Horrific fires devastated the countryside and ancient winegrowing regions of Greece during August this year. They started in the mountainous Peloponnese areas of Lakonia, Ilia and Messinia and high winds caused their rapid spread to lower cultivated lands. It is estimated that 250,000 ha have been burnt out, including dozens of villages and homes and, tragically, some 70 plus people lost their lives or are…

Victoria may be smallest mainland state in Australia but it is the most diverse in terms of climate and altitude, with vineyards ranging from just above sea level to almost 1,000m. While plantings of the five usual suspects – Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot – take up more than three-quarters of the Victorian vineyard, this leaves plenty of room for manoeuvre for…

Constellation Europe has bought iconic South African wine brand Flagstone and its owner, Bruce Jack, has become head of Constellation’s South African operation, which includes top brand Kumala. The teaming up of the voluble Jack with Kumala was first m ooted by Western Wines, Kumala’s original owner before it was taken over by Vincor which was , in turn, acquired by Constellation. The deal…

Cava wants to be, needs to be and increasingly is being taken seriously. For the uninitiated, it has in been sold on its reputation as cheap Spanish fizz – not to be taken seriously but a great start to festivities if Champagne proved too expensive. But, as with so many other sectors , consumers are better informed and looking for more quality and differentiation. Empowered…

The most-quoted one-liner on New Zealand Pinot Noir right now is that of Tim Atkin MW . It was penned immediately after the Pinot Noir 2007 conference , printed in UK title Off Licence News (Feb 9 2007) and reprinted almost everywhere you look in the New Zealand wine industry. Atkin echoes the thoughts of many when he says: "If you’ve got less than £25…

South Africa’s winemakers have unlocked their expertise and let loose their distinctive expressions on the world market since the nation shook off its colonial past and abandoned apartheid in 1994. So much so that South Africa today has more than 102,000ha of land under vine – up from 92,601ha in 1999 – and makes as much as three per cent of the world’s wine. Although…

While the Chilean wine industry is still best known among consumers for soft, fruity, easy-to-drink red wines, things are changing. Two emerging themes are cool-climate wines and Sauvignon Blanc. Forget growing grapes in near-perfect conditions along the flat valleys watered by rivers swollen with Andean snow melt. Cool climate is the new viticultural buzz for Chilean winemakers and Sauvignon Blanc is the variety leading the…