How Traditional Method Sparkling Wine Is Made

Sparkling Wine grape production

Traditional Method, sometimes referred to as the Méthode Champenoise, is famously used to create Champagne in the Champagne region of France, but it isn’t exclusively used there. You don’t have to be in Champagne to use the Traditional Method, as Sparkling Wines in France, outside the Champagne region use this method, even Spain uses this…

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Harvest at Jenkyn Place Vineyard

Harvest at Jenkyn Place Vineyard in Hampshire is underway, the Pinots have all been picked with the Chardonnay grapes still to come. Winemaker at Jenkyn Place, Dermot Sugrue says: “The grapes this year are very, very good. We have luckily had no mildew damage and only a few vines have suffered from frost damage and…

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Grape Harvest 2016

The results of the damage caused to the Champagne vineyards by extreme weather earlier this year are having their affect on this year’s harvest. Chardonnay grapes are usually the first to ripen. This year it’s Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Wine growers are saying they’ve never seen this and the cause is unknown. It will…

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No Room for Grape Pickers in Champagne this Harvest

No Room for Grape Pickers in Champagne this Harvest

Champagne grapes must be picked by hand. 120,000 people come for the harvest each year, the largest number in France. This year could see a substantial loss of employment and an accommadation crisis because of an enforcement of a regulation in the French Rural Code. In 1995 a regulation was added to the code that…

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Surplus of Prosecco after Record Harvest

Surplus of Prosecco after Record Harvest

Fantastic growing conditions have led to the biggest Prosecco harvest to date, producing around 470 million bottles this year. However, this surplus of Prosecco won’t have any effect on the current prices. The extra bubbly will be stockpiled, ready for later to keep up with the soaring demand. Production has tripled in the last 6 years, mainly…

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English Winemakers Benefit from Warmer Weather

Climate change has been a boost to the development of the UK wine industry. The warmer weather has even allowed vineyards to start springing up in the north of the country, and even as far as Scotland. However, the top-class English sparkling wine is still currently centred in the South – mainly Kent, Surrey, Hampshire,…

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High Hopes for 2015 Perrier-Jouët Harvest

High Hopes for 2015 Perrier-Jouët Harvest

Chef de Caves Hervé Deschamps, describes himself as ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the 2015 harvest now that all the musts have been received at the winery in Epernay. Deschamps commented: “I am pleased with the potential of this year’s harvest so far: the grapes are very healthy with good maturity levels and potential alcohol in excess…

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High Hopes for 2015 Champagne Harvest

The Champagne harvest is drawing to a close and many Champagne producers will be very pleased – 2015 is expected to be an “exceptional year” for Champagne. The yields this year were the lowest in a decade, with growers within the appellation limited to 10,000 kg per hectare. The climate and weather has produced the perfect…

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Experience Harvest at Champagne Rogge Cereser

In Champagne Rogge Cereser, independent winegrower wants you to experience the harvest this year. They are offering tours until Friday 18th September (except for Sunday) from 9h00 to 12h00 and 13h00 to 17h00 with regular departures. Experience: Tour of the press room and full explanation of Champagne making process Tasting of grape juice Tasting of…

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