February, 14, 2012 US: Muscat Wines Steal Sauvignon Blanc's Market

(Wines&Vines) - It wasn’t that long ago that Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris) displaced Sauvignon Blanc as the second most popular white wine variety in the United States. Now Sauvignon Blanc has ceded its third place status to fast-growing Muscat wines. Chardonnay remains by far the best-selling wine, r...

February, 14, 2012 French wine and spirits exports soar to record 10.1 billion euros

(RFI) - France’s income from wine and spirits exports soared 10.5 per cent to 10.1 billion euros in 2011. But, while Asians and Americans have never bought so much French wine, the main reason for the rise is higher prices, not more bottles sold. For the first time ever wines and spirits earned...

February, 14, 2012 US: Wine & Whitney: Beverly Hills Wine Festival Adds Whitney Houston Tribute

(Laist) - In the wake of Whitney Houston's untimely death, the third annual Beverly Hills Wine Festival has modified its programming to include a very special tribute to the very special star. "Remembering Whitney" will take place at the Beverly Hilton Sunday, February 26, from 2pm to 6pm. Numero...

February, 14, 2012 France: Chinese merchant opens in Bordeaux

(Decanter) - A small wine merchant selling Bordeaux wine exclusively to Chinese wine professionals, has opened in the middle of Bordeaux. La Cave du Dynastie is on Allées de Tourny, a few doors down from the Bordeaux Wine Bureau (CIVB) in the city centre. LeeLee Yung, the director of the company...

February, 14, 2012 BERGER: Understanding Italian red wines

(Pressdemocrat) - As much as I love Italian red wines, and I really do, the entire subject is hard to write about, and not least because writers get little help from the producers. Let’s start with the greatest red in Italy, and certainly the longest-lived, Barolo. It is a product of Nebbiolo, ...

February, 14, 2012 'Corruption and smuggling' damaging Thai import prospects

(Decanter) - The market for imported wine in Thailand is being hampered by a draconian tax regime, and has subsequently led to high levels of corruption, senior wine professionals say. According to Jean-Philippe Joye, food and beverage director at the Conrad hotel in Bangkok, many wine distributors ...

February, 14, 2012 Wine yeast nutrients 101

(NewWorldWinemakerblog) - Various parts of dead yeasts can be used as a source of nutrition / alcohol tolerance for live yeast cells during fermentation. Sometimes they are used in combination with inorganic nitrogen such as DAP and sometimes they are used on their own. Here is a short explanation o...

February, 14, 2012 Vineyard stress isn’t just about vines

(Westernfarmpress) - Stressing vines may be exalted as a way to achieve wine greatness, but too much stress can be bad for both the vine and the grower. The 2011 vintage was certainly stressful for growers and vines alike — so it’s no accident that stress will lead the topics for discussion at t...