Sauvignon blanc ages best in the fridge

Source: Thinkstock

Auckland scientists have found that cold storage of sauvignon blanc can triple its shelf-life.

The University of Auckland's Wine Science Programme, which has been studying New Zealand sauvignon blanc, found keeping sauvignon blanc cool reduces the loss of fruit aromas over time.

Associate Professor Paul Kilmartin says the study shows temperature is more important in retaining fruity characteristics during storage than oxidation.

"Our results show that wines in cold storage retain these desirable characteristics for much longer, and this has important implications for how producers, exporters, retailers, and consumers handle their wines."

He says well-managed refrigeration could help to improve the consistency of quality wines sold in New Zealand and overseas and allow the wine industry to cope with changes in supply and demand from year to year.

Hard To Figure How Many Calories In Alcohol
Vinenology – May

Do you know how many calories are in your favorite wine, beer or cocktail?
It's not very easy to find out, and those calories can add up really fast. When you buy a can of Coke, it's easy to learn that it contains 140 calories.  It's printed right on the can as part of the nutritional information.  As Christopher Waldrop of the Consumer Federation of America explained, "There is no standardized format which really provides consumers with the alcohol that is in a particular beverage, and with the calories and carbohydrates that is in that beverage."
A coalition of consumer groups would like to change that and require nutritional labels on all alcoholic beverages. "I personally have no idea how many calories are in a glass of wine," said one man who was shopping at the Wine Gallery in Brookline. Most of us don't, and what's even more confusing is just how much it can vary. As Waldrop explained, "A bottle of beer can range from 100 to 200 calories; wine can range from 100 to 250 calories; and spirits range about 100 calories for a shot of spirits." Those amounts are for what's known as a standard serving size: 12 ounces of beer; 5 ounces of wine; and 1.5 ounces of liquor. Boston University professor of nutrition Joan Salge Blake says today's glassware, which seems to keep getting bigger, further confuses most consumers. She said that a standard serving of wine barely makes a dent in some of the large wine glasses which are popular today. She also pointed out that one bottle of wine should contain five servings. But many people customarily fill the glass half way. With the big glasses, that means one large glass can actually be more than two servings. "That's a lot of wine to drink; and the question is, if you're having that on top of your daily calories for the day, that means excess calories which are going to be stored as fat," said Salge Blake. Waldrop thinks standardized labels would give consumers easier access to information that affects their health. "They may start making different choices based on the number calories, or carbs, or alcohol that is in a particular beverage," he explained. Back at the Wine Gallery, not all wine lovers are sure they really want to know however. One woman said this knowledge could ruin her enjoyment of wine. A label change would require regulatory action by the federal government.

So far, there has been mixed support from the beverage industry.

 

In tough times, wineries turn to creative marketing, discounts

The Seattle Times,By Paul Gregutt

TOUGH TIMES often make the best businesses more resilient and creative. Though the news in the wine world has been focused for the past year on prices tumbling, distribution channels being clogged, restaurants closing and selling off their cellars, all is not grim. More and more businesses are trying out creative and consumer-friendly programs that not only help them survive the rough times but build customer loyalty for the future. Some recent examples:

Wild Ginger/Triple Door wine director Jake Kosseff has examined the huge wine list, which includes thousands of wines, and concluded that by sharply reducing prices on many wines, the restaurants will actually earn more money through a modest percentage gain in total wine sales. The new approach is a win for both customers and the business. "People get excited about something that also helps the restaurant," says Kosseff. "It's hard not to be a hero."

At Walla Walla's Isenhower Cellars, owners Brett and Denise Isenhower have cut loose from their distribution network. In an unusually revealing e-mail to their customers, Brett Isenhower explained the harsh realities of wine sales and marketing for boutique operations, and concluded that "with three young girls that I want to help raise and without the bank backing us up . . . I decided to keep Isenhower Cellars a Mom and Pop winery." Among the benefits are far less travel, more one-on-one contact with customers, and higher profit margins.

Trio Vintners, another Walla Walla boutique, is adding new options to its wine club, offering discounts ranging from 10 to 25 percent, depending upon the amount of wine a member orders. Many wineries are putting more effort into their everyday wines — popular and widely available blends such as Dunham's Three Legged Red, Dusted Valley's Boomtown series, Rulo's Syrca, Saviah's The Jack, Tamarack's Firehouse and Thurston Wolfe's PGV. Others are rolling out entire lines of value wines, such as the Eliseo Silva wines from Tagaris, the impressive new lineup from Hyatt vineyards and the Cask series from Silver Lake.

A recent visit to a couple of wineries in South Seattle turned up some additional strategies. At O• S winery, Bill Owen and Rob Sullivan are selling a marvelous 2006 Red (my pick of the week). Most of their wines are full-throttle, single-vineyard bottlings from prestige vineyards such as Champoux, Sheridan, Klipsun and Dineen. Though prices have dropped — a riesling from 30-year-old Champoux vineyard vines is especially compelling at $15 — some of the more expensive O• S wines were not moving. The partners noticed that their inexpensive press wine, simply named Red, couldn't keep up with the demand. They made a lot more of it. Better yet, they made it with free-run juice (what comes out naturally during fermentation without being pressed) that was originally intended for their R3 and Ulysses.

At Cadence, owners Ben Smith and Gaye McNutt were just back from a six-day sales trip to Texas. "You have to get out there and have an eye on the future, continuing to tell your story," McNutt explains. Did the trip pay off? "We'll see what kind of sales we generate," says Smith. "These trips are as much about relationships with your sales force as with the buyers. We've been around since 1998 — winery No. 150." That track record and wines from a new estate vineyard give them something exciting to talk about.

Clearly, no single strategy is guaranteed to work. But for all these wineries, and many others, these challenging times are leading to innovative marketing strategies that keep the cash flowing and the customers smiling.

Grapevine Frost Protection Technology Tested

Wines & Vines – June 2010, by Hudson Cattell

Vineland Innovation Centre and Raytheon collaborate on microwave tech in Ontario

Three Raytheon Tempwave towers ring a vineyard at Ontario's Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. The microwave technology is being trialed as a new method of frost and freeze protection.

 

Vineland, Ontario -- A prototype system using low-level microwave radiant heat to prevent freezing and frost damage to vineyards and orchards is now being tested in Ontario. The new system trademarked as Tempwave was developed by the Raytheon Co., and installed in early April at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in Vineland.

Tempwave microwave energy is transmitted from towers approximately 25 feet tall located in vineyards or orchards. The low-powered radio waves that are emitted are tuned specifically to water molecules, causing them to vibrate and heat up just enough to keep them from freezing, similar to a microwave oven. The energy is delivered directly to the crop without heating the intervening air. As temperatures drop to a critical point, the unit activates to change the energy balance and slow cooling to prevent freeze damage.

While preventing damage from frost is an important use for Tempwave, a major use may be in winter, when temperatures have dropped to the point where vines will suffer major damage. One purpose of the testing program now getting started is to determine the low temperatures at which Tempwave will be effective. Other factors to be evaluated will be the health and vigor of the vine and bud hardiness. Scientists at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs at Vineland Station will be cooperating on the project.

Questions about safety are often asked. The main effect of radio frequency electromagnetic fields on humans is the heating of body tissues. Exposure standards for radiofrequency fields and microwaves have been established to prevent adverse health effects that could be caused by localized or whole-body heating. Scientists on the project say that human safety is ensured by compliance with Health Canada’s limits on human exposure. Tempwave also must be in compliance with Canadian standards for radio-frequency equipment set by Industry Canada.

Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, sees Tempwave technology as adding to the arsenal of wind machines, heaters, sprinklers and covers now available to manage frost and freezing threats. In comparing Tempwave to wind machines, he looks at the new technology as being able to work under a broader range of conditions, as having greater flexibility in covering up to an acre at a time, and without noise being a factor. The Tempwave tower will be comparable in price to a wind machine.

