Stories from Bacchus for You
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France allows regions to do away with traditional 'ban des vendanges'
Bacchus for You &bull Oct 1, 2008The Graves region of Bordeaux and Bourgeuil in the Loire have become some of the first appellations to do away with the traditional harvest start date, or 'ban des vendanges'. As part of wine sector reforms initiated by the national… Full Story »
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A winery in name only
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 10, 2008Couple sets up shop in Houston to import, sell French wines Tim and Phyllis Smith own a "winery"near Rice Village where they import and sell French wines. In order to operate their business, they had to obtain a winery license. In 1973, Tim Smith bought a grand-cru Beaujolais in Paris for 80 centimes. That bottle of Morgon, for an outlay of about 20 cents, proved a… Full Story »
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Legal row over French wine classification
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 10, 2008The wine classification system in France can make or break a vineyard Photo: EPA A row over the highly competitive wine classification system that can make or break a vineyard is threatening the reputation of the Saint-Emilion chateaux, producers of… Full Story »
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Consumers are cutting back
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 10, 2008Restaurants take the hardest hit in terms of wine sales The pinch of higher gasoline prices on American wallets is adding to the reluctance of consumers to go out for a drink or dinner and drinks--all of which is hurting on-premises sales. History suggests people don't necessarily drink less during difficult economic times, but a survey done earlier this month indicates more folks are enjoying a glass of wine at home rather than dining and drinking out. "Wine is more likely to be consumed… Full Story »
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Bad news for French wine harvest
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 9, 2008Bins of grapes are pictured in the St Emilion region in 2000 PARIS (AFP) — French wine authorities predicted Tuesday that this year's harvest will be smaller than the previous one due to poor weather and fewer vineyards. Production is… Full Story »
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Vineyard properties remain a hot buy
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 1, 2008Vineyard real estate prices remain strong in Napa County, especially for “lifestyle” homes with vineyard views. J.L. Sousa The price of a residential piece of real estate may be falling. But you’d never know it out among the vines. The demand for Napa County vineyard land is strong, and the future looks even brighter, according to industry observers. David Freed is chairman of UCC Vineyards Group, a firm that specializes in vineyard property sales and owns vineyards from the Sacramento Delta to Santa Barbara. He said that he can look back… Full Story »
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Rosé consumption in the pink
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 1, 2008The popularity of rosé has been confirmed as new figures show the number of regular wine drinkers who drink rosé has risen by over 60% in the last three years. According to research commissioned by the WSTA, six out of ten wine drinkers now drink rosé compared to less than four out of ten in 2005. The figures, contained in the latest Wine Intelligence survey, suggest the growth in popularity of rosé has come in part at the expense of red, with consumption of red wine falling by 10% over the… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Decanter
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California grape growers wary of proposal on Chile exports
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 1, 2008Grape lovers could have an easier time finding Chilean bunches untouched by the potent chemical methyl bromide, under new rules proposed Wednesday by the Agriculture Department. At Chile's request, and after at least six years of study, the Agriculture Department wants to lift the… Full Story »
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Soil moisture monitoring saves water, improves wine grape quality
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 1, 2008Those who have invested in water saving technologies are breathing a little easier than those who have not as California water supplies get even more scarce. Victor Hugo Roberts, owner of Victor Hugo Vineyards and Winery in Templeton, Calif., is one of those who invested in high tech soil moisture monitors to manage his irrigation. This is his third year using the technology. “We are probably reducing our water usage 50 percent to 60 percent of what we used to put out before we went to the monitoring system,” Roberts says. “We… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Winery
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French wine sales plummet in credit crunch
Bacchus for You &bull Sep 1, 2008French wine is now focused towards the higher end of the market Photo: STEPHEN LOCK Sales of cheap French wines are falling sharply worldwide as cash-strapped British and American consumers feel the pinch of the credit crunch. Producers of cheap… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Plonk
