Chisinau, Moldova – September 25, 2023 – The Republic of Moldova is once again gearing up for the 22nd edition of National Wine Day, an extraordinary wine celebration event in Eastern Europe. Traditionally held on the first weekend of October each year, this year's festivities are scheduled for October 7th and 8th. Wine of Moldova is preparing to host a remarkable showcase featuring a record-breaking lineup of over 90 wineries, ranging from well-established producers to a burgeoning number of boutique wineries. "Our Wine Wins Over the World" is the chosen theme for this year's Moldova's National Wine Day, echoing the remarkable international recognition that Wine of Moldova has garnered in recent years. It encapsulates a decade of remarkable achievements and revolutionary successes in the global wine arena since the launch of Moldova's wine country brand, "Wine of Moldova. A legend alive."
Over the past 10 years, Moldovan wines have made significant strides in quality, propelling us to become the most awarded country in Eastern Europe at international competitions. Moldova proudly claims the title of the "World's Best Red Wine," a testament to our dedication and craftsmanship. Moldovan wines have received record recognition at international competitions, amassing over 6,000 medals.
On October 7th and 8th, the Great National Assembly Square will undergo a stunning transformation into a vibrant wine city. This gathering will unite winemakers, oenologists, wine connoisseurs, and industry professionals, alongside enthusiastic tourists from all corners of the globe. More than 90 dedicated winemakers will proudly come together under the banner of Moldova's renowned wine brand, "Wine of Moldova”, to showcase their exceptional vinous creations. The event will also feature a prestigious award ceremony recognizing outstanding figures in the wine industry, a diverse program of captivating artistic and cultural performances, the "Wine School" dedicated to educating consumers on responsible wine consumption and nurturing wine culture, as well as tailored tours and exclusive programs at Moldova's wine-rich oenotourism destinations. With National Wine Day typically attracting around 100,000 attendees, including local residents, tourists, and industry experts, this year's celebration promises to be even more remarkable as it marks the 10th anniversary of Wine of Moldova.
(excerpt from a release)

Mumbai, India
​Notable South Australian estate Two Hands Wines and fine wines importer Wine Park hosted a tasting of  Australian Shiraz, featuring the estate’s finest styles from vineyards across Barossa Valley, Mclaren Vale and more. Two Hands Wines proprietor Pierre-Henri Morel and Wine Park  head Vishal Kadakia co-hosted the tasting with Mumbai’s leading restaurateurs, retailer and media in attendance. Morrel took participants through an elaborate tasting of seven wines featuring the estate’s Picture Series and the highly rewarded Bella’s Garden as well Two Hand’s top wine, Holy Grail. The Two Hands Wines tasting was held on August 28 at Four Seasons Mumbai.
 
Pierre-Henri Morel introduced the Two Hands wines by laying an emphasis on the estate’s philosophy, saying that, “Two Hands has always focused on the highlighting the regional identity of the Shiraz grape in the Barossa Valley and across South Australia. We do this by crushing grapes from specific regions so as to capture the unique regional styles like Barossa and Mclaren Vale. We also believe in nurturing the vines and the soil with an organic approach in the vineyard.” Morrel believes that the wine is foremost made in the vineyard : The vineyard is the champion. That is where the magic happens.

The seven wines tasted were:
 
Two Hands, Angels' Share, Shiraz 2020
Two Hands, Brave Faces, GMS 2020
Two Hands, Gnarly Dudes, Shiraz 2020
Two Hands, Sexy Beast, Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Two Hands Wines Bella's Garden Shiraz 2021
Two Hands Tenacity Old Vine Shiraz 2022
Two Hands Holy Grail Shiraz, 2021
 
​Wine Park founder and head Vishal Kadakia said on the occasion, “Our journey with Two Hands has been very rewarding, more so because I believe Wine Park has help build the local niche that enjoy premium quality Australian wines. And Two Hands is right up there with the best. I was an admirer of Two Hands wines for a long time, having tasted them back in US several years ago. I was also impressed by how Two Hands featured 13 times in the last 20 years in the Wine Spectator Top 100.”
(Excerpt from a release) 

Although conditions were somewhat turbulent at times, the course of the year to date has fuelled high expectations for this year’s vintage. According to estimates, the harvest volume is expected to be around 2.3 million hectolitres. The course is set for another successful year for Austrian wine. Alongside a good quality of wine, this success can also be explained by the positive export trends and the affinity that Austrians have with their country’s wines.
Johannes Schmuckenschlager, President of the Austrian Winegrowers´ Association, expects a promising 2023 vintage. “Following a climatically turbulent and challenging season that was marked by severe storms, we are forecasting a wine harvest of around 2.3 million hectolitres – slightly lower than the volume of the previous year. Nevertheless, we are expecting a very good quality of wine. With this year’s growth cycle having been characterised by alternating spells of rainfall and hot weather, the perfect course has been set,” reported Schmuckenschlager at a press conference in Vienna this week.
​Chris Yorke, CEO of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) also responded positively to the forecast for the 2023. “With yet another excellent vintage, the course is set to continue the successful growth of Austrian wine – international markets included. Despite the difficult situation over the past few years, our vintners managed to grow export values in 2022. On the domestic market, the release of Sturm [Ed.: partially fermented grape juice from Austria] marks the start of a key sales period for the wine industry. Austrian Wine is supporting this with a focus on revenue-boosting areas, such as wine tourism, the promotion of high-quality Riedenwein (single-vineyard wine) and Reserve wine for the festive season, and the Sekt Austria concept,” Yorke said.

Very changeable weather throughout 2023
To date, the weather in 2023 has been positive. The year kicked off with a very dry winter, followed by a mix of warm and cool days in March. April was remarkably cool, yet the second half of the month brought very welcome rainfall. The rather cool weather caused relatively late budding of the vines, at the end of the month. This was very good news, however, given the threat of late frost at this time of year. Fortunately, the cooler temperatures in early May did not cause any late frost damage either – a risk that persists in the vineyard until mid-May. The warmth of the vegetation period that began in the second half of May led to strong growth of the vines.
Blossoming began in mid-June in most wine-growing regions. “This late onset, compared to previous years, is viewed positively by the wine industry because a later blossom also means a later start to the ripening period – going more into autumn – when more moderate daytime temperatures and somewhat cooler nights can be expected. This generally leads to more harmonious wines with a well-balanced sugar-acid ratio,” explained Schmuckenschlager. Flowering progressed very well in most regions. Poor flowering conditions were extremely localised, unfortunately resulting in coulure.
The first hot spell of the year began at the end of June and lasted until the beginning of August, with temperatures largely staying above 30 °C. “Contrary to winemakers’ fears, drought damage was fortunately kept at bay – in contrast to the previous year – due to the ground having been well-supplied with water during the preceding falls of rain. Just a few young vineyards were adversely affected by the prolonged dry period. Precipitation at the beginning of August managed to refill the drained water reserves and was particularly important considering that the ripening period was about to start,” Schmuckenschlager added. The second heatwave of the year, which similarly saw temperatures in excess of 30 °C, enabled the ripening process to advance very quickly. Further precipitation was recorded at the end of August, which is especially important for the grapes to ripen fully.
Schmuckenschlager is hoping for nice, dry weather over the next few weeks to ensure that everything is in place for a very good vintage.
(Excerpt from a release) 