The agreement between the Centre and Raytheon, which is headquartered in Waltham, Mass., is a co-development/co-marketing partnership in which each party contributes its expertise to test and market the system worldwide. “This new technology will save crops,” Brandle says. “Our partnership with Raytheon is a new chapter in Vineland’s on-going research and innovation to protect Canada’s food supply.

 

China’s Dynasty May Purchase New, Old World Vineyards

Bloomberg - May 26, 2010 -By Wing-Gar Cheng

May 26 (Bloomberg) -- Dynasty Fine Wines Group Ltd., part- owned by France’s second-biggest liquor company, may spend almost $150 million to boost capacity by 43 percent to meet rising demand in China.

The Tianjin, China-based company may buy vineyards in Australia, New Zealand, Chile or France and has 1 billion yuan ($146 million) in cash, Chairman Bai Zhisheng said in an interview yesterday in Hong Kong. Dynasty wants to raise production to 100,000 metric tons annually within three years, from 70,000 metric tons now, he said.

“There are only a few available locations for vineyards in China,” Bai said in Hong Kong. The company is looking mostly to New World wine regions because they “have different harvesting seasons and that complements our production schedule as well.”

The executive estimates “double-digit” sales growth this year, driven by demand in China, where rising household incomes are boosting wine consumption. China is on track to become the world’s seventh-largest wine market by 2013, according to a study by the Vinexpo Asia Pacific industry exhibition and market researcher International Wine and Spirit Record.

“China is still a relatively young market for wines, and consumers are just starting to enjoy them,” Bai said. “Demand is fast-growing and the market potential is huge.”

Dynasty is also surveying potential assets in France, attracted to the country’s quality grape vintages and varieties, Bai said.

China Production

Dynasty, which is 27 percent owned by Remy Cointreau SA, is also looking to expand wine production in the world’s fastest- growing major economy.

Chinese output of the beverage is about 1 million metric tons a year, meeting a fraction of demand, Bai said at a wine exhibition in central Hong Kong.

Dynasty estimates domestic demand for wine will rise 10 percent this year. Consumption may increase to 900 million liters (238 million gallons) in 2013 from 675 million liters in 2008, according to the Vinexpo/IWSR study. Red wines account for 88 percent of all wines consumed in China, the study showed.

Dynasty rose 3.7 percent to close at HK$2.80 in Hong Kong. The stock has risen 11 percent this year, compared with a 12 percent decline in the benchmark Hang Seng Index.

The company typically invests between 100 million yuan and 200 million yuan a year to expand and capital spending will remain steady during the next three years, Bai said.

Rising Income

Net income in 2009 rose 9.1 percent to HK$156.1 million ($20 million) and sales gained 8.9 percent to HK$1.48 billion, according to a March 31 company filing to the stock exchange.

The IWSR is a unit of market research company System Three Communications and Vinexpo is an international wine exhibition created by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1981.

China is the world’s fastest-growing wine market, Dominique Heriard-Dubreuil, chairwoman of Vinexpo Overseas, said in an interview in Hong Kong.

“In China, the cultural element for drinking is there,” said Heriard-Dubreuil, who is also chairwoman of Remy Cointreau. She declined to comment on her company’s operations in China.

“There is an overall trend of drinking more wines and they want to be part of the trend,” she said. “The market is growing in all dimensions and sophisticated consumption is part of it.”

Still, beer and local white liquor, known as “baijiu” and produced by companies including Kweichow Moutai Co., will remain the most popular alcoholic beverages in China, Bai said.

Dynasty exports small volumes of its output to about 10 countries globally, including the U.S., France, Italy, Japan, the Philippines and Singapore, Bai said. The company also supplies Chinese embassies overseas, he said.

“I want the best quality of the old world vintages and the production scale of the new world wines,” Bai said. “I want people overseas to taste Chinese wines.”

 

French wine lovers fight to cork their bottles

The Telegraph, Henry Samuel in Paris, 03 Jun 2010

French defenders of natural wine corks have launched a multi-million pound offensive to counter the rise of the screw cap and plastic stopper, which they argue kill the mystique of bottle-opening.

Debate has been raging for years over whether the familiar sound of popping corks should be ditched in favour of alternatives that reduce the risk of a "corked" wine.

Cork stoppers have been used for centuries, but their dominance has gradually dropped from 95 per cent of the world wine bottle market to 70 per cent over the past 15 years.

But France's cork federation has hit back at those who say the spongy bark has had its day with a poll suggesting that almost nine out of ten French people prefer the traditional stopper.

They are using the figure to spearhead a massive poster campaign featuring wine and champagne bottles with bizarre alternative stoppers - from a perfume spray top to a plastic duck – with the slogan: "Always imitated, never equalled".

Eight out of ten French people, the Ipsos poll suggests, also equate real cork with quality wine, well-preserved aromas and long conservation. Almost all said cork perpetuated age-old savoir-faire.

Cork has taken some serious knocks in recent years as top wine buffs have sung the praises of the aluminium screw top, and to a lesser extent the plastic stopper. Two years ago, the Decanter wine magazine gathered top critics who concluded that: "It's official: (the) screwcap is the best closure for the vast majority of wines, both red and white".

Then last year, Robert Parker, the hugely influential American critic dubbed "The Pope of the vineyards" made a stark prediction: wines bottled with corks will be in the minority by 2015.

"The cork industry has not invested in techniques that will prevent 'corked' wines afflicted with the musty, moldy, wet-basement smell that ruins up to 15 percent of all wine bottles," he wrote. The one exception, he said, would be "great wines meant to age for 20 to 30 years that will still be primarily cork finished".

Undaunted, Apcor, the body that promotes real cork and is based in Portugal – where half of the world's corks are produced – has spent 20 million euros on an international campaign starting this month to stop the rot.

One of its key messages is that huge progress has been made on reducing the risks of corked wines, thanks to revolutionary techniques developed by Nasa and French nuclear scientists.

Cork production also has huge environmental benefits, it argues, as it produces ten times less carbon emissions than plastic tops and 26 times less than screw tops. The use of cork tops also guarantees the survival of the huge cork oak forests of Portugal and Spain, which are massive carbon sinks, a haven for diverse wildlife, and offer a natural protection against forest fires and desertification.

Cork guardians have the backing of several top sommeliers, including Marco Pelletier from the Hotel Bristol , which has a Michelin three-starred restaurant. "Cork stops offer more subtle sensations and aromas and allow the wine to age better," he told Le Parisien, the newspaper. "I recently participated in a blind wine tasting of Burgundy grand crus – some with cork closures and others with screw tops. The difference was notable," he said.

Last year, 11.3 billion real corks sold worldwide – a 3.5 per cent drop compared to the previous year. Just over 3 billion screw caps were produced, a total which is increasing by 500 million a year.

 

World first for Grenache

The Drinks Business, Rupert Millar, 02.06.2010

 

Over 200 industry figures will descend on Provence this weekend to discuss how best to promote Grenache among consumers worldwide. Although Grenache is the most widely planted red grape in the world and lauded by professionals, it remains an enigma or is even unheard of among the public at large and many feel it is time more was done to raise its profile.

The event will be led by two of the leading wine experts in the UK and France, Steven Spurrier and Michel Bettane.

The representatives come from 22 countries, with industry leaders from more traditional markets including the UK, US, France, Spain, Australia and Italy being joined by merchants and critics from new and developing markets such as Korea, Japan, Israel, Brazil and Hong Kong.

The London-based organiser of the event, Nicole Rolet, said: “The response has been surprising.

“This event is the first of its kind and it has been embraced by all facets of the industry from scientists to producers to sellers – all interested in coming together for an international brainstorming session that will go toward creating the Global Guide to Great Grenache as well as on-line resources and forums.”

