During apartheid, South Africa sold wine in bulk as a way of bypassing sanctions. But a history of being too comfortable with selling wine in bulk has come back to bite South Africa. Michael Fridjhon reports.
A slew of new acquisitions by major players is cementing Oregon’s reputation as an important US wine region, says Erica Landin. Not only are Americans themselves showing interest, but there have been important moves by French companies as well.
A system set up nearly a century ago to regulate Port production is now skewing the economics of grape growing in the Douro, finds Richard Woodard. But what will it take to make changes?
Champagne has always been the drink of celebration. And now, investors are celebrating a combination of rising prices and tightening grape supplies, finding their wines are becoming more valuable. But, says James Lawrence, not everyone is celebrating.
Capital controls imposed by the government are putting winemakers into a vise, reports Daniel Lopez Roca. On the one hand, earnings are devalued as soon as they hit the bank. On the other, equipment, inputs and wages are spiraling out of control.
When wine blogs began, the mainstream media ridiculed them as the work of amateurs. Today, some wine bloggers have achieved star status and wineries vie for their attention. But, asks Felicity Carter, why aren’t wine businesses creating their own blogs?
Austria’s sweet wines are perennial favourites at prestigious wine competitions, consistently earning top ratings and winning coveted titles. But where, exactly, do they come from, and what makes them so special?