Henry Farr, Associate Director at Brand Finance said:
“Within the Wine & Champagnes sector, Wines have performed better in terms of brand value growth. High-end Champagnes have taken a hit. Difficult growing conditions, reduced availability and price hikes have steered some consumers towards lower-end sparkling wines as an alternative. For those less effected by harsher financial situations, this could be due to not wanting to appear vulgar or ostentatious by indulging in luxury products when others are struggling with the rising costs of living.”
Changyu is the world’s strongest Wine & Champagne brand, rated AAA-
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance. Compliant with ISO 20671, Brand Finance’s assessment of stakeholder equity incorporates original market research data from over 100,000 respondents in 38 countries and across 31 sectors.
Changyu (up 33% to brand value USD1.2 billion) becomes the strongest Wine & Champagnes brand with a BSI score of 83.2 out of 100, earning it a AAA- rating. The China-based brand boasts three consecutive years of brand strength growth.
(Excerpt from a press release) 

Australian wine exports declined by 10 per cent in value to $1.87 billion and 1 per cent in volume to 621 million litres in the year ended June 2023, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report released today.The decline in value was largely driven by a reduction in exports to the United States of America (US), as lower-priced packaged exports continued to decline. Exports to the United Kingdom (UK) also continued to decline, following the two years of elevated shipments due to pre-Brexit demand and COVID-19 related market impacts.
The latest export results are partially reflective of broader global trends reported by market research firm IWSR, with all wine consumption globally declining 3 per cent in volume in 2022, but premium price segments bucking the trend with continued growth, albeit at slower rates than recent years.Wine Australia Manager, Market Insights, Peter Bailey said that more than half of the decline in Australia’s export value took place in shipments with an average value between $2.50 to $4.99 per litre free on board (FOB), which are generally wines exported in their final packaging and sold in lower priced retail segments.
“Wine consumption in mature markets is in decline, driven by decreases in the commercial price segments. This is impacting Australia’s export performance, especially in the US, as Australia is very exposed to the price segments in decline,” Mr. Bailey said. In comparison to value, export volume was stable as a short-term, supply driven increase in unpackaged wine shipments, especially to Canada, was outweighed by declines in volume to many of Australia’s export destinations.“The growth in unpackaged shipments comes as the shipping challenges of the past couple years have eased, allowing Australian exporters to catch up and ease pressure on inventory,” Mr Bailey said.

The two diverging trends – the supply driven rise in unpackaged wine exports and the demand driven decline in packaged shipments as consumers in traditional markets turn away from wine in lower price segments – meant that exports with an average value below $5 per litre declined by 11 per cent in value but increased by 1 per cent in volume.
“The increase in unpackaged exports and the decline in packaged exports has resulted in the share of unpackaged exports growing by 8 percentage points to a 69 per cent volume share. This has an impact on the overall average value of exports, as unpackaged exports do not include packaging costs and are therefore inherently lower in value,” Mr Bailey said.
Exports above $5 per litre declined by 14 per cent in volume and 9 per cent in value. The markets driving the decline in this segment were Singapore, the US, Canada, and the UK – while growth to Hong Kong was able to offset part of this decline. “According to IWSR, the value of global premium wine sales grew by 2 per cent in 2022, a lower growth rate compared to recent years due to economic and inflationary pressures. Globally, consumers are cutting back on alcohol spending as prices rise for food and other necessities but are choosing to drink less often rather than trade down price segments.”
Australian wine was exported to 117 global destinations during the year, up from 112 in 2022. Sixty-six of these destinations recorded growth in the value of exports during the year, while 51 declined. Exports to Europe and North America both declined during the year. Europe declined by 15 per cent to $556 million, driven mostly by the UK, but 12 of the top 13 destinations in the region also declined in value. North America declined by 14 per cent to $525 million. Exports to Asia declined by 4 per cent to $637 million. There were mixed results across the Asian region, including a decline in exports to Singapore and an increase in exports to Hong Kong, two key trading hubs in the region, reflecting unpredictable market conditions at present. Key emerging markets such as Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam grew in value during the period.
The top five markets by value were:

• UK (down 14 per cent to $364 million, 20 per cent share of total export value)
• US (down 18 per cent to $359 million, 19 per cent share of total export value)
• Hong Kong (up 29 per cent to $220 million, 12 per cent share of total export value)
• Canada (down 6 per cent to $163 million, 9 per cent share of total export value), and
• Singapore (down 24 per cent to $128 million, 7 per cent share of total export value).

The top five markets by volume were:

• UK (down 3 per cent to 220 million litres, 35 per cent share of total export volume)
• US (down 3 per cent to 135 million litres, 22 per cent share of total export volume)
• Canada (up 43 per cent to 77 million litres, 12 per cent share of total export volume)
• New Zealand (down 3 per cent to 31 million litres, 5 per cent share of total export volume), and
• Germany (down 12 per cent to 28 million litres, 5 per cent share of total export volume). 

(Excerpt from a press release) 

The International Wine Challenge, a global wine competition, has announced the results of its 2023 competition. Thousands of wines from over 50 countries were entered into the competition and blind tasted by an international panel of experts last month, with awards going to over 6,000 wines from across the world. Winemaking heavyweights such as France, Australia and Spain topped the table but there were plenty of surprises too, with Netherlands claiming its first Silver medal and countries such as Egypt and Denmark getting their first taste of medal success.
8 Indian wines including 4 sparkling wines emerged winners with Sula Brut Sparkling NV and Source Sauvignon Blanc 2022 bagging bronze medals. 6 wines comprising Sula Dindori Reserve Viognier 2022,  Rasa Syrah 2021, J'Noon Red 2021, Noi Sparkling NV, Chandon Brut and Rose NV sparklings won the came out as "commended" winners. 
Peter McCombie MW, IWC Co-Chair explained, “An International Wine Challenge medal gives consumers the confidence to be adventurous and try wines from countries that they may not have previously associated with top quality wine. It takes the risk out of buying wine from up-and-coming wine-producing nations such as India, Demark and the Netherlands, which have all been recognised with medals in this year’s challenge.”​

