💥 Wine Is Back On Top

In this week’s DECORKED digest you will read all about unique wine tours, struggles of Bordeaux, Sommelier Wine Awards, women in the industry, wine-buying tips, and much more. Keep reading!

May 20, 2024

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Happy Monday! We hope you have a great week. In this week’s DECORKED digest, you will read all about unique wine tours, struggles of Bordeaux, Sommelier Wine Awards, women in the industry, wine-buying tips, and much more. Keep reading!

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INTERESTING THIS WEEK

🍇 How many glasses of wine are in one standard box? READ HERE

📉 Number of Italians regularly drinking wine declines READ HERE

 🍷 The 7 best Lambruscos to drink this summer READ HERE 

🌟 Sommelier Wine Awards 2024 revealed READ HERE

📝 Wine-buying tips from a sommelier READ HERE 

🍾 Champagne sales slump speeds up READ HERE

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We curate, filter, and select only the most exciting and important news for you.

EVEN FERMENTATION IS NOW BEING HAMPERED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

The wine industry is significantly impacted by climate change, threatening 90% of traditional wine regions and causing extensive damage from extreme weather. Winemakers rely on yeast for fermentation, but climate change is affecting wild yeast populations, complicating spontaneous fermentations. To address this, winemakers are adapting their techniques and using organic and biodynamic farming to stabilize fermentation processes. Producing high-quality, terroir-driven wine now requires creativity, data-driven decisions, and the ability to adapt quickly to the changing environment.

Nonalcoholic wine is being promoted as a health-conscious alternative and potential savior for the wine industry, but it contradicts the essence of traditional wine. The trend towards alcohol-free options follows the rise of Dry January and low-sugar wines catering to keto diets. Nonalcoholic wine, however, involves complex and costly industrial processes to remove alcohol, which compromises its flavor, character, and mouthfeel. These processes result in a product that is more like grape juice than wine, often requiring added sugars and other ingredients to mimic traditional wine's qualities. Despite the push for nonalcoholic wine, many low-alcohol options already exist that maintain the authentic wine experience.

14 UNIQUE WINERY TOURS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

A key attraction of visiting wineries is the opportunity to taste wines on-site, often near the vineyards that produce the grapes, providing a cohesive and immersive experience. Many wineries, situated in beautiful regions, offer unique activities that enhance the visit, such as hot air balloon rides at Bodegas Muga, Icewine experiences at Inniskillin, exploring an underground cellar labyrinth at Cricova Winery, art museum tastings at Hess Persson Estates, llama treks at Divine Llama Vineyards, horseback rides and tastings at Tenuta Torciano, eco wine safaris at Avondale Wine, and helicopter tours at Seppeltsfield Wines.

A WOMAN'S WINE IS NEVER DONE

A recent study reveals that men are willing to pay less for wine made by women who are part of professional women's groups, despite women winemakers generally producing higher-rated wines. Conducted in 2021 by Alicia Gallais and Florine Livat from Kedge Business School and published in the Journal of Wine Economics, the study involved 1,500 French and Belgian wine drinkers. They created fake wine labels with male or female names and included control bottles with no winemaker information. A key finding showed that a "Fémivin" sticker, indicating a women's winemaking group, reduced men's willingness to pay by 10-20%. Cathy Corison, a renowned Napa Valley winemaker, was unsurprised by these results, attributing them to ongoing misogyny. The study suggests further research in other gendered and non-gendered language countries to better understand this bias.

DOES WINE AFFECT YOU DIFFERENTLY WHEN YOU’RE ON VACATION?


Customers often say they can no longer drink wine due to various reasons such as sulfites, high alcohol content, or specific types like red, white, or sparkling wine causing ailments. However, people often drink more wine while on vacation without experiencing the same hangover. This discrepancy is attributed to increased physical activity during travel, especially in Europe, where vacations involve extensive walking. Studies indicate that even moderate exercise can mitigate alcohol's effects. Additionally, European food quality, which lacks many additives common in the U.S., may also play a role. The combination of a healthier diet and increased exercise can help people enjoy wine without negative effects, regardless of their location. The leisurely pace of European meals and the cultural practice of savoring food and wine might also contribute to a more balanced and enjoyable drinking experience.

WINE COMES ROARING BACK

Concerns over wine's declining sales and lack of enthusiasm among younger generations might be overstated. While pandemic-driven wine sales did not continue post-pandemic, a study by the Wine Market Council shows Millennials (28-43) are now drinking more wine and opting for pricier bottles than Baby Boomers. This suggests Millennials are embracing wine in their 30s and becoming regular consumers. Industry experts remain optimistic about overcoming challenges like Covid-related inventory issues, emphasizing growth potential and the importance of sustainability and community engagement to attract younger consumers. Demand trends vary, with steady interest in high-end wines and a potential resurgence for Champagne and Burgundy in the U.S.

MILDEW THREAT TO BORDEAUX

A significant mildew threat has emerged in Bordeaux vineyards, described as "early and very virulent". Alexandre Davy of the French Institute of Vine and Wine (IFV) noted widespread mildew occurrences, particularly in the Libourne area and Graves, with more scattered outbreaks in the Médoc. These outbreaks, occurring two to three weeks earlier than in recent years, are attributed to a warm and wet winter followed by early April rains. Despite recent cold weather, warmer temperatures are expected, increasing the likelihood of further outbreaks. Additionally, abandoned vineyards pose a significant risk, potentially becoming breeding grounds for plant diseases and spreading to neighboring crops. Bordeaux growers are calling for official intervention to address the issue.

Copyright @ Wine Searcher

WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: LIMASSOL, CYPRUS

Limassol, known as Lemesós in its native form, is a historically significant wine region located in southern Cyprus, encompassing the city of the same name. It boasts the highest concentration of wine villages and wineries on the island. The wines produced here primarily utilize indigenous grape varieties like Xynisteri for white wines and Mavro for red wines, in addition to international grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre, Grenache, and Syrah, totaling around twenty-four varieties grown in the area. Limassol and its surrounding region are increasingly recognized as a popular tourist destination, offering visitors an established wine route known as the Krasochoria of Lemesós.

Copyright @ Vaeni

GRAPE OF THE WEEK: MAVRO

Mavro, a dark-skinned grape native to Cyprus, is most famous for its role in the unique dessert wine Commandaria. The term "Mavro," which translates to "black" in Greek, is also found in several unrelated grape varieties like Mavrodaphne and Xinomavro. Although Mavro has a long-standing presence in Cyprus and managed to avoid the phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century, it is not highly regarded when produced as a single-varietal wine. The quality of Mavro wines largely depends on the intricate winemaking process involved in creating Commandaria blends.

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