exceptional quality wines.”​…. https://bit.ly/2SEJH0z ..continues 

#winefarm, #wine, #southafrica, #southafricanwine, #wine #redwine #whitewine, #winenews #wineharvest #stellenbosch #winetasting #capetown #winelovers #instawine

New Cava Classifications for 2021  

Designations of Origin evolve over time and incorporate modifications that have an impact on the way their wines are classified. This is the case of the DO Cava, which has recently announced changes and the approval of new regulations.

The origins of Cava lie in the wine-growing region of Penedés.  Cava can also be produced in other towns and regions, which are themselves divided into sub-zones. There are four main areas of the DO, which include the Valle del Ebro with the sub-zones Alto Ebro and Valle del Cierzo; and the Comtats de Barcelona with the sub-zones Serra de Mar, Valls d’Anoia-Foix, Conca del Gaià, Serra de Prades, and Pla de Ponent. Further regions are Viñedos de Almendralejo and Valencia.

The DO Cava has announced that it will introduce new regulations that will raise the requirements to reinforce the quality seal and will affect not only the terminology linked to the ageing months of its wines but also the geographical designations within the Designation of Origin.

Cava wines are differentiated by their residual sugar content -which divides them into Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Dry, Semi-Dry and Sweet categories, as well as by their aging time, which divides them into Cava de Guarda and Cava de Guarda Superior (including Cava Reserva, Cava Gran Reserva and Cava de Paraje Calificado).

In addition, they must display the vintage year on the label and those DO Cava wineries that press and make all their wines on their own property will be able to use the Integral Winemaker label.

The greatest novelty is the segmentation and zoning that allows territorial identification, so that the consumer can clearly detect in which area of the DO the wine was made, whether in Comtats de Barcelona, Valle del Ebro, Viñedos de Almendralejo or Zona de Levante. The possibility of specifying each sub-zone is also envisaged.

The latter is a very significant change, as it recognizes and allows the particularities of each of its territories to be valued.

In addition to the new classification, DO Cava has announced the implementation of a new traceability system to provide consumers with the best possible quality guarantees. This also involved the development of a new, more modern digital platform.

#wine #winelover #spanishwine #spanishwinelover #winenews #winemarketing #redwine #whitewine #spain #cava #cavawine #sparklingwine

The National Wine Committee approves the “Canelli” DOCG

The National Committee of PDO and PGI Wines approved Friday’s session, Wednesday, May 12th, the proposal for the Disciplinary of the new DOCG “Canelli”, starting a regulatory process which, ending within the year, will make the first official harvest possible. of white Moscato for “Canelli” in 2022. DOCG, or “Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita” is Italy’s highest appellation level.

Although reports indicate little will change in terms of wine style – with the new region likely to maintain the production of sweet, white, aromatic bubbles – the new Canelli DOCG will likely soon sport a “Riserva” title, a qualification specifically prohibited under the Asti production guidelines.

The region is comprised of 18 parishes around Canelli, 25km south of Asti and 70km southeast of Turin.

Currently, there are over forty producers within the Asti DOCG appellation that claim their Moscato d’Asti DOCG as the Canelli sub-area, which amounts to half a million bottles. Lorenzo Barbero, president of the Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti Docg Consortium comments on the news as follows: “The new Denomination certainly represents a further opportunity for qualitative growth for producers in a historic area such as Canelli”.

“Twenty years after the birth of the Association, Canelli’s centuries-old winemaking tradition will finally have its definitive recognition” says Flavio Scagliola, member of the board of the Canelli Producers Association and Vice President of the Asti Spumante and Moscato Consortium d’Asti Docg.

#canelliproducers #canellidocg #canelli #italianwine #italianwinelover #italy #wine #instawine #winenews #DOCG

 

Introducing Filippo Magnani + Updates on Anteprime di Toscana

Filippo MagnaniIt is with great pleasure and excitement that I announce Filippo Magnani, wine journalist and wine travel expert (with expertise in the Italian wine regions) has joined our growing team as a regular contributor.

About Filippo Magnani

Filippo Magnani is a wine travel expert, with expertise in the Italian wine regions, and a wine journalist with his WSET Diploma.

Filippo graduated with a degree in Hotel and Tourism Management at the University of Economics in Florence, followed by an MBA in Hospitality Management at Brighton University (UK).

After working as an F&B manager in several global luxury hotels, he began the career in the world of wine in 1999 when, at the age of 26, he founded Fufluns, a travel boutique company specialized only in customized wine tours in Italy.

As an independent wine writer, he developed partnerships with various wine magazines such as Il Corriere Vinicolo, a trade wine review in Italy, Wine World Magazine, Liz Palmer’s website (www.liz-palmer.com), and his blog Tales Behind the Wine.

www.filippomagnani.it – www.fufluns.com

Filippo is also a member of the Circle of Wine Writers (CWW) and the International Federation of Wine and Spirits Journalists and Writers (FIJEV).

He is currently attending Anteprime di Toscana this week to review the release of new vintages and previews of Tuscany, in the beautiful frame of Fortezza da Basso in Florence. Watch this space for Filippo’s reviews and photos! Coming Soon!

https://www.anteprimetoscane.it/

Filippo states” The only regret is that I miss many international colleagues and friends… I will keep you updated with some hints throughout this week and further you’ll find the detailed reports of the tastings on my personal blog “Tales behind the wine” and Liz Palmer’s website”

 

#montecucco #biancodipitigliano #candiacolliapuani #carmignano #chiantirufina #collinelucchesi #cortona #maremma #orcia #terredipisa #suveretowine #valdicornia #valdarnodisopra #primanteprima #AnteprimediToscana #vino #wine #winelovers #winetasting #instawine @filippomagnaniwine

 

Covent Garden launches a three-week Rosé Festival

Rosé season is here and to celebrate all things pink, Covent Garden [London] is hosting its first-ever three-week rosé festival which runs from May 17th to 6th June 6th.

Over 20 restaurants participating with over 30 varieties of rosé wine, rosé cocktails, rosé themed menus, as well as 9 pop-ups from Mirabeau, Amie Wine, HUN Wine, Dirty Martini, Chez Antoinette x AIX-en-Provence, Magners, The Bubble Bros, Fiona Fleur and The Oystermen x Pol Roger which will be taking over Covent Garden’s Piazza.

With the return of indoor dining, restaurants across Covent Garden will also reopen over 2,500 additional dining spots. The area will remain at the heart of outdoor dining with the botanical pocket garden seating area on the East Piazza remaining open for takeaway drinking and dining.

 

For visitors wanting to join in the blush celebrations but preferring non-alcoholic options Ladurée will host a rosé-inspired afternoon tea, Shake Shack will offer a limited-edition cherry blossom pink shake, Amorino will be serving their very instagramable rose-shaped ice-creams in a multitude of flavours and Bubble Wrap will sell an exclusive Covent Garden Rosé and Strawberry Blossom combo. For tea connoisseurs, Whittard and Mariage Freres will also be offering over 40 rose blend teas.

I would say it’s time for a glass of rosé and some retail therapy!

For more information and details about the Rosé Festival, indoor and outdoor dining and shopping log into coventgarden.london

#rosewine #cocktails #wineevent #instawine #rosewinelovers #winelovers #wine #CoventGarden #RoseAllDay #AlfrescoLondon #RoseFestival #ThisisLondon #rosè