Emerging markets in Southeast Asia showed strong growth for Australian wine exports but were unable to offset declining value to traditional markets, where tough conditions continued in the year to the end of March 2023, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report released today.
Australian wine exports overall declined by 7 per cent in value to $1.90 billion and 1 per cent in volume to 620 million litres (69 million 9-litre case equivalents) in the year to 31 March 2023. This is 18 per cent below the 10-year average value of $2.30 billion and 16 per cent below the 10-year average volume of 736 million litres.
Wine Australia Manager, Market Insights Peter Bailey said the year-on-year decline in value was largely driven by a decrease in exports to the United Kingdom (UK).
“The UK is still experiencing the decline that we’ve previously reported, which is the result of elevated shipments over the past two years due to pre-Brexit demand and COVID-19 induced changes in consumer preferences,” Mr Bailey said.
“In comparison to value, total shipment volume was relatively stable – with the large decline to the UK being outweighed by volume growth to the United States (US) and Canada, particularly in unpackaged wine, as global shipping conditions continue to improve.
“A positive in the report is that Australia’s diversification into emerging markets is starting to bear fruit, which is beneficial for longer-term stability and growth. Southeast Asia grew strongly at both the commercial and premium ends of the price spectrum, and to key emerging markets including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines.
“Australian exporters shipped wine to more individual destinations around the world. But it is also pleasing to see that the regional share of export value has remained even; with around a one-third share of Australia’s export value going each to Asia, North America and Europe."
The export results are representative of the incredibly tough conditions for Australian wine globally. The below long-term average performance comes at a time when economic hardship and increased competition from other beverages are impacting traditional markets for Australian wine.
“In traditional markets for Australian wine, the decline in the demand for wine is being felt the most in lower price segments while premium wine is still finding growth, as consumers purchase wine less frequently but are choosing to spend more on each wine product they purchase,” Mr Bailey said.
“This change disproportionally affects Australia, as a large share of exports to traditional markets such as the UK and US are currently in lower priced products, and this therefore impacts export performance. It’s a tough export environment for Australian wine.”
Australian wine exports in all price segments below $10 per litre FOB declined in value in the year ended March 2023. The biggest loss was in exports valued between $2.50 to $4.99 per litre FOB, which were mostly glass bottle exports shipped to the US, UK, and New Zealand. Exports above $10 per litre FOB were stable during the year, staying at $621 million in value and 24 million litres in volume.
In the year to the end of March 2023, Australia shipped wine to 118 destinations – up from 112 in the same period in 2022. The strongest region for growth in Australian wine exports was to Southeast Asia, up 9 per cent to $301 million. Offsetting this growth was a decline in exports to North America, down 5 per cent to $557 million, and to Europe, down 17 per cent to $568 million. European markets are experiencing tough operating conditions resulting from economic challenges and conflict in the region. Northeast Asia also declined, down 5 per cent to $318 million.
The top five export destinations by value were:

• US (down 8 per cent to $381 million. 20 per cent value share of total export value)
• UK (down 20 per cent to $359 million. 19 per cent share of total export value)
• Hong Kong (down 1 per cent to $182 million. 10 per cent share of total export value)
• Canada (up 2 per cent to $174 million. 9 per cent share of total export value), and
• Singapore (down 20 per cent to $134 million. 7 per cent share of total export value).

The top five export destinations by volume were:

• UK (down 16 per cent to 208 million litres. 33 per cent share of total export volume)
• US (up 15 per cent to 146 million litres. 24 per cent share of total export volume)
• Canada (up 44 per cent to 73 million litres. 12 per cent share of total export volume)
• New Zealand (down 16 per cent to 28 million litres. 4 per cent share of total export volume), and
• Germany (down 17 per cent to 28 million litres. 4 per cent share of total export volume).

​(Excerpt from a release) 

The forthcoming BBW, which will take place from 6th to 8th February 2023 at Fira de Barcelona’s Montjuic venue, will be attended by around 700 exhibiting companies, 15% more than in 2022, increasing the event’s surface area by 5%. Four months before it’s due to be held, 80% of BWW has been booked, with the participation, among others, of firms such as Protos, Matarromera, Rioja Vega, Recaredo and Freixenet and Designations of Origin (DOs) like Cava, Bierzo and Valderroas.
 With more than 60 DOs on display, the fair will promote the plurality and territorial diversity of wine in Spain more than ever before.
Under the slogan Spain, a unique mosaic of soils, BWW 2023 will offer a programme of talks, tastings and food and wine pairings conducted by around a hundred renowned experts, who’ll highlight the great wealth of soils that make up the Spanish winegrowing territory. This geological diversity and the climate make Spain one of the countries with the greatest potential for wine production.
We should highlight the tasting that will bring together four Masters of Wine turned winemakers from different areas of Spain for the first time. These include Norrel Robertson, who’s been producing wines in Calatayud since 2003, Almudena Alberca, the first female Master of Wine in Spain and now a producer in La Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Valdeorras, and Fernando Mora, who owns vineyards in different parts of Aragón. Multi-award-winning sommeliers who have become winemakers will also take part in a joint tasting.
In order to promote the international projection of Spanish wine, the fair intends to invite more than 500 key international buyers with the strategic involvement of ICEX Exportación e Inversiones. These purchasing decision-makers will come from the main importers of Spanish wine, including the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Colombia, Mexico, China, Hong Kong and Poland.
Spain is the world’s leading wine producer and the third largest exporter, according to the data provided by ICEX. In 2021, it exceeded €2,956 million in wine exports and was very close to its record. €3,006 million, reached in 2018.
Another of the major challenges for the sector is increasing domestic demand, which is why BWW 2023 will invite 1,300 key buyers from the domestic market (large-scale retail, wholesalers, specialised distributors, retailers and gourmet stores). A total of more than 8,000 business meetings between the fair’s exhibitors and professional buyers are expected to take place.
 The most recent BWW in April 2022 brought together more than 650 exhibiting companies, 60 Spanish Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and over 18,000 professional visitors. These included 470 major international buyers from strategic markets, who participated in more than 6,600 business meetings with the exhibiting companies.
(excerpt from a release)

 

Australian wine exports declined by 1 per cent in volume to 627 million litres and 11 per cent in value to $2.01 billion in the year ended 30 September 2022, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report released today.
While the decline is reflective of the tough market conditions over the past two years – including high deposit tariffs on bottled Australian wine imported to mainland China, the impact of the global freight challenges, and the aftermath of changing consumer habits during the COVID-19 pandemic – the figures also reflect that value is starting to stabilise.
Wine Australia Manager, Market Insights Peter Bailey said that the results were mixed in the year ended 30 September 2022, with the increases recorded in some markets offset by declines in others. “As a moving annual total result, the Export Report can demonstrate the performance of Australia’s exports and highlight some growing trends. In this report, we’re seeing the tail end of the decline in exports to mainland China having an impact on the total export figures; this is expected to wash out of the figures by the end of 2022,” Mr Bailey said.
When mainland China is excluded from the data, wine exports to the rest of the world held steady in value, declining by 0.2 per cent to $1.99 billion and increasing by 1 per cent in volume to 622 million litres. There was a decline in exports to the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Singapore, which is a result of the return to anticipated shipment levels. This decline to the UK has been delayed compared to other markets with similar COVID-19 consumption patterns, such as the United States and Canada. Exports to the North America and Southeast Asia regions are showing growth. In particular, strong growth was recorded in exports to the US, Canada, Malaysia and Thailand. Pleasingly, the growth trend in the US and Canada was driven by both ends of the price spectrum; premium wine exports continued to grow and unpackaged commercial exports increased, as shipments of the record 2021 vintage accelerated following a slower than usual start due to global shipping pressures. Furthermore, the number of exporters to the US is at the highest level since 2008 and of the exporters to the US that ship wine at a value of $10 or more per litre free on board (FOB), 75 per cent experienced growth demonstrating that green shoots continue in the market for premium Australian wine. However, while total exports look to be stabilising, the wine sector can continue to expect market fluctuations, as rising inflation and interest rates may put pressure on margins and curtail consumer spending in key markets. On a positive note, over the past few months, the Australian Dollar has depreciated against the US Dollar, which assists Australian wineries to be more competitive in the US.

