Welcome at Flying Wine Writer | Jan Rook

Following the launching of the Sustainability Code in early 2011, the first fourteen wineries received this recognition after a rigorous assessment and inspection process. From now on, Anakena, Arboleda, Caliterra, Casa Silva, Cremaschi Furlotti, Emiliana, Errázuriz, Montes, MontGras, Santa Cruz, Santa Ema, Santa Rita, Ventisquero and Vía Wines are entitled to use the 'Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile' seal in their labels, bottles and promotional materials, being able to effectively communicate their commitment and work towards sustainable practices. The fourteen wineries represent 13% of Chile's total vineyard surface, equivalent to 14,757 hectares. More information click here...

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Austria's wine sector keeps sailing on its successful course. While total export estimates reflect a lower volume of 46.5 million liters (a 25% drop), the value nevertheless shows an increase of 2.6 % to € 126 million. This represents an average price increase from € 1.98 per liter in 2010 to € 2.71 per liter in 2011.
In the rankings of the most important export countries, Germany remains unchallenged in first place. Also Switzerland (including Liechtenstein) imported lower amounts of Austrian wine - 2.52 million liters; a 17% decrease - but still, the total value rose by 6% to € 15.1 million. Exports to the USA remained steady at 1.7 million liters, a 3% decrease; the value, however, actually increased by 9% to € 8 million. After years of stagnation, Austrian wines are increasingly in demand. Extremely positive also are the developments in the Netherlands, Great Britain and Scandinavia – export markets which are becoming more and more important volume-wise in the high average price segment.

Thursday, 05 January 2012

Château Brown launches QR code

Château Brown, a Pessac-Léognan grand cru, is now the most recent among many Bordeaux estates that are bringing QR codes into the mainstream for wine marketing, as it has added one of the two dimensional barcodes to its labels.

Monday, 27 December 2011

The International Wine Challenge Catavinum just published the results of the tasting of wines from the world of 2012.
For the realization of the contest were tasted a total of 2.057 wines, of which obtained the corresponding medal and diploma 599 wines.
Click here for the results.

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Joining The Consortium is a further boost to Tesco’s work on sustainability and comes after its commendation as the top green UK retailer by the internationally recognized Carbon Disclosure Project. By focusing on environmental and social sustainability in the supply chain, The Consortium’s collaboration between Tesco and other global businesses will drive sustainable production and consumption in the consumer goods market. This partnership builds on The Consortium’s recent opening of a European branch at Wageningen University & Research Centre in The Netherlands.
Tesco estimates that it saved £200 million in global energy costs last year by going green and aims to be a zero-carbon business by 2050. In addition to opening the world’s first zero-carbon supermarket2, Tesco has carbon footprinted over 1,100 products since 2008, currently the largest product footprinting project undertaken by any retailer. Read more...

Saturday, 3 December 2011

Vinea in Sierre Switzerland, announced today the results of the fourth edition Mondial du Merlot 2011. 300 Merlot wines from 21 countries were submitted. Half came from Switzerland. From France and Italy were the most non-Swiss wines.The jury gave 33 gold medals. Of these, 21 went to Swiss producers, 5 to Italian, 5 to French, one to Australian and one to a Croatian producer. The only Grand Or was for Sandre Angelo from Italy's Veneto. He also won the prize for the best Merlot and best blend of Merlot. Read the results on the site: www.mondial-du-merlot.com

Saturday, 3 December 2011

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) has officially
recognised the role of natural cork closures in reducing greenhouse gases. At its recent General Assembly meeting in Montpellier, the OIV passed a resolution (OIV-CST 431-2011) defining the general principles of an international greenhouse gas accounting protocol for the vine and wine sector. Read more..

Sunday, 13 November 2011

Chaptalisation and acidification have been banned in Alsace’s Grand Cru from the 2011 vintage. Both practices will still be permitted in the rest of Alsace’s vineyards. The vote was passed two weeks ago, with 20 of the region’s 28 Grand Cru representatives voting in favour of the restriction.

Monday, 31 October 2011

Pentagon chief Leon Panetta will bring in the New Year with a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild from 1870 with an estimated value of $10,000-$15,000, courtesy of a bet with a friend over tracking down Osama bin Laden. Foto Chicago Tribune

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

Josep Albet, owner of the Albet I Noya winery and recently elected president of the Regulatory Council of the Penedès DO, said that the following sub-regions proposed within Penedès are– Garraf, Ordal, Alt Penedes, Central Valley A and Central Valley B. A further sixth sub-zone is still being decided upon. The proposal is not yet submitted. If the procedure is succesful, these changes could be implemented by summer 2012.

Saturday, 15 October 2011

Nomacorc announced the market introduction of the NomaSelector™, an innovative software tool that uses a scientific model to recommend a closure tailored for a specific wine. The breakthrough model was developed using conclusions from Nomacorc’s oxygen management research programs at leading academic wine institutes around the world.