💥 World Wine Awards 2024 Results Revealed

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Happy Monday! We hope you have a great week. In this week’s DECORKED digest, you will read all about the Decanter World Wine Awards, minimal intervention, Rioja’s harvest reductions, the rise of English wines, seized wines in Portugal, and much more. Keep reading!

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INTERESTING THIS WEEK

👑 Meghan Markle's Rosé revolution: Duchess to launch wine label READ HERE

🍸 How bartenders are fighting to keep cocktail prices down READ HERE

🇨🇳 China’s wine market outlook - trends and opportunities READ HERE 

 📈 Ukraine drinks industry bounces back READ HERE 

🍷 6,000 litres of wine seized in Portugal READ HERE

📝 French wine gets political READ HERE

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THE RISE AND RISE OF ENGLISH WINES

This week is English Wine Week, highlighting the improvement in the quality of English wines. Despite past criticisms of sharpness and underripeness, recent awards show a variety of high-quality options, including notable chardonnays and orange wines. Bacchus, a signature grape, pairs well with salads, while sparkling wines are versatile with many dishes. Many excellent wines come from the drier eastern regions like Essex. However, English wines are often expensive due to high production costs and low yields. Visiting wineries directly, especially in Kent and Sussex, offers the best experience and value.

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‘OLDEST WINE’ AGED 2,000 YEARS FOUND IN ROMAN TOMB

Researchers have discovered the oldest preserved wine, dating back 2,000 years, in a Roman grave urn in Carmona, Spain. Unearthed in 2019, the site contained a family mausoleum with six niches holding urns, one of which contained a glass jar filled with cremated remains, a gold ring, and about five liters of reddish liquid. Analysis confirmed the liquid was wine, making it the oldest known liquid wine. This discovery aligns with Roman burial rituals that used wine in ceremonies. Chemical analysis revealed polyphenols matching those in modern Andalusian wines, though the wine’s pH had degraded significantly over time.

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CALIFORNIA FIRE SEASON STARTS EARLY

A fast-moving wildfire in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley forced the evacuation of nine wineries on Sunday, with 13 more under evacuation warnings. By Monday afternoon, the Point Fire had spread to 1,200 acres with only 20 percent containment. The area, known for its historic Zinfandel vineyards, homes, and wineries, faced significant risk. CalFire used helicopters and airplanes to combat the blaze. Notable evacuated wineries include Ferrari-Carano and Bella Vineyards. The fire prompted evacuations of over 300 residents, with power cut off in affected areas. This is the earliest large wildfire in Sonoma County since 2016, exacerbated by dry, windy conditions following a rainy winter that fueled vegetation growth. Despite the threat, it is likely too early in the season for smoke taint to affect the wine grapes.

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WHAT DOES MINIMAL INTERVENTION REALLY MEAN?

The term "minimal intervention" in winemaking, popularized over the last decade, lacks a clear definition and varies among winemakers and consumers. It generally refers to practices prioritizing terroir and fruit purity through organic and sustainable methods, minimizing aggressive chemicals, and interventions like irrigation. Proponents argue that true minimal intervention should focus on proactive vineyard management, though technology allows for post-harvest adjustments. Without global regulation, the term remains ambiguous, leading to potential misuse and consumer confusion. Consumers are encouraged to engage with producers to better understand their practices and expectations.

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RIOJA TO CONTINUE WITH HARVEST REDUCTIONS FOR 2024

For the 2024 harvest, DOC Rioja's governing council has approved a 90% yield for red grape varieties, keeping white varieties the same. This decision aims to address a significant surplus of wine in the region, driven by changing consumer tastes and other factors. Despite efforts to reduce the surplus through distillation, an estimated 100-150 million liters of unsold wine remain. The yield reduction lowers the official limit from 6,500 kg/ha to 5,850 kg/ha, affecting quantity but not quality, and is part of Rioja's "rebalancing plan." This plan also includes controlling abandoned or diseased vineyards and promoting the regrafting of red vines to white and minority grape varieties to meet the growing demand for white wines. While more could have been done earlier, these steps are necessary to manage the ongoing oversupply issue.

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DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2024 RESULTS REVEALED

The Decanter World Wine Awards 2024 results have been released, showcasing medal winners judged by top wine experts. The awards serve as a trusted guide for wine enthusiasts, highlighting wines of exceptional quality. France dominated with the highest number of top medals, particularly from Burgundy and Champagne. Spain followed, achieving notable success with diverse wines, including its first Best in Show for Ribera del Duero and significant recognition for Cava. Italy secured third place, with Piedmont leading its regional wins. Newcomers such as Japanese Koshu and Moroccan wines also made their mark. The competition's results provide a comprehensive and authoritative source for discovering outstanding wines globally.

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THIS DEVICE KEEPS WINE FRESHER THAN A TRADITIONAL WINE STOPPER

Opening a new bottle of wine is always special, but sometimes you can't finish it all. To enjoy the rest later, you need to store it properly by keeping it cool, out of the sun, and minimizing oxygen exposure. Limiting oxygen contact is crucial as it can cause the wine to lose freshness over time. Dave Thompson, owner of Deep Red Wine Merchant, recommends vacuum pumps like the Vacu Vin, a $17 device that removes oxygen from the bottle to preserve freshness. For more serious wine enthusiasts, the Coravin is a step up, allowing you to pour wine without exposing it to air by using inert gas. This method is favored by wine reps for its efficiency in preserving wine.

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WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: SLAVONIJA, CROATIA

Slavonija, Croatia's eastern inland wine region, boasts a rich winemaking history dating back to Roman times in Ilok and Kutjevo, its main centers. Nestled in the Pannonian Basin and flanked by the Danube, Drava, and Sava rivers, vineyards thrive on slopes formed by these rivers, especially the west-facing Danube slopes. The region enjoys a moderate continental climate with low precipitation and abundant sunshine, though winters can see temperatures dip below freezing from December to March. Vineyards are planted on well-draining soils over gneiss and granite bases, enriched by alluvial deposits from the rivers, ideal for cultivating grapes. Graševina dominates a third of Slavonija's vineyards, alongside whites like Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Traminer, while minor reds include Frankovka, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Portugieser.

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GRAPE OF THE WEEK: GRAŠEVINA/WELSCHRIESLING

Welschriesling, grown across several European countries including Hungary, Northern Italy, Croatia, and others, finds its pinnacle in Austria's Neusiedlersee region, renowned for producing rich Trockenbeerenauslese wines. Despite its misleading name suggesting a connection to German Riesling, Welschriesling has no genetic relation. The variety is alternatively known as Riesling Italico, hinting at a possible Italian origin, although its true birthplace remains disputed. Many experts argue that Croatia, which is called Grasevina and holds significant vineyard acreage, is its likely homeland.

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