 

France still home of fine wine, say drinkers

Decanter, May 26, 2010

France is still the country most associated with fine wine, according to a survey of 4,000 regular wine drinkers.

The survey, by research group Wine Intelligence, polled wine drinkers in the UK, US and Switzerland, with all three countries selecting France as the highest-regarded country when it comes to fine wine.

In the UK, the other strong performers were Australia and Italy, followed by South Africa, Spain and New Zealand.

In the US, it was Italy and California that took the runners-up spots, then Spain and 'other USA' (OregonWashington), with Australia well down the list.

Domestic wines and those from Italy performed well in Switzerland,, followed by Spain and California.

The survey also asked consumers what their key motivating factors were when buying fine wine. Heritage was voted most important, ahead of provenance or rarity.

In the UK, 1.1m people (3% of the wine-buying market) buy a bottle of fine wine (above £10) at least once a month, while in the US, that figure increases to 3.3m people (5% of the market) who spend at least $25 on one bottle during the same period.

Wine Intelligence's Lulie Halstead said: 'Consumers who buy luxury and fine wines aren't restricted to the specialist magazine readers and the [Robert] Parker followers.'

'Many purchasers are everyday, regular wine consumers who once a year, or from time to time, buy a higher wine for special occasions.'

Eastern Winery Start-Ups
Wines & Vines 20 May

From New York to North Carolina, new ventures are opening doors
San Rafael, Calif. -- More is better, it seems, at least when it comes to wineries. After our landmark announcement in April proclaiming that the number of North American wineries had topped the 7,000 mark, we’ve made a point of speaking to some of the newest, this time in Eastern seaboard states. More good news: While learning about these operations, we were happy to hear that, from New York to North Carolina, at least, vineyards have not suffered untoward damage over the winter.

New York
Chateau Niagara Winery, along the Niagara Wine Trail in Newfane, opened to the public March 26. After a long search for a suitable site, owners Kathleen and James Baker planted their first Riesling vines in 2006; they now have 5 acres planted to vinifera vines and harvested about 3 tons of their first vintage in 2008. The 2009 vintage was 400 cases, Kathleen Baker told Wines & Vines.

Baker said they will be panting more Gewürztraminer this weekend; “It’s what we’d planted least of, and we’re selling twice as much of that as anything else,” she said. “There’s not a lot available here; we’re the only ones growing it in Niagara County.” She said that this year will be the first for their red varieties, which include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Blaufrankisch (Lemberger).

Baker noted that the vineyard, about two miles inland from Lake Ontario, benefits from the moderating Lake Effect. Slow-starting in spring, “We’re pretty well protected. Early frost doesn’t do much damage—only a very small amount this year.”

Jim Baker, an aerospace engineer, was looking for what Kathleen termed “an early retirement,” and the couple spent almost a decade looking for that ideal vineyard site. “It’s the one thing you can’t change,” she observed. “You can plant different grapes, do different things with the tasting room, but finding the site was our No. 1 concern.”

Before building the winery, Kathleen worked in tasting rooms at neighboring wineries. The couple added sweat equity to their winery, installing dry wall and tiling.

After the opening, business was better than expected, she said. “We’re part of the Niagara Wine Trail; the other wineries have been wonderful. We’re looking forward to coming into the busy season, June through October.”

Pennsylvania
Unami Ridge Winery in Quakertown will celebrate its grand opening on Memorial Day, according to Jim Jenks, who owns Unami with his wife Kathryn. Jenks planted three acres of Chardonnay, Scheuerebe (a white German cross), Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in 2005, and just planted another 300 vines of Scheuerebe.

A dozen breweries and wineries are linked by Delaware's Wine & Ale Trail.

Jenks said he has a domain name but not yet a working website or wine club. He’s bottled about 400 cases and has invited colleagues and neighbors to the opening. “I’m hoping to sell out on Memorial Day,” he said, half-seriously. Unami takes its name from a nearby creek and a Pennsylvania Native American tribe.

Delaware
Not a new winery, but a new marketing tool, The Wine & Ale Trail launched last week, linking 12 wineries and craft breweries between Wilmington and Delmar. Wineries include: Fenwick Wine Cellars, West Fenwick; Nassau Valley Vineyards, Lewes, and Pizzadili Winery, Felton.

Virginia
Preston Ridge opened to the public March 26. Its mailing address is in Martinsville, home to Martinsville Speedway, but the winery is actually in Preston, in a Henry County magisterial district known as “Horse Pasture.

Owners Lawrence and Lois Penn have .75 acres planted to Merlot at the winery, and they lease another 4 acres of Chardonnay, Riesling, Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin and Cabernet Franc.

Last fall, Penn said, he crushed 5 tons of grapes and another 200 gallons of fresh apple juice. He hopes eventually to increase wine production to 12-15 tons.

Penn plans to sell all his product direct-to-consumers at the tasting room. “We got a lot of foot traffic,” he said. Not only is he near the popular speedway, he’s on busy Route 58. “On opening day we saw 50 or 60 people,” he reported. Preston Ridge also carries a full line of home winemaking and brewing ingredients, equipment kits and supplies and chemicals in the retail store and online.

North Carolina
Cauble Creek Vineyard is a family-owned estate winery in Salisbury, in the Piedmont region. Owner Bill Yost planted 8 acres to native American Muscadine grapes in 2006, and now has 9 acres of planted vineyard on the 36-acre site.

Yost, who was painting his new winery this morning, plans to open to the public in June “or, let’s be realistic, July.” He’ll sell his first vintage of 830 cases direct to tasting room visitors. He said that the 2009-10 winter caused no damage, but he is still seeing some effects from the notorious Easter Freeze of 2007, which killed or damaged about 75 of his 2,200 vines.


 

Landschaft als Spiegel des Weins
De Winzer, Ausgabe 5, 2010

Vom 20. Mai bis 23. Juni wird in der Galerie Hart­mann in Wien erstmals das fotografische Projekt „riuti" des Künstlerpaares Susanne Jakszus und Mar­tin Scholz-Jakszus gezeigt. Die beiden arbeiten seit 2006 an einer umfassen­den, weltweiten Doku­mentation von Weinland­schaften und wollen dadurch die Prägung der Landschaft durch den Weinbau sichtbar machen.Die Schwarzweißfotogra­fien laden ein, hinter die Landschaft zu blicken und darin einen Spiegel der un­glaublich reichen und viel­schichtigen Welt der Wein­produktion zu sehen. Die Ausstellung umfasst z. B. Serien über das Weinbau­land Armenien, über Hü­gellagen, die Rebsorte Zier-fandler, die fünf Premier-Grand-Cru-Weingüter im Bordeaux oder Bäume im Weingarten, www.riuti.net

Wine industry cutting waste and emissions
edie.net 

Lightweight bottles and importing wine in bulk has helped cut the industry's waste and carbon footprint in the UK.

The UK is the world's biggest importer of wine and over the past four years, GlassRite Wine has been carrying out a Government-funded project to look at ways to tackle the industry's environmental impact.

The project has had a broad remit, looking at diverse issues such as how to increase domestic demand for recycled green glass - there's not much call for it outside the drinks industry - to looking at ways of cutting down in emissions associated with global imports.

Developing lighter bottles that are still fit for purpose has been one strand of the initiative, saving over 27,000 tonnes of glass.

But the headline-grabbing plan has been that of shipping in wine by the vat, rather than bottled at source.

This has the double benefit of allowing the wine to be transported more efficiently, reducing emissions, while providing a use for all the glass that householders diligently recycle - the project this has led to almost 200 million bottles per year being filled in the UK.

The Government's waste programme, WRAP, funded the project and says that there is still potential to do more in the area.

