More than 180 people are now confirmed dead in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands after torrential rains triggered rivers to burst their banks and send torrents of water through towns and villages. The deluge of water destroyed wine production businesses in Ahrweiler and the surrounding villages of Mayschoss and Dernau as barrels, wine bottles and machines were swept away. The extent and severity of the…

The new law states that only local Russian producers can call their products “shampanskoye”, the local translation for champagne. The new legislation has been signed by Vladimir Putin and means foreign producers must only label their products as sparkling wine. French producers are still allowed to use the word ‘champagne’ on the front of their bottles, however the Russian…

The three-bottle case sold for $142,000, approximately $47,333 per bottle, representing a 123% increase on the current average auction price and Cult Wines facilitated the sale on behalf of a private collector. “We’re seeing an insatiable demand across Asia at the upper end of the Burgundy market,” said Joe Alim, director of greater China for Cult Wines. “This is particularly true for producers like Domaine Leroy…

The harvest began two weeks later than normal due to cool weather conditions throughout the season, not finishing until May in some areas. Following the droughts of recent years, the replenishment of water resources contributed to good vine growth, bunch numbers and berry size. “It seems as though the vines really took their time to prepare this year’s harvest,” said Conrad Schutte, consultation and service…

The bottle is from an allocation originally intended for Napoleon Bonaparte and was the marquee lot in a day which resulted in R2,219,200 (£112,000) of sales. “Following a year that has impacted the South African wine industry like no other, the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction today became a beacon of resilience, showcasing the tenacious spirit of the country’s winemakers – and the massive…

According to the French company, extreme spring frost events significantly impacted yields following an earlier than normal budburst. Bunch sizes were also down, impacting juice extraction levels. Pernod revealed it has 34% less Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc this year compared to the 2020 vintage, which was already lower than long term averages. The lower volumes are also leading to…

According to a Christie’s spokesperson, the sales price for the wine has been estimated at around $1million (£720,000). The unique space-aged bottle is offered in a display trunk, crafted by the Parisian art house, Les Ateliers Victor, alongside a bottle of terrestrially-aged Pétrus 2000, decanter, glasses and a corkscrew made from a meteorite. “This bottle of Pétrus 2000 marks a momentous step in the pursuit…