Wine~Works
Wine & Beer Tastings with a Difference
Jacob’s Creek Creates Wine For Curry
We are constantly asked, 'what is the best wine to drink with a curry?' Perhaps this is the answer?
Following the launch of Wah in April of this year a Jacob’s Creek white wine designed specifically to pair with Japanese food – winemakers at the Pernod-owned Australian wine brand have turned their attention to Thai food.
Made in collaboration with internationally-renowned Thai chef ,Ian Kittichai Lamoon is a red blend which, it is claimed, will complement the array of different dishes that are served at a Thai meal.
To create the wine, chef Kittichai visited Jacob’s Creek in the Barossa Valley and prepared six of Thailand’s most popular national dishes, which the Jacob’s Creek winemakers then tasted and tried to complement with a range of red blends.
“It was a fascinating experience working with chef Kittichai to pair wine with Thai food,” recorded Jacob’s Creek senior red winemaker Nick Bruer
“There was so much diversity in the flavours of the dishes, from the hot and sour soup, to the creamy coconut curry and the aromatic herbs that I realised we should not be looking to create a wine that competes with the food,” he added.
“Indeed, the key to creating Lamoon was to make a wine that was beautifully balanced, bringing a softness on the palate and providing flavours which worked in harmony with the dishes,” he concluded.
Launched in Thailand yesterday, the Thai word Lamoon (pronounced ‘Lah-moon’) means soft, as well as balanced and in harmony. Earlier this year Jacob’s Creek launchedWah from grapes from the Adelaide Hills to complement foods using dashi or soy sauce – above all sushi – according to Jacob’s Creek winemaker Rebekah Richardson, who worked on the wine with Mamoru Sugiyama, Japanese sushi chef and owner of Michelin-starred sushi restaurant in Tokyo called Ginza Sushi Kou.
China to Double Wine Production Within 5 Years
Can China overtake Spain, France and Italy to become the world's biggest wine producer?
The article below seems to suggest this!!
China will be the world’s biggest wine producer within five years, according to a leading light at France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
While China is currently the world’s fifth-largest producer of wine, Boris Petric, an anthropologist with the research body, estimates it will soon have the most land under vine and produce more wine than any other country.
In effect, Petric's prediction means that China will double its vineyard land over the next five years. In comparison, in 2012, Spain had 1m hectares under vine, followed by France with 800,000 hectares, according to figures from the Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV). While China's vineyard has increased by 90 percent since 2011, the 2012 figures put its total at 570,000 hectares and a large proportion of these vines are dedicated to table grapes.
Similarly, China produced 14.8m hectoliters of wine in 2012, while France and Italy each turned out 40 million hl.
However, according to Petric, China’s strategy for growing vines is not down to a national love of wine. “Firstly, it is for political reasons, in order to help poor regions that are struggling economically," he says. "[It also assists] desert regions, where the vines help to fix the sand and prevent sandstorms in cities.”
The region of Ningxia, for example, is fighting desertification and relies on ancient irrigation systems from the Yellow River to grow crops.
Petric believes that China's battle against alcoholism is another reason for planting vines, as wine offers a lower-alcohol alternative to the domestic white spirit baijiu. He notes: "Alcoholism is a catastrophe in China.”
While foreign wine giants such as LVMH and Pernod Ricard are investing in Chinese vineyards, major Chinese groups are buying up vineyards around the world. Food giant Cofco, which accounts for around 17 percent of China's domestic wine market, has already purchased vineyards in Bordeaux and Chile to ensure a competitive advantage against foreign brands.
There are also many wealthy individuals who are looking to protect their money by acquiring assets beyond Chinese borders.
In China, wine is seen as a luxury item, said Petric. “The culture of gifting is very important in China and wine is often bought for show,” he explained, noting that sales figures and actual consumption were two very different numbers. However, he added that the number of wine enthusiasts and wine bars was gradually increasing.
World faces global wine shortage!
