NEWS |
Friday April 30 2021 - Culture and Wine by Vitisphere

Nicolas Vanier poised to start shooting “Champagne!”

Nicolas Vanier discovered Champagne in 2017, during a conference on mankind and nature, organised by the Unesco Mission
Thursday April 29 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Bollinger’s first “real” investment outside France

“This transaction unites the Bollinger family with the Ponzi family, who in the 1970s pioneered the planting of Pinot Noir in Oregon”, said the press release.
Wednesday April 28 2021 - Winemaking by Vitisphere

Bordeaux looks back on its 2020 vintage

Although the Merlot grapes were quite large, they produced wines showing good tannic structure, no rustic characters or dilution.
Tuesday April 27 2021 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

OIV paints a chequered picture of the global wine market in 2020

Pau Roca, director general of OIV: “2021 could replicate 2020'.
Monday April 26 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

France’s wine production estimated at 32 million hl

If current estimates are confirmed, the 2021 harvest would be lower than that of 2017, which totalled just 38 million hl.
Friday April 23 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Europe’s wine regions seriously affected by frost
Thursday April 22 2021 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

The bulk market for Provence rosés dips
Wednesday April 21 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Vin-malin.fr is benefiting from the surge in e-commerce sales
Tuesday April 20 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Krug builds a showcase in Ambonnay
Monday April 19 2021 - distribution by Vitisphere

Frost will have an impact on En Primeur pricing
Friday April 16 2021 - Equipment by Vitisphere

They say this robot will prune as well as a winegrower

After three years of intense work, the winery was delighted this winter to mount its autonomous unit on a New Holland machine, which will handle distribution. Next year, 100 hectares will be pruned using R2T2.
Thursday April 15 2021 - Equipment by Vitisphere

26 photovoltaic projects in French vineyards for Sun'Agri

The first results collected during the 2019 season on the Piolenc site showed that vines shaded by the equipment withstood soaring summer temperatures better than the others.
Wednesday April 14 2021 - Culture and Wine by Vitisphere

The Biou d'Arbois winegrowers' festival revises its application for world heritage status

The other application not selected this year was that of “the expertise of Parisian zinc roofers and decorators”.
Tuesday April 13 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Saint-Émilion classified growth sells for €75 million

The property has been in the family since 1847 and Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse will be the eighth generation of the family to run it.
Monday April 12 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Unprecedented cold snap wreaks havoc across France’s wine regions

Two regions seem to have come out unscathed – Alsace and Pyrénées-Orientales.
Friday April 09 2021 - Industry issues by Vitisphere

French winegrowers call for financial support from the European Commission
Thursday April 08 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

One winegrower has chosen to put his bag-in-box in an artistic cylinder

The Cox-in-Tube has a price tag of €38 for the Chardonnay and €40 for the red Côtes-du-Rhône Signargues.
Wednesday April 07 2021 - marketing by Vitisphere

Coteaux Champenois, Champagne’s new wave

Long before bubbles came along, the Champagne wine region was a major producer of red wines (“clairets”), which far outnumbered white and rosé wines (“paillets”), before secondary bottle fermentation was mastered.
Tuesday April 06 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Bordeaux converting to organic on a massive scale

“The trend towards organic conversion is based on the social awareness of our members”, adds Philippe Cazaux.
Monday April 05 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

French vineyards on maximum frost alert

To make matters worse, on April 1, Emmanuel Buisson feared radiation frost on Sunday morning, April 4, in the South-East, Bordeaux area, the Loire Valley and Burgundy.
Friday April 02 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Ruinart Champagne set to plant 14,000 trees in its vineyards in a year

Since 2014, Moët Hennessy-Ruinart's own vineyards have rolled out 120 areas dedicated to biodiversity, and grass cover is used over more than 95% of vineyard acreage.
Thursday April 01 2021 - Winemaking by Vitisphere

An increase in calcium precipitation in wines

To the best of our knowledge, there is only one product that can stabilise wines specifically against calcium precipitation and that is STABICa from the Champagne research centre.
Wednesday March 31 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Millésime Bio to retain digital format in 2022

Although the digital exhibition is more time-consuming to execute and requires shipping samples, it can nevertheless reach out to new visitors who would not have made the trip.

