Maison Pol Roger produced a one-of-a-kind Methuselah – equivalent to 8 bottles, to celebrate the launch of the Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2004. It was was unveiled at the Riders and Owners’ party at Badminton Horse Trials 2014 by professional event rider, Laura Collett. Collett enjoyed an astronomical rise to success when, in 2013, she had a fall which left her in a coma…

It says they are buying more wine costing more than US$15 per bottle, as growing consumer confidence and increasing switching from other drinks continues to drive the US wine market. The conclusions are contained in the global wine industry research consultancy’s latest report, Premium Wine Drinkers in the US Market 2014. Premium wine drinkers in the US, those drinking wine at least once a week…

The association represents 500 growers and producers in California’s premium wine-producing region. It says the money to establish the fund will come from proceeds of the NVV’s annual Auction Napa Valley charity event. NVV board chairman and general manager of Silverado Vineyards Russ Weis, said: “Hundreds of homes and businesses in the local community were damaged by this disaster. “Residents and business owners in the…

The region’s harvest has started in the AOCs Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence. The first cuts were made on the August 21 in the earlier ripening vineyards, and harvest began in earnest on Monday the 25th. The generic body says this is slightly earlier than last year and earlier than the average harvest date for Provence, thanks to the favourable…

Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), which represents vine growers and wine producers in the area to the north of San Francisco says its immediate priority remains the health and wellbeing of those in the community affected by the earthquake. This includes the more than 200 treated for injuries at Queen of the Valley Medical Center; more than 200 who were offered aid from the Red Cross;…

The troubled group, which owns brands such as Penfolds, Lindeman’s, Wolf Blass and Rosemount brands and the Beringer and Chateau St Jean labels in the US, has had an offer from another private equity group. It is believed the non-binding and conditional offer from TPG matches the AUS$5.20 per share, offered last week by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co (KKR) and Rhone Capital. TPG has…

The report, titled ‘Contamination of wines and spirits by phthalates: types of contaminants present, contamination sources and means of prevention’, says a more worrying statistic the research brings to light is that 11% of the wines analysed did not comply with EU specific migration limits (SML) for materials in contact with food. The report says phthalate compounds are extremely widespread in our environment and are…