Wein-News SigiHiss

by Panos Kakaviatos – The US congress last week approved the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement which will eliminate tariffs and other barriers to trade in most goods and services within five years.

The elimination of South Korea’s high import duty on US wine allows California wineries to be more competitive in this promising wine market, according to a press release from the Wine Institute, which represents more than 1,000 California wineries. Continue reading “decanter.com: New US-South Korea trade agreement will boost wine exports”

just-drinks.com editorial team – The US wine market could see a “revolution” of tastes and styles over the next 20 years as consumers make new demands of producers, according to a recent report.

The wine research and consultancy service Wine Intelligence has warned this week that today’s younger consumers in the US will look for a broader range of varietals, source countries and wine styles as they enter the wine drinking years of 45 to 64, compared with current consumers in the age bracket. Continue reading “US: Wine companies set to face consumer “revolution” – research”

by Richard Woodard – The US overtook France to become the world’s biggest wine-consuming nation in 2010, according to newly-released figures.
Total shipments in the US, including domestically produced and imported wines, reached nearly 330m cases, up 2% on 2009, according to the report from consultants Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates. Continue reading “Decanter: US ‘world’s biggest wine consumers’”

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US wine exports rebounded to hit a record $1.14bn in 2010, according to the California Wine Institute.

The value of exports rose by 25% on 2009, although the volume of exports only increased by 2%, to 47.3m nine-litre cases, said the Wine Institute yesterday (22 February). California represents around 90% of exports. Continue reading “US: Wine exports hit record in 2010″

by Janice Fuhrman – The Naples (Florida) Winter Wine Festival will offer an unprecedented auction lot of 100 bottles of 100-point wines at its annual event in January.
Among the wines in the ‘Perfection Lot’ are a 1955 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, a 1989 Chateau Petrus, and a 1985 Domaine Romanee-Conti valued at more than $11,000.

The wines were rated by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and U.S. magazine Wine Spectator.
‘To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that one hundred 100-point wines have been offered in a single lot at a charity auction or at any type of wine auction,’ said Bruce Sherman, co-chair of the event.

‘The idea germinated between myself and a friend. I viewed it as an engaging challenge, and it was especially meaningful because of the cause – auction proceeds go to help underprivileged and at-risk children.’ Continue reading “‘Perfect’ auction lot to be offered at US wine festival”

Jackson Family Wines has appointed a new winemaker at its Matanzas Creek winery in California. Continue reading “US: Jackson Family Wines appoints Marcia Monahan to Matanzas Creek”

Panos Kakaviatos – Americans are snapping up two kinds of Bordeaux 2009 this year: wines with very high scores, and early releases that seem bargains compared with blue-chip wines that have just come out. The correlation between high scores from Robert Parker – who tweeted yesterday that the Bordelais were ‘stupid and arrogant’ in their pricing policy – and saleabilty is as marked as ever.

Unsurprisingly therefore, Pontet Canet (96-100 Parker points) has done far better than Lynch Bages (94-96 points). Both wines are priced at around US$140 per bottle. ‘By a factor of 25 to one, I have sold more Pontet Canet than Lynch Bages,’ said Mark Wessels of MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC. Continue reading “Bordeaux ‘stupid and arrogant’ (Parker) but still selling in US”

Chris Mercer – Wineries and merchants in southern France have been found guilty of duping buyers, including E&J Gallo Winery, into purchasing fake Pinot Noir wine at inflated prices. Ringleaders of the mass fraud operation were given suspended prison sentences and fines by a court in the French city of Carcassonne yesterday (17 February).