Tuesday March 30 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Covid puts paid to independent winegrower fairs in France this spring

Due to loss of business, independent wineries are asking for increased government support.
Monday March 29 2021 - Industry issues by Vitisphere

2045, the new deadline for new vineyard planting permits

Presiding over the Council meeting on 23 March, the Portuguese Minister for Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes, said that CAP negotiations must be finalised over the first half of 2021.
Friday March 26 2021 - marketing by Vitisphere

Pesticide residue-free trust mark gains traction

The aim is not to stigmatise conventional farming methods. By opening up a third avenue, the endorsement has proved, even in 2020 and certainly in the future, that zero can be positive.
Thursday March 25 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Just planting trees won’t “foster biodiversity in vineyards”

Regarding adaptation of vineyard management techniques, the report advises reducing tillage and switching to more surface procedures, or even just mowing.

Wednesday March 24 2021 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

Burgundy wines buck general downward trend

“Burgundy is doing well overall, but this should not hide the suffering of some firms who produce small quantities and used to sell their wine to a small network of French customers”, stresses the chairman of the BIVB.
Tuesday March 23 2021 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

Provence rosés post best export performance in 2020

Lack of consumer trade fairs and the prolonged closure of restaurants nevertheless had an impact on the region.
Monday March 22 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Mouton Cadet ventures into organic wines

The blend is 87% Merlot, 7% Cabernet-Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc, matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve the fruit.
Friday March 19 2021 - Wine people by Vitisphere

Thierry Coste takes stock as he steps down as chair of the Copa-Cogeca wine group

“Everyone must be able to carry on. It is important to maintain the diversity of European viticulture”, said Thierry Coste.
Thursday March 18 2021 - Equipment by Vitisphere

First tests, and effects, of exoskeletons on winegrowers’ backs

These initial tests still need to be confirmed by further trials.
Wednesday March 17 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Legal challenges to Saint-Emilion classification double the price of applications

Applications can be submitted until 30 June 2021. Tastings will begin at the end of the year.
Tuesday March 16 2021 - Winemaking by Vitisphere

French winemakers want priority status for Covid-19 vaccinations

“Testimonials by winemakers out on the ground all [showed that they] recovered completely after a few weeks. But this required rehabilitation and intense daily tasting exercises”, said Sophie Pallas.
Monday March 15 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Gérard Bertrand welcomes lifting of US additional duties in time for white and rosé marketing campaign

“We can only plan four months ahead. We have to take the news as it comes”, says Gérard Bertrand, who has learned in the US market that you have to see far but aim short.
Friday March 12 2021 - marketing by Vitisphere

When lack of Covid vaccines inspires a wine label

The label is a pop-up design as Jean-Christophe Mauro hopes the Covid pandemic will quickly become a subject for the history books.
Thursday March 11 2021 - Winemaking by Vitisphere

The pigments responsible for a wine’s colour also change its flavour

Further testing is needed to understand all these interactions.
Wednesday March 10 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Côtes de Bourg confirms its compulsory HVE certification

Among estates that are not certified, a large proportion have said that they are interested in HVE certification, pointed out the producers’ organisation.

Tuesday March 09 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

The effects of music on wine can be tasted at Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Arthur Mayard comments on “greater intensity in the musical wine, with higher alcohol and more residual sugars, more depth and greater texture”.
Monday March 08 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Bordeaux vines get swept away in landslide

Heavy rains wreaked havoc in the vineyards of two Gironde winegrowers
Friday March 05 2021 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

Loire Valley wines limit Covid-induced damage to sales

Although there is as yet no end in sight for the Covid crisis, Lionel Gosseaume continues to pin his hopes on a brighter future.
Thursday March 04 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

One Cru Classé reinvents Sauternes, with a sparkling wine and a rosé

Through the new labels, Château d'Arche is offering a “different proposition that can be enjoyed on a more regular basis”, sums up Didier Galhaud.
Wednesday March 03 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Burgundy grape varieties put to the climate change test

The varietal range can be a lever for adjusting to climate change.
Tuesday March 02 2021 - Industry issues by Vitisphere

The stars are aligning for American taxes on French wines to be abolished

“As soon as the Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, is confirmed, the Trade Commissioner, Valdis Dombrovskis, has been tasked with contacting her and telling her the European Union is aiming for a de-escalation of the situation”, stressed Franck Riester.
Monday March 01 2021 - Industry issues by Vitisphere

