Wine Thief Hands Himself In

The largest information this week was, in fact, the loss of California winemaker Jim Clendenen and tributes to the 68 year-old Au Bon Climat winemaker proceed to pour in all through the worldwide wine media since his loss of life final weekend. All the standard suspects had been there in our World’s Most Wanted Bordeaux wines listing and, on a not completely unrelated matter, we checked out non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the part they could play in fighting wine fraud.

However listed here are among the headlines you may need missed this week:

Alsace vine thief arms himself into police

Following the shock disappearance of round 1000 newly planted vines in Alsace final week, an area grower handed himself into the police on the Kaysersberg Gendarmerie ealier this week, confessing to the theft. 5 separate vineyards in Kaysersberg, Siegolsheim, Bennwihr and Ammerschwihr (together with the Kaefferkopf winery), northwest of Colmar had been focused, solely three weeks after being planted. 

Investigations are nonetheless below approach, trying to ascertain simply what number of cuttings had been stolen and what number of growers are affected. In keeping with French information outlet France3, the thief subsequently planted the stolen vines – which had solely simply begun budburst – in his personal vineyards.

“It will have taken him a number of nights,” native viticulturist Anne-Cécile Hattermann, who misplaced 499 vines within the theft, instructed the information channel. “That is 800 to 1000 bottles of Riesling that we cannot have subsequent 12 months,” she mentioned. “Out of 38 ares [0.9 acres] of latest plantings, 10 ares [0.24 acres] had been stolen.”

Whereas Hattermann, of Domaine Schmitt & Carrer in Kientzheim, lodged an official criticism, she is just pursuing compensation for materials harm and potential income losses. “He [the thief] has misplaced every thing; his repute is destroyed […], there isn’t any want so as to add to that,” she mentioned.

Such thefts usually are not uncommon (Hattermann mentioned she misplaced over 30 cuttings final 12 months), however this haul had many scratching their heads. “It is a common prevalence, however on this scale its unbelieveable,” mentioned Jérôme Bauer of the Alsace Winegrowers Affiliation (the AVA).

Thus far the thief has given no clarification of the theft. If the climate holds, Hattermann will try to replant the vineyards affected this spring.

Neymar celebrates French cup win with Vega-Sicilia

Not everybody celebrates by emptying a bottle of Champagne on the rostrum, it seems. Following his facet’s victory within the Coupe de France on Wednesday, Brazilian soccer (soccer) star Neymar determined to mark the event in fashion, posting an image of his cup medal propped up towards a bottle of 2016 Vega-Sicilia Valbuena 5.

The star had reportedly had a turbulent week following the loss of life of shut good friend MC Kevin in Brazil final weekend. Nymar’s facet beat Porto 2-0 to take the French cup on Wednesday.

This is not the primary time the worldwide star has posted his love of Spain’s prime vineyard. Neither is he alone in selecting Spain’s prime drop for his celebratory tipple. He, LeBron James and Lionel Messi have a historical past of sharing their love of Vega-Sicilia.

In 2017, a topless Neymar posted an image of himself with sister Rafaella Santos, then girlfriend Bruna Marquezine, and a bottle of 1976 Vega-Sicilia Unico. At across the identical time, then teammate, Messi (in additional formal apparel – he was having dinner along with his mum) posed with a bottle of 1960 and 1987 Unico.

LeBron James (a well-known wine lover) celebrated LA Lakers’ first victory of the season final 12 months with a bottle of 2006 Unico, alongside 9 fireplace emojis and the “IYKYK” acronym (“If You Know, You Know”). Fairly.

Wildfires decimate Napa 2020 harvest – official

Official affirmation – if it was wanted – that the 2020 wildfires in Napa and Sonoma devasted manufacturing there final 12 months. In keeping with the California Division of Meals and Agriculture’s 2020 Agricultural Crop Report launched on Tuesday, manufacturing volumes had been down, year-on-year, by over 37 p.c. By way of worth, Napa’s manufacturing in 2020 was halved. 

With virtually all of Napa’s agricultural output in grapes, final 12 months’s horrific – and deadly – wildfires ripped by way of a whole bunch of hundreds of acres in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties at a time when many wineries had been choosing grapes. If wineries and vineyards weren’t threatened by the fires, the prospect of smoke taint within the ensuing wines additional threatened manufacturing.

“This [report] actually places into black-and-white the trauma that has been suffered by the grape trade right here […] it actually was a traumatic 12 months,” county Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht instructed the Napa Valley Register.

French wineries reminded piquette manufacturing unlawful in Europe

Whereas piquette manufacturing and consumption takes off in the remainder of the world, French winemakers had been reminded by officers that they’re forbidden by EU regulation from producing the beverage. France’s official anti-fraud bureau (the DGCCRF) instructed wine information website vitisphere.com this week that they weren’t focusing on particular person producers. 

“The inspections are made within the context of wider inquiries within the wine sector,” they instructed the French language wine information web site.

No expenses have been laid with inspectors glad to remind producers of the (EU) regulation. Presently, piquette manufacturing (the place grape marc both from pressed white grapes or almost-fermented pink grapes is rehydrated/soaked in water for a interval and allowed to ferment, producing a frivolously alcoholic, glowing drink) is just permitted for household consumption.

This places many French producers, who recognise the demand the class is having in different markets, in one thing of a bind.

“The regulation’s opaque,” Nicolas Fernandez, of Domaine de la Calmette in Cahors, instructed vitisphere.com. “Piquette was banned in 1907 to guard the trade, however this was repealed in 2003. We did not know concerning the European directive.”

Fernandez mentioned there was presently a Piquette craze within the US and that the interdiction was regrettable. Nevertheless, one other producer mentioned the issue might be resolved administratively.

“The large mistake most piquette producers make is to formally enter their inventory similtaneously their wine.” The nameless winemaker mentioned that wineries ought to have the ability to create a separate manufacturing account, with a license to supply fermented drinks apart from wine and beer.

“Do not ask Customs if you are able to do one thing,” the producer added. “The reply will all the time be no. Ask them how you are able to do it.” 

Rioja pairs wine with golf to advertise tourism

Wine and golf are to be paired collectively in a bid to advertise tourism round Logroño and the Rioja area of northeast Spain. Initially arrange by the Logroño Metropolis Council in February the challenge – which cross-promotes and hyperlinks (geddit?) two pillars of regional leisure actions – was lent additional help with La Rioja Regional Authorities formally approaching board with the plan this week. 

Vinsobres launches Cru Glacé ice cream

Dubbed a “Cru Glacé”, the Vinsobres appellation of the Côtes du Rhône has launched France’s first AOC-sponsored pink wine ice cream. Weighing in at 5.8 p.c alcohol by quantity, the sorbet isn’t any Tutti-frutti à la Châteauneuf-du-Pape, being as an alternative a mix of two classics: Syrah and Grenache. The sorbet was created by an area artisan who examined a number of classic combos. It additionally options no added coloring brokers, aromas or preservatives.

 “The fruit comes by way of on the palate; the alcohol does not overwhelm;” Anaïs Vallot of Vinsobres’ Domaine Vallot instructed native information outlet France Bleu. “Individuals who don’t normally drink wine will get pleasure from this sorbet.”