Australian wine exporters shipped to 118 destinations during the period, up from 111 the previous year. The strongest growth came from North America, up 6 per cent to $604 million, and Southeast Asia (up 15 per cent to $291 million). However, the large decline to Northeast Asia (down 46 per cent to $321 million, driven by mainland China) and to Europe (down 12 per cent to $621 million, driven by the UK’s return to more normal shipping levels) outweighed the growth to other regions.
The top five markets by value were:

• US (up 5 per cent to $412 million. 21 per cent share of total export value)
• UK (down 14 per cent to $395 million. 20 per cent share of total export value)
• Canada (up 10 per cent to $190 million. 10 per cent share of total export value)
• Hong Kong (down 21 per cent to $163 million. 8 per cent share of total export value), and
• Singapore (down 16 per cent to $132 million. 7 per cent share of total export value).

The top five markets by volume were:

• UK (down 12 per cent to 222 million litres. 36 per cent share of total export volume)
• US (up 14 per cent to 139 million litres. 22 per cent share of total export volume)
• Canada (up 26 per cent to 62 million litres. 10 per cent share of total export volume)
• New Zealand (up 14 per cent to 32 million litres. 5 per cent share of total export volume), and
• Germany (down 7 per cent to 31 million litres. 5 per cent share of total export volume).

North America
Exports to the US increased by 5 per cent in value to $412 million and 14 per cent in volume to 139 million litres. There are several drivers of the growth. One of which is that the volume of unpackaged wine shipped to the US increased by 53 per cent to 68 million litres during the period. The substantial size of this increase is because the Australian 2021 vintage was the largest on record and the shipments of this vintage had been delayed due to the ongoing global freight challenges. In the past few months, shipments of this vintage have intensified.
Secondly, packaged wine declined by 1 per cent in value to $319 million and 9 per cent in volume to 71 million litres. As volume declined more than value, the average value of packaged wine increased by 9 per cent $4.47 per litre FOB. Driving this increase in average value is the decline of packaged commercial wines (mainly the $2.50 to $4.99 price segment) and an increase in exports above $7.50 per litre FOB, up 32 per cent to $71 million.
Wine exports to Canada increased by 10 per cent in value to $190 million and 26 per cent in volume 62 million litres. The largest driver of the increase in volume was growth in unpackaged wine shipments. The volume of unpackaged shipments increased by 44 per cent to 36 million litres.
The increase in total value of exports to Canada was driven by packaged shipments, especially at the premium end. The value of packaged shipments increased by 11 per cent to $156 million while volume increased by 7 per cent to 26 million litres. Shipments valued at $5 per litre FOB and above grew by 18 per cent in value to $122 million, the highest value for this price segment since 2009.
United Kingdom
Exports to the UK decreased by 14 per cent in value to $395 million and 12 per cent in volume to 222 million litres. This decline in wine exports to the UK was expected, if somewhat delayed. There were two factors elevating exports to the UK since 2020. Firstly, the Brexit transition period saw an increase in exports ahead of the 31 December 2020 deadline. Secondly, Australian wine holds the number one position in the off-trade – a category that benefitted greatly from the closure of the on-trade during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, as the on-trade has opened back up, there is a counter-swing in the demand for Australian wine. While this counter-swing occurred much earlier in the US and Canada, another two markets where Australia has a larger share of the off-trade than on-trade, the shift has been much slower in the UK and exports are only now starting to be affected.
Asia
Exports to Northeast Asia declined by 46 per cent in value $321 million and by 31 per cent in volume to 35 million litres. The main contributor to this decline was exports to mainland China (down 92 per cent to $21 million) and exports to Hong Kong (down 21 per cent to $163 million). Exports to Hong Kong are returning to a more normal level after an increase in shipments to the market in 2021. Offsetting some of the declines were exports to Japan and Taiwan, which rose by 18 per cent and 13 per cent respectively. Exports to South Korea dropped by 5 per cent in value to $43 million; the decline took place in exports valued below $7.50 per litre FOB (down 44 per cent), while exports above $7.50 per litre increased by 30 per cent.
Exports to Southeast Asia increased by 15 per cent in value to $291 million and 39 per cent in volume to 24 million litres. Several markets increased in value, including Thailand (up 95 per cent to $53 million) and Malaysia (up 55 per cent to $59 million). This growth was slightly offset by a decline in exports to Singapore, dropping 16 per cent to $132 million; shipments to Singapore are also normalising after an elevated level of shipments in 2021 and 2022.
​(Excerpt from a release)

New Delhi, India
Today, leading Australian wine brand, Jacob’s Creek announced the launch of Unvined, a non-alcoholic wine with less than 0.5% alcohol, available in two varietals - Riesling and Shiraz. Unvined, a modern expression of winemaking, is the perfect answer to occasions when one wants to enjoy a glass of wine without the alcohol content yet retaining the true character of the original styles and flavors.
​The winemakers at Jacob’s Creek use sophisticated technology which removes alcohol whilst capturing most of the original aromas and flavours of the wine. The Unvined range has 50% less calories than regular wine of the same varietal, catering to the evolved consumer base looking for varied options to suit their preferences and mood. With the introduction of these two new varietals under non-alcoholic wine category, Jacob’s Creek truly delivers on a coveted portfolio of wines that everyone around the table will want to reach for.

Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India, said: “Non-alcoholic wine may sound counterintuitive and something out of the ordinary, however sometimes it’s exactly what the evening calls for. The idea behind creation of Unvined was to ensure that everyone is able to celebrate important life moments with their friends and family in a way that fits with their lifestyle. Given Jacob’s Creek’s vast expertise in winemaking, we have created a product that has a perfect balance of taste while preserving the natural grape profile. We are proud to release Unvined in India. It is an exceptional product with less than 0.5% alcohol and a faithful expression of premium wines from Australia”.
 
Unvined Riesling offers attractive citrus, lime and floral notes that are typical of Australian Riesling. The light bodied palate of the non-alcoholic wine with refreshing fruit notes is balanced by a crisp acidity on the finish. While Unvined Shiraz has appealing plum, blackberry and spice notes distinctive to a South Australian Shiraz. Its medium bodied palate delivers sweet fruit and light toasty oak flavour supported by soft ripe tannins. Unvined can be readily enjoyed with a wide selection of foods. For the Riesling white meat, seafood dishes and salads make for a perfect companion. For the Shiraz, lighter style curries go perfectly well.
 
Unvined Riesling and Shiraz are available in select retail outlets in Delhi and Mumbai and pan-India through Amazon India at INR 900/-. (Excerpt from a release)​

The International Wine Challenge, the world’s most influential, impartial and rigorously judged wine competition, has announced the results of its 2022 competition and India also had its first taste of Gold Medal success, with a sparkling rosé wine Sula Brut Tropicale Cremant De Nashik NV produced by Sula Vineyards. The highest medal previously won by India was a silver in 2015.

