BBR IMPORTS, INC.’s Post

2023, Belgium 🍇 : 3.5 million liters of wine produced, by 300 winemakers, over 900ha. That's not only a record yield, it also shows the increase of acreage per winemaker: now at 3.9ha/producer. We're prepping to put an environmental and economic sustainability profile to those numbers 🌿♻ #pioneerbelgianclimatewines https://lnkd.in/ed3RT5_X

Curious about the meaning behind wine labels like Bio Suisse, Demeter, IP-Suisse, Vinatura ? 🍇 Discover what these certifications signify for your favorite Swiss wines! From sustainability to biodynamic practices, each label highlights different approaches to responsible winemaking. Find out how these certifications can guide you toward more eco-friendly and ethical wine choices. 🍷 #swisswine #winelovers #sustainablewine #sustainable

“Friuli is a land of contrasts, where wines are shaped by the winds of the Alps and the warmth of the sea.” – Mario Soldati 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞? In Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the answer is a resounding yes. This enchanting area is a tapestry of 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬. Mountains meet the sea, creating unique microclimates that shape over 30,000 hectares of vineyards. The result? A stunning array of grape varieties and wine styles. From the lush Colli Orientali to the expansive Grave, each corner tells its own tale. Imagine drinking a lively Friuli white wine. These wines showcase freshness and minerality, with moderate alcohol: they reflect modern elegance and are gaining traction worldwide as drinkers crave lighter styles. This region’s winemaking landscape also balances contrasts, with large cooperatives bringing Friuli wines to international markets, while family-owned wineries such carry the region’s heritage to global audiences. Each producer, large and small, contributes to a mosaic that honors Friuli’s deep winemaking roots and unique terroirs. And while Friuli’s wine diversity includes international varieties, it is the 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬—Schioppettino, Pignolo, Tazzelenghe, Friulano, and Picolit—that hold a special place in Friuli’s 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲. These grapes carry the authentic spirit of this land , these varieties tell a story that resonates with wine lovers seeking authenticity and unique flavors. In today’s market, where consumers increasingly seek freshness, complexity, and sustainability, could Friuli-Venezia Giulia be poised to become Italy’s next great wine destination? #Wine #Turism #Friuli #Mrketing #Terroir #NativeGrapes #Marketing #Identity

Tax news? Not quite ;-). As most of you know, taxes and tax tech are a big part of my life, but so is good food and wine. Encouraged by a few friends (and winemakers), I am launching a wine import activity in Switzerland: www.grapeology.ch I’ll be focusing exclusively on natural wines (minimum or no sulphites), from France and Italy. It is more of a passion than a business, hence will be selecting, without any pressure, wines that I like to enjoy and that I have or would like to have in my cellar. Working with small volumes and with winemakers that I know personally and with whom I share the approach to grape growing and wine making. If you want to know more about my wines discoveries, please send me an IM (with your email address), or react to this message with a celebrate icon (two green hands) and I’ll register you to the grapeology newsletter (promise, no more than one a month). Going forward, I’ll keep this channel for tax related business.

Interesting topic for wine lovers....

BC Wineries on the ropes. If you’re looking for your favourite BC wine this year, you may be surprised to learn that almost no grapes will be harvested this year. In January, a cold snap that drove the temperature down to -25C killed the grape buds for 97% of the wineries in the valley. It’s a shocking statistic. An entire year’s worth of grapes wiped out in a few hours. A decision was taken in the 1980’s to rip out all the hybrid grapes that could better withstand the climate in BC in favour of European grape varieties. That decision, in hindsight, is now being re-examined as certain wineries contemplate either investing in hybrid grape vines (a five year investment horizon before grapes are produced) or purchasing grapes from Oregon and Washington State. Tough days ahead, indeed. #bcwine #canadianwine #climate

Declining harvest in Germany The German Wine Institute expects the grape harvest in Germany to show a downward trend. The harvest volume is expected to be 7.9 million hectoliters of grape must, a decrease of 9% compared to last year and 10% below the 10-year average. The decrease applies to all grape varieties, including the important varieties Riesling, Pinot Noir, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Müller Thurgau. It is also a harvest that is known as a very long harvest. In Saxony, the picking for the sparkling base wine started at the end of August, while in the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer they were still busy in October. But patience is also rewarded, Spoiler We have already written about it in France and Italy, but in Germany too the weather played tricks. A warm winter, followed by late frost, a lot of rainfall resulting in diseases, unripe grapes and changing conditions during the harvest in Germany required a lot of effort and flexibility, resulting in declining yields. What can we expect? But what can we expect from this declining harvest from Germany? The heavy rain also had a positive effect on the development of the vines. For example, the grapes stored a lot of minerals and we expect to taste that in the wines. But the long ripening period is also expected to have a positive effect on the development of the taste. So we can expect wine from good quality grapes. Read here the results by region https://lnkd.in/e-iaWeiD

Modern grape varieties in the middle of the US Just east of the Midwest are states such as Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. In the middle of the US we mainly find winter-hardy modern grape varieties such as Norton, Chambourcin and Frontenac. Modern grape varieties in the middle of the US Minnesota land of 10,000 lakes Minnesota is one of the northern states of the United States that borders Canada. It is located just west of the Great Lakes. It is a young wine region with the first winery that was established in 1977. The temperature can be very cold and is comparable to the Mosel or Okanagan in Canada. One of the factors behind the success of Minnesota wine is the use of winter-hardy grape varieties such as Marquette, Frontenac and la Crescent. These are hybrid or modern grape varieties developed by the University of Minnesota. The International Cold Climate Wine Competition is an annual competition for the promotion of quality wines from winter-hardy grape varieties. The state has two sub-appellations; the Upper Mississippi Valley AVA, which straddles four states, and the Alexandria Lakes AVA. So, what do Minnesota wines taste like? The flavor profiles are as varied as the grapes themselves, but many of the wines are characterized by bright acidity, fruity notes, and a hint of sweetness. The reds tend to be lighter, with flavors of cherry, raspberry, and spice. The whites are crisp and refreshing, with notes of citrus, apple, pear, and tropical fruit. https://lnkd.in/e9CaYhaW

The average vineyard area per winery in the EU was 1.3 ha. The largest wineries were in France where more than 0.8 million ha of vineyards were spread among less than 80 000 agricultural companies, resulting in an average of 10.5 ha of vineyards per winery. Source: Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU.

'Bordeaux is taking climate adaption measures as it grapples with the onslaught of social and changing consumer demand,'....including a 'new generation hybrid wines popping up...' 'hybrid grapes can only account for a maximum of 5 percent of a producer's planted vineyard area. Hybrid grapes can make up a maximum 10 percent of finished blends.' https://lnkd.in/ggKNumr2