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)
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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:
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) The value of Australian wine exports has continued to grow in the 12 months to June 2019, increasing by 4 per cent in value to $2.86 billion. China continued to drive growth and the United States of America (USA) also made a welcome return to growth. Export volumes decreased by 6 per cent to 801 million litres (89 million 9 litre case equivalents); this volume decline was driven by a decrease of 7 per cent in shipments of wine below an average value of $2.50 per litre free on board (*FOB). This resulted in a 10 per cent increase in the overall average value of exported wine to $3.58 per litre, the highest level since 2009. Wine Australia Chief Executive Officer Andreas Clark said the growth in value and the declines in volume at that lower end of the price spectrum would be welcome news to the sector that has been focusing strongly on growing value rather than volume. ‘The strong growth in average value is positive for the wine sector and the broader economy as it lifts returns for wine businesses and flows through to regional economies through higher grape prices. Our National Vintage Report 2019 released last week shows that the average grape price has lifted for the fifth year in a row, reaching $664 per tonne, the highest level since 2008’, Mr Clark said. ‘The turnaround in exports to the USA, which grew by 2 per cent in value to $432 million, is pleasing. Average value increasing 6 per cent to $2.83 per litre, the first growth in 2 years, rewards the efforts of the many exporters who are working actively in that market to change perceptions about Australian wines and communicate about the diversity and excellence of Australia’s offering. ‘There were increases across most major price segments in the USA with the stand out segment for growth being $7.50 to $9.99 per litre FOB.’ Mr Clark said Australian wine exports to China (including Hong Kong and Macau) had reached a financial year record, increasing 7 per cent in value to $1.2 billion. Volume, however, decreased 16 per cent to 154 million litres (17 million 9-litre case equivalents) as exports of wines below $2.50 per litre FOB declined. Australia is well-placed in China, currently sitting behind Chile and France in export volume and second to France in export value. However, looking at the first five months of 2019, Australia has overtaken France to become the number one imported wine category in mainland China by value. Australia’s imported market share has jumped 13 percentage points since 2015 to 24 per cent based on volume; compounded by the recent contraction of the total import market. Mr Clark said that the United Kingdom (UK) market had experienced a slight decline with value decreasing 3 per cent to $373 million and volume declining 4 per cent to 236 million litres (26 million 9-litre case equivalents). Average value increased 1 per cent to $1.58 per litre. The volume decline reflects that some of the larger brands have wrapped up their strategies of getting additional product into market pre-Brexit to mitigate any disruption to exports. ‘It’s important to retain perspective on the UK market. Research by IRI shows Australia was ranked number 1 in still wine off trade [retail] sales in the 12 months ended March 2019, with a market share of 24 per cent in volume and 23 per cent in value’, Mr Clark said. Off-trade sales in the UK for Australian wine grew 1 per cent in the year ended March 2019 to £1.2 billion. The key areas of growth were wine priced between £5.01–7.00 per bottle (up 1 per cent), £8.01–9.00 (up 10 per cent), and £10.01–20.00 (up 4 per cent) (IRI Worldwide). Australia has the highest share (30 per cent) in the £5.01–6.00 per bottle segment. Mr Clark said Australian wine supplies would remain tight in the medium term with last week’s National Vintage Report revealing that the 2019 vintage was 1.73 million tonnes, just one per cent below the 10-year average. This means that supplies, particularly of reds that dominate Australian exports, will continue to remain stable. (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India India is the latest addition to the export markets of the Cordoniu Raventos group and it kickstarts their business in India with VBev; a dynamic and fast-growing Wine & Spirits importer and introduced the Codorniu Cava, Vina Pomal Rioja and Veranza from their portfolio at a suave affair high up in the air at Aer Lounge at the Four Seasons, Mumbai. A brief on Codorniu Raventos group? Cordorníu Raventós Group is one of the world’s leading wine-producing companies. Their estate owned vineyards span across 3,000 hectares making them one of the largest family-owned vineyards in Europe with a legacy of 18 