"We know from our previous projects that huge opportunities continue to exist to use more lighter weight bottles and increase the use of recycled content in UK- manufactured glass bottles by bulk importing wine into the country," said WRAP's drinks expert Nicola Jenkin.

"This is what will achieve a more resource efficient international wine supply chain.

"A particular highlight for the project has been the development of an innovative 300g screw cap bottle - the first in the world. This bottle is 40g lighter than the previous lightest bottle manufactured in the UK and is now being used by major UK supermarkets.

"If the bottle was adopted for all wine sold in the UK it would generate an annual glass saving of 153,000 tonnes - equivalent to the weight of more than 460 jumbo jets - and cut CO2 emissions by 119,000 tonnes.

"A lot of fantastic work is being done by the international wine sector with more and more brands adopting lighter weight bottles or bulk exporting.

"Building on this momentum is important to ensure the sector continues to improve its environmental impact and play a role in protecting its future during this period of climatic uncertainty."

 

Maladies Target Vineyard Workers
Wines & Vines 27 May

Tropical viruses worry Washington wine industry, as grower Paul Champoux recovers

Prosser, Wash. -- Northwest grapegrowers are keeping a close eye on pests this season, but vines and grapes aren’t the targets of the bugs -- the growers themselves are at risk. The dangers are well known to Paul Champoux, who grows 180 acres of sought-after grapes at Champoux Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA south of Prosser, Wash. West Nile Virus hit Champoux hard last July, incapacitating him within three days of noticing the first symptoms. Originally identified in Uganda’s West Nile District in 1937, the mosquito-borne virus appeared in New York state in 1999 and has since spread across North America.

Champoux doesn’t remember being bitten by a mosquito in the two weeks prior to being rushed to the hospital by ambulance in mid-July, but the months since have been unforgettable. He was hospitalized for seven weeks, first in Portland, Ore., then Kennewick, Wash., returning home Sept. 4 for a steady course of physical therapy aimed at rehabilitation.

Speaking with Wines & Vines yesterday, Champoux said he’s recovered 90% of the strength in his arms and 65% of his legs’ strength thanks to daily exercise and the support of his wife Judy. “She’s my hero; we’ve been partnering on our rehab, and coming back from this,” he said.

Virtually paralyzed by the virus during last year’s harvest, he nevertheless managed to direct some activities from his house, which overlooks his vineyard. As he’s become stronger, he’s started venturing in an electric wheelchair to his office, and with Judy’s help he’s ventured in his pick-up into the vineyard to check on the vines.

While the illness knocked Champoux for a loop, it hasn’t stopped him. Rather, following his encounter with the virus, he’s become an advocate for greater awareness of the risks faced by vineyard workers. Talk about the disease has become a feature of worker training, and DEET-based insect repellant is provided to vineyard workers.

“I don’t make them wear it, but I make it available to them so they can wear it, and we talk about (West Nile),” Champoux said. “It’s part of our safety program. I didn’t do that before this. I didn’t really think about mosquitoes.”

He also talks to other growers about the importance of eliminating standing water where mosquitoes may breed -- places such as buckets, tires, birdbaths, ponds and roof gutters. The fewer mosquitoes there are, the less chance for one of the bugs to bite an infected bird and then a human. (Common carriers of the virus include corvids -- crows, ravens, magpies and jays. Surveillance efforts for West Nile often include testing dead crows; the Washington State Department of Health encourages the reporting of dead birds.)

The potential reduction of vector control measures in Washington state concerns Champoux, and he encouraged growers to speak in defense of programs aimed at limiting mosquito populations. Planned cuts to West Nile funding in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley were recently reversed, demonstrating that popular demand can successfully ensure ongoing protection.

“We’re so complacent around here it seems,” Champoux said of the situation in Eastern Washington, even though of the 38 cases in the state last year, 30 were in Benton and Yakima counties. “If it doubles or triples again, then maybe people will start paying more attention.”

Tropical fungus invades West Coast
Oregon registered just 12 human cases of West Nile infections last year, down from a peak of 73 in 2006, but it’s facing another scourge that’s crept down the coast from Canada. Cryptococcus gattii, an air-borne fungus harbored in trees but most commonly found in soil, was discovered the same year as West Nile Virus debuted in North America, appearing on Vancouver Island off British Columbia’s west coast. A tropical disease, the temperate West Coast climate has seen it spread first into Washington and then, in 2004, into Oregon.

The incubation period for C. gattii infections is long, with symptoms manifesting two to 12 months after exposure, although the disease most commonly appears after six to seven months. Symptoms include a range of common phenomenon, including headaches, shortness of breath, chest pain and sensitivity to light. Most cases respond to pharmaceutical treatment, with fatalities running at less than 5%.

Emilio DeBess, a public health veterinarian with the Oregon Department of Human Services, said 39 cases of human C. gattii infections have been reported since 2007. “It’s a rare disease,” DeBess told Wines & Vines. DeBess said vineyard workers aren’t at increased risk of infection, and no special precautions are recommended for protection against C. gattii infection, which unlike West Nile is not a reportable disease in Oregon.

West Nile watch
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 80% of all people infected with West Nile virus will show no symptoms at all and less than 1% -- about one in 150 people -- will develop the severe forms of the disease known clinically as West Nile encephalitis and West Nile meningitis. The symptoms may range from headache and high fever to disorientation and -- in the most severe cases -- muscle weakness, convulsions, paralysis and coma. “These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent,” the Centers for Disease Control remark.

One-fifth of people will experience West Nile fever, a milder illness that may last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Symptoms include fever, body aches and headaches; nausea, vomiting, and swollen lymph glands or rash on the chest, stomach and back.

Monitoring programs in most jurisdictions advise citizens to be on the lookout for an uptick in the number of dead birds, especially crows, which may indicate the presence of West Nile in the local environment.


 

Deutliches Verkaufsplus im ersten Quartal:Champagner wieder im Aufschwung
De Winzer, Ausgabe 5, 2010

Nach einem kräftigen Absatzeinbruch durch die Wirtschaftskrise sehen die französischen Champagner­hersteller das Schlimmste überwunden. Im ersten Quartal hätten die Ver­käufe um 17 % gegenüber dem Vorjahreszeitraum zu­genommen, teilte der Dachverband der Cham­pagnerwinzer (CIVC) laut dem Nachrichtendienst AFP in Reims mit. Damit verzeichne die Branche seit sechs Monaten wieder stei­gende Absatzzahlen. Im vergangenen Jahr hatten die Champagnerhersteller nur noch 293,3 Mio. Fla­schen verkauft - um 9 % weniger als 2008. „Lang­sam, aber sicher erholt sich die Branche wieder", sagte ClVC-Sprecher Daniel Lor-son. Dabei komme der stärkste Nachfrageschub aus Ländern außerhalb Europas: Hier seien die Verkäufe im ersten Quartal um 57 % gestiegen. Bei den EU-Ländern seien es 25 % gewesen, während auf dem Heimatmarkt Frankreich nur ein leichtes Plus von 5 % verbucht worden sei.

Foster’s to spin off loss making wine unit
Financial Times, By Peter Smith in Sydney - May 26 2010

Foster’s is to spin off its prized brewing unit from its struggling wine operations in a structural overhaul that is expected to flush out takeover interest from international brewers.

The Australian beverages group, which has a market capitalisation of just over A$10.6bn (US$8.7bn), said on Wednesday it would list its wine unit separately, although a demerger was unlikely to take place until the first half of next year “at the earliest”.

Foster’s shares jumped 7 per cent to A$5.51 on news of the split, which was accompanied by a warning that the group’s wine assets would be written down by a further A$1.1bn-A$1.3bn in the year ended June.

International brewers have long coveted Foster’s beer operations that dominate the Australian market but they were never likely to act if a sale included the wine portfolio, built up at the top of the market at a cost of close to A$7bn. Investors and industry analysts had for years urged Foster’s to rid itself of the wine business, which has been producing poor returns and weighing on the group’s performance.

