Wines made from Merlot grapes of Germany - Page 8

Trade group Wine Australia delivered an estimate of 1.32 million tonnes for the overall vintage, which is 26% below the 10-year average. It is the lowest vintage recorded since 2000, and producers across the country reported that conditions were the most challenging in at least 20 years. Australia was hit by a third consecutive La Niña event, which led to the wettest year since 2011 and the coolest year since 2012. Relentless rainfall throughout the winter and spring across much of Southeastern ...

There’s no doubt that 2021 was a challenging vintage. Most explanatory statements or technical sheets handed out over the past few weeks have mentioned the unfavourable, oft disastrous weather conditions, the sometimes very low and disheartening yields and the slightly varied or unusual blends on offer in 2021. Difficulties faced by vignerons both inside and outside of the cellar have been explained in detail as has the raft of highly important decisions needed be made throughout the year, ...

Bordeaux has a history of extraordinary women running vineyards. In Sauternes & Barsac Françoise-Joséphine d’Yquem was imprisoned twice during the French revolution but managed to save both her neck and Château d’Yquem, 1er Grand Cru Classé Supérieur Sauternes. She then dedicated herself to her property, and introduced the practice of ‘tries successives’ or multiple passes through the vineyard during harvest to collect botrytised grapes at maximum maturity, transforming the quality of wines ...