International Wine Challenge’s Post

Jacopo Mazzeo, PhD - interesting questions you raise, and interesting opinions from the producers. But to be fair, there is a perhaps even stronger trend towards more appellations and smaller sub-regions. I agree that this is not necessarily always to the benefit of the consumer. But it seems to work. Those wines tend to get higher prices. But I agree, geographical denominations tend to be attributed too much importance. (But I wonder how relevant the example of Liber Pater is - has he ever sold a bottle? And even if it has, is it replicatable or relevant?) Commenting on this article: https://lnkd.in/e7n3KW74

Co-fermentation: a winemaking technique for fresher characteristics. 🍷🍇 It is a winemaking technique where two or more grape varieties are mixed and fermented together. This process is different, since the usual practice is that each grape variety is fermented separately and the wines blended after it. Co-fermentation can offer several benefits to winemakers, like improved complexity, more color extraction, and a natural balance that is difficult to achieve. When talking about natural balance, we can showcase a very well-known duo: Syrah and Viognier, that are often fermented together in wines from the Rhône Valley. This practice can enhance the aromatic profile and texture of the wine. Some winemakers also use co-fermentation with different white grape varieties to create unique blends with increased complexity and freshness. Overall, co-fermentation is a technique that allows winemakers to experiment and create, something we really appreciate. 📸 In the picture: #2 Somm recommends: Torbreck, the descendant. 🍷 One of the firsts co-fermented wines in Barossa Valley, Australia. 🇦🇺 This wine is a mix of power and smoothness, made from old vines of Shiraz and a small percentage of Viognier. #sommelier #winelover #wine #sommelierlife #fermentation #redwine #shiraz #viognier

A single vineyard-designated wine refers to a wine made from grapes sourced exclusively from one specific vineyard or block within a vineyard. This designation emphasizes the unique characteristics and terroir of that particular vineyard, as the grapes reflect the soil, climate, and other environmental factors specific to that location. Winemakers often produce single vineyard designate wines to showcase the distinctiveness and quality of grapes grown in a particular site, allowing wine enthusiasts to explore the nuances of terroir and appreciate the individuality of each vineyard's expression in the wine. Pricing for single vineyard designate wines may vary depending on factors such as vineyard prestige, grape quality, and production costs. #CalligraphyWine #WineCommunity #Gratitude #WineStory #Winemaker #VineyardVibes #WineLover #BehindTheScenes #RussianRiverValley #womanowned #WineLover #vivo #wineoclock #winetime #sonomacounty #winecountry #winecritics #wineratings #wine

BOXT, the female-founded, direct-to-consumer winery, has launched its first-ever limited-edition, signed, small-vineyard press. Founder & CEO Sarah Puil and the BOXT master winemaker meticulously crafted these exceptional wines, sourcing grapes from family-owned vineyards and perfecting the blends over months of tasting sessions. 'We spent months perfecting these limited-edition wines, sourcing each grape from family-owned vineyards up and down California and Washington, fulfilling my vision of what I wanted to create: making wines that would honor the terroir – the sense of place – unique to each vineyard, each grape,' said Puil. Sustainability is a core focus for BOXT. The winery aims to reduce the astronomical waste produced by single-use glass bottles in an industry where 90% of wines are meant for consumption within a year. BOXT's innovative packaging allows wines to remain fresh for over 30 days after opening. The limited-edition wines join BOXT's collection of whites, reds, and rosés. Each bottle is numbered and hand-signed by Puil. Vineyards were carefully selected, grapes handpicked and sorted in the meticulous crafting process. @drinkboxt #sustainability #winemaking #limitededition

A single vineyard-designated wine refers to a wine made from grapes sourced exclusively from one specific vineyard or block within a vineyard. This designation emphasizes the unique characteristics and terroir of that particular vineyard, as the grapes reflect the soil, climate, and other environmental factors specific to that location. Winemakers often produce single vineyard-designated wines to showcase the distinctiveness and quality of grapes grown in a particular site, allowing wine enthusiasts to explore the nuances of terroir and appreciate the individuality of each vineyard's expression in the wine. Pricing for single vineyard designate wines may vary depending on factors such as vineyard prestige, grape quality, and production costs. #CalligraphyArt #2kfollowers #milestone #gratitude #CalligraphyWine #SpringAllocation #VintagePinotNoir #winefamily #growth #gratitude #communitylove #redwine #winetime #winelovers #winery #instawine #wine #winestagram #wineoclock #winecountry #russianrivervalley #sonomacounty #pinotnoir #foodandwine #sommelier #vino #didyouknow