generations. Their wineries are located in Spain’s Rioja, Priorat, Ribera del Duero, Costers del Segre and Penedés, California’s Napa Valley and Argentina’s Mendoza. The group has also been credited as being the top premium player in the domestic wine market in Spain. History of the Codorniu Raventos group ? It all began in 1551 when Jaume Codorniu a landowner with vineyards started producing wine. Jaume’s winery, now part of the Cordorníu Raventós group is the oldest winery in Spain and the 17th oldest in the world. Some other notable milestones include the production of the first bottle of Cava in 1872 and being appointed Purveyor to the Royal Family in 1897. Today, they produce the best-selling Cava in the world and export their wines to over 100 countries, On the occasion of the launch Sumedh Singh Mandla, Chief Executive Officer of VBev said; “We are excited to introduce Spain’s iconic wine group Codorniu Raventos to the Indian market. Spain offers an array of wonderful wines at a great value, our initial selection with Codorniu Cava, Vina Pomal and Veranza reflect Codorniu Raventos’ diverse offering. Codorniu Brut Clasico, a well-structured and fruit forward Cava with a rich bouquet of aromas and eye-catching packaging will be perfect for the Indian palate and ideal for gifting. Vina Pomal is an iconic and critically acclaimed Rioja producer. We believe it will find great acceptance among the discerning wine palates in India. We foresee great success for Vina Pomal Reserva and Crianza in Horeca and in the premium retail space. Veranza wines from La Mancha offer very good quality fruit forward wines at sharp pricing and will be greatly accepted across the country.” The Indian consumer travels overseas more than ever before, as a result, they have greater exposure to quality wines from an array of wine producing regions. They are far more attuned to global trends and their preferences. The entry of Codorniu Raventos group stands testament to the progress and promise this leading global producer sees in the Indian market. Pricing for Codorniu Raventos brands in Mumbai and entire Maharashtra Codorniu Clasico Brut NV – 1,990 Rs Vina Pomal Crianza – 2,390 Rs Vina Pomal Reserva – 2,990 Rs Veranza Blanco & Tinto – 1,290 Rs ( Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India
Grover Zampa Vineyards, the longest standing winery in India, has added United Spirits Ltd wholly-owned subsidiary Four Seasons Wines, and Charosa Vineyards, an asset of Hindustan Construction Company, to their wine portfolio. The move comes as a part of the brands overarching efforts to bolster its sales, improvise on its mass and premiumisation strategies while indirectly also fueling the growing wine business of the country. Grover Zampa Vineyards’ has been a pioneer of fine winemaking in India and a leading exporter, significantly marking its footprints in India as well as various International countries. With the addition of two new brands, the company plans to expand into a multi-brand lifestyle label with wine being at the core of their business. The brand aims to widen their portfolio and offer more varieties that resonate with the millennials and new age wine drinkers. This will also lead to an increased focus on wine tourism with better amenities being offered to patrons at their vineyards, thereby consolidating their position as a market leader in the country. Spread over 50 acres in Baramati, Four seasons was started back in 2006 following the acquisition of French winery Bouvet-Ladubay. The brand has focused on developing Indian wines that are not only affordable but also at par with international quality, a vision mutually shared between both Four Seasons and Grover Zampa Vineyards. On the other hand, Charosa’ winery is spread over 230 acres in Charosa village and is known for its weather and soil that are extremely efficacious for the growth of wine grapes; rendering the acquisitions as strategically ripe and beneficial to Grover Zampa’s growth plans. Speaking about their strategy, Mr. Vivek Chandramohan, CEO, Grover Zampa Vineyards opined “The wine industry has been on a positive growth trajectory for the past few years, with growing interest from varying consumers to better understand and experience the beverage. This has opened up the pathway to expand and reach out to these very consumers through various touch-points – an insight which has significantly dictated our association with Four Seasons and Charosa. We have a positive ambition for what the future has in store for us and are committed to providing our patrons with the very best in wine.” International demand for fine Australian wine grew strongly in 2018, with an increase in wine exports of 10 per cent in value to $2.82 billion free on board (FOB) and 5 per cent in volume to 850 million litres (94 million 9-litre case equivalents) in the year ended 31 December 2018.
