European Union wine subsidies favour the bigger wine producing countries

New research has revealed that when it comes to handing out subsidies and support it it some of Europe's wealthiest and most established wine countries that get more better than countries you might think are more in demand.

A new study published in the Journal of Wine Economics, shows its the EU's riches countries that receive the lion’s share of the subsidies from the EU.

France is by far the biggest recipient. Which is not surprising, and nor is it unfair, as France has far more small winemakers than other countries, and its wine industry is of great importance to the nation.  Italy and Spain are second and third in total support, and also have a large number of small producers to support.

However, Greece, which comes ninth in terms of total EU support comes way behind the economic power houses that are Germany and Austria, which each receive three times as much EU subsidy compared to the Greeks.

But when the study, by Kym Anderson of the University of Adelaide and Hans G Jensen of the University of Copenahgen looked at how much each country received per hectare of vines, the results are interesting.

Austria comes out on top by a large margin, and Cyprus came second, which seems logical as the country could do with the financial assistance. But the French came in third place and Germany in fourth.

Greece has 2.25 times as many hectares of vines as Austria. But Austria receives 3.4 times as much total direct EU support as Greece. That Austrians also receives nearly four times as much indirect support as Greece adding insult to injury.

In terms of support received per hectare of vines, Austria is again in first place, and Cyprus second.   The support per hectare ranges from from 300 euros in Greece to 2,350 euros in Austria and support per litre of wine produced ranges from 0.11 euros in Greece to 0.37 euros in Austria

“The French are supposed to be the masters of running vineyards, yet they get more government support for it than almost any other country,” commented wine blogger and commentator Blake Gray. “Then there are the supposedly efficient Germans living on government money.”

It would appear that the French are using their EU support to make more wine, he said, but focusing on quantity rather than quality. Meanwhile, the Porguguese are also accepting government subsidies but making less wine.

Portugal, Spain and Greece all receive below average government support per hectare, in fact Greece, arguably the most needy country, receives the lowest per hectare support of the entire EU.

In terms of figures, the authors of the report say that the average EU vineyard received 700 Euros per hectare (283 Euros per hectare) of government support. Austria, France, Cyprus and Germany received more than 1000 Euros per hectare. (404 Euros per acre).

The overall average comes to around 15 eurcents per bottle of wine produced in the EU, averaged across all countries.

By per kilolitre standards, Slovakia and Slovenia are number two and three respectively in terms of the amount of EU funds they receive.

See full article here: European Union wine subsidies favour the bigger wine producing countries

Consumer demand sees China’s wine imports up by nearly 20%

A further sign that China's middle classes are opening up to wine is that the latest wine import figures that showed there was an impressive near 20%  jump to US$1.77 billion in the first nine months of this year, according to latest figures from the China Association for Imports and Exports of Wines and Spirits.

The volume of imports also increased by over 14% to over 464 million litres from January to September, said the official national trade association.

Bottled wine imports which dominate the market to China came to approximately US$1.65m, a year on year increase of over 20%, and accounted for over 93% of all imported wines.

And in volume terms, the country imported more than 354 million litres of bottled wine, a 19% increase compared with the same time last year.

Bulk wine imports, meanwhile, grew by over 9% to US$99.8 million, while sparkling wines saw a decline in both volume and value.

“The consistently strong performance of bottled wine imports proved their continued recognition and popularity among customers,” said the Association.

France and Australia between them accounted for 70% of all the bottled wines imported by China based on imported value. France took the lion’s share with US$805 million, accounting for nearly 45%, while Australia accounts for 25%.

These two countries are followed by Chile, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Portugal, Germany, Georgia and Canada.

New Zealand came top in terms of average wine prices, at US$9.66 per litre, followed by Australia at US$7.14 per litre.

Wines from Spain had the lowest average price at US$2 per litres, according to the figures.

Article source here: Consumer demand sees China’s wine imports up by nearly 20%

Australian wineries count cost of storm that tops A$100m in insurance claims

The bill for damage caused by the recent storm that hit parts of Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia has exceeded $100m, and is expected to climb even higher.

Latest figures from the Insurance Council of Australiahave revealed that the storm has so far generated around 20,000 insurance claims, with insurance losses so far predicted to be at least $115m across the three states.  However, the final toll is likely to be higher, given that some damage is not insured.

A spokesperson from the Insurance Council said that it would “take several months for the full extent of the losses to be known.

The storm, considered by Mildura locals to be the worst hailstorm to affect the region since the 1970’s, seriously damaged or destroyed more than 24,400 hectares of crops in Victoria in one of the state’s key food producing districts.   Up to 1238 hectares of wine grapes were destroyed or seriously damaged in the storm, while other crops to be badly hit included grain, legumes and table grapes.