A recent BBC report maintains that we are facing a global wine shortage. Read article below.
The world is facing a wine shortage, with global consumer demand already significantly outstripping supply, a report has warned.
The research by America's Morgan Stanley financial services firm says demand for wine "exceeded supply by 300m cases in 2012".
It describes this as "the deepest shortfall in over 40 years of records".
Last year, production also dropped to its lowest levels in more than four decades.
Global production has been steadily declining since its peak in 2004, when supply outweighed demand by about 600m cases.
The report by Morgan Stanley's analysts Tom Kierath and Crystal Wang says global wine consumption has been rising since 1996 (except a drop in 2008-09), and presently stands at about 3bn cases per year.
At the same time, there are currently more than one million wine producers worldwide, making some 2.8bn cases each year.
The authors predict that - in the short term - "inventories will likely be reduced as current consumption continues to be predominantly supplied by previous vintages"
And as consumption then inevitably turns to the 2012 vintage, the authors say they "expect the current production shortfall to culminate in a significant increase in export demand, and higher prices for exports globally".
They say this could be partly explained by "plummeting production" in Europe due to "ongoing vine pull and poor weather".
Total production across the continent fell by about 10% last year, and by 25% since its peak in 2004.
At the same time, production in the "new world" countries - the US, Australia, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand - has been steadily rising.
"With tightening conditions in Europe, the major new world exporters stand to benefit most from increasing demand on global export markets."
The report says the French are still the world's largest consumers of wine (12%).
But it adds that the US (also 12%) is now only marginally second.
It also states that the US together with China - the world's fifth-largest market - are seen as "the main drivers of consumption globally".
Alcohol content and grape variety two key factors in consumers’ wine choices
Wine Intelligence report in their recent 'UK Landscapes' report that the UK wine industry is seeing some interesting changes in how consumers choose their wines compared to two years ago.
Whilst wine plays an important part in more people's lives than in 2011, and consumers feel more confident in their knowledge of wine we no longer let price dictate our selection. Whilst two years ago our choice was perhaps governed more by the supermarket promotional offers people are now more interested in the grape variety and the region the wine has come from along with what awards the wine may have won.
However, the biggest factor that has changed how we choose our wine is alcohol content. More than 40% now consider this when purchasing wine compared to 20% two years ago. Wine writers have been drawing consumers' attention to the alcohol content in wine for some time and now it seems this is having an effect.
Wine fraud costing Government as much as £700m
HM Revenue & Customs have estimated for the first time the wine tax gap and has found that illicit wine sales could account for as much as 11% of the market and be costing them as much as £700 million in tax revenue.
Trade bodies have welcomed these new figures saying they can now be used to help in the fight against illicit wine sales and strengthen sales for legitimate wine retailers.
Most wine fraud happens when criminals divert wine intended for sale in other European states into the UK market often selling wine at more than a £1 below the market price in an industry where margins are tight and this has devastating consequences for legitimate UK wholesalers and retailers.
Overall the alcohol tax gap could be almost £2 billion but at the mid point estimate it was closer to £1.2 billion with the beer illicit market share being 9% in 2011-12 with associated revenue losses of £550 million, wine was 6% with revenue losses of £350 million and spirits 3% with revenue losses of £120 million.
In recent years illicit sales in wine, beer and spirits have been declining from the high levels of 2007-8 which had an estimated mid point alcohol tax gap of £1.4 billion with a temporary increase in 2010-11 to over £1.6 billion.
The Chief Executive of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, James Bielby, told Off Licence News that: "Today's figures confirm what our members have known for some time, which is that the supply of wine in the UK is out of control. Criminal operators have been allowed to set up and thrive in direct competition with law-abiding wholesalers.
He added: "HMRC has previously said it cannot act on this issue without an official measure of the loss to the public purse. These new figures provide that measure, and we expect HMRC and the Border Force to take swift and effective action to put the rogue supply chain out of business, such as our proposal for a rigorous registration scheme for alcohol wholesalers."
