EU pays too much for grubbed-up vineyards

15/06/2012 Jozef Schildermans 0

A report this week from the European Court of Auditors sharply criticized many aspects of the European Commission’s viticulture policy, which was designed both to combat the EU’s enormous wine surplus and encourage the production of grapes that are more saleable overseas. … read more on WSJ Blogs.

Charleston County Jail Dormitory

Ousted after demanding wine for Mass, jail chaplain claims rights were violated

25/05/2012 Jozef Schildermans 0

For a quarter century, Monsignor Ed Lofton has served as one of 86 volunteer chaplains at the Charleston County jail. … That endeavor includes Communion, and for Catholics, wine is a necessary component. For 15 years, he has consumed 1 ounce of sacramental wine during Mass without incident. Inmates partake only in the bread. But this week he lost a fight. Chief Deputy Mitch Lucas, the jail’s administrator, has told Lofton to replace the wine — brought to the jail in a TSA-approved container designed for holy water — with grape juice…

bivbsite

Database with every Burgundy appellation and climat

11/05/2012 Jozef Schildermans 0

The BIVB, the association of wine growers in Burgundy, is expanding its public website with a comprehensive database of all Burgundy appellations and terroirs or climats. There are one hundred Burgundy appellations, including 33 Grand Crus, 44 municipal and 23 regional appellations. For each appellation and climat the database containes a detailed description and basic information about the character of the wine, …

Champagneflessen in kelder

Wine cellar defunct Belgian 2-star Michelin restaurant auctioned off

27/04/2012 Jozef Schildermans 0

The wine cellar of the defunct Belgian 2-star Michelin restaurant ‘t Oud Konijntje in Waregem, province of Oost-Vlaanderen, will be auctioned off on 12 May in the Salons Leieburcht in Sint-Ellois-Vijve. The collection contains thousands of bottles of top wines. The restaurant closed in December of 2010. On the website of the (dutch language) Krant van West-Vlaanderen you’ll find photo’s > Read more …

Ch. Latour

Chateau Latour sells only bottled wines form 2012 onwards

16/04/2012 Jozef Schildermans 1

Chateau Latour, the famous first growth, told wine merchants today in Bordeaux that 2011 will be the last vintage it sells as futures, or en primeur. Only bottled wines will be sold from the winery, and vintages will be released when the chateau believes they are ready to drink. Read more on James Suckling’s blog.

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Spotted-wing drosophila threatens European vineyards

22/11/2011 Jozef Schildermans 0

Drosophila suzukii or Cherry vinegar fly, a type of fruit fly endemic to Japan and Asia, poses a serious threat to European wine and fruit growing, warns the European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). The male of the Cherry vinegar fly has wings with distinctive black spots. The first flys were observed in 2009 in Trentino in Italy. The species has > Read more …

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Burgundy-prices fall at Hospices de Beaune auction

21/11/2011 Jozef Schildermans 0

Prices for Burgundy wines at the 151st Hospices de Beaune auction fell with almost 13 percent for whites and over 6 percent for reds compared to last year. The prestigious “pièce du président”, auctioned off by former model Inès de la Fressange and French comedian Christian Clavier, fetched 110.000 euros, much less than last year, when the 460 liter barrel > Read more …