Côtes de Meuse is the PGI title given to wines produced in parts of the Meuse department in Northeast France. Although the region is situated between the famous vineyards of Champagne and Alsace, the vineyards of the Meuse produce only a tiny amount of wine, mainly from Burgundian Grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Auxerrois. The Meuse Lies on the border of Belgium and Luxembourg, at the high latitude of 49 degrees north, and therefore has a cool continental Climate with cold winters and Warm - not hot - summers. Côtes de Meuse growers exploit the region's hilly topography for viticulture, and the vineyards tend to occupy the South and east facing slopes around the river.
Here, optimal exposure to the sun favours the ripening process, and the hills provide shelter from the cold, rainy northwest winds. The clay-limestone soils have sufficient water holding capacity to keep the vines hydrated throughout the growing season, although the natural slope of the vines helps to Drain excess water, keeping the vines from flooding and limiting excessive vigor. The northern location of the Côtes de Meuse vineyards means that the growing season is fairly Short and early varieties are therefore favoured. Fresh and simple white wines are made from Auxerrois and Chardonnay, while Pinot Noir and Gamay are used in the light and fruity reds.
The region’s trade share slumped to an historic low of 37.7% in 2021 after failing to keep pace with the broader market. It was the first time Bordeaux’s market share had ever fallen below 40%. At the time of writing, it has slipped to 32%, according to Liv-ex. The company divides its main index into a series of sub-indices. Over the past year, the Bordeaux sub-index increased by a modest 11.5%, compared to 43.8% for Burgundy and 51.2% for Champagne. The main challenger to Bordeaux’s throne is B ...
Vanilla was ranked as the most pleasant smell in a study involving 235 people and conducted by an international network of researchers, including those from the University of Oxford and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. This was closely followed by ethyl butyrate, ‘which smells like peaches’, said the researchers, who published their findings in the Current Biology journal. Vanilla notes can be found in several wine styles, such as some iterations of Chardonnay or Rioja, largely resulting from ...
Oregon has got a 23rd AVA after ‘Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon’ was created this month following approval from the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Lying around 15 miles west of Salem, the new appellation zone sits within the broader Willamette Valley AVA. Its lengthy official name was created to prevent confusion with another Mount Pisgah, in Lane County. Morgen McLaughlin, executive director of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association, said it was an exciting development: ‘Th ...