‘These figures demonstrate strong international demand and they highlight how Australian wine exporters have worked diligently to develop and maintain international markets’, said Andreas Clark, CEO Wine Australia. ‘This demand translated into growth in almost all price segments’, he said. Bottled wine shipments increased by 7 per cent in value to $2.24 billion and decreased in volume by 3 per cent to 361 million litres (equivalent to 40 million 9-litre cases). This saw the average value of bottled wine grow by 10 per cent to a record $6.20 per litre FOB. Unpackaged wine also experienced outstanding growth, reaching record levels in value (up 27 per cent to $560 million) and volume (up 12 per cent to 480 million litres or 53 million 9-litre case equivalents). The average value of unpackaged wine continued to grow, increasing by 14 per cent to $1.17 per litre. Red wine continues to be the most popular wine style exported from Australia, and value increased by 12 per cent to $2.14 billion in the year ended December 2018. The value of white wine exports also grew – by 10 per cent to $607 million.( Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India As an ode to its successful five-year journey in the country, Chandon India announces the new ‘Think Pink’ bottle for its Rosé varietal in January 2019. The design of the India-themed bottle draws inspiration from some of the country’s most recognisable symbols, especially the Peacock – also the national bird of India, along with other motifs derived from natural riches of the country – such as bejewelled antique jewellery, and stunning ancient architectural patterns. The label plays with the soothing shades of blue of the majestic peacock – an epitome of poise, beauty and individualism. We can learn from it lessons about the meaning of self-love,honour, integrity and the importance of facing life’s challenges as well as the unknown with courage, confidence and grace. Meanwhile, the refined lotus pink in the bottle’s design, represents all that is precious. The two hues blend beautifully together in the bottle’s design to expertly embody the true spirit of Chandon Rosé. The ornate design also draws from other inspirations – delicate inlay work in Mughal architecture, embellished bejewelled ornamentation from traditional techniques such as jadau and polki, as well as one of India’s richest legacies – handwoven textiles. Chandon’s ‘Think Pink’ bottle for its Rosé is the perfect pouring partner and is gender neutral, making it ideal for celebrations and for gift giving to celebrate love, self-expression and confidence and to get the party started! Chandon’s ‘Think Pink’ bottle of rosé will be available at select retail outlets and on-premise at F&B partners from January 2019 onwards in markets that Chandon is present in. (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India
Nashik vineyards have started entering a pre-harvest stage with ‘veraison’ arriving in Sula’s vineyards at Gangapur. Basically, ‘Veraison’ is one of the most important moments in a grapevine’s annual lifecycle; it’s the onset of ripening, when the grapes turn from green to red and naturally begin to sweeten. Signalling that the harvest is near wine grape growers across the district are reporting that their fruit has begun to change colours, a seasonal rite that signals the region’s 10 lakh metric tonne grape crop is quickly ripening and harvest is approaching. This French term also occurs in white grapes, but without the colour changes–white grapes simply become more translucent. In Nashik, the regular grape harvest is expected to be a bumper one after a sort of slack observed last year. Wineries too are excited and Sula, the biggest winery in India based out of Nashik is planning to crush 15 to 20% more after the harvest this year. “To meet these targets, we have increased our cultivation by 400 acres from 2017 to 2018. A lot of existing farmers with Sula have expanded their cultivation and many more farmers have joined in,” explains Karan Vasani, Senior Vice-President for wine-making and production operations at Sula