Search Results: vines for wine making
Three Days of Champagne Picnics
Between June 3rd-5th more than 400 independent winemakers will turn France into the largest picnic area in Europe. This will be the seventh time the event has been held. If you’re in the Champagne region 34 winemakers will be ready to welcome you. This is nine more than last year and shows the importance of…
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A New Dawn For The Aube
The word ‘aube’ in French means ‘dawn’ in English and it’s also the name of the southernmost region of the Champagne region. So far, so straightforward, but this area of Champagne is also referred to as La Côte des Bar. You may not have heard either name and it’s true that the region is much…
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Biodynamic Champagnes
Biodynamic wines are still a rarity in Champagne, but look hard enough and you’ll find some smaller and lesser known producers are making excellent, noteworthy wines. Biodynamic winemaking, with its holistic approach to the vineyard ecosystem and the health of the soil, plants and organisms both above and below ground, demands determination, commitment and belief.…
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Faking it & Break ins – Champagne Crimes
In November thieves tried to rob a Champagne warehouse in Prunay. They fled empty handed when the alarm went off. There are crimes like this throughout the year but they tend to reach their peak with the approach to Christmas. In 2012 the Plan Champagne was set up. This was a partnership between the police…
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Steven Spurrier of Bride Valley Vineyard
The first time I saw Steven Spurrier was at the Swiss Ambassador’s stylish residence, proposing a toast for Circle of Wine Writers Christmas Party in December 2013 when I was a Diploma student. I have often seen him at Tasting Events since then but I always hesitated to talk to him as he was somehow…
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1701 First Officially Recognised Biodynamic Franciacorta
1701 winery has recently obtained biodynamic Demeter® certification. It is the first winery in the Franciacorta region to be officially recognised as biodynamic. All European biodynamic farms are subject to an EU Ruling for organic agriculture, so all certified Demeter® are therefore also organic. As the Demeter standards are more restrictive and rigorous than the…
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Plenty of Products from Pomace
The first three steps of the Champagne making process result in environmentally hazardous waste. Pressing the grapes gives marc or pomace. It consists of skin, pulp, pips and stems. Clarification gives deposits in the must. The first fermentation gives lees. Local distillers will collect this waste and transform it into a wide variety of products.…
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Exton Park has ‘Heart of Chalk & Stainless ‘Steel Resolve’
At the heart of Exton Park lie two key components – the prized chalk terroir that imparts a unique, mineral character to the grapes and the policy of focussing on non-vintage wines that are backed by a growing ‘library’ of reserve wines from different plots and years. Both have had the spotlight shone on them…
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5 Important Factors in Producing Good Champagne
Champagne is a wonderful thing to study, from enjoying tasting the many varied labels and varieties to looking in to how it is made and the people behind producing some of the world’s finest labels. Not only is Champagne steeped in history, but the complex way that it is made means that it’s superior taste…
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