French wine consumption at 30-year low
The French are drinking less wine on a regular basis than ever before, a new survey has found.
Panos Kakaviatos has been a published wine writer since 2001, writing in internationally recognized media including Decanter, but also Harpers Wine & Spirit, Meiningers Wine Business International and The World of Fine Wine.
His writing ability was developed as a news agency reporter, primarily with the Associated Press. He has a particular interest in Bordeaux and has taken part each year in the en primeur barrel tastings there since the 2003 vintage.
He enjoys organising educational wine tasting dinners in Europe and in the United States, and he judges in international wine competitions, from Shanghai to London. He also offers cellar consulting and organises wine tours for individuals.
Based in Strasbourg, France, Panos also works as a spokesperson and media relations manager for the European human rights organisation, the Council of Europe.
Panos runs his own wine website called wine-chronicles.com – widely viewed in Europe and the United States. He was a judge the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019.
The French are drinking less wine on a regular basis than ever before, a new survey has found.
Experts who tasted the 43 wines from the recently harvested 2012 vintage – later auctioned at the Hospices de Beaune – were surprised at the high quality of the wines, in spite of bad weather conditions that lead to one of the smallest harvests ever.
The 152nd Hospices de Beaune auction yesterday resulted in its highest sale since 2000, raising nearly €6m, some half a million euros more than last year.
There were 30% more Asian buyers at this year’s Hospices de Beaune compared to last year, auction house Christie’s said.
Wine grower associations from 15 EU member states will gather in Brussels this week to lobby against a European Commission reform that would increase vineyard plantings.
Former French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will preside over the 152nd Hospices de Beaune auction next month.
Burgundy is heading for a small harvest due to the challenging summer weather, vintners are saying.
Just over 20 years of Chateau Gruaud Larose – from 1989 to 2010 – not only enchanted the palates of Bordeaux lovers at Decanter's Great Bordeaux Fine Wine Encounter masterclass, but also reflected profound transitions at this venerable second growth, one of the most famous of St Julien. By Panos Kakaviatos
Widespread frost in Austria earlier this month caused serious damage to vineyards, according to the Austrian winegrowers' association.
Police in Champagne have arrested 15 individuals under suspicion of stealing thousands of official ‘CRD’ capsule stickers.
A 240-year-old bottle of Vin Jaune will be auctioned next month with a £30,000 estimated hammer price.
As one participant remarked, tasting the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) “was like going through a tour of ultra-fine Bordeaux.”
Such was the interest for the Sassicaia and Ornellaia master class that Charles Chevalier, winemaking director at Château Lafite Rothschild and Maggie Henriquez, CEO of Krug Champagne – both featured in other master classes over the weekend – attended to compare the wines from the 2008, 2004, 2000 and 1998 vintages, plus two second wines.
Lovers of elegance in Bordeaux found their pleasure tasting 10 vintages of Chateau Canon, one of only 15 Premier Grand Cru Classes B from St Emilion known especially for its elegance.
Six vintages of Pichon Comtesse de Lalande spanning over 30 years pleased many a palate in a master class hosted by Sylvie Cazes and Mark Bingley MW. Cazes drew attention to a brand new era for this venerable second growth Pauillac.
For most participants of the Krug master class, the order of the flight seemed astounding: starting with the rare, just released Clos du Mesnil 2000, and ending with... two non-vintage cuvees.
Wine consumption in India is rising at a 'stupendous' rate – particularly among women, a new report says.
A Chinese company has defaulted on loans it used to purchase the Bellisimo Vineyard in Sonoma County's Knights Valley.
The Chinese government has approved the first-ever Chinese investment fund specialising in wine.
US wine exports to Mexico are expected to improve with the ending of a 20% 'retaliatory' tariff.
The former home of the late Robert Mondavi, set into a grove of ancient oak trees on a sprawling 56-acre estate, will go under the hammer next month for a minimum bid of $13.9m – half the original asking price.
The US congress last week approved the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement which will eliminate tariffs and other barriers to trade in most goods and services within five years.
Vintners in the celebrated sweet wine growing regions of Sauternes and Barsac are amazed at how early the 2011 harvest has been.
As the 2011 Bordeaux harvest comes to an end, oenologists describe it as a rollercoaster marked by wild fluctuatons in the weather.
In a difficult economic environment, French wine exports have risen dramatically so far in 2011.
A few properties in Burgundy began harvesting on Monday, but most will begin tomorrow, as vignerons predict a 'good but not great' year.
Russians should drink more wine to fight widespread alcohol abuse, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said.
Profits from two Burgundy auctions will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross to help victims of the 2011 tsunami.
Hungary will be the sole provider of wines at an upcoming EU summit.
McLaren Vale’s Mollydooker winery has withdrawn its press release announcing the loss of AUS$1m of its wine in a forklift accident.