Read about Oz Clarke exposing the so called half price deals in Supermarkets
At many of his tastings the Wine Guy is often asked about Supermarket half price deals.
Having once sold wine to a 'major' supermarket in a previous life, he is well placed to offer his opinion and warmly welcomes Oz Clarke's commentary on a recent episode of Watchdog.
Follow the link below to read all about the so called supermarket deals.
UK alcohol consumption falls to levels not previously seen in the 21st Century
UK alcohol consumption in 2012 fell to the lowest level this century, with the trend of declining alcohol consumption continuing.
There was a 3.3% fall in UK consumption per head in 2012, which the BBPA says supports Government decisions to pursue a partnership approach on alcohol. The BBPA believes that these figures, based on Treasury returns, demonstrates the comparative benefit of targeted, rather than broad, measures. In 2012 8.0 litres of alcohol were consumed per head as opposed to 9.5 litres per head in 2004 which was the highest year recorded since 2000.
Whilst alcohol consumption is falling, there was still growth in the numbers of breweries with 1,113 operational in Britain by the end of 2012, with the number of larger breweries stable.
Other key facts about Britain's drinking habits to emerge in the new handbook are:
* Average price of draught lager £3.30 in 2013, draught bitter £2.87
* Increase of 165 breweries in 2012
* Despite 2013 Beer Duty cut it is still 61 per cent higher than in 2000
* Drunkeness offences fell 12% in England and Wales during 2012.
* Cask ale continued to increase its market share, despite a small fall (- 1.1 per cent) in overall volume.
* Beer is the only category with majority of sales made through the on-trade.
The first Wine Car Boot sale launched in London
The first Wine Car Boot sale launched today at London's Netil Market in Hackney. If buying wine which has fallen off the back of a lorry springs to mind Wine Car Boot is a much more upmarket affair.
Seven of London' s leading independent wine shops including Borough Wines, Bottle Apostle, Planet of the Grapes, Roberson Wines, Wine Chap, Sweet Thursday and Noble Fine Liquer will each be sampling and selling their five favourite wines out of the back of their vans from noon to 6 pm. Tickets are £15 which gives you your first 10 tastes. You can top up with more tasting tokens, buy whole glasses and bottles to drink in and take home, even place a big order to take home and stock up.
The event was the idea of Ruth Spivey, who has worked in the London restaurant scene - organisers are hoping that this will be a less formal setting than a supermarket in which to taste and buy wine. The day also includes live music and street food stalls
If you didn't make it to this one Wine Car Boot is hoping to be popping up at other sites soon.
Nyetimber Releases Tillington Single Vineyard 2009
Nyetimber has recently announced the release of Tillington Single Vineyard 2009, available from September 2013.
Only 2,900 bottles have been created, with each bottle numbered, and only 2,500 bottles will be released.
Nyetimber's first vines were planted in 1988 and the House has a strict policy of producing its wines using only one-hundred percent of estate-owned grapes. Nyetimber's vineyards are composed of eight specific vineyard sites, six in West Sussex (Manor, Nutbourne, Upper Tillington, Tillington, Lower Tillington, Roman Villa) and two in Hampshire (Hazeldown and Chalk Vale), amounting to an estate of 152 hectares spread across some of the very finest vineyards in England.
The decision to create Tillington Single Vineyard 2009 began when Nyetimber's head winemaker Cherie Spriggs was particularly impressed by the fantastic expression of Pinot Noir coming specifically from the Tillington vineyard back in 2009. Spriggs was keen to create a sparkling wine which would showcase the flavour of those particular grapes. In order to impart elegance and finesse to her new creation, she also decided to blend them with a portion of Chardonnay grapes which were also specifically selected from the Tillington vineyard.
Inspired by the the amazing flavours Spriggs found in the fruit that year with a nod to the great 'single vineyard' wines of Champagne, Tillington Single Vineyard 2009 is the first 'single vineyard' sparkling wine released from Nyetimber with all grapes being selected from a specific vineyard site in order to create a very specific wine.
