Franciacorta, a DOCG region in Lombardy, is rapidly emerging as a fine sparkling wine area. How did one region built a big reputation in a small amount of time? And could its experience could act as a road map for other regions?
An Australian scientist visiting a vineyard in Ningxia recently is said to have grabbed a vine and counted 43 grape bunches. After his initial shock, he said the vines back home would have far less fruit. But then, Chinese vignerons do focus on quality rather than quantity. Ningxia is an autonomous region in northwest China, virtually unknown to the outside world. Even in China, few people associate it with wine. But it is an up-and-coming region and what happens there reflects the Chinese industry at large.
Most sparkling wine was originally produced to slake only local thirst. In two enormous markets, Germany and Russia, it still is, but in the wake of Champagne’s global success, producers the world over now eye exports as a way to improve their bottom lines. We look at what’s happening in Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
Tuscany exploded on the world stage when the Super Tuscans appeared in the late 1980s. Wine lovers couldn’t get enough of them and the style’s future seemed secure. Yet now, writes Michèle Shah, there is a swing back to traditional winemaking.
Slowdowns in exports and rising costs have forced the Chilean industry to decide whether to stay struggling at the entry level or raise the average price of its product mix and go head-to-head with more prestigious wines.
While there is dynamism in certain sectors and a steady supply of new investors, the Languedoc and Roussillon are in a state of mutation. Varietal wines continue to gain market share, but the appellations are losing lustre.
Known historically as the home of fortified wines, Portugal is undergoing a table wine renaissance as the country opens up to Europe and the world. But despite the growing accolades and a treasure trove of indigenous varieties, Portugal still struggles to project its true vinous identity.
Riesling is strong, but rising grape prices and a weak dollar are putting pressure on everyone’s margins,” says Writers have long been fanatical about German Riesling, but the public largely ignored it, deriding it as sweet plonk. Although it is too early to celebrate, producers are pleased with the success they enjoyed in 2007.
Although the noble estates in Bordeaux are awash in success, their fortune has done little to relieve the misery of their neighbours. Jane Anson asks if it would be possible to turn things around with a mass market Bordeaux brand.
Romania has come a long way since the fall of communism, culminating with EU membership in January 2007. It is now one of the most buoyant economies in Europe – and is one of the world’s largest wine markets. Caroline Gilby MW looks at how these changes have affected the country’s wine industry.
