The flavor of earth in wine of Wallonie

The patchwork of Burgundy‘s landscape, varied appellations and associated terroirs is as complex as it is enticing. Home of internationally renowned Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Burgundian wines are often regarded as the global benchmark for these varieties, with Old and New World styles habitually compared and contrasted. Famed for its Premier and Grand Cru wines and centuries of winemaking tradition, Burgundy is known to produce some of the most expensive wines in the world, but its also a ...

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon ‘space vines’ that were fired into orbit alongside bottles of Petrus 2000 have been nurtured alongside their ‘daughter’ plants in western France, said researchers in an update on the project. ‘The first “space grapes” are now visible on the canes just a few months after the replanting phase that occurred in February 2022,’ said Space Cargo Unlimited, the start-up leading the project. A total of 320 vine canes spent more than a year on the Int ...

I haplessly strayed into this controversial territory last summer during a debate at the Paulée d’Anjou event, having noted a significant minority of VSIG producers (Vin Sans Indication Géographique, the customary French abbreviation for this category) in the Loire. It seemed a shame, I burbled innocently, not to make use of local appellations to build understanding of their unique character, as well as show solidarity with fellow growers. The room quietened a little; glances were exchanged. C ...