Thousands of wines from over 50 countries entered the competition which was judged by an international panel of wine experts in a series of rigorous blind tastings held in London last month and France continued its winning streak as the most awarded country in each medal category, with 75 Gold, 367 Silver and 442 Bronze medals. The Champagne region alone picked up 30 Golds, with Rare Champagne claiming the prestigious Champagne Trophy for its Rare Millésime 2008. Rhône producer Maison Delas Frères succeeded in reclaiming the International Syrah Trophy from New Zealand for the first time in almost a decade for its Les Bessards 2019 and France also retained the International Pinot Noir Trophy for a seventh year in a row. The winning wine, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Cuvée Cyrot Chaudron Hospices de Beaune 2020, from Burgundy producer, Maison Albert Bichot, was also crowned with this trophy last year for its 2019 vintage.

After being pipped to the post for two years running, New Zealand reclaimed the International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy this year, with Yealands Estate Single Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc 2021.New Zealand was also recognised for its world-class Chardonnay, being awarded the International Chardonnay Trophy for the very first time, a category that has traditionally been dominated by French wines. The top performing wine was the Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 from Hawke's Bay producer Trinity Hill Wines.

Australia was awarded an impressive 54 Gold Medals in this year’s competition, coming second only to France. South Australian producer, Pinnacle Drinks won the International Grenache Trophy for its The Ethereal One Fleurieu Grenache 2020 -  the first time in IWC history that an Australian wine has won this accolade.The Australian White Trophy also went to a Tasmanian producer, with Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay 2020 also claiming both the Australian and Tasmanian Chardonnay Trophies.

Oz Clarke, Co-Chair of the International Wine Challenge commented, ‘It is always fantastic to see award-winners from countries with little to no previous experience of success in the Challenge. As well as the notable Gold Medal for India, we also saw medal winners from Kazakhstan, Wales, Sweden and Switzerland, countries that consumers might not necessarily associate with winemaking. An International Wine Challenge sticker serves as a mark of quality, and gives consumers the confidence to try wines from different countries and in different styles.’

Australian wine exports decreased by 26 per cent in value to $2.05 billion and 13 per cent in volume to 628 million litres in the year ended March 2022, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report released today.
The year-on-year figures continue to reflect the impact of the imposition of high deposit tariffs on bottled Australian wine imported to mainland China in November 2020 and of the exceptionally tough market conditions globally. Exports excluding mainland China declined by 3 per cent in volume but increased by 7 per cent in value to $2.03 billion – the highest value since 2010. Key drivers of the value growth were in markets including Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan indicating that market intensification and diversification is having an impact. In the 12 months ended March 2022, Australian exporters shipped wine to 112 markets and 71 experienced value growth.
Wine Australia General Manager Corporate Affairs and Regulation Rachel Triggs said while the increase in value excluding mainland China was strong at $129 million, it did not come close to offsetting the decline in value to mainland China (a loss of $844 million). “Over the past 15 months, Australian wine exporters have had to navigate through an exceptionally challenging operating environment, largely led by the imposition of high deposit tariffs on bottled Australian wine imported to mainland China, the continuing impact of the global freight crisis, and a counter-swing in some markets after COVID-19 related stockpiling in 2020." Ms Triggs said.  
The decline in total wine export volume, excluding mainland China, was most significant to Australia’s two biggest markets of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (US). Exports to these markets surged during 2020 due to COVID-19 stockpiling for the off-premise trade, but demand has since eased as pandemic restrictions relaxed.
“Low inventory after three small consecutive vintages and delays in getting the record 2021 vintage onto ships from the ongoing global freight crisis also contributed to the decline in volume of wine exports. Shipping industry experts to do not expect these issues to resolve until the second half of 2022 at the earliest,” Ms Triggs said.
In the 12 months to the end of March 2022, the top five markets by value were:

• UK, down 2 per cent to $449 million,
• US, down 4 per cent to $416 million,
• Hong Kong, up 24 per cent to $184 million,
• Canada, down 13 per cent to $171 million, and
• Singapore, up 96 per cent to $168 million.

The top five markets by volume are:

• UK, down 6 per cent to 246 million litres,
• US, down 5 per cent to 127 million litres,
• Canada, down 7 per cent to 51 million litres,
• Germany, down 8 per cent to 34 million litres, and
• New Zealand, up 6 per cent to 33 million litres.

Europe
The UK is the number one destination for Australian wine exports in value and volume. In the 12 months ended March 2022, exports to the UK decreased by 2 per cent in value to $449 million and 6 per cent in volume to 246 million litres (27 million 9-litre case equivalents).
A decline of 9 per cent in export value below $5 per litre FOB, to $357 million, outweighed growth within the above $5 FOB per litre segment of 36 per cent to $92 million. The strongest rates of growth came at $10 to $19.99 FOB per litre, up 51 per cent to $21 million. It is the highest value in this segment in this 12-month period since 2009 and the number of exporters in this price point increased from 236 in 2021 to 248 in 2022.
Excluding the UK, exports to Europe declined by 6 per cent in value to $233 million and 7 per cent in volume to 104 million litres. European markets to record value growth included Denmark, up 13 per cent to $40 million, Norway, up 2 per cent to $8 million, and Poland, up 71 per cent to $7 million.
North America
The US is the second ranked destination for Australian wine exports by value and volume. In the 12 months ended March 2022, exports to the US declined 4 per cent in value to $416 million and 5 per cent in volume to 127 million litres (14 million 9-litre case equivalents).
About three-quarters of the value shipped to the US was at below $5 FOB per litre, which declined by 10 per cent to $325 million. There was growth in the price points at $5 FOB or more per litre with a strong increase recorded at $10 FOB or more per litre, up 37 per cent to $53 million – the highest value in this price point in a March Export Report since 2009. There were 27 additional exporters in this price segment compared to the previous year, taking the number to 233, and there are more than 100 additional exporters to the US in this price point compared to a decade ago.
Canada is the third biggest destination for Australian wine by volume and fourth by value. In the 12 months ended March 2022, Australian wine exports to Canada decreased by 13 per cent in value to $171 million and 7 per cent in volume to 51 million litres (5.6 million 9-litre case equivalents). A decline in exports below $10 FOB per litre more than offset growth at $10 FOB or more per litre. Exports at $10 FOB or more per litre increased by 8 per cent to $26 million, the highest for this time period since 2011.
Asia
The most significant growth in overall exports in the 12 months ended March 2022 came from Australian wine exports to Southeast Asia, which grew 63 per cent to $281 million. Exports to Northeast Asia declined 70 per cent to $337 million, driven largely by the decline to mainland China.
Hong Kong is the largest destination in the region by value, and exports increased by 24 per cent to $184 million. Australian wine exports to Singapore almost doubled in value to $168 million. The value of exports to Japan rebounded strongly in the 12 months to March 2022, up 15 per cent to $51 million with strong growth at $2.50 to $4.99 FOB per litre and at $10 FOB or more per litre. Exports to South Korea and Taiwan increased by similar rates (almost 30 per cent to $45 million and $28 million respectively) with the $10 FOB or more per litre price segment driving growth to each destination. The price segment accounts almost half the value of exports to South Korea and almost 60 per cent to Taiwan. Other strong performances were to India, up 134 per cent to $15 million, Thailand, up 85 per cent to a record $38 million, Philippines, up 74 per cent to $12 million, and Vietnam, up 82 per cent to $7 million.
(Excerpt from a release)

