Hartford: Vintage Wine School At Max Downtown - Fundamentals I
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Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Strike One for the Good Guys: Small Wineries = Higher Quality, and the Public Knows IT!
Here is an article from Adelaide that illustrates the simple fact that hard work and a focused desire to produce quality will win out against big corporate interests.
Althought his article does not really describe why there was such a drop among the largest players - I can attest from my little part of the wine world that people (both industry pro's and consumers) prefer wines made by smaller wineries. Why? Because there is quality associated with smaller wineries. Quality that translates to the taste and uniqueness of the wines they make. This concept of quality goes deeper than just simple taste assesment, though. There is also the concept of integrity that many smaller (family) wineries have that big corporate players will never have. Now, are there larger wineries that make good wine? Sure. But I find that many people are much more likely to buy wine when there is a person or a family that has a unique investment in producing a particular wine, rahter than just another made-up corparate label, which is all that Fosters, Constellation and the other "big" guys make. Read on...
Family wine companies beat corporate giants
Article from: AdelaideNow
NIGEL AUSTIN
December 08, 2009 12:01am
IN A dramatic reversal of fortunes, family wine companies have grabbed significant market share from two industry giants during one of the sector's worst downturns.
Fosters Group's market share has dropped from 28.5 per cent in 2005 to 21.2 per cent, while Constellation Wines Australia has fallen from 22 per cent to 13.5 per cent. The big winners have been popular family wine companies such as Yalumba, Angove's, Grant Burge, d'Arenberg, Taylors, Peter Lehmann, Bleasdale, McWilliam's, Brown Brothers, De Bortoli and Casella.
The major companies have also lost out to a plethora of cleanskins, many produced by the supermarket giants, and the continuing rise of New Zealand sauvignon blanc.
Barossa winemaker Grant Burge has doubled his sales to about $50 million in the past three years, belying the commonly held view of the sector as a disaster zone.
Angove's managing director John Angove said he could recall sitting around the table with the industry giants in the 1990s when they warned they would take over the industry and smaller companies would be squeezed out. Happily for him and other family wine firms, they have thrived and grabbed significant market share.
"The industry's rapid growth of the 1990s masked the reality and it appeared that wine was a money-making bonanza," Mr Angove said.
"I don't think any Australian public companies are doing well, because wine is very capital-intensive, suffers from the vagaries of agriculture and very high stock holdings are required."
Mr Burge said he is annoyed by the big companies blaming harsh economic conditions for the wine industry's problems.
"I'm grumpy because wine has traditionally been a family-based industry," he said.
"You have to have a long-term view, the wine industry is no place for public companies with fast-buck approaches, because you need to constantly reinvest."
Mr Burge said the long-term players need to sort out the problem of oversupply or it will create the wrong message around the world about Australian wines.
"It's a disgrace, really, because they've got all their numbers wrong - they've invited growers to grow grapes and now they're walking away from them," he said.
d'Arenberg Wines managing director d'Arry Osborn, 82, said his business is stronger than ever nearing its 100th anniversary in 2012. Approaching his 67th vintage, he said continuity was a great thing in the wine industry, along with a personal approach.
Mr Osborn said the recent launch of the First Families of Wine, with old, established families such as his own, Henschke's and Yalumba, had provided an opportunity to tell the world that Australia has family wineries going back a long way, with hand-made wines produced with love and care.
At Yalumba - Australia's oldest family winery - managing director Robert Hill Smith said the middle-sized, family-run wine businesses have focused hard on relationships and quality.
"We've been in the business a long time and we've stuck to our knitting - and remained true," he said.
A GOOD DROP
Top 10 wine companies
1. Foster's Group - 21.2 per cent market share
2. Constellation Wines - 13.5 per cent
3. Small manufacturers - 10 per cent
4. Pernod Ricard Aust. - 10.2 per cent
5. Supermarkets private label - 5.6 per cent
6. Yalumba - 4.6 per cent
7. De Bortoli - 4.6 per cent
8. McWilliams - 3.8 per cent
9. Brown Brothers - 3.4 per cent
10. Fine Wine Partners (Lion Nathan) - 2.9 per cent
Source: AC Nielsen
Althought his article does not really describe why there was such a drop among the largest players - I can attest from my little part of the wine world that people (both industry pro's and consumers) prefer wines made by smaller wineries. Why? Because there is quality associated with smaller wineries. Quality that translates to the taste and uniqueness of the wines they make. This concept of quality goes deeper than just simple taste assesment, though. There is also the concept of integrity that many smaller (family) wineries have that big corporate players will never have. Now, are there larger wineries that make good wine? Sure. But I find that many people are much more likely to buy wine when there is a person or a family that has a unique investment in producing a particular wine, rahter than just another made-up corparate label, which is all that Fosters, Constellation and the other "big" guys make. Read on...
Family wine companies beat corporate giants
Article from: AdelaideNow
NIGEL AUSTIN
December 08, 2009 12:01am
IN A dramatic reversal of fortunes, family wine companies have grabbed significant market share from two industry giants during one of the sector's worst downturns.
Fosters Group's market share has dropped from 28.5 per cent in 2005 to 21.2 per cent, while Constellation Wines Australia has fallen from 22 per cent to 13.5 per cent. The big winners have been popular family wine companies such as Yalumba, Angove's, Grant Burge, d'Arenberg, Taylors, Peter Lehmann, Bleasdale, McWilliam's, Brown Brothers, De Bortoli and Casella.
The major companies have also lost out to a plethora of cleanskins, many produced by the supermarket giants, and the continuing rise of New Zealand sauvignon blanc.
Barossa winemaker Grant Burge has doubled his sales to about $50 million in the past three years, belying the commonly held view of the sector as a disaster zone.