Disparaging Bordeaux wines costs an anti-agrochemical association €125,000

The ruling by the civil chamber states that “the smear campaign has been detrimental to the Bordeaux wine region, which is in the process of changing its practices”.
Friday February 26 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

2019, or the year of the coronavinous

The wine is designed as a pop-up label: “I hope we won't be talking about it in 3-4 months’ time. It would be worrying if we were still talking about it in ten years' time! Our intention is not to capitalise on it”.
Thursday February 25 2021 - marketing by Vitisphere

Champagne winegrowers use grape varieties as a point of difference

The Petit Meslier single varietal has a “novel and slightly salty taste” and a €79 consumer price tag.
Wednesday February 24 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Savoy all-set to trial 7 heirloom vine varieties for appellation wines

A first group of winegrowers have said they want to trial the heirloom varieties.
Tuesday February 23 2021 - marketing by Vitisphere

Loire Valley trade fair, Levée de la Loire and Greniers Saint-Jean postponed until 2022

Connecting the Loire Valley Wine Fair and its fringe events was a new initiative for 2021 and is still on the agenda for 2022.
Monday February 22 2021 - Wine people by Vitisphere

“Young people can be passionate about wine and talk about it in an accessible way” (to 300,000 followers on TikTok)

“Young people can be passionate about wine and talk about it in an accessible way” explains Émile Coddens.
Friday February 19 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Bordeaux co-operative puts Rhone varieties in its Vins de France

The new label’s retail price is €6.40 /bottle.
Thursday February 18 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

A more environmentally-friendly way of combatting frost

This relatively clean system has been added to the CIVC's “sustainable winegrowing in Champagne” standard.
Wednesday February 17 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Covid causes postponement of Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône until 2022

The event planned by Inter Rhône in May 2021 for the general public has also been postponed until May 2022.

Tuesday February 16 2021 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

€11 billion surplus for French wines and spirits in 2020

The French government raised the issue of a moratorium on the Trump taxes, which César Giron believes “is the only measure that can secure the development of our industry in the medium and long term”.
Monday February 15 2021 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

A New Year, and a new start, for Bordeaux wines in China

“Just because we've just had three very good months compared to the previous nine doesn’t mean we’re heading for a fantastic period like 2010-2011”, says Roland Coiffe.
Friday February 12 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

One Corsican winery decides to innovate with orange wine and smoked grapes

6,300 bottles of each wine have been produced in the Vin de France category with a retail price tag of 13.50 euros.
Thursday February 11 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Médoc winegrowers want to get a taste of four new grape varieties, from the South and the past

According to Alix Combes (left), Arinornoa is very tannic and Marselan is particularly easy to manage, whilst Touriga Nacional has the advantage of displaying low alcohol content. Lack of ripeness can imply worthwhile potential for adaptation.
Wednesday February 10 2021 - Industry issues by Vitisphere

American taxes on wine “are one of France’s top priorities”

A confident Bruno Le Maire, France’s Minister of the Economy, says he is “hopeful that we can get the ball rolling over the coming weeks”.

Tuesday February 09 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Good news - Esca has no effect on wine quality

The researchers blended wines from diseased vines with wines from healthy vines to ensure that the grapes harvested from the vines showing symptoms could be reincorporated into the rest of the crop.
Monday February 08 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

France’s first wine with cannabis comes from Bordeaux

To placate the critics – and respond to disbelief as some people thought it was an April fool’s joke – the first vintage of the ‘Burdi W’ range was tasted by renowned consultants Alain Raynaud and Michel Rolland.
Friday February 05 2021 - opinions by Vitisphere

Vineyard irrigation is becoming a priority for the Côtes-du-Rhône

Due to recurrent water stress, “it will take 10 years for new plantings to become established, compared with 4 to 5 years in the past”, claims Denis Guthmuller.

Thursday February 04 2021 - opinions by Vitisphere

Consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt calls on negociants to get proactive over Bordeaux bashing

“Up until now, we have been selling wine. Now we have to sell ideas, and Bordeaux has that”, says Stéphane Derenoncourt.