Spriggs comments: "We're incredibly proud of the Tillington Single Vineyard 2009, which we see as a pure and true reflection of a single expression of a single terroir. The first time I tasted the grapes, I knew we would create a very special wine."
David Gleave, MW, Managing Director of wholesale wine merchants Liberty Wines, who will be distributing the wine, adds: "The exclusive release of Tillington Single Vineyard 2009 underlines Nyetimber's dedication to the highest attention to detail and expression of flavour."
Tasting notes: Tillington Single Vineyard 2009 is light gold, with hints of silver and tiny bubbles. The nose begins with aromas of toasted cr£me br£l£e toppings and meringue, before the wine continues with time in the glass to open and build in intensity. Flavours of strawberry and cherry emerge to create both power and freshness on the palate. Notes of mandarin and pastry proceed to a finish, which is long and balanced, and introduces a hint of vanilla.
Tillington Single Vineyard 2009 will be launched to the trade at the Liberty Wines portfolio tasting on Tuesday, 10th September 2013.
Biggest ever English sparkling wine bottle commemorates Turner’s millionth visitor
Britain' s biggest ever bottle of English sparkling wine has been produced by a Kent-based winery, Chapel Down.
The bottle is a unique, 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar bottle of their gold medal-winning Blanc de Blancs 2007 sparkling wine.
From today, it will go on show at Turner Contemporary in Margate alongside the gallery's summer exhibition Curiosity: Art and the Pleasures of Knowing.
It is the equivalent of 10 magnums and pouring out the 120 glasses that are held inside the bottle would require at least two people.
Chapel Down estimates that there are around 60 million bubbles inside - one for every person in theUK.
The 26 kilogram bottle has been produced to celebrate the museum's one millionth visit.
The landmark, which the museum expects to achieve during the summer, will have been reached just two years from when it opened.
When the exhibition ends in September Chapel Down will tour the giant bottle to restaurants and bars across the country before auctioning it to raise money for the Margate-based gallery, which is a registered charity.
Chapel Down CEO Frazer Thompson commented:
"This is a genuine Nebuchadnezzar that£s been expertly bottled to maintain the correct pressure and preserve the quality of the wine. Whoever makes the winning auction bid later this year could drink this fizz that day or enjoy it in 10 years' time.
"Given the uniqueness of the bottle, and how we're intending to decorate it, we're looking at the reserve price to be at least £10,000.
Turner Contemporary will also be marking 1 million visits more widely with a national campaign "I am one in a million".
Chapel Down will also be awarding 20 bottles of its sparkling wine - the equivalent number of bottles in a Nebuchadnezzar - to the one millionth visitor that comes through the doors of the gallery.
Australian Vintage soon to launch low alcohol wine in UK
Australian Vintage is launching a new red and white reduced alcohol wine which the producer says will set new standards for taste in the 5.5% abv category.
Called Summer Light, the new wines will be officially unveiled in mid-August and comprise a Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz, both at 5.5% abv to benefit from the lower duty in the UK at this alcohol level.
“We know we’ve nailed it,” said Julian Dyer, general manager for the UK and Europe at Australian Vintage about the two new wines in an interview with last week.
Although the Australian producer launched a 5.5% Moscato called Vinni in October last year, it has been absent from the fast-growing low-alcohol still wine sector in the UK because Dyer said it was hard to get a good enough flavour at 5.5%.
“We are coming into the 5.5% category a bit later than the others because to date we haven’t been able to deliver the quality that’s right,” he commented.
Continuing he said, “But we have done benchmark tastings and without question Summer Light is the best tasting – the wines are actually in balance and still taste like [standard abv] wines.”
A particular challenge for the producer according to Dyer was the red 5.5% Shiraz, and he believes Australian Vintage is the only winemaker to have created a really palatable 5.5% red, which, he added, spends a period in oak barrels to bring some wood-derived sweetness.