Co-fermentation, a winemaking technique for results different than usual blending. 🍷 Is a technique where two or more grape varieties are mixed and fermented together. This process is different, since the usual practice is that each grape variety is fermented separately and the wines blended after it. Co-fermentation can offer several benefits to winemakers, like improved complexity, more color extraction, and a natural balance that is difficult to achieve. ✅ When talking about natural balance, we can showcase a very well-known duo. Syrah and Viognier, that are often fermented together in wines from the Rhône Valley. This practice can enhance the aromatic profile and texture of the wine. Some winemakers also use co-fermentation with different white grape varieties to create unique blends with increased complexity. Overall, co-fermentation is a technique that allows winemakers to experiment and create, something we really appreciate. 📸 In the picture: #2 Somm recommends: Torbreck, the descendant. One of the firsts co-fermented wines in Barossa Valley, Australia. 🇦🇺 This wine is a mix of power and smoothness, made from old vines of Shiraz and a small percentage of Viognier. #sommelier #winelover #wine #sommelierlife #fermentation #redwine #shiraz #viognier

Meet Mosel legend Weingut Markus Molitor at the Cool Climate Wine Summit 2025 in Copenhagen. Free Trade Fair B2B Sign-Up https://lnkd.in/dN9sSjk3 Each of our wines—whether white or red, dry, off-dry, or fruity-sweet, whether a quality wine or a Prädikatswein—reflects the potential of its vineyard and vintage. And it does so as uniquely, authentically, and expressively as possible. This requires careful selection, precise handcrafting, and the deliberate inspection of each individual grape. It’s no wonder, then, that during harvest, experienced teams hand-pick the grapes in several passes, followed by further selections in the cellar. All this under the watchful eye of Markus Molitor. For only through the careful separation of all ripeness levels and the meticulous re-selection of individual berries can the highest qualities emerge—as seen in our unique series of Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese wines, spanning more than four decades. Our vineyards stretch from Brauneberg to Traben-Trarbach and, since 2001, also along the Saar. This range of slate soils and micro-climates available to us in viticulture allows us to vinify a vast array of Mosel wine expressions. As for centuries, most wines are spontaneously fermented and aged in wooden barrels. Without fining agents, enzymes, cultured yeasts, or other additives. The old three-story vaulted cellar, carved from slate rock, provides an ideal, consistently cool climate with high humidity. Here, the wines can ferment extremely slowly and entirely naturally. Afterwards, the wines rest on fine lees for several months, gaining additional smoothness, elegance, and fullness. Good things take time, and this is especially true for wines that, regardless of vintage, require a certain amount of time. Only then does their distinctive balance, concentration, and structure fully reveal itself. #Mosel #moselwine #moselwine #riesling #moselle #germanwine #tyskvin #greatwine #winemaker #coolclimatewine #Coolclimatewines #coolclimatewinesummit #sommlife #wineo #winetime #winestagram

WEEKLY TASTING REPORT: Magnificence From the Mosel, Plus Handling the Heat in Paso Robles (Part III) Stefan Steinmetz of the Weingut Günther Steinmetz in Brauneberg is another quality fanatic in the Mosel, and although several of his top wines of the 2023 vintage were still fermenting when Stuart tasted there, they were still astonishingly deep and expressive. None is more extraordinary than the Günther Steinmetz Riesling Mosel Piesporter Treppchen Von Den Terrassen 2023. It has a gigantic stature for the wines of this region, and is the essence of slate and a miracle of finesse for its scale. This is another extremely limited-production wine, but scroll down to the tasting notes and you’ll find other great wines from this producer that will be easier to find. Selbach Oster in Zeltingen is one of the most widely distributed of the leading Mosel producers, and it has been for a long time. You might think that there would therefore be no surprises here. However, Stuart has been stunned over the past few years by the dry rieslings made by father and son team Johannes and Sebastian Selbach (photo). For Stuart, the 2023 single-vineyard GG wines are the best so far, but it was another wine that is neither properly dry nor really sweet that blew his mind. The breathtaking mineral freshness lifts the imposing stature of the Selbach-Oster Riesling Mosel Schmitt 2023 and takes you to a place of floating peace. Call it riesling nirvana if you like. It comes from a single parcel of vines in the Schlossberg site of Zeltingen. Like many of their colleagues, the Selbachs are still a bit stunned by the wines they made in 2023. As Johannes said: “The harvest was extremely taxing because of all the rot we had remove, and it was only some months later that we tasted the cellar and suddenly realized what a great vintage we had!” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gTmefmKQ #moselriesling #riesling #germanwine #winelovers #winetasting #wineeducation #sommelier #wineculture #vineyard #winepairing #winemaking #winecommunity #sustainablewinemaking

A quick read with some insight into what makes our #winemakers tick at DGB (Pty) Ltd and how they go about their busy schedules through harvest. What is clear, is their passion and commitment to making world-class, premium wines!

Want to know more about the fascinating world of Tokaj wines, food pairings and the renaissance of dry szamorodni? ➡ Don't miss this article!