Vineyards. Sanjeev Paithankar, Senior Vice-president of Public Affairs at Sula Vineyards says, “Since Sula controls almost 65 to 70% of the Indian wine market, what it does impacts the entire wine scenario of the country. We have a very clear domestic focus and about 500 grape growers are working with us today. This year we are hoping to crush 12,000 to 13,000 tonnes of grapes and cross our record-breaking sales figures of 2018 as well.” In the year ending July 31, 2018 Sula Vineyards crossed the 1-million case sales mark. This is the first time that an Indian wine producer has achieved this important milestone. “We are planning to sell almost 1.2 million cases in 2019,” adds Paithankar. Like the last two years, Sula is again expecting an early harvest while the full-fledged harvest process will begin from end of December. Sula has been taking considerate steps to adapt well to climatic changes and since 2016 has been pruning the vines earlier than usual which has resulted in an early harvest. 2016 saw the earliest grape harvest ever witnessed by the country and the same time-frame was continued in 2017 and now in 2018. Wine grape-growers too are elated this year. Laxman Jadhav, a wine grape grower from Pimpalgoan informed that the size of the grape bunch is smaller this time which in fact is a good thing. “Unlike table grapes, the quality of wine grapes is defined by smaller grape bunches. The yield is also expected to be bumper. Sula not only gives farmers an assured income but it also handholds us throughout the process. I was growing vegetables before 2003 which was an unprofitable business, but since I joined the Sula contract farming circle, I have been able to live a better life,” said Jadhav. Similarly, Sula’s efforts to educate the country about wine and propel wine tourism to where it is today is also bearing fruits. The number of visitors to Nashik’s vineyards has been increasing steadily. “We have seen a growth of 15% in the number visitors to our vineyards. Most of them are curious about wine-making and enjoy spending time with their family and friends in these lush locales. We get maximum visitors from Mumbai, Pune, Surat and Ahmedabad,” said Monit Dhavale, Senior Vice-president of Hospitality, Sula Vineyards. (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India We The Happy High,one of India's leading wine and spirit education co have launched our own certified wine courses , the Wine 101 for beginners and the Wine Pro for the budding Sommelier. It also offers online courses on wine for the beginnner, essentially the Indian consumer. "With 300 mn cases of beers and spirits each consumed annually in India, wine at a speculative 3 mn cases hardly makes a difference. However the latter is not just restricted to the high society now as the aspirational who because of their travels and general availability is also exposed to the drinks and are taking a liking to it. And this has prompted us to curate the Wine 101 for consumers or young hotel professionals and bespoke Wine Pro courses for hotels Pan- India" says Ajit Balgi, founder at The Happy High The beginners courses are day long and cover basics of wine, including wine tasting, service temperatures, glassware, food and wine pairing. These courses are planned on a regular basis and come at RS 5500 + GST per head. The Happy High certified Wine Pro course is designed for 4 days and is customized for hotels based on their wine lists and the requirements of their wine program and have been implemented at a Marriott hotel and soon at a Taj property. These wine courses will open the doors to the world of wine for you as a consumer and give you a perspective and connect for professionals who want to make a career in wine as a Sommelier or as a Brand ambassador. Kindly drop a line on contact@thehappyhigh.com if you wish to organize a Wine 101 or a Wine Pro course exclusively for your Office, hotel or a hotel management institute. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE WINE COURSE FOR BEGINNERS AT 499 ++ Vienna, Austria What to expect of 2018 vintage Austrian wines?