Wine Australia has welcomed the announcement that the Australian and Indian Governments have signed the Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI ECTA).
When the AI ECTA enters into force, preferential tariff treatment will be afforded to premium Australian wine imported to India, making Australia the first major wine producing country to negotiate such arrangements.
Wine Australia General Manager Corporate Affairs and Regulation Rachel Triggs said, “There is potential for growth in the sale and consumption of Australian wine in India with Australia already having the greatest share of the imported wine market. In particular, the AI ECTA will make India a more viable proposition for small to medium winemakers who have not previously contemplated entering into that market.
“The wine culture in India is maturing as consumers discover and learn more about wine. It’s exciting to contemplate Australian winemakers playing a role in that maturation, and the AI ECTA will make it easier for them to do so,” Ms Triggs said.
Through the AI ECTA, India has also agreed to extend any preferential arrangements for wine afforded to other trading partners in future to Australian wine.
“The strengthening of the relationship between India and Australia through the AI ECTA creates an excellent platform upon which we can pursue a meaningful dialogue with India about regulatory and technical matters relating to the trade in wine.
In the 12 months to the end of December 2021, Australian wine exports to India increased by 81 per cent in value to $12 million – a record value of Australian wine exports to India. Volume also increased by 71 per cent to 2.5 million litres, and 74 per cent of this volume of wine was red wine.
The common customs tariff on wine imported to India is 150 per cent, making it a challenging market for imported wine.
In accordance with the AI ECTA, tariffs on Australian wine with a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value of over US$5 per 750ml bottle will decrease to 100 per cent upon entry into force, with a further phased reduction of 5 per cent per year for 10 years down to 50 per cent. Tariffs on Australian wine with a CIF value of over US$15 per 750ml bottle will decrease to 75 per cent upon entry into force, with a further phased reduction of 5 per cent per year for 10 years down to 25 per cent.
Wine in India – fast facts

• According to IWSR, Australian wine held a 42 per cent value share of the imported wine category in India in 2020, well ahead of Italy (14 per cent), France (12 per cent) and Chile (11 per cent).
• IWSR reports that 72 per cent of the volume of wine consumed in India is produced domestically.
• Euromonitor International reports that a rising middle class, increasing urbanisation, an inclination towards imported wine, and a shift in consumer preferences from hard spirits towards wine are expected to drive wine consumption in the forecast period, which is predicted to reach 55.5 million litres by 2025, up from 29.2 million litres in 2020.
• Euromonitor International reports that the most popular red wines in India include Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, while for white wine Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc are popular.

(Excerpt from a release)

Wagram becomes the 17th wine-growing region in Austria that can apply the protected DAC designation to wines with regional typicity. Sekt with a protected designation of origin (Sekt g.U. (PDO)) will be named Sekt Austria (PDO) from now on. And the Kremstal region is gaining nine legally defined Ortswein (villages wines) origins.
THREE LEVELS OF WAGRAM DAC: GEBIETSWEIN, ORTSWEIN & RIEDENWEIN
After intensive deliberation, the Wagram region submitted a draft DAC decree, which has now been signed by the Austrian Minister of Agriculture, Sustainability and Tourism, Elisabeth Köstinger. This makes the protected designation of origin “Wagram DAC” the seventeenth of its type in Austria.
Like other regions before it, Wagram decided to subdivide its DAC wines into the categories Gebietswein (regional wine), Ortswein (villages wine) and Riedenwein (single-vineyard wine). At the Gebietswein level, the traditional range of 13 permitted grape varieties is retained, including both white and red varieties. Gemischter Satz (field blend) and cuvée blends are also allowed. With regard to Ortswein, the DAC decree establishes 27 protected designations of origin. The number of permitted grape varieties is reduced down to just seven. These wines must be monovarietal. The pinnacle of the origins pyramid is represented by Riedenwein, namely wines from a single, legally defined vineyard. The flagship white varieties of the Wagram region, Grüner and Roter Veltliner, are permitted for these wines, as is Riesling.
All wines must correspond to the definition of a “dry” wine, and the whites must under no circumstances have a dominant woody note. The decree applies to wines from the 2021 vintage onwards.

SEKT G.U. (PDO) IS REPLACED BY SEKT AUSTRIA (PDO)The collective amendment also ushers in a significant change for Austria’s sparkling wines. From now on, Sekt with a protected designation of origin (Sekt g.U. (PDO)) can only be sold in conjunction with the terms “Sekt Austria (PDO)”, “Sekt Austria Reserve (PDO)” or “Sekt Austria Große Reserve (PDO)”. The aim of this move is to ensure that the 100% Austrian origins of these Sekts (grapes from Austria made into Sekt in Austria) is communicated more clearly. Austrian Sekt is easily identified by the red-white-red banderole on the top of the bottle.
“Our Sekts are of the highest quality and are becoming increasingly sought-after on the international stage,” Yorke explains. “By employing the designation “Sekt Austria” for sparkling wines with all-Austrian origins, we are creating a clear position and profile for these premium wines, which come in three classes.”
Strict regulations apply to Sekt Austria (PDO), based on those governing the best sparkling wines in the world. For example, Sekt Austria (PDO) must be aged on the lees for at least nine months, the Reserve for at least 18 months, and the Große Reserve, for at least 36 months (replacing the previous 30). Hand-picking is compulsory for Reserve and Große Reserve. While the grapes used for Sekt Austria (PDO) and Sekt Austria Reserve (PDO) must come from a single federal state, those for the Große Reserve must be harvested within a single municipality; single-vineyard Sekts are also possible in this class.
(excerpt from a release)

Australian wine exports decreased significantly by 30 per cent in value to $2.03 billion and 17 per cent in volume to 619 million litres in the year ended December 2021, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report released today.
The export figures are reflective of the unprecedentedly tough market conditions over the past 12 months as a result of deposit tariffs imposed on bottled Australian wine imported to mainland China, the continuing impact of the global freight crisis, and a counter-swing in some markets after COVID-19 related stockpiling in 2020.
The biggest driver of the decline in Australian wine exports in the 12 months to the end of December 2021 was the reduction in exports to mainland China. Exports to mainland China declined by 97 per cent in value to $29 million and by 93 per cent in volume to 6.4 million litres, a loss of nearly $1 billion in value and 90 million litres in volume, when compared to the 2020 calendar year where shipments were free from tariffs for most of the year.
Wine Australia General Manager Corporate Affairs and Regulation Rachel Triggs said the Australian wine export community was managing its way through exceptionally challenging times, which is evident in the Export Report.
“The 2021 calendar year represents the first full 12-month period since very high deposit tariffs on Australian wine imported to China were imposed, and the global impact of the challenging operating environment can now be observed in full. Because the export figures are compared to the prior 12-months, we’ll keep seeing significant differences in the year-to-date export figures as a result of the deposit tariffs until the end of 2022,” Ms Triggs said. 
“Exports excluding mainland China increased by 7 per cent in value to $2 billion and decreased by 6 per cent in volume to 613 million litres. This is the first time that exports excluding mainland China have reached $2 billion for a calendar year since 2009,” Ms Triggs said.
The markets with the largest increase in value of Australian wine exports were Singapore (up 108 per cent to $166 million), Hong Kong (up 45 per cent to $191 million), South Korea (up 74 per cent to $47 million), Taiwan (up 65 per cent to $31 million) and Thailand (up 31 per cent to $28 million).
Exports valued at above $10 per litre FOB increased in value by 49 per cent when excluding mainland China, giving positive signs that demand for products which would previously have been exported to China is emerging in other markets and highlighting the importance of the Australian grape and wine sector investing in market diversification.
“The pandemic is still disrupting the on-trade, the global freight crisis is continuing to cause shipping delays and increased freight costs, and while there was export growth to many destinations, it will take time to offset the loss in trade to mainland China. This is not something that will happen overnight, nor within a year. But the Australian wine sector is resilient, and there are early signs that hard work in expanding and diversifying markets is paying off,” Ms Triggs said. 

