Tag: French Wine

French Rosé Rebounds in the U.S.

After three years of annual declines of rosé wine shipments from Provence, 2022 exports to the United States rose 4% to 1.9 million 9-liter cases, according to Impact Databank. Import volume is still below pre-pandemic levels, but Provence rosé’s shipment value is higher than in 2019, up to a new all-time high of €143.4 million ($151.1 million). French rosé remains one of the few bright spots in an otherwise sluggish U.S. wine market.

While rosé’s continued popularity can be credited primarily to Provence, brands from elsewhere are making inroads; some are doing so by emulating their Provençal counterparts, while others are capitalizing on varietals and styles different from those traditionally championed by the French. Aside from Provence, other areas which registered rosé wine growth in 2022 include Beaujolais (doubling its import value last year), Rosé of Cabernet d’Anjou from the Loire Valley (+5%) and French rosé not from a specific appellation or from a specific grape (+35%).

The top five French rosé brands combined for solid 5% growth in 2022, according to Impact Databank. Aside from the largest labels, impressive gains were also achieved by Diving into Hampton Water—made in partnership with Gérard Bertrand—which grew over 50% last year, and 90+ Cellars (+11.5%) from Latitude Beverages. Other double-digit gainers in French rosé last year included Maison No. 9 from E.&J. Gallo (+10%) and The Pale by Sacha Lichine from Shaw-Ross International (+13%).

Some rosé labels from outside France are also making headway in the U.S. market: Chile’s Natura Rosé (+18%) from Banfi Vintners, and from California, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Rosé (+15%) from Constellation Brands, and up-and-coming brand Angels & Cowboys (+51%) from Share a Splash Wine Co.

Top Five French Rosé Brands in the U.S.
(thousands of 9-liter case depletions)
RankBrandCompany20212022Percent
Change1
1Whispering AngelMoët Hennessy USA5655711.1%
2La Vieille Ferme2Vineyard Brands3974144.3%
3Gérard BertrandGérard Bertrand USA34539013.0%
4MiravalVineyard Brands1581643.8%
5The Beach
by Whispering Angel		Moët Hennessy USA1501628.0%
Total Top Five31,6161,7015.3%

Source: Impact Databank

Pinot Noir resurgence in Alsace with two AOC’s

Pinot Noir can now be included as part of the AOC Alsace Grand Crus in two territories which has been a long-awaited move for a grape variety that has perhaps been overlooked in the region.

France’s appellation body, the National Institute of origin and quality (INAO) had formally approved the addition of Pinot Noir to the list of varieties that are permitted in Grand Cru Kirchberg de Barr (Barr, Bas-Rhin) and Grand Cru Hengst (Wintzenheim, Haut-Rhin). The move officially ratifies Pinot Noir Grand Crus from these two prestigious terroirs for the 2022 vintage.

The amendment noted that vines intended for the production of red wines in Alsace grand cru Hengst should have a density minimum plantation of 5,500 vines per hectare, with vines in Alsace grand cru Kirchberg de Barr having a minimum planting density of 5,000 vines per hectare and an average maximum yield of 7,000 kg per hectare.

Twenty years ago, Pinot Noir represented 8.5% of Alsace’s total vineyard area. Today, that figure has risen to 11%. The changes mean that Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr are now currently the only AOC Alsace Grand Cru reserved for white wines and still reds, with the first to be released from the 2022 vintage.

According to some producers, getting to this point has been a twenty-year journey, and marks the renaissance of the variety in the region – which has grown from around 8% of hectarage under vine to 11% now – as well as recognition of the work carried out by existing producers of these wines.

The new rules means that these two AOCs can produce both white wines and still reds, the CIVA hopes that this will be expanded to include other AOC Grand Crus in the region over the next few years. Currently, there are 51 AOC Alsace Grand Crus, 49 of which can make Grand Cru wines from just five grape varieties (Gewurztraminer, Muscat, Pinot Gris and Riesling, and Sylvaner, which was also added by the INAO in May).

#pinotnoir #grandcrus #alsacewine #alsacevineywards #vineyards #winenews #frenchwine #madeinfrance #vin #wine #redwine #winelover #winesoffrance #drinkalsace #MillésimesAlsace

 

Wine Review: 2019 Domaine Eleni et Edouard Vocoret Chablis “Les Pargues”

About last night…. 

During my meeting last night, I discover this stunning wine …

what an adventure in a glass!

2019 Domaine Eleni et Edouard Vocoret Chablis “Les Pargues”

Pale yellow colour, impressive nose of orange and lemon zest, the palate is lean and fresh, good ripeness of fruit with lovely mineral though out – develops steadily as it warmed up, long length. A stunning wine!

#chablis #frenchwine #meetings #eventplanning #winetasting #whitewine #wine #winelovers #winewednesday #toronto @hyssteakhouse #baystreet #powermeeting #womeninwine #womeninwinebusiness #hys #hyssteakhouse #winelist #winereview #TorontoLife #FinancialDistrict

94/100

The École des Vins de Bourgogne announce “New Immersive Tasting Workshops”

The École des Vins de Bourgogne is now offering four new workshops at the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin in Dijon.

These four innovative workshops will offer a visual, audio, and a gustatory experience.

Price ranges: €20-€29

Time: 40 minutes to one hour

Maximum number of participants: 18

All courses are open to people with mobility issues

 

  • An Introduction to wine tasting: Decode the techniques and vocabulary of wine tasting and learn how to describe a wine in terms of how it looks, smells, and tastes.

Three wines, €20 per person

  • The Impact of vintage: This workshop explores the bearing a vintage might have on a wine, and explores single varietal cultivation, typical in Bourgogne, how a wine changes over time, and aging potential.

Three wines, €20 per person

  • Bourgogne Terroir Wines: Learn about the notion of terroir in Bourgogne through grape varietals, winegrower expertise, the hierarchy of the 84 appellations, and the Climats.

Four wines, €20 per person

  • Food and Wine pairings: Explore the diversity of Bourgogne wines by pairing them with local gastronomy. Tasting of five wines with five regional specialties.

Five wines, €29 per person

For more information and to register, visit the École des Vins de Bourgogne website at https://www.bourgogne-wines.com/

If you are currently traveling through France, drop by……bookings are now open!

#VinsBourgogne #Bourgogne #Vin #Bourgognewines #Bourgogne #wine #winelovers #frenchwine #wineeducation #BourgogneTerroir #foodandwine #winetasting #gastronomy #vin #winecollectors #wineinvestors #wineknowledge

Cru Bourgeois Classification Raises the Environmental Bar

L’Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc announced this week, by press release, that it has significantly raised its environmental standards.

Route des Chateaux, Vineyard in Medoc, amous wine estate of Bordeaux wine, Gironde, France

from the next reclassification exercise (in 2025), all wineries designated crus bourgeois will be required to have demonstrated HEV Level 2 environmental certification. Those seeking classification at Supérieur and Exceptionnel level will be required to have HEV Level 3 certification.

In addition, from 2022, all properties seeking to use their crus bourgeois certification will need to present their wines in bottles that weight no more than 390g (a 22% decrease in the current maximum bottle weight).

The organization states: “with sustainability in mind, the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc has shifted to bottles with less weight. The classification was eager to become a part of the global movement towards more sustainable bottling and packaging, as championed by the famous wine critic Jancis Robinson”.

#winetour #winetours #bestofwinetourism #winetourism  #wineexperience #winetravel #wineyards #vignes #vignoble #winemakers #vigneron #terroir #vinrouge #redwinelover #hautmedoc #crusbourgeois #crusbourgeoisdumedoc #environmental #medoc #sustainable #winenews