(Excerpt from a press release) Mumbai, India After being under development for a couple years, we are proud to officially announce the launch of the York Shiraz Viognier 2017. The York Shiraz Viognier is a new world style wine inspired from the blend commonly made in Cote Rotie in the Northern Rhone Valley. The two grape varieties have been co-fermented together along with the skins for 15 days to achieve flavour integration from the beginning of the process. Post alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, the wine has been aged in French oak for 6 months to supplement the varietal fruit characters and structure of the wine. The blend of the two varieties is 90% Shiraz & 10% Viognier. The floral, spicy & peach flavours that are natural to the Viognier grape add a new dimension to the powerful & peppery Shiraz especially when fermented together. Apart from being an enjoyable drink on its own, this wine is particularly suited to Indian food. This wine is priced at an MRP of Rs.750 in Maharashtra & Delhi. It will first be available at the Tasting Room at York Winery followed by release in rest of Maharashtra & Delhi in the coming month. (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India
Folonari wines from the house of Gruppo Italiano Vini were showcased over a relaxed lunch in Bandra. Mr Maurizio Bertacchini their Asia rep who was on the Indian market visit waxed eloquent about the wines and said, "Folonari was started in 1825 and the focus was always to make some good quality wine at an affordable price" . The Pinot Grigio was refreshing and was a good start to the Sunday brunch. The Valpolicella and Pinot held forts and showed good value at their price points. Rikshit Parsan of Ace Beveragez the importer of Folonari ensured the glasses were full at all times and the afternoon extended into early evening! (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India Austrian wines are not very known in India, the reasons are many however once you get a taste of Austrian wines, you wouldn't get enough. Recently Michael Moosbrugger of the iconic wine house Schloss Gobelsburg was in Mumbai to enthrall a select group on the wines from their estate. Schloss Gobelsburg is the oldest winery in the Austrian Danube area with a documented history back to the 12th century. Since its establishment the winery has been one of the leading producers in the region and throughout Austria. Located in the Danube area 45 min west of Vienna, the winery’s most important varieties are Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The estate was run by monks till 1994 before it was taken over by the Moosbruggers in 1996 and since then winery has grown manifolds. Michael who introduced the 'Dynamic celllar' or the 'cellar on wheels' concept was awarded by the Austrian Fine Wine Magazine ‘Falstaff’ ‘Winemaker of the year 2006’, In 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 the winery was awarded by the American ‘Wine & Spirits’ magazine as ‘Top 100 Winery of the year’. The wines brought to India by Aspri Spirits showcased that evening included Domaine Gobelsburg Kamptal Gruner Veltliner, Schloss Gobelsburg Zweigelt and Schloss Gobelsburg Riesling. The evening was delightful with beautiful wines and conversations with Michael Moosbrugger. Mumbai, India Wine enthusiasts of the city have a reason to rejoice as The Leela Mumbai gets the Great Indian Wine Buffet at Citrus. This All – You – Can Drink Wine Buffet will feature over thirty Indian wine labels at a very special price of Rs 1090 ++ per person. On display will be a selection of some of the finest Indian wines from esteemed wineries like Grovers, York, Turning Point, Fratelli, Reveilo and Zampa. If you fancy red wine, take your pick from blends or single varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc , Merlot and the more obscure Sangiovese and Nero D Avola. White wine lovers can choose from Viognier, Sangiovese Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Grillo and more. The promotion goes on till 30th September 2017 and is available 7 pm onward. ( Excerpt from a press release) Nashik, India
York a family run winery is proud to officially announce the launch of the York Sparkling Rose Brut Vintage 2015. 'Its been years in the making but as with every other wine of York, we prefer to put our best foot forward and release a product without any compromises. And compromise we have not!' said the young winemaker and owner Kailash Gurnani. The York Sparkling Rose is a 100% Shiraz sparkling wine. Made in the Traditional Method, this batch has been aged on lees for 18 months and 4 months on cork. A small component of the blend has been matured in oak barrels & it has a residual sugar of 10g/l. Being the first, its a small batch and vintage wine. This wine is priced at an MRP of Rs.1300 in Maharashtra. 