SABMiller, the London-based brewer, and Japan’s Asahi Breweries are regarded as potential suitors, while Canada’s Molson Coors, which has merged its US operations with SABMiller, owns a small stake in Foster’s.

Molson Coors, however, is considered by industry watchers to be more of a minority strategic investor in the event of a bid for Foster’s.

Analysts have given the beer business an enterprise value of some A$12bn and said that it is a strong, cash-generating operation.

Ian Johnston, the Foster’s chief executive brought in two years ago after Trevor O’Hoy quit due to the group’s ill-fated wine acquisition spree, said the group’s decision early last year to separate the two businesses’ operations was already yielding benefits.

“While the beer and wine businesses are market leaders, they operate in separate market segments with different strategic and operating characteristics,” Mr Johnston said.

The group said that the demerger was subject to “detailed evaluation of the issues, costs and benefits to Foster’s shareholders and ongoing assessment of prevailing economic and capital market condition”.

SABMiller, which has an Australian joint venture with bottler Coca-Cola Amatil called Pacific Ventures that sells premium beers, wants a stronger foothold in the Australian market.

Asahi, which held a stake in Foster’s in the 1990s, last year agreed to buy the Australian soft drinks business owned by the UK’s Cadbury for £550m (US$909m).

Foster’s on Wednesday forecast that full-year earnings before interest tax and depreciation would be A$1.05bn-A$1.08bn, in line with market estimates.

Mr Johnston said wine continued to suffer from oversupply in Australia, weak consumer demand in international markets and the Australian dollar’s strength.

He said the beer business had maintained growth and further investment was being made made in the group’s major brands, which include the global Foster’s Lager and Australian labels such as Victoria Bitter and Crown Lager.

Chardonnay du Monde 2010: Dreimal Gold für Österreich
De Winzer, Ausgabe 5, 2010

Auf der diesjährigen „Chardonnay du Monde" erhielten drei österreichi­sche Weingüter Gold: Jo­hann Schneeberger aus Heimschuh mit Chardon­nay Morillon 2008, Ludwig Hofbauer aus Unterretz-bach mit Chardonnay Sandgrube 2008 und Rein­hard Muster aus Gamlitz mit Chardonnay Grubthal 2006 (Barrique). Der Wett­bewerb wurde vom 10. bis 13. März im Chäteau des Ravatys in Burgund ver­anstaltet. Von den 887 ein­gereichten Weinen (aus 37 Ländern) erhielten nach einer viertägigen Verkos­tung 296 Weine Medaillen, davon 65 Gold.

 

 

French launch first 3-D Virtual Wine Fair
Harpers, 20 May

 

The www.WineFair.com plans to help busy wine and spirit professionals network worldwide from the comfort of their desks

The organisers, Jean-Michel Kuzaj and Denis Lengaigne, who are both consulting sommeliers in France, claim the virtual fair, to take place on June 21-27 2010, will operate in the same way as a traditional show.

"There are a lot of wine fairs but it is difficult to attend them all," Denis Lengaigne, WineFair.com associate project director told Harpers.co.uk.

The virtual wine show, buyers and wine professionals can chat with exhibitors online, answer questions during seminars and if they require samples, they can be sent to them for tastings."

He said exhibitors will showcase their wines from their vineyards or office locations, reducing the cost for producers.

They will upload business cards, videos, brochures and descriptions of the wines and the estate. Depending on the package, companies will have 10 or 30 bottles on sale. Visitors can then log in and select who they wish to make contact with and make appointments.

Using 3-D technology, visitors will be given access to the exhibitors via a password. They can then select a grape variety, a country/region and/or type of wine from one of the three pull-down menus. They can then browse through the profiles of exhibitors and  make appointments. Dialogue can take place via video conference, audio conference or instant messaging.

Lengaigne admitted the first show is likely to contain mainly French producers as the industry remains skeptical about virtual wine fairs.

Producer so far include Château de Junayme in Fronsac (Bordelais), Château de Maligny in Chablis, Ayala Champagne, Château de Chantegrive in Bordeaux, Graves appellation, Jean-Luc Colombo Wines in Rhône Valley, Domaines Cauhapé in Jurançon, Louis Jadot in Burgundy, Maison Rivière in Saint Emilion, Château Mille Roses in Margaux.

"We believe the second fair will be have more of a worldwide focus as the industry waits to see if it will work," he said.

But Brintex marketing director Will Broadfoot, who organises the London International Wine Fair said: "This type of virtual exhibition has been tried many times throughout the event industry and always boils down to a chat room with the ability to download corporate brochures and videos.

"Using video-game technology to navigate to 'stands' looks fun, but is in reality no different to clicking on a company name in a list and seeing the same catalogue information - in fact clicking on a company name in a list is a lot quicker.

"Watching live seminars has a value, but it's no different to any other online conference, and the problem with all of them is that the attendees vanish immediately afterwards and many even give up half way though. Most importantly though, without the ability to actually taste anything, which is pretty fundamental in the wine business, it's just no substitute whatsoever."

Packages start from €1,000 - €2,400. The show will also be available in four languages - English, Spanish, French and German and the general public will be invited to attend on June 26 and 27. For more information go to: http://www.winefair.com/en/

 

Mosel-Riesling in Gefahr: Weingurus gegen Mosel brücke

De Winzer, Ausgabe 5, 2010

Das Projekt „Moselbrü­cke" gibt es schon lange, offensichtlich wird es nun ernst damit und in der Folge auch der Widerstand dagegen. Denn renommier­te Winzer und internatio­nal anerkannte Weinkriti­ker sehen die Mosel-Weine in Gefahr.

Was Winzer und Wein­gurus so erzürnt, ist der Hochmoselübergang. Seit einem Jahr wird an der 1,7km langen und 160m hohen Flussüberquerung zwischen den Moselorten Ürzig und Zeltingen-Rach-tig trotz anhaltender Pro­teste gebaut. Die Verkehrs­ader soll über Weinberge mit so berühmten Lagen wie Bernkasteier Doctor oder Zeltinger Himmel­reich führen. Diese Lagen, so sind sich die Kritiker sicher, würden durch das 270-Mio.-€-Projekt zer­stört. Vor Gericht sind die Gegner des Projektes allerdings gescheitert. Bis zum Bundesverwaltungsgericht sind sie mit ihren Klagen gezogen. Schließlich gaben die Richter grünes Licht für den Bau. Geschlagen geben wollen sich Umwelt­schützer, Winzer und Weinfreunde aber noch lange nicht. Sie machten erst kürzlich in der Bundeshauptstadt Berlin eine Protest-Weinprobe unter dem Motto „Interna­tional Riesling Rescue (Internationale Riesling-Rettung)", eine kulinari­sche Weinprobe im ange­sagten Berliner China-Res­taurant „Hot Spot". Bei der Protestaktion waren pro­minente Winzer und aner­kannte Weinkritiker wie Stuart Pigott, Hugh John­son und ihre britische Kollegin Jancis Robinson anwesend. Prominente Unterstützung gab es zudem von Ex-Außenmi­nister Joschka Fischer.

Vinexpo Asia-Pacific sees visitors up by 40%
Harpers, 27 May 2010

Vinexpo Asia-Pacific closed today after what it claims was its most successful ever show with a 40% increase in visitors on its last show in 2008. The exhibition, which ran for three days in Hong Kong, attracted over 12,000 visitors to its 880 exhibitors from 32 countries.