Wine producer Russell McManus, who farms near Red Cliffs, estimates he has lost about three quarters of his crop this season, with the grape vines stripped of developing grapes.

"|'d say that approximately 75% of our properties are wiped out,” he said. “The remainder would have damage to a lesser extent, simply because our properties are spread out over an area. It will have an effect on next year’s crop as well, because it’s damaged the buds on the canes for the following season.”

McManus has estimated that the storm will cost him “hundreds of thousands of dollars”.

Learn more here: Australian wineries count cost of storm that tops A$100m in insurance claims

Wine Behind The Label’s 10th edition includes record number of wine producers and wines

The 10th edition of Wine Behind the Label is published early next month with its most comprehensive analysis to date of wine producers, their vineyards and their wines.

The guide remains unique in that it features not only the most up to date profiles of individual wineries from all the main producing countries of the world. It also gives full ratings and scores for their wines.

As a result it has become known as “the sommelier’s best friend” and is widely used by sommeliers, and other wine professionals, both in their training, as research for professional exams, and as a day to day resource in their working lives.

Wine Behind the Label is once again published by joint editors, David Moore and Neville Blech.

The 10th edition includes full profiles of 3,700 wineries, including 160 new entries. There are 6,000 wineries featured in total, with over 19,000 different wines rated and scored.

The guide has been updated to include all the latest wines and ratings from the 2015 northern hemisphere vintage and the 2016 vintage in the southern hemisphere.

Wine Behind The Label contains the most accurate information possible about wineries and their wines as it relies on a network of some of the biggest names in the international wine writing community to help compile many of the chapters, profiles and wine ratings. It is their work and expertise that has helped Wine Behind The Label become seen as THE reference book for professional and amateur wine lovers alike.

Contributors to the 10th edition include Jim Budd (Loire Valley) , Michael Edwards (Champagne and Burgundy), Professor Kathleen Burk (Germany, Austria and Virginia), Gary White (Portugal and South America), Ilona Thompson, (Wes Coast of the USA). It also includes work from previous contributors, including Sarah Ahmed, Maggie Rosen and Stuart George.

A key feature of the Wine Behind The Label guide is its full range of regional maps, with great detail of all the main wine producing areas of the world.

It also includes comprehensive glossaries for wine and viticulture terms along with a guide to all the main grape varieties.

Previous editions of the guide have received international acclaim. The most recent coming from the Organisation Internationale de la Vigne  et du Vin which earlier this year gave it a special prize in its international wine awards for its contribution to wine education and knowledge.

As the 10th edition is about to hit the presses, plans are already in place for 2017, with more leading contributors from around the world for the next Wine Behind The Label and a dedicated app to help professionals and wine lovers alike check wines for quality and value when out buying bottles in shops and restaurants.

A new membership club is also set to be launched in 2017 where members can take advantage of attending special events and also receiving discounts on wine accessories, including glassware and the VinGarde Valise wine carrying suitcase, that are sold through its website.

The full price for a printed book of the 10th edition is £65 and £39 for a digital version.

Pre-publication discounts are available to those placing orders up to midnight on November 30 for both the printed or digital versions of the guide. 

They include a 20% for a single copy (using the code prepub20), any orders of five copies or more receive a 25% (code: 5ormore25), for 10 or more copies it is a 35% discount (code: 10ormore35) and 20 or more can get a 50% (code:“20ormore50”).

* If you would like to receive any more information or talk to one of the editors behind the book then contact Neville Blech on neville@winebehindthelabel.org.

* You can read more about the guide, plus catch up on the latest wine news, as well as read regular blogs from Wine Behind The Label contributors and the editors, Neville Blech and David Moore, at its dedicated website, wwww.winebehindthelabel.org.

See full article here: Wine Behind The Label’s 10th edition includes record number of wine producers and wines

Rioja celebrates a “superb” vintage with great weather for quality grapes

Unusually good weather, exceptional condition of the grapes and staggered picking has resulted in a “superb” Rioja harvest.

In total, 442.4m kg of grapes were picked, which was turned into 318.5m litres of wine according to the DOCa Rioja.   Both the quantity and quality of this year’s crop have been described as “highly satisfactory”, with the unusually good weather in September and October contributing to the “exceptional” quality of the grapes this harvest.

This has enabled producers to be highly selective and to be able to pick the grapes only when they reach their optimum ripeness in each vineyard.

Last year was the earliest Rioja harvest on record, ending on October 13th, but 2016 has been equally notable in that it has lasted for over two months. This was the result of the good weather, combined with an unexpected increase in production after a growing season marked by both drought and high summer temperatures.

