Discovery

After a 2024 vintage marred by challenging weather conditions – causing mildew and aborted flowering – yields in Muscadet reached an all-time low. But could this relative dearth of wines help the Loire white wine region along its journey upmarket? We went to a region that has been shaken but remains determined to investigate.

Languedoc-Roussillon boasts 246,000 hectares under vine and 38 appellations and designations, making it France’s most extensive wine region. Its variety of soil types and grape varieties along with its typical Mediterranean climate shape its myriad vineyard sites, all of which can be leveraged to show off their distinctive features. But how effective is it at doing so?

In the heart of the French wine region that boasts the largest number of appellations, the emergence of a category other than still wines might come as a surprise. Although they do not really compete with Champagne, Crémants de Bourgogne certainly have quality credentials and excel for their ability to create a loyal following among fine wine enthusiasts.

If one had to introduce Pinotage as a person, it would be a lab baby who defied the odds; a wild child that grew up so fast, it could never be left unsupervised. But once it was finally given the space to be itself, it thrived - through tough conditions, harsh opinions and shifting expectations. It built its personality under pressure, always a little rebellious. Maybe that’s exactly what propelled this misfit to grow into a South African cult icon, now celebrating its 100th birthday.

Chile, Argentina and Uruguay are renewing strategies for promoting their wines in international markets. The heads of their promotion organisations share how they plan to showcase the unique features of their wines worldwide.

Ranked world wine tourism champion at Fibega, the international exhibition for gastronomy tourism, in 2024, Portugal has recently emerged as the top destination for wine tourists. Neighbouring Spain, one of the first European countries to focus on wine tourism and sense its potential, comes hot on its heels. The move makes sound financial sense as the market currently generates several billions of euros in annual revenue…