Whilst 42% visitors came from Hong Kong and nearby Macau, the rest came from across 25 Asian countries led by China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Singapore. Robert Beynat, chief executive of VINEXPO Asia-Pacific said: "Asia is now the most dynamic and happening market in the wine and spirits world. The total volume of wine consumption is increasing four times faster than the world average and is expected to continue in the next five years. "Our decision to return to Hong Kong was right; this has been a resounding success for everyone, from the impressive range and reputation of the exhibitors who represent all of the world's major wine and spirits producing countries, to the calibre of the visitors."
Helmut Seibert, managing director of Langguth Wine and Spirits said: "The attendance for VINEXPO Asia-Pacific is very international when compared to other exhibitions" The event included the Vinexpo Academy which hosted 42 tastings, seminars, master classes and presentations. Vinexpo returns to Bordeaux next year running between June 19-23.

Arbeiter im Weingarten
www.wagners.com 

Rudi Pichler aus Wösendorf in der Wachau: eher „Caretaker“ als „Winemaker“

„Winzerschulen und Schreibwerkstätten vermitteln eine mittlere Reife, nicht mehr. Der komplexe Prozess aus bewusstem Gestalten und spontanem richtigen Reagieren entzieht sich dem Lernen. Er führt zu einer eigenen Handschrift, in Weinen, in Büchern.
In der Wachau gibt es einige Winzer mit unverkennbarer Signatur. Einer ist Rudi Pichler.“

Das schreibt der Regensburger Schriftsteller Benno Hurt über Rudi Pichler aus Wösendorf in der Wachau.

Eigenwilliger Charakter, großartige Weine

Für Kenner zählen Rudi Pichlers Weine schon seit Jahren zu den absolut besten der Wachau. Er exportiert weltweit in 15 Länder, bekommt bei Robert Parker meist um die 90 bis 93 Punkte für seine Weine.
Doch Pichler ist kein „easy guy“, der sofort mit jedem auf Du und Du ist, sondern ein Winzer mit durchaus eigenwilligem Charakter, mit Ecken und Kanten. Der Purist ist streng und stellt hohe Ansprüche – auch und vor allem an sich selbst. Er möchte aber nicht, dass seine Person, sondern dass seine Weine im Mittelpunkt stehen und für sich selbst sprechen.

Pichler: „Unserer Philosophie entsprechend sollen unsere Weine authentisch sein und durch die Prägung der unterschiedlichen Böden, der Kleinklimata und des Winzers eine unverwechselbare 
Identität erhalten.“

Wichtig ist ihm vor allem, die Eigenheiten seiner unterschiedlichen Lagen herauszuarbeiten. Und dies gelingt ihm auf den typischen Wachauer Steinterrassen hervorragend, wo er einige der besten Lagen in Wösendorf (Kollmütz, Hochrain, Kirchweg) bzw. Weissenkirchen (Achleiten) bewirtschaftet.

Das Etikett als Symbol

Von Pichlers 12,5 ha Weingärten entfallen 65 % auf Grünen Veltliner, 30 % auf Riesling, 5 % auf Weißburgunder und andere Sorten, die in den Qualitätskategorien der Vinea Wachau – Steinfeder, Federspiel, Smaragd – vinifiziert werden.

Die Familie Pichler betreibt seit 1884 Weinbau in der Wachau, Rudi (nunmehr der III. dieses Namens) führt den Betrieb seit 1997. Einige Jahre später wurde mit einem außen wie innen zeitgemäßen Keller eine seinen hohen Qualitätsmaßstäben entsprechende Arbeitsstätte geschaffen.

Nichts ist bei Pichler beliebig oder gar Zufall. Schon gar nicht das auffallend schlichte Etikett seiner Weine. Es zeigt einen Weingartenarbeiter, der gebückt, geduldig und demütig die Erde mit der Haue lockert – wohl ein Symbol dafür, in welcher Rolle Rudi Pichler sich selbst am liebsten sieht: nicht als „Winemaker“, sondern als „Caretaker“. 

Mixing wine and beer was a disaster, says former wine boss

Richard Gluyas, The Australian May 28, 2010

A $12 billion demerger announced by Foster's earlier this week was the culmination of "stupid" wine acquisitions, a poor management culture nurtured by monopoly positions in the beer market and the changed economics of the wine industry.

The scathing assessment of the company's fumbling efforts to blend its brewing and wine operations was delivered by the highly regarded Ray King, who ran the wine business for three years after Foster's paid $482 million for his listed Mildara Blass group in 1996.

Seduced by the mythology surrounding the Penfolds brand, Foster's had encouraged him to "have a look at Southcorp", as well as Beringer in the US, Mr King said.

Both companies were ultimately acquired -- Beringer for $2.7 billion only months after Mr King retired in 1999, and Southcorp for $3.2bn in 2005.

The strong reservations he expressed at the time about Southcorp, in particular, have proved to be prescient.

"Southcorp was just stupid -- Penfolds probably represented less than 5 per cent of the business, and apart from that it was just a poor business with low prices and low margins," he said.

"I was less critical of Beringer, even though I resisted requests to make overtures, but I was still concerned that Foster's didn't know the US market well enough to spend that kind of money."

Beringer, he said, had a poor return on capital invested, but was growing "quite nicely".

Within 12 months, however, the US industry had changed dramatically, exposing Foster's lack of detailed market knowledge.

The scale of the wine misadventure has now become apparent, with writedowns nudging $3.5bn from $8bn in invested funds, including capital expenditure.

Asked who was the best Foster's director he had worked with, Mr King nominated non-executive board member Fred Hilmer, who went on to have an unsuccessful stint as chief executive of publisher John Fairfax.

"He was a real clear thinker," Mr King said.

Pressed on his assessment of other directors, he declined to comment.

For Foster's in 1996, Mildara was a test case for its ambitious wine strategy.

But in a forerunner to the challenges Foster's would face, Mildara was experiencing growing pains, forcing it to build a second sales force to nurture its expanding armoury of brands.

"We'd grown organically and by acquisition, but I was concerned the growth would be limited if we stuck to one sales team, so as we grew I added the new brands to a second team," Mr King said.

"But even then, they tried me on for size to merge the distribution of wine and beer.

"It happened after I left, and then they added even more brands with Southcorp, so it was a disaster waiting to happen.

"It proved the old adage that you don't mix the grape and the grain."

Mr King conceded the wine industry's dynamics had fundamentally changed, with the power of the retail chains growing significantly, and a global shortage of grapes in the 1990s turning into a persistent, profit-sapping glut.

However, instead of confronting the chains with an endless array of wine labels, he said Foster's should have concentrated on a much smaller number of core brands.

"If you have too many brands, you have no choice but to sell in bulk," he said.

"The retailers will tell you: 'I'll take your top-five brands and five truckloads of the other stuff at a 20 per cent discount."

Part of Foster's problem in responding effectively to the growing power of the big grocery and liquor chains was an arrogant culture built on monopoly positions in the old, state-based beer markets. This culture was still "surprisingly strong", even in the late 1990s.

As to the oversupply of grapes, Mr King said the 1990s shortage had been an exception to the normal surplus position.

"Wine companies traditionally had a low return on investment and low margins," he said.

"But even when there was a glut of grapes in the 1970s and 1980s, Mildara's returns were about three to four times the industry average."

According to Mr King, Foster's thought the favourable wine industry dynamics of the 1990s, when it bought Mildara, would last forever. Foster's shareholders have since learned otherwise, to their detriment.

 

10 Mio. Liter Chianti gefälscht
De Winzer, Ausgabe 5, 2010

In Italien kämpft man mit Lebensmittelplagiaten. Nach Angaben von Land­wirtschaftsminister Luca Zaia sind 10 Mio. Liter ge­fälschter Chianti beschlag­nahmt worden, die mit dem Qualitätssiegel DOCG in die USA hätten expor­tiert werden sollen. „Wir haben eine Katastrophe ab­gewendet. Zum Glück haben wir rechtzeitig ein­greifen können. Der Wein ist zwar nicht gesundheits­schädlich, es handelt sich jedoch um ein Produkt niedriger Qualität, das man als echten Chianti hätte verkaufen wollen", berich­tete der Minister laut APA. Wegen des Skandals um verramschten Wein sei in den vergangenen Jahren der Export von Qualitätswein in die USA um 7 % zurück­gegangen, was für den Sek­tor allein im Jahr 2009 einen Verlust von 60 Mio. € bedeutet habe, bemängelte Italiens Landwirtschafts­verband Coldiretti.