The wines will be priced at £5.99 and Australian Vintage has already achieved two listings for the Summer Light range, which will be on shelves in the UK in September, and will be sold under the company’s Miranda brand.
Key to the producer’s development of more reduced-alcohol wines has been the adoption of the latest type of the spinning cone alcohol removal technology.
At a cost of AU$1.8 million, the new version is the first to be fitted in Australia and allows alcohol extraction to take place at a lower and less damaging temperature of 42 degrees Celsuis, which is 20 degrees lower than the standard technology.
Wine Guy reserves judgement until these 'wines' are tasted,
High-tech corkscrew takes wine from uncorked bottle!
You must check this out. Wine Guy wants one!
Follow the link below for something truly different and unique.
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100 VoucherThe Wine Guy says...
"I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food."
"I should say upfront that I have never been in a cellar in my life. In fact, I can see no reason why anyone should ever go into a cellar unless there is wine involved."
"Beer is made by men, wine by God."
"Wine gladdens the heart of man."
"Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages."
"In wine, there's truth."
"High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water."
"This is one of the disadvantages of wine, it makes a man mistake words for thoughts."
"If we sip the wine, we find dreams coming upon us out of the imminent night"
"Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather stains of cares"
"Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile"
"Wine enters through the mouth, Love, the eyes. I raise the glass to my mouth, I look at you,I sigh."
"Wine makes every meal an occasion, every table more elegant, every day more civilized."
"Wine is like the incarnation--it is both divine and human"
"Wine makes all things possible."
"Sir, I did not count your glasses of wine, why should you number up my cups of tea?"
"Wine can be a better teacher than ink, and banter is often better than books"
"Life's too short to drink cheap wine..."
"The first kiss and the first glass of wine are the best."
"A bottle of wine begs to be shared; I have never met a miserly wine lover"
"I prefer my water in wine form."
"White wine is like electricity. Red wine looks and tastes like a liquified beefsteak."
"Great wine works wonders and is itself one"
"To take wine into our mouths is to savour a droplet of the river of human history"
"Wine gives one 'ideas,' whereas champagne gives one 'strategies."
"Men are like wine-some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age."
"Most days I juggle everything quite well, on the other days there's always red wine."
"There is truth in wine, but you never see it listed in the ingredients on the label"
"Always carry a corkscrew and the wine shall provide itself."
"Wine is like the incarnation-it is both divine and human."
"Wine improves with age. The older I get the more I like it."
"Age is just a number. It's totally irrelevant, unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine."
"My only regret in life is that I did not drink enough Champagne."
"Consuming wine in moderation daily will help people to die young as late as possible."
"Wine is the thinking person's health drink."
"Wine cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires the young, makes weariness forget his toil"
"The wine cup is the little silver well, where truth, if truth there be, doth dwell"
"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance"
"Good wine is a necessity of life for me"
"Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life"
"I drink Champagne when I win, to celebrate and I drink Champagne when I lose, to console myself"
"God made water, but man made wine"
"Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy"
"Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life's most civilized pleasures"
"A bottle of good wine, like a good act, shines ever in the retrospect"
"Like human beings, a wine's taste is going to depend a great deal on its origins and its upbringing"
"Compromises are for relationships, not wine"
"Language is wine upon the lips"
"Wine is wonderful stuff, but so many people are put off by the snobbery of it"
"I'm only drinking white wine because I'm on a diet and I don't eat"
"Wine has been with civilised man since the beginning"
"Whenever a man is tired, wine is a great restorer"
"Wine rejoices the heart of man and joy is the mother of all virtues"
"A waltz and a glass of wine invite an encore"
"Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing."
"Good wine carrieth a man to heaven"
"Drink wine, and you will sleep well. Sleep, and you will not sin. Avoid sin, and you will be saved. Ergo, drink wine and be saved."
"A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine."
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