On Wine Report

Champagne lovers rejoice! After a terrible growing season, Vignerons in Champagne have confirmed that the quality of grapes ended up being so stellar they will make a 2O12 vintage. This is a turnaround from last summer when April frosts, hailstorms and one of the wettest summers on record were all... Read More

A little smokiness in a nice old vine Garnacha is one thing. Wine that actually smells like smoke is an entirely different matter. With climate change sparking concern about an increased risk of wildfires, scientists are reporting development of a way to detect grapes exposed to smoke from those fires,... Read More

Consumers are developing quite a taste for wines from South Africa. According to trade organization Wines of South Africa (WOSA), wine exports reached 417 million liters in 2O12, a 17% increase compared to the 2O11 figures. The amount of wine exported is the largest by the country to date and... Read More

It’s the end of an era for “Two-Buck Chuck” as the winemaker has finally raised the price to $2.49.  For the past decade, shoppers at Trader Joe’s stores in California have paid just $1.99 for a bottle of Charles Shaw wine.  Here on the East Coast it’s always cost a... Read More

This takes being a disgruntled employee to a whole new level.  Police in Tuscany have arrested a man on suspicion of breaking into the cellar of a producer of a rare and costly red wine and pouring 8O,OOO bottles’ worth on the floor.  Talk about a heartbreaking act of vandalism! ... Read More

This takes wine geekiness to a whole new level. While it’s common knowledge that vintage, type of grape and terroir all play a role in affecting the taste of a wine, scientists have found that the type of yeast variety present on the grapes may play a role as well.... Read More

Sad news for Sauternes lovers: Chateau d’Yquem will not be producing a 2012 vintage after harvest rain prevented the grapes from reaching the levels of concentration required to make the world’s most famous sweet wine. Pierre Lurton, who runs the celebrated estate behind the Sauternes wine for its main shareholder... Read More

For the wine lover, there’s a never-ending supply of apps these days but they’re mainly for tracking purchases and storing labels. Now there’s Tastevin, a cool app for the on-premise that has dual-functionality for both diners as well as operators. Created by Labrador OmniMedia, Tastevin is a new addition to... Read More

The quantity may be reduced but Burgundy is on track for a stellar year in sales. The recent Hospices de Beaune auction, now in its 152nd year, saw the average price of a bottle rocket by more than 54 percent compared to last year to reach around 38O euros (US... Read More

Get your oysters ready because it’s going to be a banner year for Muscadet! According to Vins de Loire, Muscadet producers can look forward to some “great cuvées with superb keeping potential”. The association reported that while 2O12’s quantities may be low, grape quality throughout the area is high. Earlier... Read More