Angove's managing director John Angove said he could recall sitting around the table with the industry giants in the 1990s when they warned they would take over the industry and smaller companies would be squeezed out. Happily for him and other family wine firms, they have thrived and grabbed significant market share.
"The industry's rapid growth of the 1990s masked the reality and it appeared that wine was a money-making bonanza," Mr Angove said.
"I don't think any Australian public companies are doing well, because wine is very capital-intensive, suffers from the vagaries of agriculture and very high stock holdings are required."
Mr Burge said he is annoyed by the big companies blaming harsh economic conditions for the wine industry's problems.
"I'm grumpy because wine has traditionally been a family-based industry," he said.
"You have to have a long-term view, the wine industry is no place for public companies with fast-buck approaches, because you need to constantly reinvest."
Mr Burge said the long-term players need to sort out the problem of oversupply or it will create the wrong message around the world about Australian wines.
"It's a disgrace, really, because they've got all their numbers wrong - they've invited growers to grow grapes and now they're walking away from them," he said.
d'Arenberg Wines managing director d'Arry Osborn, 82, said his business is stronger than ever nearing its 100th anniversary in 2012. Approaching his 67th vintage, he said continuity was a great thing in the wine industry, along with a personal approach.
Mr Osborn said the recent launch of the First Families of Wine, with old, established families such as his own, Henschke's and Yalumba, had provided an opportunity to tell the world that Australia has family wineries going back a long way, with hand-made wines produced with love and care.
At Yalumba - Australia's oldest family winery - managing director Robert Hill Smith said the middle-sized, family-run wine businesses have focused hard on relationships and quality.
"We've been in the business a long time and we've stuck to our knitting - and remained true," he said.
A GOOD DROP
Top 10 wine companies
1. Foster's Group - 21.2 per cent market share
2. Constellation Wines - 13.5 per cent
3. Small manufacturers - 10 per cent
4. Pernod Ricard Aust. - 10.2 per cent
5. Supermarkets private label - 5.6 per cent
6. Yalumba - 4.6 per cent
7. De Bortoli - 4.6 per cent
8. McWilliams - 3.8 per cent
9. Brown Brothers - 3.4 per cent
10. Fine Wine Partners (Lion Nathan) - 2.9 per cent
Source: AC Nielsen
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Roederer Estate Rose, nv
Here is the perfect sparkler for getting your holiday celebrations
going. Also makes a great companion for food; have this with pan
roasted salmon with a soy-nectarine glaze.
going. Also makes a great companion for food; have this with pan
roasted salmon with a soy-nectarine glaze.
Produced in smaller quantities than the Estate Brut, so not always
available - but this is definitely worth traking down.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Can you say 'Grand Cru' ?
Burgundy class tomorrow night at Blue Heron Fine Wines, Glastonbury...I'm pullin' something special out of the cellar.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
VintageVino Pick of the Day: Interview with Carlos Gatica, winemaker for Santa Rita Winery (Part I)
Yesterday, I worked with Carlos Gatica and showed some of the wines from Santa Rita Winery in Chile. Carlos is mainly responsible for the winemakeing of the 120 Series from Santa Rita. This is their entry level production, and are priced for everyday... drinking (about $7) and are great values, especially when you consider he quality of the wine in the bottle. The video is about 12 minutes in total (but was split into two parts), and covers background info of the winery as well as specifics about the six wines that we cover in the interview. Santa Rita website: www.santarita.com
VintageVino Pick of the Day: Interview with Carlos Gatica, winemaker for Santa Rita (Part II)
Yesterday, I worked with Carlos Gatica and showed some of the wines from Santa Rita Winery in Chile. Carlos is mainly responsible for the winemakeing of the 120 Series from Santa Rita. This is their entry level production, and are priced for everyday... drinking (about $7) and are great values, especially when you consider he quality of the wine in the bottle. The video is about 12 minutes in total (but was split into two parts), and covers background info of the winery as well as specifics about the six wines that we cover in the interview. Santa Rita website: www.santarita.com
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
VintageVino Pick of the Day: PAOLOLEO LIMITONE DEI GRECI SALICE SALENTINO DOC
Here is a classic country red form the southern reaches of Italy. Known for its dark, robust wines, the Salice Salentino growing area has produced consumer favorites for many years. Today, the wines are more refined due to modern winemaking practice, yet still retain some of the rustic edges that are so familiar to fans of Italian wines from places like Puglia. Paololeo has been making wines in this refined-rustic style from their beautiful estate vineyards for many years. This Salice Salentino is a great example of the values that can be had from this region.
80% Negroamaro, 20% Malvasia Nera
Thursday, September 17, 2009
VintageVino Pink of the Day: Lorenzo Costantini Rosso Lazio IGT Massarosa, 2007
So I really just fell in love with this wine. Our major trade tasting was this week and we had 1,000 wines out to show, but I came back to this as my find of the show. Who would think that a simple, elegant Italian red like this could make such an impact? Well, a lot of people actually - maybe not this particular wine, but the "simple" Italian wines shine every single day - that's why they enjoy the reputation they have - just like the simple but powerfully good Italian cuisine.Here we have a blend of Cesanese (an indiginous grape grown around the area of Rome/Lazio) 45%, Sangiovese 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 5% and Montepulciano 5%. Wonderfully fruity, soft attack, but enough acidity to really handle a lot of foods. I might enjoy this with some seafood. To me this wine is a bit less complex than many of the Chianti available today, but in those lines (it is 45% Sangio) and a fine alternative. Fresh and just a pleasure to drink.
As an added bonus this rosso and its sibling Frascati from Lorenzo Costantini are produced from a small family estate (only 5.5ha), which is farmed according to strict organic practices with only some light copper & sulphur (which is allowed under EU organic reg's)being used as needed.
This wine should be retailing for about $10-12 - what a bargain!
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