Wine – Page 8 – Keep It Overproof!

Bonhams’ latest online whisky sale targets at budding collectors

From 15 to 22 February, Bonhams is offering 180 lots of Japanese and Scotch whiskies as part of an online sale with an aim to attract young, budding collectors with estimated prices starting from as low as HK$3,000 (US$390) to just over HK$300,000 (US$38,600). The whiskies on offer comprise some of the most sought-after distilleries including Yamazaki, Karuizawa and Bowmore. In this sale, Bonhams says that, “many of the estimates are lower than the current market price”. Daniel Lam, Bonhams’ director of Wine & Spirits, Asia, commented: “Whisky collecting has become...

China’s elite show preference for wine over baijiu

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

According to the latest Hurun Chinese Luxury Consumer Survey 2020, drinking among high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) in China has grown 13% with 88% of them enjoying various forms of drinks and with an ever-growing preference for wine. The survey interviewed 483 HNWIs in China. Their average total net asset value was 46 million RMB, with 51 of them holding over 1 billion RMB in assets. The interviewees were 36 years-old on average with a gender composition of 55% male and 45% female. Interestingly, when considering a gift for men, wine had taken-over from high-end baijiu as the third most favourite...

Babe Wine Could be “A Big Problem” for Big Wine

Posted in Beer, Industry.

Dear Client: Babe Wine was the subject of a lot of talk during both our BBD and WSD Summits. Indeed, Kevin O’Brien, Principal, Zepponi & Company, which handles bev alc M&A, told the Wine & Spirits Daily Summit that A-B’s big canned wine play is definitely something that could disrupt the established wine players. Babe’s … Continue reading “Babe Wine Could be “A Big Problem” for Big Wine” You are unauthorized to view this page. Read the full article

Burgundy 2018: whites prove a ‘pleasant surprise’

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Much touted as a ‘red’ vintage (which it undoubtedly is), the biggest and most pleasant surprise has been the quality of the white Burgundies from 2018. Going into this week’s tastings, there was ever expectation that there were going to be good red wines. Merchants have consistently mentioned that recent visits to their suppliers last year usually included some sort of pleased or excited reference to the 2018 red wines still in tank or bottle awaiting their moment. The other big storyline that emerged from the 2018 harvest was the sheer size of the white wine harvest (not...

Giant Distribs Sound Off on Alignment, Amazon, Seltzer and More

Posted in Beer, Industry.

Dear Client: Some takeaways from some heavy-hitting wholesalers on stage at the Beer Summit: Some beer wholesalers are looking at doubling their hard seltzer business. CDL drivers constitute some of their biggest headwinds. Yes, distributor alignment matters. You gotta play ball with Amazon. And it’s worth taking on wine and spirits. For more detail, read … Continue reading “Giant Distribs Sound Off on Alignment, Amazon, Seltzer and More” You are unauthorized to view this page. Read the full article

The Benevolent plans for ‘revolution’ in 2020

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Michael Saunders, the chairman of drinks trade charity The Benevolent has revealed significant plans for the group’s evolution in the year ahead. Saunders shared details of the changes at The Vintners’ Company Annual Lunch in London on 10 January. He said The Benevolent was at a crossroads and whilst the existing support of over 1000 individuals was a success, far more is needed to reach the 600,000 people working in the UK’s drinks sector. Ross Carter, chief executive of The Benevolent since July 2019, has been tasked with creating “a new benevolent”, one that...

Chardonnay Masters 2019: the results in full

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

We bring you a full report on the Chardonnay Masters 2019, including all the medallists, the names to watch, and the go-to regions for great barrel-fermented whites – Burgundy included, but Australia-dominated. Co-chair of the judges, Patrick Schmitt MW, reports There are several benefits to the blind tasting format employed by our Global Wine Masters, which sees us sample entries by style and grape variety, rather than origin. One of these is to assess the overall quality and character of a category, be that a noble grape such as Chardonnay, or trending sector, from sparkling to rosé....

Ramón Bilbao ‘well on the way’ to smashing sustainability targets

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Spanish winemaker Ramón Bilbao is “well on the way” to meeting its sustainability targets before the end of the year, having already exceeded its goals on lowering greenhouse gasses and waste. Ramón Bilbao’s target is to reduce its impact in the four basic pillars of sustainability – reduction of greenhouse gases, energy efficiency, water management and reduction of waste – by 20% between 2016 and 2020. A recent audit showed that the producer, the first to gain certification from the Wineries for Climate Protection organisation in Spain, has reduced...

Amuse-bouches: The latest restaurant news bites

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

We round up the week’s restaurant-related news, from the opening of wine bar and restaurant Peckham Cellars to Pied à Terre’s launch of the ‘£100 Club’. Image: Peckham Cellars Openings Peckham Cellars: A new neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar has opened in Peckham this week, under the guidance of friends Helen Hall, Luke West-Whylie and Ben McVeigh. Close to Queens Road Peckham station, Peckham Cellars will boast a wine bar, restaurant and wine shop, providing an informal dining experience with a carefully curated music selection. The 80-bottle wine list...

Q&A: Julie Cavil

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Just before the announcement she was being made the new chef de caves of Krug Champagne, last month, dbHK met winemaker Julie Cavil in Hong Kong for the presentation of the latest releases from the house, Krug Grande Cuvée 162ème and Krug 2006. She spent a moment with us to talk about working at the famous domain. Q: What is the difference between the Grand Cuvée and vintage wines? A: The first, cuvée number 162 is the new edition of Krug Grande Cuvée that we create every single year regardless of climatic variations – it is the fullest expression of...

Tag: Wine