'As always, we have stuck to our philosophy of providing the best possible value wine to our consumers in both price & quality.' added Gurnani The wine will currently go on sale at the Tasting Room of the winery only. Mumbai launch will follow in a months time whilst Delhi will have to wait. Mumbai, India Chandon India announces the launch of Délice – a new sparkling wine variant crafted at the brand’s state-of-the-art winery in Dindori, Nashik. Made with locally-sourced Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay grapes, Délice is an irreverent expression that is set to change the manner in which India enjoys its wines. Presenting a sweeter, flavourful taste-profile, Délice can be enjoyed straight up (chilled), on the rocks or with a slice of orange. Speaking about the launch, Stéphane de Meurville – Managing Director, Moët Hennessy India said, “At Chandon India, our endeavour has been not only to gain share of heart, but also to introduce new consumers to the Chandon world. One way in which we will do this is by reaching out to consumers who currently shy away from the traditional Brut and Rose style of drinking. Délice is our next step towards consolidating this vision. While the Indian market loves its bubbles, there is still a strong affinity for sweeter drinks and cocktails. Délice is the result of 2 years of extensive research and development by our team of winemakers led by Gustavo Agostini. We are very proud of this new product from the house of Chandon India which we believe will resonate with the Indian consumer.” Delice is available in Mumbai at Rs 1500 and soon will be available in Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Srilanka Excerpt from a press release
Nashik, India The country’s most gorgeously situated Gourmet World Music Festival went several notches higher in its 10th edition! The event saw festival goers from across the country at a weekend to remember and this year was an even grander production with even more amazing memories. The festival this year being a 3 day affair – adding Friday dedicated to Indian artists had also added one more stage – The ‘Tropical Stage’. Friday’s highlights were Nucleya at the Atmasphere Stage and Indian Ocean at the Amphitheatre Stage. Sula’s all new musician talent hunt competition “Rise and Shine” contest winner performed to a thrilled audience at the Tropical Stage.The Bloc Party from the UK made their India debut and rocked the Amphitheatre stage on Day 2, Saturday – while Loco & Jam from Germany performed to a haven of fest-goers at the Atmasphere Stage. The Tropical Stage highlight this day was Peter Schumann’s performance. Amphitheatre Sunday headliner – Infected Mushroom from Israel set the stage on fire! German Jan Blomqvist & Band created magic at the Atmasphere Stage located amidst the vineyards. Another new addition to the festival this year was the ‘Globe in a Glass’ stall where fest-goers had the opportunity to meet and taste with the people behind various brands from the Sula Selections portfolio. The renowned wine profile Robert Joseph was attending the festival for the first time showcasing his brand Le Grand Noir. Brightening up the weekend even further was the SulaFest Bazaar with a selection of fun and funky items for sales. Speaking about SulaFest 2017, Cecilia Oldne, Global Brand Ambassador and Vice President - Marketing, Sula says, “Cheers to 10 years! What a beautiful weekend and what an amazing crowd! See you all next year!” JACOB'S CREEK, the iconic Australian wine brand and India’s highest selling imported wine has been voted Australia’s Most Trusted Wine Brand 2016 by Reader’s Digest in their annual Trusted Brands survey. For the past 16 years, the survey has investigated which brands in Australia have the best reputation among consumers.This year, JACOB'S CREEK has been awarded the winner of the Trusted Brands Survey in the Australian Wine Category, outranking competitors including Penfolds and Wolf Blass.
A well-established independent market research agency is commissioned by Reader’s Digest each year to survey a representative sample of people in Australia. The research investigates their most trusted brands in 65 categories of products and services across a wide range of industries, with over 2,400 people surveyed across Australia annually.Participants communicated what influences their buying decisions and which brands they believe consistently deliver on promises to satisfy their needs, make their lives easier and offer value for money. Ben Bryant, Chief Winemaker, JACOB’S CREEK, said: “Our wines are crafted to be fresh, elegant and great-tasting with true varietal expression. Being awarded the Most Trusted Australian Wine Brand is testament to the fact that our wines can be trusted to deliver consistent, exceptional quality and we’re very pleased that this has been recognized independently.” |
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The Happy High is a Mumbai based beverage consulting co founded in 2014 with a vision to raise the bars of the wine and dine scene in the country. Read more.
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