Wednesday February 03 2021 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

Champagne revenue plummets by €1 billion in 2020

The Champagne marketing board has just announced its figures for last year which show an 18% drop by volume and loss of one billion euros in revenue – the decline is lower than expected.
Tuesday February 02 2021 - Wine people by Vitisphere

Two female members of the wine trade file a lawsuit in France for sexism and cyber-harassment

An online fund to combat harassment and sexism has been launched to fund the bailiff's reports and legal costs of Sandrine Goeyvaerts and Fleur Godart. Their counsel is Éric Morain, known for his commitment to defending organic, biodynamic and natural winegrowers
Monday February 01 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Millésime Bio closes its first digital event, only to re-open in March 2021

Re-opening the event will allow award-winners of the Millésime Bio Challenge to be showcased. The competition had to be postponed with the tastings due to be held in February in small groups.
Friday January 29 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

In 2021, Cognac can plant 2,306 ha of vines versus 1.5 ha for Bordeaux and 0.1 ha for Alsace

Nationwide, applications for new planting permits fell by 1,500 ha between 2021 and 2020.
Thursday January 28 2021 - wine Tourism by Vitisphere

AOC Bordeaux invests €4 million to re-launch its tourism facilities

From Sauternes to Libourne, tourism projects are currently burgeoning in Bordeaux.
Wednesday January 27 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Ridley Scott produces his first wine (and prepares for the next stage)

Known for his blockbusters, Ridley Scott also made a more small-scale production about the vineyards of Provence – A Good Year, released in 2006 and starring Marion Cotillard and Russell Crowe.
Tuesday January 26 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Crisis-resistant Sancerre winery poised to welcome new members

The co-operative currently markets 12,000 hectolitres of wine, but reportedly has the capacity to accommodate 25 to 30,000 hl of wine.
Monday January 25 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Bernard Magrez turns focus from Bordeaux to other wine regions and spirits

“I'm not a winegrower, I'm a salesman who tries to understand the consumer”, claims Bernard Magrez.
Friday January 22 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

“Tomorrow’s robots will not be marketed by today’s start-ups” claims Pellenc

In its robotics R&D work, Pellenc focuses mainly on “repetitive tasks such as tillage or containment spraying. We are also planning to automate pre-pruning or even pruning”.
Thursday January 21 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

Grands Crus wine bottles broken by their thieves

As the script of a comedy film, the scenario would probably have us laughing, but for the victims, it is anything but amusing.
Wednesday January 20 2021 - Culture and Wine by Vitisphere

Promoting French gourmet food pairings, wines and sensible drinking, in a positive way

The 100% digital campaign will be rolled out on social media platforms Instagram, Youtube, Facebook and Twitter until the end of February.
Tuesday January 19 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Agroforestry pioneers Benoit and Delphine Vinet are Vitisphere readers’ personalities of the year

After planting their first trees in 2008, they launched their holistic approach in 2014 and feel it is within everyone’s reach.
Monday January 18 2021 - Winemaking by Vitisphere

A technique for regaining taste and sense of smell after Covid

Including essential oils and equipment, a kit costs less than fifty euros for three months.
Friday January 15 2021 - Business by Vitisphere

France’s first Vaccs'vin is on its way!

Christophe Avi, a winegrower in France’s Brulhois area, is releasing a wine at the end of January that promises to have side effects.
Thursday January 14 2021 - marketing by Vitisphere

Covid or not, En Primeur week will go ahead in Bordeaux and other venues

Although the economic situation under Covid is still very much up in the air, the Bordeaux wine industry is hoping to replicate the success of last year's 2019 En Primeur campaign.
Wednesday January 13 2021 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

A tunnel shelters vines from 80% of plant protection products

The Viti-Tunnel also warded off black rot, dead arm disease and grey rot. To combat powdery mildew, which only requires dampness and wind to spread, the partner chateaux used 2 to 4 kg per hectare of wettable sulphur every 10 to 20 days.
Tuesday January 12 2021 - Wine and Health by Vitisphere

Grape compounds able to block a key enzyme in the Covid-19 virus

In April, a Chinese team synthesised two compounds that inhibit the Mpro enzyme, with good in vivo results in dogs and mice. Their work was published in Science Magazine.
Monday January 11 2021 - Industry issues by Vitisphere

French wine industry continues to be hijacked by aviation issues

There is now no way still wines can avoid the duties – by shipping in bulk or raising ABV to over 14% – and some sparkling wines and spirits are also targeted.
Friday December 25 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Official endorsement and geo-oenological studies in the pipeline for ‘Volcanic wine’

Pierre Desprat accepts his reputation as the custodian of volcanic wines. His personal vision is that only wines from volcanic plots should eligible for the endorsement.
Thursday December 24 2020 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

Sales of Champagne plummet by 25%

“We need to capture the imagination more and the legend surrounding our appellation. We realised in 2020 that digital technology can also allow us to convey emotion”, says Jean-Marie Barillère.

