From 15-19 July, the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) is organizing a Training Tour in the south of the USA.
Three masterclasses for professionals and journalists have been scheduled. They will run on 15 July in Houston, on 17 July in San Francisco, and on 19 July in Napa. Hosted by Jean-Pierre Renard, expert and trainer at the École des Vins de Bourgogne, they will shine the spotlight on those Bourgogne appellations that are still little-known on these markets. These masterclasses provide an ideal opportunity to discover some little-known names from Bourgogne!
In parallel, the BIVB is also offering three ”Train the Trainers” sessions, dedicated to professionals from Wine & Spirit Educational Trust (WSET) centers and sommelier schools. They will run on 15 July in Houston, 18 July in Seattle, and 19 July in Napa.
A new space for expression on the Bourgogne wines website
The new “Speaker Corner” will be up and running from September. The aim is to provide a space where all lovers of Bourgogne wines can express themselves.
Here is a new opportunity to have your word! “Speaker Corner” is a space where lovers of Bourgogne wines and wine professionals can say their piece.
Along with journalists, sommeliers, and winegrowers, they can share their experiences with other like-minded people. For a greater diversity of input, a range of different formats can be uploaded, from video to photos, and from travelogues to tasting notes.
For journalists, this is the ideal way to get feedback on articles by sharing them on “Speaker Corner”. It’s also a prime opportunity to consolidate your Bourgogne-related publications. Each contributor will have their own profile where they can index their publications.
For the general public, sommeliers and winegrowers, this is a special forum for expression that is dedicated to Bourgogne wines.
To make your contribution, simply fill in the contact form, add your text and any attachments, and click to upload. Once accepted, it will be published on the site and available under your author’s profile.
The launch date for this space will be announced on social media and in future editions of En Direct.
This is an event that is not to be missed under any circumstances. Every year, during the third weekend in November, the Hospices de Beaune organizes its traditional and historical wine auction. It attracts wine lovers and professionals the world over for three days of festivities to celebrate the new vintage.
Several press events are planned for the weekend, such as the opening day of the Bourgogne wines tasting event at the Palais des Congrès in Beaune on the Friday, and the press conference, auction, and press lunch on the Sunday.
For logistical reasons, invitations are usually dispatched in early October. But between now and then, why not start booking your trip to Beaune?
What better for a confused newcomer or a confirmed wine lover looking for something new than to discover the favorite tipples of their local winestore or restaurant owner?
In the UK, around 100 winestore owners and restaurateurs have agreed to join in the fun across social media. This operation, carried out in partnership with the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), is mainly focusing on the Twitter platform.
The @BourgogneWines account is retweeting one tweet per professional that reveals their favorite Bourgogne wine. They will be identified and can add additional information and advice.
Through this operation, the BIVB is seeking to promote certain wines that are still relatively little-known amongst the British public, but which are already appreciated by professionals.
The 2019 vintage: flowering indicates a mid-September harvest
Flowering is well started everywhere in Bourgogne.
In the vines of Bourgogne, the first flowers were observed in the early days of June. However, cooler weather then arrived from the 4th of the month for a few days, slowing down progress. But things got back on track with the summery weather during the Whitsun weekend.
The estimated date for mid-flowering is similar to that of 2010, namely around 15 June, with slight variations depending on sector and varietal. Since the growth cycle of the vine is between 90 and 100 days from flowering to harvest, this means the region will be preparing to pick around 15-20 September. Vines for Crémant de Bourgogne wines should open the campaign 10 or 15 days earlier, from the first week in September onwards.
The People and the Wine: the second chapter will premiere in September!
Since the success of the first part dedicated to work in the vines, now you can enjoy the first images from our second opus, this time dedicated to harvesting and vinification. Educational yet poetic, this video highlights the expertise and actions of the Bourgogne region’s winegrowers.
Join us at harvest time in September for the release of the film in its entirety.
Pink is not the first color a wine lover might think of when considering Bourgogne wines, but these little-known gems nonetheless merit one’s full attention. Mainly produced from the Pinot Noir or Gamay grape, these wines also benefit from the legendary Bourgogne terroir and expertise of the region’s winemakers.
Marsannay Rosé
Generally thought of as the “Golden Gateway to the Côte de Nuits”, the Marsannay AOC is the only Village appellation in Bourgogne that is permitted to express itself in three colors. Its rosé wines are smooth and fruity, with notes of pêche de vigne and redcurrant. They offer a characteristic full, fresh, and indulgent mouth on tasting.
These wines are perfect throughout any meal, from a summer barbecue to mixed salads, and from high-end cold cuts to poultry, crab, and even red mullet. And one should definitely not overlook spicy Eastern cuisine, or dishes from the Med. After a few years, try them with a dessert and you’ll find them divine.
Mâcon-Rosé
While most Mâconnais wines are white, they also come in red and rosé versions. They differ from those previously mentioned because of a detail that is very important in Bourgogne: Namely, they are produced from the Gamay grape, the emblematic grape for producing red wine in the southern part of the region.
These wines serve up all the indulgence and vivaciousness of the varietal. They marry perfectly with cold cuts, couscous, tajines, and tabbouleh, vegetarian gratins, omelets, and onion tart.
Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé
To produce a sparkling rosé version, these Crémant de Bourgogne wines are made using Pinot Noir, with or without Gamay, and come in a golden pink hue. They are delicate wines with subtle aromas of red fruit. Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé makes for a delicious dessert wine. Its powerful floral aromas make a wonderful match for ice-cream, and bring a touch of freshness to the end of a meal.
Economic Update
Mainland China: Bourgogne wines enjoy another hike in exports
Bourgogne wines increase sales again, after a pause in 2018.