Supermarkets jump to best sales performance in 2010
Harpers, 26 May 

Sales across UK supermarkets increased by over 3% in the last month, the first time this year the sector has seen such growth over a four week period. The results, released by Nielsen, are an indication that consumer confidence is returning to the high street. It Scantrack data showed that for the four weeks to May 15 sales across the multiple grocers were up 3.1%. This, however, was not repeated across the grocery retail sector with all channels reporting a more subdued 2.5% growth.

Mike Watkins, senior manager retailer services at Nielsen said: "With low but still manageable food inflation feeding into sales since Easter, we can be reasonably confident that we have passed the low point in terms of year on year growth but shoppers still need to be encouraged to spend. Shoppers remain fickle and disloyal and are still shifting to retailers who offer the most immediate savings. As a result promotional spend has been maintained at 35%. The exception being Asda where spend on offer has fallen a little over the last 8 weeks."

Nielsen data also shows that shoppers are again cutting down the number of shopping trips they make with 1% fewer trips having been made across the grocery market in the four weeks to May 15 compared to the same period in 2009. Marks & Spencer, however, bucked the trend with a 9% increase in the number of average visits per household made to its stores which Nielsen puts down to demand for its 'Dine In' promotions.

Watkins added: "Cutting down on the number of trips made is a trend we saw at the outset of the recession when inflation was very high. Our consumer confidence survey saw rising fuel prices top the list of growing consumer concerns and this could account for fewer, but larger (+3.7% spend per visit), shopping trips being made."

Other Nielsen highlights include:

* Tesco - is achieving the highest growth in spend per visit in the latest four weeks with shoppers spending an average of just over &33 per visit.

* Asda - had a stronger four weeks after a four month low with more price cuts, single price promotions and the 'Asda Price Guarantee' messaging all working together to build performance. Asda retains its position of highest spend per visit at an average of &35 spent per visit, suggesting the retailer is still a destination shop for big basket spends.

* Sainsbury's - of the top four retailers Sainsbury's is attracting more new shoppers (+1.8%) than any other with just under 40% of households visiting a Sainsbury's in the four weeks to May 15. Growth in household penetration will have contributed to the retailer's respectable 5% YoY sales growth which were seen in the latest 12 weeks and maintained in the latest four weeks.

* Morrison's - is also bucking the market trend and are achieving an increase in shopper visits (+2.7%) following some strong promotions on fresh foods.

* Others - Iceland is increasing penetration more than any other retailer at +12% and Waitrose also, has continued to attract new shoppers (+7.3%). Co-op is successfully converting Somerfield shoppers to Co-op shoppers with households visiting a Co-op growing almost 10% in the latest four weeks. 

 

Alkoholfreier Grüner Veltliner
De Winzer, Ausgabe 5, 2010

Als im Frühjahr 2008 vor­geschlagen wurde, alkohol­freien Wein auf den öster­reichischen Markt einzu­führen, fielen zahlreiche Reaktionen skeptisch aus. Wenig später entstanden die Verträge mit einem deutschen Anlagenbetrei­ber, zudem erste Marken-und Vertriebsstrategien. Ende September 2008 öff­nete „vinumis" seine Pfor­ten in Wien, bald darauf kam der erste alkoholfreie Österreicher (ein Welsch­riesling) und die Bekannt­heit stieg. Seit wenigenTagen gibt es den ersten Grünen Veltliner alkohol­frei. Dahinter steckt der junge Weinviertier Winzer Rainer Schmid (aus Unter-thern), der die Kelterung übernommen hat. Vinumis mit den beiden Geschäfts­führern Alexander Weiner und Helmut Stranzl stellen die Entalkoholisierung (auf unter 0,3 % Alkohol) si­cher. Dieser Vorgang erfolgt mittels Destillation unter Vakuum bei 28 °C. Dank der Aromarückgewinnung soll eine gewohnte Aroma-tik erreicht werden.

 

Südafrika: Fußballfieber beschert Zuwächse

De Winzer, Ausgabe 5, 2010

Wie der „Weinreporter" meldet, soll Südafrika im ersten Quartal 2010 um 17 % mehr Wein nach Deutschland exportiert haben als im Vergleichs­zeitraum des Vorjahres. Die Menge soll somit von 15,1 auf 17,7 Mio. Liter ge­stiegen sein.

Grund für diese Export­zuwächse sollen die zahl­reichen PR- und Werbe­maßnahmen rund um die Weltmeisterschaft, die im Juni und Juli in Südafrika stattfindet, sein. Auch an­dere wichtige Ziel-Märkte wie Schweden (+16 %), USA (+28 %) und Kanada(+9 %) melden ähnlich ho­he Zuwächse, laut „Wein­reporter". Bemerkenswert ist dabei vor allem das ge­meldete Plus beim Export von Flaschen-Weinen nach Deutschland. Während die Menge der losen Tankware (Bulkj nur um 3 % gestie­gen sein soll, soll der Zu­wachs bei den Original-Ab­füllungen in Flaschen rund 66 % betragen haben. Im Jahresvergleich ergibt sich jedoch noch kein Export­plus: Im Zeitraum März 2009 bis Februar 2010 sol­len die Exportzahlen noch unter denen des Vorjahres (März '08 bis Februar '09) liegen, meldet SAWIS (South African Wine Indus-try Information & Sys­tems).

 

Internationaler Besucherrekord: Großer Andrang auf der „Vinitaly'
De Winzer, Ausgabe 5, 2010

Die „Vinitaly" in Verona ist wieder einmal vorbei. Sie darf sich zu Recht, neben der „ProWein" in Düsseldorf und der „Vinex-po" in Bordeaux, als eine der drei großen Weinmes­sen in Europa bezeichnen. Nach offiziellen Angaben kamen 152.000 Besucher auf das Messegelände. 47.000 Besucher sollen aus dem Ausland angereist sein, und zwar aus 110 Ländern (so viele wie noch nie), was ein Plus bei den internationalen Gäs­ten von 4,4 % ausmacht.

Berücksichtigen sollte man bei den Besucherzahlen je­doch, dass die „Vinitaly" am Wochenende zum re­gelrechten Volkfest wird. Insgesamt ging es für die meisten Aussteller darum, die Krise des Vorjahres in den Hintergrund zu rücken und mit Optimismus in die Zukunft zu blicken. Der Termin für die nächste „Vinitaly" wurde vom Ver­anstalter bereits fixiert: Sie findet vom 7. bis 11. April 2011 statt, rund eine Woche nach der „ProWein" (17.-29. März).

Italian Wine and the 2009 Crisis

(Drinks Media Wire).

Market research by Axiter-ConfCommercio/Unicab for Vinitaly indicates the Italian wine cellars withstood the test of the “great crisis” in 2009 and even organised themselves to continue growth in 2010. Exports and investments were both up again. Weak points include mark-ups along the value chain, poor managerial culture and the under-sizing of cellars

Italian wine withstood the test of the “great crisis” in 2009. And this was achieved thanks to further growth in exports and impetus in investments that involved acquisitions of land, technological and property modernisation of cellars and, especially, sales networks in Italy and abroad. This is the result of market research conducted on behalf of Vinitaly by Axiter-Confcommercio together with the Unicab Institute: a market investigation involving a panel of more than 360 Italian cellars – the largest leaders as well as cooperative and other realities, small and medium companies covering all the Italian denominations.