The total grape production surface area in the region for 2016 was 62,641 hectares (759 more than in 2015). Of that total, the vast majority, 58,016 hectares, are planted with red varieties and 4,625 with white (143 and 620 more than in 2015 respectively).

The area yielded an authorised production of 400.14 million kg of red grapes (90%) and 42.22 million kg of white grapes (10%). A total of 462.5 million kg grapes were picked this year of which 442.4 million kg were approved after discarding excess production.

These were used to make 318.5 million litres of D.O. certified wine. This amount is somewhat lower than what could theoretically be approved with the maximum yields per hectare set out in this year’s Harvest Standards.

And initial impressions about the quality of the 2016 vintage wines are “very optimistic”.

The Control Board will soon start the rating process (which involves laboratory tests and tastings) to accurately assess the wine made by each winery and in the region as a whole.

Source here: Rioja celebrates a “superb” vintage with great weather for quality grapes

Wine behind the label 10th edition coming very soon

Wine behind the label 10^th edition coming very soon

We thought we should bring all our readers some important news. The 10^th edition of Wine behind the label, the authoritative guide to the best wine producers and their wines is now in preparation. The digital download will be ready at the end of November and the printed hard cover 1000 page book will be available in early December.

We are asking you to think Christmas. The book is an ideal present for rewarding your best clients or customers or for gifts to family and friends.

The full price of the printed book will be £65 and we can offer a discount of 25% for a delivery of 5 books or more, 35% for 10 books or more and 50% for 20 books or more. The book cover can be overprinted with your company logo for a one off fee of £100 once you have supplied the artwork.

We are also offering a pre-publication discount of 20% for a single book or download for all orders received before December 1st

The digital guide sells for £39 and again the same percentage quantity discounts apply.

Please contact neville@winebehindthelabel.org for your discount coupon codes

This is a must for anybody interested in wine. Over 6,000 wine producers are written up and over 18,000 wines are rated. Look them up before you buy in a shop or restaurant. There is also a useful glossary of wine terms and a grape glossary.

Wine behind the label – everything you ever wanted to know about wine and never dared to ask.

As a quick sampler please have a look at these screen grabs of a couple of new wineries we are profiling. These are work in progress from the digital guide.

Find Vilmart on wine searcher

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/vilmart+cie

 

 

Find Greystone wines on wine searcher

http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/greystone+wines+waipara

 

Post source here: Wine behind the label 10th edition coming very soon

New Zealand producers count the cost of latest earthquake to hit the South Island

New Zealand is still counting the cost of what was potentially a devastating earthquake of 7.5 magnitude that hit the country's South Island on Sunday night.

However, early signs are the wine community has had a narrow escape other than a wine spillages, lost tanks and barrels. The quake could not have come at a worse time for the industry as it was gearing up for its next vintage, and was followed by a further earthquake and a series of aftershocks that have the hit the region throughout the early part of the week.

But engineers and producers are still looking at the most worst affected areas with parts of  Marlborough, the key wine growing region having been hit.

There was some damage at the Riverlands Industrial Estate, south of Blenheim, where tanks holding as much as 240,000 litres were spilled, sending wine over the road. This could prove costly for the wine companies concerned, though Wine Malrborough chairman Rhyan Wardman said that the high standard of engineering developed over a series of earthquakes should avert too much damage.

Yealands Wine Group operating manager Michael Wentworth said there had been “notable damage at the winery” and it remains closed for safety reasons while the extend of the damage is assessed and cleaned up.  Yealands is situated near the town of Seddon, the epicentre of the quake.

“We’ve got damage to tanks and as a result of the shaking we’ve lost some wine but it’s to early to estimate how much that is,” he said.

Wardman said that the winery where he worked, Giesen Wines in the Riverlands estate, escaped with minor damager.

“We’ve had a number of barrels that have toppled, but otherwise we’ve come through this pretty much unscathed,” he said. “Today is all about the assessment of our infrastructure, we’ve got engineers on site to check our tanks and cat walks, so we’ll probably have a clearer picture at the end of the day about how we fared.”

Residents living near the coast were being urged to move to higher ground after the earthquake triggered a tsunami warming. Hundreds of homes were evacuated in Kaikoura, while Rarangi residents north of Blenheim left their houses and moved inland.

The Nelson region appears to have been unscathed.

The country is no stranger to seismic activity, with a 7.1-magnitude temblor causing massive structural damage in September 2010, followed by a 6.3-magnitude in February 2011 that killed 185 people in Christchurch. Frequent smaller quakes have been recorded since then, including the 2013 Seddon and Lake Grassmere quakes, both of which caused substantial property damage.

Article source here: New Zealand producers count the cost of latest earthquake to hit the South Island