The top five markets by value were:

• UK, down 1 per cent to $453 million
• US, down 7 per cent to $403 million
• Hong Kong, up 45 per cent to $192 million
• Singapore, up 108 per cent to $166 million, and
• Canada, down 14 per cent to $164 million.

The top five markets by volume were:

• UK, down 9 per cent to 243 million litres
• US, down 8 per cent to 125 million litres
• Canada, down 16 per cent to 47 million litres
• Germany, down 1 per cent to 34 million litres, and
• New Zealand, down 7 per cent to 31 million litre

(Excerpt from a release)

Mumbai, India
Grover Zampa Vineyards, India’s most awarded wine producers and pioneers of winemaking, launches the Late Harvest Chenin Blanc to its Art Collection range. Grover Zampa’s Art Collection range reflects the philosophy of winemaking as art and showcases paintings from celebrated Indian artists. There are 7 varietals within this range allowing people to explore distinct styles within one vibrant brand. All crafted, like a piece of art, in the brand’s signature style with imagination, inspiration and dedication.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Vivek Chandramohan, Chief Executive Officer says,
“Our brand is contemporary, and we believe in offering distinct choices in our wine
range that reflect the winemaker’s signature style and true varietal characteristics
along with the Indian terroir. It reflects our philosophy of winemaking as an art and
the symbiotic relationship between art and wine. This dessert wine will surely be the
delectable end to your meal.”

The Art Collection Late Harvest Chenin Blanc is a pale straw yellow wine with sticky
tears/legs. The intense fruity and floral aromas of apricots, lychees, dates, and white
blossoms adds a nice balanced acidity and is velvety smooth on the palate with a
lingering sweet aftertaste. Serve this dessert wine chilled at 5 - 7°C at the end of
your scrumptious meal. It can be enjoyed by itself, or can be paired with fruit & nut platters, crème brûlée, cheesecakes, vanilla custards, apple pies & lemon meringue
Price Rs 505 - 535 ( 375ml) Mumbai, Pune, New Delhi, Bengaluru
(Excerpt from a release)

Mumbai, India
The Happy High, one of the leading wine & spirit education co  now has a category called shopping where we have hand picked recommendations from Amazon for your home bar namely; glassware, bar accessories, wine accessories, cocktail and wine books and also added some interesting syrups and mixers.
An average consumer in India is surely in for a confusing ride when s/he browses an online store showing hundreds of pages for a certain product,at The Happy High they are attempting to bring in convenience with a shortlist basis their experience and a little bit of research. They have mostly listed value for money or budget recommendations which work beautifully but in certain categories like glassware, they have showcased luxury wine decanters, high end whisky decanters, crystal wine glasses etc too. The list is concise and to the point.
" We have created this barware, glassware and wine accessory section to make home bar shopping easy for our consumers who want to pick bartender certified or recommended equipment and tools. The whole idea is to empower consumers and make them a cocktail party or a wine evening ready host." says Ajit Balgi, Chief at The Happy High. 
They plan to keep editing the list on an ongoing basis by taking customer feedback, suggestions and requests. Home Bar Shopping  now looks easy! You can see them in the links below:
Glassware for the home bar
​- Luxury Crystal lead free wine glasses
- Cocktail glasses
- Value for money, premium wine glasses 
- Wine and whisky Decanters
- Whisky, cognac,liqueur glasses 
Bar accessories for the home bar
-Cocktail shaker, Boston, Japanese
- Bar Spoons, Jiggers, Muddler
-Cocktail Strainer
- Pourer 30 ml
-Steel reusable straws
Wine accessories for the home bar
- Vacuum wine pumps
- Wine openers
- Electric wine openers
- Coravin for wine preservation
- Wine pourers & aerators
Syrups and Mixers for the home bar
- Cocktail Syrups, flavoured, maple etc
- Tonic Waters, Ginger Beer
- Nolo Beers, wheat and lager
- No alcohol wines
Cocktail and wine books for consumers

Reveilo a family owned wine brand based in Niphad, Nashik has now gone the vegan way starting 2019 vintage which is out in the market.  The brand which debuted with its 2006 vintage and was then the most expensive Indian wine brand has maintained its mantra of not being the most expensive but having quality over quantity and growing organically. 
Reveilo which earlier had a Italian winemaker were path breaking in growing Italian grape varities like Grillo and Nero D'Avola which found a liking with the consumers. Their entire list can be found here .
​Speaking on the move of going with a completely vegan portfolio of wines, Yatin Patil, Director of Reveilo said " Reveilo has always followed a consumer centric approach; so keeping the end consumer and the environment in mind we pursued the Vegan approach, as wine ultimately is a plant based derivative. One of the most effective things an individual can do to lower their carbon footprint is to avoid all animal products thereby preventing the exploitation of animals. Today’s consumer is increasingly health conscious, research has linked vegan diets with health benefits. Though we were producing Vegan wines since 2017 our wines were labelled “Vegan” only in 2019 since the new FSSAI labelling norms came in force. "

Mumbai, India
Zenato a family owned winery founded in 1960 by Sergio Zenato is back in India with VBev . They are known to make the finest wines from Lugana and Valpolicella Classico, two key territories in the Veneto region. The wines were launched in the presence of Mr Marco Milani, Zenato's brand ambassador who was on a visit to India. 

Founder Sergio Zenato is a pioneer from the Lugana region and the foundation of the winery is from exceptional quality wines that he produced from the Trebbiano di Lugana. Their Lugana vineyards are known to have the oldest vines in the region. He was the first to age Trebbiano in oak which at the time was unheard of. He was also one of the first producers to revive the Ripasso method in the nineties. Zenato is among the most awarded Italian producers for Amarone and Ripasso today.

