Category Archives: News of The Wine World

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News flash from Spain: After previous approval by the Government of Andalucía (Junta de Andalucía), the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación) has published a new-and-revised Pliego de Condiciones for the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO. While these changes represent some significant updates to the time-honored production requirements of Sherry, they do not encompass all of the changes that were expected; other updates are still awaiting approval.

The changes to the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO include the following:

New grapes allowed: In addition to the traditional three varieties (Palomino, Pedro Ximénez, and Moscatel de Alejandría), the following grape varieties are now approved for use in Sherry: Beba, Perruno, and Vigiriega. These grapes were common to the region prior to phylloxera.

Introducing…Fino Viejo: Fino Viejo is a new category of wine, representing biologically aged wines with an average of seven years of solera aging; these wines must show substantial oxidative character.

Minimum sugar levels have been lowered: The minimum required sugar content has been lowered (from 5 grams per liter) to 4 g/L.

Official sub-zones have been listed: Sub-zones, referred to as Pagos or Unidades Geográficas Menores de la Zona Delimitada (minor geographic units of the delimited zone) have been defined. There are over 100 pagos currently so designated. Click here for a list and a map of the pagos, via the website of the consejo regulador.

Note: As with all such updates, this change will need to wind its way through EU authorization; however, as the government of Spain has granted their approval, the changes are considered to be in force. If the EU fails to approve the amendment, the regulation will be rescinded.

References/for more information:

• Pliego de Condicones Jerez-Xerez-Sherry updated March 2023

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

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News flash from the Government of Andalucía (Junta de Andalucía), the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación), and the European Commission: some substantial updates have been made to the rules and regulations regarding the Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda DO.

These changes relate to the widely reported and much-anticipated revisions that are underway for the larger Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO. However, these updates—concerning Manzanilla—stand on their own. (For the record, the expected updates to the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO are still awaiting publication on the website of the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación and approval of the EU/European Commission.)

The substantive changes to the Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda DO include the following:

• The name “Manzanilla/Manzanilla DO” is added as a protected term—equivalent to the still-applicable “Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda DO”.
• The minimum required sugar content has been lowered (from 5 grams per liter) to 4 g/L.
• The requirement for Manzanilla products to be fortified (vinos generosos) remains; however, the language has been updated to reflect the term fortificación, rather than the archaic term encabezado (as used previously).
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  Map of the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO and Manzanilla DO via https://www.sherry.wine

  A minimum 7-year oak aging period has been specified for Manzanilla Pasada (this replaces the much less specific requirement for prolonged maturing).

• Palomino (aka Palomino Fino or Listán Blanco) is the only grape now allowed for use in Manzanilla DO. (This means that Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel are no longer approved.)
• The new document confirms the standard that grapes used in the production of Manzanilla DO may be grown anywhere within the confines of the Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO, but specifies that the product must be aged (in oak barrels for at least two years) within the confines of the municipality of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

The location of Sanlúcar de Barrameda—on the Atlantic coast and adjacent to the Guadalquivir River—provides an ideal (warm and humid) environment for intense flor yeast activity. As stated on the updated pliego de condiciones for the Manzanilla DO, la proximité de la mer et le niveau élevé d’humidité favorisent une activité intense et prolongée de la levure, qui confère au vin Manzanilla des caractéristiques particulières. (“The proximity to the sea and the high humidity are conducive to intense yeast activity over a long period of time, giving Manzanilla wines their unique characteristics.”)

References/for more information:

• EU Journal-Manzanilla Updates March 2023
• Pliego de Condiciones Manzanilla DO-updated 2022

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Now—as of December 2022—it seems like the grape modifications are marching onward, as three appellations located on Bordeaux’s Left Bank—Médoc AOC, Haut-Médoc AOC and Listrac-Médoc AOC—have embraced the changes as well.

These three appellations are all approved for red wines only (although there are rumors that the Médoc AOC may soon adopt the production of white wines). As such, the classic list of red Bordeaux grapes in these appellations—Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Verdot, and  Carmenère—has been supplanted with Arinarnoa, Castets, Marselan, and Touriga Nacional.

As is true with the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur AOCs, the new grapes are allowed to comprise a maximum of 5% of the vineyard area of any estate and no more than 10% of the final blend of any wine. Besides these limitations (and the still-concise list of approved grapes), the wines of all three appellations—Médoc AOC, Haut-Médoc AOC and Listrac-Médoc AOC—have no other rules concerning the number (or amounts) of grapes in the blend.

Stay tuned! More changes are in the works.

Note: As with all such updates, this change will need to wind its way through EU authorization; however, as the government of France has granted their approval, the changes are considered to be in force. If the EU fails to approve the amendment, the regulation will be rescinded.