Wednesday December 23 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

3 % of French winegrowers use horses

68% of estates using horse-drawn farm implements are certified organic.
Tuesday December 22 2020 - distribution by Vitisphere

14 charged with stealing €5 million worth of classified growths in Bordeaux

During their raids, the police and gendarmes found cases from prestigious estates, with bottles ranging in size “up to the Mathusalem (6 litres)”.
Monday December 21 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Does biodynamic winegrowing produce better quality wines?

A summary of these trials is due in six months’ time.
Friday December 18 2020 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

Covid puts a dent in revenues of French wine exports

In a globally competitive wine market, the value of French wines suffered far more than the average.
Thursday December 17 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Electric weeding performs as well as glyphosate beneath the vines

The trials did not cause any burns or damage to the grapes.

Wednesday December 16 2020 - Industry issues by Vitisphere

The French wine industry considers ‘deferred vineyard restructuring’, aka temporary vine pulls

“The proposal by the wine board is based on vine pull and staggered restructuring. The technical details have not yet been decided”, explains Jérôme Despey.

Tuesday December 15 2020 - Wine and media by Vitisphere

A caricature fuels controversy over male chauvinism in the French wine industry

“The wine industry’s “green” revolution is underway, but there is still another Bastille to be stormed and that is its male chauvinism and sexism, which pervade every aspect of the industry”, said celebrated French lawyer Eric Morain.
Monday December 14 2020 - Business by Vitisphere

Loire Wine Show changes dates and combines with fringe events in 2021

With its new format, “the show’s exhibitor numbers would increase from 600 to 1,200, if Dive joins us”, points out Eric Grelier.
Friday December 11 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Bordeaux is ready to plant its new grape varieties

Although the grapes have been tried and tested, they will remain secondary varieties in Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur production specifications.
Thursday December 10 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Europe’s largest wine estate offers a shining example of resilience to climate change

Along with its conversion to organic, Domaine Royal de Jarras has also rolled out disease-resistant grape varieties on a dozen hectares.
Wednesday December 09 2020 - Business by Vitisphere

We visited Jack Ma’s vineyard, and… you’ve never seen anything like it!

Jack Ma, Bordeaux vineyard philanthropist or a businessman ahead of the curve?
Tuesday December 08 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

The first yield monitor sensor is on its way

“We are going to roll out the sensor in several vineyards next summer to acquire more data and automate the calibration”, promises Benjamin Boissier.
Monday December 07 2020 - opinions by Vitisphere

“The French wine industry should not rejoice over Chinese import taxes on Australian wines”

“Above and beyond the economic ups and downs, research shows that the Chinese market is set to grow. There are still good prospects in China”, claims Allan Sichel, confident about the market's potential.
Friday December 04 2020 - Land management by Vitisphere

Diam finances the largest planting programme of cork oaks ever rolled out in Provence

Forest maintenance will cost an estimated 15,000 euros per hectare for the first five years.
Thursday December 03 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Two in three independent French winegrowers belong to an environmental scheme

According to the survey, two in three non-certified winegrowers plan to join an environmental scheme in the coming years.
Wednesday December 02 2020 - Market conditions by Vitisphere

Prices of red Burgundy boosted by a surge in white wine production

For the 2020 vintage, drought over the summer took its toll on juice yields for the reds, with production shortfalls frequently ranging from 20 to 50% across Burgundy.

Tuesday December 01 2020 - marketing by Vitisphere

The lessons learnt from the ‘Covid test’ label for red Bordeaux

Winegrower Jean-Christophe Mauro is not only modernising his labels to engage with younger and less traditional audiences, he is also revisiting the style of his wines.
Monday November 30 2020 - Vine growing by Vitisphere

Budburst occurs during pruning in Bordeaux and Burgundy

When in doubt and to avoid a drop in productivity, Professor Alain Deloire recommends winegrowers wait until the cold weather sets in before pruning short.
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