May frost and June rain still scourge UK wine grape yields, despite warmer temperatures
New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) into the impact of climate change on winegrowing in the UK suggest viticulturally extreme weather events, such as cold snaps and downpours, are likely to continue to threaten yields in the newly-nascent, modernised and expanding wine production industry in the UK, despite improving average growing season temperatures.
Volcanic Wines
Are wines from volcanic soils the ‘next big thing’, even though we’ve been drinking them for ages, possibly without making the connection? This book explores the strong association of Soave with volcanic soils.
Are we reaching closure on the closure debate?
Does a declining prevalence of media critical of TCA/TBA levels and of reduction and oxidation issues suggest that we’re nearly there on the closure debate? Or maybe that we’re more accepting of, or even inured to, complacent about, the levels of these faults? Has industry become complacent?
The cheeky boys
Champagne Jacquesson is owned by the Chiquet brothers. I only met one brother, Jean-Hervé, and he was disarmingly charming and had a mischievous glint in his eye. I couldn’t resist the weak English pun.
Climate change winners and losers
It’s easy to forget that wine is an agricultural product. A changing climate is affecting us all, though humans probably have more adaptability than plants. And grapevines producing high quality fruit for wine are especially sensitive to climate change.
Minerality quote, unquote 7
I’m still getting interesting views from producers about minerality. Here are some quotes from the Loire and New Zealand, not all in relation to sauvignon blanc!
The pendulum of Champagne and Prosecco
One from a couple of years ago, looking at the rise of Prosecco and not-quite-fall of Champagne. Connected?
Pinot noir ascendant in Alsace
There’s a growing excitement about pinot noir in Alsace, as a small groundswell of producers is increasingly garnering acclaim for their wines.
European sustainability initiatives
Wine industry national sustainability codes of practice are almost commonplace in the New World. Europe is there too, but presents a much more fragmented picture of initiatives.
The Wines of Austria, Stephen Brook
Stephen Brook has long been working with Austrian wines and is a source of many an amusing anecdote, and artefactual aside. He is well placed to document the country’s status quo.