References/for more information:

• Cahier des Charges Medoc AOC-Dec 2022
• Cahier des Charges Haut-Medoc AOC-Dec 2022
• Cahier des Charges Listrac-Medoc AOC-Dec 2022

The rumors have been circulating for more than a year, and as of December 10 (2022) it’s official: a glass of Voltis (or at least a bit of Voltis in your Champagne) might be in your future.

Back in August of 2021, the Growers’ Association in Champagne (Syndicat Général des Vignerons de la Champagne, or SGV) voted to allow limited plantings of the Voltis grape variety—a fungus-resistant, interspecific hybrid grape variety—for use in the wines of the Champagne AOC. As of November of 2022, the proposal was approved by France’s Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO), and the newly revised Cahier des Charges was published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française (Official Journal of the French Republic) on December 10, 2022.

Voltis contains DNA from Vitis vinifera, Vitis berlandieri, Vitis rupestris, and Vitis muscadinia. It was created via a collaboration between the INAO (Montpellier, France) and the Julius Kühn Institute (Siebeldingen, Germany). Classified as a fungus resistant PIWI variety (Pi = Pilz [fungus]; wi = widerstandsfähig [resistant]), Voltis is believed to be entirely resistant to powdery mildew and highly resistant to downy mildew.

Voltis is the first interspecific fungus resistant grape to be allowed for use in a French appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) product, and just the second hybrid grape so allowed—after Baco Blanc (Baco 22A), which is allowed for use in the brandies of the Armagnac AOC. The Voltis grape is part of a group of experimental grapes being reviewed throughout France as d’intérêt à fin d’adaptation (“of interest for the purpose of adaptation”) that are intended to allow for the expansion of organic viticulture (based on reduced need for chemical herbicides and fungicides) and to respond to the challenges of climate change.

Voltis produces medium-sized and moderately compact bunches. The berries are medium-sized, thick-skinned, and somewhat neutral in flavor.

For the time being, Voltis will be allowed in the wines of the Champagne AOC on a ten-year trial basis. Voltis may comprise no more than 5% of the vineyard area of any estate. This update follows on the heels of a similar change recently seen in Bordeaux. 

Cheers to Voltis!

Note: As with all such updates, this change will need to wind its way through EU authorization; however, as the government of France has granted their approval, the changes are considered to be in force. If the EU fails to approve the amendment, the regulation will be rescinded.

References/for more information:

• CDC_Champagne updated with Voltis
• The Voltis Grape on the Catalogue des vignes cultivées en France
• The Voltis Grape (on the PIWI International website)

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

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Gigondas—located just to the north of Vacquerayas and Beames-de-Venise in France’s Southern Rhône Valley—has historically been known for its cathartic waters (Eau Purgative de Montmirail), its dramatic location at the foot of the jagged mountains of the Dentelles de Montmirail, and its rustic wines (red and rosé) based on Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.

All of this remains true, but as of the 2023 vintage, Gigondas can boast another claim to fame: white wines! The newly approved Gigondas Blanc designation applies to dry white wines based on the Clairette Blanc grape variety.

• The regulations regarding these wines include the following:
  • Principal grape (cépage principal): Clairette Blanc must comprise a minimum of 70% of the blend (many wines may be 100% Clairette)
  • Complementary grapes (cépages complémentaires): Bourboulenc, Clairette Rose, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, blanc and gris, Marsanne, Piquepoul, and/or Roussanne may be included up to a maximum of 30% (combined)
  • Accessory grapes (cépages accessoires): Viognier and/or Ugni Blanc may be included up to a maximum of 5% (combined)
  • Minimum of 12% abv
  • Maximum of 3 g/L (approximately 0.3%) residual sugar

Map of the Gigondas AOC via the INAO (click to enlarge)

White grapes have been grown in Gigondas since antiquity.  However, when the original AOC for the region was granted back in 1971, it applied to red and rosé wines only. This meant that any white wine produced from grapes grown in the area would have to be labeled under a more generic appellation, such as the Côtes du Rhône AOC, Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOC, or the Vin de Pays (IGP) Vaucluse.

It is estimated that the region currently has about 16 ha/40 acres dedicated to white grapes, spread out over about 30 different owners. This is certainly a drop-in-the-bucket compared to the region’s 1,180 hectares/2,900 acres of red grapes. However, it is believed that amount of white wine made in the region may soon overshadow the region’s rosé, which currently accounts for a mere 1% of the total production.

The updated Cahier des Charges for the Gigondas AOC was published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française (Official Journal of the Republic of France) on September 23, 2022. Welcome to the world, Gigondas Blanc!

