by Adam Lechmere – The first-ever comprehensive history of all five first growths, by Decanter writer Jane Anson and with a foreword by Francis Ford Coppola, will be published next month.
During the writing of Bordeaux Legends – the 1855 First Growth Wines, Anson was given unprecedented access to the five most celebrated chateaux of Bordeaux – Haut Brion, Latour, Margaux, Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild.
‘I spent many hours over several weeks in the archives at Margaux, Haut Brion and Lafite,’ she told Decanter.com. She also researched extensively in the city archives in Bordeaux, and in London at Christie’s, Berry Brothers and the Royal Society.
Francis Ford Coppola – who owns Inglenook in Napa, one of the most venerable American wineries – describes the book in his foreword as ‘a most interesting and valuable history to those who realise that truly great wine is something of a miracle.
‘The idea that there are five superb wines which are thought of as “the best” threads its way through time and geography
by Adam Lechmere – Chinese consumers drinking wine as an everyday social drink are still only a small part of the market, research has found.
In its two-year ‘China Portraits’ study of over 3000 Chinese wine drinkers who drink imported wine at least twice a year, market analyst Wine Intelligence says over 60% of wine purchases are made by the high-spending one-third of the wine-drinking population.
The country’s wine market is ‘heavily reliant’ on purchases made as part of a ‘business obligation’ by a group dubbed ‘Prestige-seeking traditionalists’. These make up 22% of the wine drinking population but account for 41% of spend, Wine Intelligence says.
Seit heute sind die Finalisten des grössten Schweizer Weinwettbewerbs bekannt. 72 Gewächse – 6 in jeder der 12 Kategorien – hoffen auf einen Platz auf dem Treppchen. Die Sieger des Grand Prix du Vin Suisse, allen voran der „Winzer des Jahres“, werden jedoch erst bei der Grossen Nacht des Schweizer Weins am 23. Oktober in Bern verkündet. Veranstaltet wird der Wettbewerb von VINUM, Europas Weinmagazin, und der Walliser Vereinigung VINEA.
In den rund 3000 Weinen, die zum Grand Prix du Vin Suisse 2012
Die Rekord-Hitze am Wochenende hat nicht nur Menschen und Tieren zugesetzt. Auch Weintrauben können bei solch extremem Wetter Schaden nehmen. «Wir haben es am Wochenende häufiger erlebt, dass Trauben einen Sonnenbrand bekommen haben», sagte Weinexperte Jürgen Oberhofer vom Dienstleistungszentrum Ländlicher Raum (DLR) am Montag in Neustadt an der Weinstraße.
by Adam Lechmere – Major Spanish producer Torres is to focus on its retail operation in China with no plans to produce wines there, new managing director Miguel Torres has said.
Miguel Torres Maczassek, Mereia Torres and Miguel Torres Sr, photographed for Decanter in 2011
In a wide-ranging interview with Decanter.com, Miguel Torres Maczassek has set out his priorities as he prepares to step into his father’s shoes as managing director of the Penedes company next month.
Miguel Torres senior, who celebrates his 71st birthday in September, will remain as president of the group, while Mireia Torres Maczassek, Miguel junior’s sister, will continue her work as general manager and consultant oenologist of the Jean Leon