Spirits – Page 2 – Keep It Overproof!

Boris Johnson tells UK to avoid bars and restaurants and ‘has powers’ to enforce closure

People in the UK have been told to avoid social contact, work from home and stay away from pubs and bars in an effort to slow down the rise of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that the UK could be approaching the “fast growth of the upward curve” of confirmed coronavirus cases, which now means cases are expected to double every five days, unless “drastic action” can be taken. Although he said the government would not enforce the closure of theatres, restaurants, pubs and bars, it has “the powers if necessary” to do so. Addressing...

The show goes on: New products that would’ve launched at ProWein

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Despite ProWein’s cancellation due to the ongoing threat posed by coronavirus (Covid-19), business in the trade goes on, even though the show on this occasion has not. Here’s db’s rundown of products that were due to be launched at ProWein this week and the alternative plans producers are having to make to showcase them. Digital seems to be the way forward, as producers scamble to get their new launches in front of customers and clients, but as one exhibitor said, “We’re working with our clients as best we can – by video conference and email – to try...

Wines from Spain annual trade tasting postponed

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Wines from Spain has announced it will postpone its annual trade tasting in London. The event, which was meant to take place at London’s Sky Garden on 31 March, will be moved to a later date. More than 60 leading importers and exporters were due to present their Spanish wine portfolios to the British trade including a selection of the latest vintages and releases available to the UK market. Fernando Muñoz, director at Wines from Spain, said the industry body had been monitoring the evolution of the Coronavirus outbreak in the UK and in Spain in the run-up to the end of the month. “Whilst...

What is Burgundy? Part four: The Burgundian Inheritance

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

In the last instalment of our look at Burgundy’s shape-shifting borders, Duke Charles was on the verge of a war that would bring his house and duchy to ruin, while successors will shred rip and tear the great Burgundian Inheritance to shreds over the following centuries. The States of Valois Burgundy at their height in the 1470s. Charles the Rash’s attempt to seize Lorraine and join the two halves was just one of the catalysts of the Burgundian Wars that would lead to the States’ collapse. The parts in purple would be claimed by France and those in orange by the Habsburgs....

Aldi to boost core wine range by 50%

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

UK retailer Aldi is looking to boost its core wine range by 50% with the trials of around 35 new core lines, as it considers retiring its Lot Series range of one-offs wine parcels. Aldi buying director Josh Heley said the discounter is trialling the wines this month, with a view to adding them to the 70-strong core range, and would be watching how they performed. “There is an opportunity of things we think could come into the core line, such as the Estevez Chilean Viognier (£5.49), the Maison Rouge French Boujolais or different varietals,” Heley explained “It’s...

Austrian wine exports surpass €180m

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Austrian wine exports surpassed €180 million for the first time in 2019, while volumes also rose and the number of markets increased too. In total, Austrian wine exports rose 9% in value in 2019 to €185.4m, while volumes rose 20.5% to 63.6m litres (driven by a large 2018 vintage) and the number of total markets is now 102 – in 2009 it was just 64. The 2018 vintage was very large in Austria, 15% higher than the 15 year average at 2.7m hectolitres, which had the slightly unfortunate effect of lowering the average price per litre on entry level wines in “price sensitive”...

Budget live: Chancellor freezes alcohol duties and abolishes business rates for small retailers

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

The UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer has frozen alcohol duties for spirit, wine and beer, and abolished business rates for the year for hundreds of thousands of small retailers and businesses in the hospitality sector. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who only took on the role last month, has cut a planned increase in duty across spirits, wine and beer, noting it was only the second time in 20 years that all alcohol duties had been frozen and reiterated the upcoming review of UK alcohol taxation that was unveiled during the Queen’s speech. He also singled out the value of Scotch to the...

Vinexpo NY overcomes travel concerns with high levels of engagement

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

The third annual edition of Vinexpo New York closed last week with somewhat reduced numbers, as a result of Covid-19 travel precautions, but with a show of enthusiasm on the part of exhibitors and attendees. “It’s been a great conference for our winery and for Georgian wines in general,” said Vladimer Kublashvili, chief winemaker for Winery Khareba, on the final day of the show. At a time when most trade fairs typically begin to lose steam, booth traffic remained heavy at the Georgian pavilion and throughout the conference exhibit hall. “It’s our first year...

Designer of Jancis glassware crowdfunding to grow business

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Richard Brendon, the designer behind the Jancis Robinson wine glass collection, is crowdfunding to raise investment for his business, which aims to support heritage craft industries. Richard Brendon with Jancis Robinson OBE MW The designer, who started his own business in 2013, and collaborated with Jancis Robinson OBE MW on a glassware collection in 2018, is crowdfunding through the Crowdcube platform, which you can view here. Brendon is looking to raise £250,000 for his business to fund new product development and ramp up marketing efforts. Aside from the glassware, he works with...

Bordeaux profile: Beychevelle

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Terroir, history and context There are many truisms spoken about the wines of the Médoc. And, to be honest, not all of them are true. But it is difficult to argue with the observation that if one is in the Médoc, one’s feet are dry, one is standing in a vineyard, and one can see the Gironde, then one is likely to be surrounded by excellent terroir – and the greater the expanse of the river one can see the greater the quality of that terroir. The proposition works well: Latour, Margaux, Léoville Las Cases, Montrose … and, of course, Beychevelle. Indeed,...

Category: Spirits