Sumedh Singh Mandla, Chief Executive Officer, VBev on the occasion said: “We at VBev are committed to bringing the finest wines from around the world to the Indian sub-continent. Zenato stands testament to the best that fine Italian wines can offer, their Amarone and Ripasso are some of the best from the region. Zenato wines we believe will find the perfect pairing with fine dine Italian and Indian cuisine, two of the top cuisines preferred by the Indian consumer. The Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG is a complex yet elegant wine with a velvety structure, it has received 90+ ratings from all top critics year after year to make it one of the most appreciated
Amarones today. Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC, a wine greatly connected to Amarone offers great value for the fine wines from Valpolicella. To complete the portfolio, we also have a Soave Classico and Bardolino from Zenato’s portfolio that represent two additional historical regions in Italy. They offer light, refreshing wines that can be enjoyed as an aperitif, antipasti or with kebabs.”

Marco Milani, Brand Ambassador – Zenato said: “Arriving in India after traveling across Asia Pacific  was a big surprise, it suddenly felt like home. India and Italy have a lot of cultural commonalities, I hope that our countries can continue to grow closer in the future. I believe wine can contribute to strengthening this connection and we are confident that VBev our partners in India will be successful at achieving this. We have the same vision of sharing and developing knowledge about the region and Italian wines and committed to the long-term position of Zenato in the Indian market. I am optimistic that the Zenato Amarone and Ripasso will do very well; its full body, complex aromas, intense flavours and strong character will find great acceptance with the Indian consumer.”
​Pricing:
Zenato Soave – Rs 2,290
Zenato Bardolino – Rs 2,290
Zenato Ripassa – Rs 4,990
Zenato Amarone – Rs 10,900

Gaius Octavius Caesar Augustus of Rome, visited Ancient Olympia to take part in the Olympics. The first night of his visit was hosted in the villa of the Roman province in Elis. Wanting to make a good impression on the Emperor, the Provincial Governor wanted to offer him the best wine native to Sacred Olympic Land.
It was a red wine with ruby color, full of delicate and mysterious flavors. The vine that gave this wine was grown only in the blessed Land of Ancient Olympia. The Emperor Augustus duly honored the Wine and it was known to all that good wine could easily lure him into excesses... So he got drunk on the dark red wine and slept that night. The next day, of course, he woke up with the sun high in the sky having missed the opportunity to take part in the Olympics.
The Greeks of course offered him an olive wreath and a golden crater. The legend says that Augustus stayed for three days walking around with him and tried all the wines and goods of the area, but on the day he left he ordered the Roman governor of Ilida to send him two large containers of that red wine to Rome each year. That shiny, ruby wine… For as long as the Emperor lived, the Provincial Governor faithfully followed the command. But those times was strange, and one-night Gaius Octavius Caesar Augustus of Rome, was poisoned by his own wife.
Some say that on the night he was poisoned, he was drunk on this wonderful red wine from Olympia Land. The local wine-makers, in the name of the Emperor who honored them by his choice, they name the ancient vine and red ruby wine 'Augoustiatis', by the name of the great Emperor.
Today, 2,000 years later, here in Ancient Olympia, at Ktima Brintziki (Estate) still cultivates the same vine with the same care and produce the same wine that was worthy of Emperors. The well over four millennia of Olympic Winery history that we follow faithfully and diligently, they hope to bring to you the same thrill it once caused to Emperor August ( excerpt from a release by Brintziki estates)

‘Austrian winegrowers are looking forward to a good vintage with fully ripe grapes this year. Compared to the big harvest in 2018, an average volume of approximately 2.4 million hectolitres is expected. And after the record-breaking early harvest last year, picking will begin around Lake Neusiedl at the  beginning of September. In other regions, the primary harvest will begin in mid-September’, explained Johannes Schmuckenschlager, president of the
Austrian Winegrowers’ Association, with regard to 2019.

No late frost damage this year
After a normal budding, late frost damage could be avoided once more this year, despite a few anxious nights. In contrast to the previous year, flowering took place about two weeks later – at the normal time. The great heat in June 2019 with record temperatures over 30°C then led to rapid progress of the vegetation. The dry and hot
weather conditions also provided the reason why very healthy grape material is available throughout Austria this year, as this dryness worked against the development of any fungal diseases during and after flowering. The very high
temperatures around blossoming led, however, in some areas and some vineyards to a poor fruit set.

First drought, then relief
In some regions – for example, in Burgenland and around Krems – the heat brought severe drought stress in June and July. At the end of July, however, the onset of rainfall provided relief in most winegrowing regions. Occasionally there was also heavy precipitation in the form of downpours and thunderstorms, and some hail damage was recorded. At present, the vegetation is progressing quite nicely thanks to the rainfall, which is why one may expect a normal start to the harvest this year.

So how is 2019 looking?
The development of the vegetation cycle in 2019 points to a fully ripe vintage. Due to the arid stretch after flowering in June and July, the berries are on average a bit smaller, which is also an indicator that there will be some very aromatic wines. And because of the postponement of maturity to a normal, slightly cooler period, growers
expect high sugar concentration but sufficient acidity as well. 2019 should offer very harmonious and nicely balanced wines.
(Excerpt from a release) 

Mumbai, India
Ignacio, export manager for Grupo Avinea; one of the top Argentinian wine groups and the export partner for Ace Beveragez, visited India for the first time to attend a few exclusive wine tasting events, hosted by Ace Beveragez, held in Delhi and Mumbai to learn the development of wine industry in Indian market and was elated with the wine appreciation by Indian audience, especially for Malbec. He enlightened the guests with his knowledge of wine and the story of Argento and AG wines.

The Wine & Food soiree held on 1st August in Townhall, Lower Parel, hosted by Ace Beveragez featured some of the city’s finest wine and lifestyle bloggers, influential media personalities, gourmets and sommeliers relished splendid food by townhall and some of Argentina’s best wines and innovative cocktails made with the wines that were showcased at the event.

The wines that were showcased

AG Malbec Shiraz -  It is characterised by vibrant fruit flavours and  is a perfect blend of  two varieties, the Malbec gives blackberry and toasty oak characters on the nose, while the Shiraz provides an explosion of black fruit and pepper, which put together form a wine with medium body, ripe fruit flavours.

AG Chardonnay-  The quintessential expression of today’s Argentina, this fruity and refreshing wine offers enticing aromas of tropical pineapple and lime citrus. Concentrated flavours of honeydew melon and passion fruit are also complemented by subtle minerality leading into a fresh, crisp finish.

Argento Malbec-  It comes with a greater concentration of fruit and complexity, this one is exceptional, intense and expressive and comes in rich complex flavors on the palate and a soft mouth texture.

Argento Chardonnay- It  is golden and expresses fresh citrus aromas, although a full-bodied wine in the mouth, it is a clean wine, with fresh flavors of grapefruit and pineapple complemented by mineral notes. The finish is persistent and refreshing, with a rich texture and crisp acidity.

The food from TownHall complemented well. Margherita Pizza with Burrata and Basil, Asparagus with a peanut flavoured sauce, Asparagus Tempura Sushi along with other Hors d’oeuvres paired perfectly with Argento and AG wines and signature cocktails. Cocktails that were specially made for this event by Lokesh - The Townhall mixologist

State Norma - prepared using Tequila, AG 47 Malbec and topped with a delicate cucumber slice.

The Spritzer - prepared using White Wine, Elderflower syrup and gin, served over crushed ice and garnished with an orange slice and powdered sugar.

​(Excerpt from a release)