Wine merchant Sieur Arques, a supplier to E&J Gallo Winery, must pay back EUR180,000 (US$244,000), the largest fine handed down by the court.  Sieur Arques was one of several local businesses, including wine merchant Ducasse and cooperative Montblanc, who passed off cheap wine as Pinot Noir between 2006 and 2008. By selling the cheaper wine at inflated prices, it is estimated that those involved made an extra EUR7m. Continue reading “FRANCE/US: E&J Gallo a victim in mass Pinot Noir wine fraud”

just-drinks.com editorial team – Napa Valley Vintners has confirmed a change of president. The trade body for the California wine region said yesterday (16 February) that Bruce Cakebread, president and  chief operating officer of Cakebread Cellars, has been elected to the role. Cakebread replaces Paula Kornell of Oakviller Ranch Winery as president.

“Now more than ever, the strength of our association is vital to our members’ success as we navigate this current, uncertain wine market,” said Cakebread.
“Whether it’s providing marketing opportunities for wineries to promote their wines or offering them workshops on a variety of subjects, Napa Valley will continue to be a leader based on the unity of our membership.” Napa Valley Vintners represents 375 wineries in the region.

James Lawrence -  Scientists in Oregon are challenging the notion that terroir can be detected in a wine.  As part of a study into vineyard soils, geologists meeting in Portland for this year’s Geological Society of America conference concluded that the French gout de terroir – translated literally as ‘taste of the soil’ – probably isn’t caused by minerals found in the vineyard. Continue reading “US geologists challenge ‘gout de terroir’”

Jeremy Parzen and Franco Ziliani -  The U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax, and Trade Bureau (TTB) will no longer require Italian government certification for imports of Brunello di Montalcino to the U.S., Italy’s agriculture ministry has announced. Continue reading “US lifts government certification requirement for Brunello”

Leading Beaujolais wine producer Georges Duboeuf has claimed that 2009 is “one of the best” Beaujolais vintages in the last 50 years. In his most recent harvest report, Duboeuf said the region could not have expected a better yield in terms of quality and polyphenol maturity. The quantity is expected to be close to appellation yields ranging from 43 to 48 hl per hectare. Continue reading “FRANCE/US: Georges Duboeuf predicts strong Beaujolais vintage”

A website has been launched by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) as an information source on wine grape growing in the state. The site, www.California-Vineyards.com, launched yesterday (23 September), provides information on the role of grapes in fine wine production and also points out California’s wine grape growers involvement with the Sustainable Winegrowing Program. Continue reading “US: California Wine Growers launches website”

Wine consumption in the US rose by around 1% in 2008, according to the Beverage Information Group’s newly released 2009 Wine Handbook. Americans drank 294.7m nine-litre cases of wine during the 12 months of 2008, the group said this week. The increase in consumption slowed from previous years, but 2008 still represents the 15th year of consecutive growth. Continue reading “US: Wine consumption creeps up in ’08″

Moet Hennessy USA has renewed its agreement with Southern Wine & Spirits of America for the distribution of its brands. The distribution relationship will operate in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina and Washington, the company said today (1 September). Continue reading “US: Moet Hennessy renews Southern Wine & Spirits deal”

just-drinks.com editorial team – US wine sales trickle downwards. Sales of wine in the US have fallen in value for the first time in 15 years, as consumers reign in their spending during the recession, new figures show. Continue reading “US: First fall in US wine sales for 15 years”

just-drinks.com editorial team - California has posted a fall in its wine grape crush last year, according to recent figures. In a report from the California Agricultural Statistics Service, released yesterday (11 February), last year’s wine grape harvest from the state was reported as coming in at just over 3m tonnes, down on the 3.2m tonnes crushed in 2007. Continue reading “US: 2008 wine harvest down in California – statistics”

just-drinks.com editorial team – Americans get a taste for Argentina. Exports of Argentinian wine to the US reported a strong double-digit rise, according to recent data. Continue reading “ARGENTINA: 2008 wine exports to US rise – figures”

just-drinks.com editorial team – The chairman of the world’s largest wine exhibition, Vinexpo, has told just-drinks that organisers would consider an expansion into the US. Vinexpo may one day return to the US in recognition of the country’s importance to the wine world, Xavier de Eizaguirre told just-drinks in an interview today (14 January). Continue reading “FRANCE: Vinexpo eyes return to US”