China matures as a wine market as each year goes by. Dominated by French wines, it is also open to wines from other countries, being the world’s fifth biggest wine importer.
In 2018, Bourgogne wines accounted for 1.8% of the volume of French AOC wines exported to China, for 5% of the revenue.
In terms of revenue, exports of Bourgogne wines were up 9.9% in 2018, beating the record set in 2017, across all colors.
However, volumes exported to China were down 10.6%, totaling 1.6 million bottles. But after the strong growth seen since 2015, volumes were nonetheless up 5% on the average over the past five years.
In 2019, the trend is returning to growth, up 30.9% by volume and 1% in terms of revenue in the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
Key 2018 figures for Bourgogne wines in China, the 10th biggest market in revenue and volume for Bourgogne wines: Exports: 1.6 million bottles (down 10.6% on 2017), for 23.5 million euros (up 9.9% on 2017), by volume:
• Still white wines: 27.8%
• Still red & rosé wines: 71.7%
• Crémant de Bourgogne: 0.5%
The free-trade agreement between Japan and the European Union which came into force on 1 February 2019 should lead to an improvement. Bourgogne professionals are hoping for a return to the export levels of 2012, when more than 10 million bottles were shipped. The initial signs in 2019 are fairly positive, notably for Chablis wines, with growth by volume of 7% over the first two months of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
In 2018, Bourgogne wines accounted for 16.4% of the volume of French AOC wines exported to Japan, for 23.6% of the revenue.
The devaluation of the yen in 2013 (down 25% on other currencies including the euro) had an immediate impact on the price of Bourgogne wines on this market, which explains the fall in sales that year in Japan. Since then, revenue from Bourgogne wines has grown (up 7.5% in 2018 compared to 2013) to reach 102 million euros. Both red and white wines showed good performance up 7.8% and 7.7% respectively on 2013 by revenue. In 2018, export volumes were, however, down to 7.356 million bottles (down 3.2% on 2017). Crémant de Bourgogne was stable in 2018, after several years of growth, down 21.8% on 2017 to 281,410 bottles.
Key 2018 figures for Bourgogne wines in Japan: Exports: 7.356 million bottles (down 3.2% on 2017), for 102 million euros (down 1.5%). By volume :
• Still white wines: 54%
• Still red & rosé wines: 42%
• Crémant de Bourgogne: 4%
A new association for the Bourgogne region’s more “discreet” appellations…
Mi-Filles Mi-Raisin, an association for female winegrowers created in 2019, already has 11 active members who share the aim of promoting the more “discreet” appellations in Bourgogne, and Régionale appellations in particular.
The group was founded by two winegrowers from the Côte de Nuits, Camille Thiriet and Alix Millot, and now has members on the Côte de Beaune, the Côte Chalonnaise and in the Mâconnais.
Their first event - a professional tasting at the Château de Comblanchien - was a great success, and this has empowered Mi-Filles Mi-Raisin to host a new tasting, this time for the general public, in Dijon on 9 July at La Péniche Cancale.
You can find out more on the group’s Instagram and Facebook feeds.
The Atrium in Pouilly-Fuissé is opening its doors all summer long
From its base in Solutré-Pouilly in the Mâconnais, the Atrium will be hosting a range of tastings throughout July and August.
Created by the Union des Producteurs de Pouilly-Fuissé, the Atrium was designed to act as an invitation to sample the biggest collection of wines from Pouilly-Fuissé. Its location in the heart of the village of Solutré, at the foot of the eponymous Rock, also invites visitors to explore neighboring villages and producers of the appellation.
There are plenty of tastings on offer this summer, with two options to choose from:
- “A discovery weekend at the Atrium” with a commented tasting of six wines from the Atrium collection on: 12, 13 & 14 July – Friday and Saturday from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 7pm, and Sunday from 2:30pm to 7pm 16, 17 & 18 August – Friday and Saturday from 10am to noon and from 2pm to 7pm, and Sunday from 2:30pm to 7pm Tastings are free and there is no need to book in advance. All wines offered are available for sale at the Atrium after the tasting.
- A free tasting will also be hosted every Wednesday in July and August from 11am to 1pm.
The Vignerons de Terres Secrètes cooperative in the Mâconnais, the “sunny south of the Bourgogne region” between Mâcon, the Rocks of Solutré and Vergisson, and the Val Lamartinien (where the French 19th century poet Lamartine had his family properties), is offering the general public a wide range of events honoring its wines and terroir.
The fourth nighttime market, 28 June, in Prissé (71)
Around 40 exhibitors, including producers and artists, will be welcoming visitors keen to explore their specialties in a festive and convivial atmosphere.
Free entrance.
20th twilight walk, 20 July, starting from Berzé-la-Ville (71)
Over the years, this twilight walk has become a key event in the Bourgogne calendar, and is now in its 20th year. The walkers have the choice between a 7km and a 12km easy hike between hillsides and vines, departing from an arriving in Berzé-la-Ville, below La Roche Coche.
During this walk, they will enjoy some pretty winegrowing landscapes lit by the setting sun, along with tastings hosted by winegrowers in their cellars. The evening will continue with a bucolic meal and firework display.
Price: €6 for the walk and €12 for the meal
Gourmet Weekend, 12 & 13 October in Prissé (71)
Chefs and winegrowers from the Mâconnais are coming together for an autumnal weekend that is all about the desire to simply share their terroir produce and the fruits of their labor.
Admission is free.
Bourgogne vs. Burgundy: to re-affirm their identity, the region and the producers are reverting back to the original French iteration of the name, Bourgogne.
EN DIRECT 9 issues per year, published by
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