References/for more information:

• https://www.gigondas-vin.com/en/2022/09/15/the-gigondas-appellation-now-applies-to-white-wines/
• Cahier des Charges Gigondas AOC-September 2022
• Avis relatif à l’ouverture d’une procédure nationale d’opposition pour la demande de modification du cahier des charges relatif à l’appellation d’origine contrôlée « Gigondas » – Légifrance (legifrance.gouv.fr)

Ponte di Tiberio (the Bridge of Tiberius), Rimini

The province of Rimini is tucked into the southern corner of the region of Emilia Romagna, bordering the Adriatic Sea. It is just south of the province of Forlì-Cesena and wraps around the tiny enclave of San Marino (to the south); the rest of the southern border is shared with the region of Marches.

Its capital city—also named Rimini—is recognized as one of the leading beach resorts of all of Italy. The city was founded by the Romans in 268 BCE and is well-known for its numerous Roman and Renaissance monuments (including a Roman amphitheater) and museums (covering artifacts both ancient and modern). The city also features in a number of famous films—which might be expected, as it is the birthplace of Federico Fellini himself.

The province of Rimini has produced wine since the Roman times and continues to produce a range of wine and wine styles—some from locally specific grape varieties rarely seen outside of the area. The large Colli di Rimini DOC was created in 1996 and covers an area along the coastal plain and into the foothills of the Alps.

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NEWS FLASH (for wine students): The name of the Colli di Rimini appellation was recently changed (as of September 2022) to Rimini DOC.

The Rimini DOC is approved for two basic styles of blended wine—bianco (white) and rosso (red)—as well as four specific varietals. These are discussed below:

• Rimini Bianco: This is a dry, light- to medium-bodied white wine produced using a minimum of 30% Trebbiano. Up to 60% may comprise Bombino Bianco or Sangiovese (vinified as a white wine); the remainder (up to 10%) may be any white grape suitable for the region.
• Rimini Rosso: Rimini Rosso is a dry, medium- to full-bodied wine based on (at least 30%) Sangiovese. It may contain up to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and/or Syrah. Up to 10% of the blend may comprise Alicante, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, and/or Rebo (a Merlot X Teroldego cross).
• Rimini Cabernet Sauvignon: This is a dry, medium- to full-bodied red wine based on a minimum of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon.  (A super-Emilian, perhaps?)
• Rimini Sangiovese: This is a dry, medium- to medium-plus-bodied red wine based on a minimum of 85% Sangiovese.
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  Rimini Biancame: This is a dry, medium-bodied white wine produced using a minimum of 85% Biancame. Biancame is a rare grape—it is estimated there are only 5,000 acres/2,080 hectares planted worldwide; most of these are found in the area around Marches and Emilia-Romagna. It is sometimes known as Bianchello, and as such is the star of the (quite obscure) Bianchello del Metauro DOC of northern Marches.

• Rimini Rebola: This white wine—which may be produced either as a dry wine or a sweet wine (via the passito/dried grape production process)—is made using a minimum of 85% Grechetto Gentile. Grechetto Gentile is native to Emilia-Romagna, also known as Grechetto di Todi, formerly known as Rebola, and known in certain appellations as Pignoletto.

Alas, unless you are in Italy, it may be difficult to find wine from the Rimini DOC. Sounds like a great excuse for a road trip!

References/for more information:

• Extract from the EU Journal-Name Change Rimini DOC
• Rimini DOC-Name Change-Italy Ministry of Agriculture
• Disciplinaire-Rimini DOC
• Click here for a wine map of Emilia-Romagna, via Federdoc

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

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Wine classification systems are a big deal in Bordeaux. Even beginning wine students are familiar with the area’s famous Classification of 1855, and advanced students can tell tales of the Crus Classés of Graves (1953), the Cru Artisan (2002), and the Cru Bourgeois (2020).

And then there is the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé, established in 1954 and positioned to be more modern and democratic, subject to reclassification every ten years. The ranking has, however, been met with a great deal of controversy in recent years, beginning with rumblings that the system has become overly complex and politicized. This was followed by a dizzying plethora of court cases and legal challenges that nearly annulled the classifications of 2006 and 2012, and by the time the 2020s rolled around, many people were wondering how the system would even survive.

The past few years have brought about even more controversy as three of the region’s top-rated Châteaux—Château Angélus, Château Ausone, and Château Cheval-Blanc—opted out of the system and declined to submit applications for the 2022 rankings.

As such, there has been much debate about the future of the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. However, now we know: just this morning (September 8, 2022), France’s Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) has spoken, and the new classification has been released. Two properties—Château Figeac and Château Pavie—earned the coveted top ranking and are now recognized as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé A. Note: Château Pavie thus retained its “A” level designation from the previous classifications, and Château Figeac was promoted from the “B” classification it had previously earned.

An additional twelve properties earned the designation of Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé B, while another 71 are hereby recognized as Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. Click here for a complete listing of the new rankings, as well as further information from the INAO.

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org