Despite a general climate characterised by pessimism, Italian wine cellars proved capable of holding firm and even a desire to exploit the times to “tidy up” their affairs by investing in sales networks, acquisitions of new land and brands, as well as technological modernisation.

This positive trend involved two cellars in three with even two-figure growth rates in Italy - in large-scale distribution and horeca segments alike - and abroad. Good performers in 2009 also enjoyed limited or even no increases in costs. Poor performers, on the other hand, saw serious shortcomings across the range: their market shares in Italy fell, with little growth abroad; the horeca sector was not “convinced” and they were penalised by significant increases in costs. This very distinct scissor-effect seems to be one of the main characteristics of 2009 that evidently involved a kind of “selection” among wine cellars.

Over and above the capacity of individual cellars to react to the crisis, there are still “bottlenecks” putting a brake on development: excessive mark-ups along the value chain and in catering; poor managerial culture and under-sizing of companies; cost of and difficult access to credit; lack of infrastructures. The world of Italian wine, nevertheless, will also continue its investment stage this year. However, it requires precise action in order for remain competitive: help for exporters and tax benefits on investments; more support for “wine tourism” that brings business directly to cellars.

Press release - VeronaFiere Press Office

U.S. Consumer Direct Wine Sales Steady at $3 Billion in 2009

(Drinks Media Wire).

U.S. wineries increased use of social networking and direct marketing to offset a weak economy in 2009 – winery managers remain optimistic about direct sales growth in 2010

U.S. wineries worked harder than ever to maintain their consumer direct wine sales at record levels in 2009, according to the latest research results reported today by wine marketing advisors, VinterActive LLC.

Based on their annual VinQuest™ survey of the nation’s 3500+ bonded wineries, VinterActive reports that tasting room, wine club, internet, and event sales remained at a record $3 Billion in 2009 as wineries adopted new marketing strategies to offset declines in tasting room traffic and consumer spending across the U.S.

While many larger established wineries reported declining wine club and tasting room sales in 2009, small and mid-sized wineries aggressively increased their use of social networking, direct marketing and special events to generate solid gains in online, telephone and face-to-face sales.

Key findings of this year’s research reveal:
* Total direct sales by U.S. wineries in 2009: $3 Billion
* Overall direct sales growth in 2009: 3%
* Tasting room sales growth in 2009: 2%
* Wine club sales decline in 2009: -5%
* Online wine sales growth in 2009: 29%
* Mail order sales decline in 2009: -14%
* Phone order sales growth in 2009: 16%
* Event sales growth in 2009: 8%
* U.S. wineries projecting consumer direct as their fastest growing sales channel in 2010: 63%

Despite significant concerns about the economy and continuing challenges with interstate shipping regulations, consumer direct wine sales remain a bright spot in the U.S. wine industry with winery sales managers in most regions forecasting 5% to 15% growth in 2010.

This year’s VinQuest research report identifies key benchmarks for direct sales performance across major U.S. wine regions and provides a detailed comparison of tasting room, wine club and online direct sales at U.S. wineries of every size. The VinQuest 2010 U.S. Consumer Direct Wine Sales Report also contains the first-ever benchmarks for winery use of social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The complete 73-page VinQuest™ 2010 wine industry research report including detailed response to all survey questions, time-series views, and proprietary regional/price-point performance sales comparisons is available from VinterActive LLC at a cost of $1595. A summary of these research results was provided to survey participants and association sponsors.

About VinQuest™ 2010
The VinQuest™ 2010 survey was conducted by wine marketing advisors VinterActive LLC with support from a national coalition of wine industry associations in an effort to better understand the size and dynamics of the U.S. consumer direct wine sales channel. Now in its sixth consecutive year, VinQuest research has produced the largest and most widely used source of consumer direct sales data in the U.S. wine industry.

Participating winery associations include: WineAmerica, Napa Valley Vintners, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, Illinois Wine, Russian River Wine Road, Heart of Sonoma Valley Association, Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, Oregon Wine Board, Michigan Grape & Wine Industry Council, Seneca Lake Wine Trail, and the Paso Robles Wine Alliance. Initial guidance and encouragement was provided by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.


English wine producers: 2009 production figures released confirms continued optimism within UK wine industry

(Drinks Media Wire).
The 2010 English Wine Producers Trade & Press Tasting took place on St George’s Day (23rd April). The tasting highlighted an industry that has shown sales growth despite the economic climate and that is continuing expand production and in fact looking to a very positive future.

This is supported by the official wine production figures that were released last week by the Wine Standards Branch of the Food Standards Agency, confirming earlier predictions that 2009 production was 3+ million bottles. The hectarage in production is showing a 20% increase on the previous year alone whilst there is a further 25% planted but still to come on stream. New plantings continue with more anticipated this year.

Much of the recent plantings and a growing percentage of production are for sparkling wine. The line up of wines in this year’s tasting was indicative of this growing trend, with 30 of the 69 wines on the EWP central tasting table line up being sparkling, and increasingly using the classic varieties.

This year’s tasting also introduced and some new names in English wine, alongside latest releases of firm favourites.

Larger Than Estimated: 2009 Grape Must Harvest in Germany

(Drinks Media Wire). Based on final harvest results, the 2009 grape must harvest in Germany was some three percent larger than estimated in November.

Based on data compiled by the German Wine-growers’ Association/Bonn and the Federal Office of Statistics/Wiesbaden, the German Wine Institute/Mainz now reports that the total grape must harvest of 2009 is equivalent to 9.14 million hectoliters. This is 8.6 percent less volume than in 2008, and 7.3 percent below the ten-year average.

Due to very favorable weather conditions in 2009, 53 percent of the crop was ripe enough to qualify as top quality wine (Prädikat wine level); 43 percent as simpler quality wine (QbA level); and merely 4 percent as Landwein or “Deutscher Wein”, a new EU term to denote a wine without a more narrowly defined designation of origin (formally table wine).

According to Monika Reule, managing director of the wine institute: “Given the high quality of wine achieved in 2009, it justifiably numbers among the top vintages of recent years. These wines offer extraordinary pleasure for their price, and are in tune with market conditions, in terms of both quality and quality.”

Latest estimates of the European Commission indicate that the overall volume of European wine production in 2009 – 164.6 million hl – was down four percent compared with 2008, and ten percent below the long-term average.

Chinese women key wine buyers: Vinexpo

Decanter, May 10, 2010

James Lawrence
Women may play a central role in the future of wine consumption in China, according to new research by Vinexpo.

The study undertaken by Vinexpo surveyed the behaviour of 2,810 women in four Asian countries to compare and contrast their consumer habits, depending on whether they lived in China, Japan, Hong Kong or South Korea.

The research found that over 40% of female consumers in Japan, the most established wine market in Asia, drank wine more than twice a week.

It also suggests that the wine world should pay more attention to Chinese women who are now consuming wine at 'significant levels'.

50% of the Chinese women surveyed were solely responsible for purchasing their wine, never seeking recommendations from third parties. By contrast, Japanese women often allow other parties to influence them when choosing wine.

In addition, while 92% of the Japanese respondents and 74% of the Koreans interviewed selected wine for its taste, health is a big concern for female consumers in China. 38% claim that they drink wine because it is good for health, while only 22% claimed to drink wine for its taste.

One area of consensus for Asian female wine lovers was their preference for red wine.

More than two Asian women out of three prefer red wine in contrast to women in the UK and the US, who consume much larger quantities of white wine, according to Richard Halstead, Wine Intelligence's Operations Director.

Vinexpo CEO Robert Beynat said that Asian women had 'a non-conventional relationship with wine with no associated fears or taboos'.

'They choose their wines freely depending on the price and their taste', he added.

Wine Intelligence research shows 55% of all wine purchased in the UK is bought by women, and that western women buy wine primarily for enjoyment and social reasons, rather than perceived health benefits.