The preview of the research carried out for IRI Infoscan Vinitaly – Lambrusco, Chianti and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines sold in most mass retailers – Negroamaro, Syrah and White Custoza those having higher growth

Sales of DOC and DOCG wines returned to growth in the year 2009  in supermarkets, after the stagnation in 2008, an increase of 3.9% in volume and 4.9% value over the previous year. The preview includes the research that institute Infoscan IRI has done on behalf of VeronaFiere and that will be presented in full to Vinitaly (8-12 April, www.vinitaly.com).

The first data already allow to take stock of developments in 2009 sales of wine in the supermarket (GDO), providing statistics on sales of boxed wine, bottles with a designation of origin, the table wine, the "bubbles" and half bottles. To these are added the now traditional classifications, national and regional wines sold in most large-scale distribution.

Research has shown that the average Italian are increasingly choosing to buy from the shelves of the supermarket wine bottles with a designation of origin (DOC, DOCG, IGT) spending an average of 3 euros per bottle: not only increase by 3.9% sales of bottles of 0.75 liters, but increases the price range from 5 Euros up, registering an increase of 8, 5% (by volume). In contrast, sales of wine "table" show a decrease of – 2.1%. Fine bubbles with an average increase of 3.3% by volume (downward for champagne and increases of 5.3% for Italian classic method sparkling wine). But does not penetrate the half bottles, whose sales in supermarkets reduction of 6% (also in volume).

But what are the wines sold in mass retailers? The ranking of Iri Infoscan, produced by crossing data on type of wine and the land for wines with denomination of origin in the bottle 0,75 l. (Doc, Docg, Igt)  sees triumph in top three Lambrusco, Chianti and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Among the wines emerging, namely those with higher rates of growth, we find the first three places Negroamaro, Syrah and White Custoza.

To cope with the crisis, this year the Champagne will reduce its production by 44 percent in the number of bottles. This vintage wine growers and bottlers of Champagne have decided to collect 32 percent of grapes less. And only 82 percent of the grapes can be bottled, the rest will be stored, waiting for a recovery of sales, resulting in a reduction of 44 percent in the number of bottles produced.

According to data of Coldiretti, it will instead be 300 millions the number of bottles produced by the Italian sparkling wine, while their cousins from beyond the Alps down to 260 million, sharply down from 322 million in 2008 and 339 million in 2007.

The historic reversal of the case – states Coldiretti – in the first year of production of Prosecco with a designation of origin (DOC) and Colli Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco and Prosecco Islanders (DOCG), which are rapidly gaining foreign markets .

Italians are better even in the export.  Exports of French champagne have fallen by 41 per cent, while the export of Italian sparkling wines are up of 15 percent, says Coldiretti based on the data of the French Federation of Exporters of Wines and Spirits (LVEF) and the National Forum on sparkling wines for the first six months of 2009.

As a result of growth in foreign demand, exports of Italian sparkling wine abroad – continues Coldiretti – have exceeded domestic consumption by implementing a total annual turnover of over 2.5 billion euros for a production of over 300 million bottles.

Annual event which offers tastings of Italian wines with delicacies typical of the regions from which they come.
Holydays Calici held nell’enoteca of FNVP with about 100 wines, mold and liqueur historians from around the world guided themed tastings.

HOLIDAYS GLASSES
DECEMBER 6 – 6 JANUARY

9 days in a good drink with sweet tasting tours, cultural tours, meetings with Deans Slow Food delicacies and some of our peninsula.

* * * * * * PROGRAM

Saturday, December 6, 2008

16.00 Sagrantino Passito Welcome!
Inauguration of the event with tasting
Wizard of Montefalco Sagrantino Passito docg.
From Montefalco in Castel Ritaldi, some of the best
interpretations of Passito.

18.00 There is gentle and sweet: the dessert wines and chocolate.
Presentation of combinations of dessert wines and
Chocolate De Bondt, one of the best chocolatiers
craft in the world.
(Reservations required – euro 10.00)

21.30 hours A sea of passiti!
Tasting of dessert wines of the lands
sea: the Passito di Pantelleria, Malvasia delle Lipari,
Primitivo di Manduria, Aleatico, Sciacchetrà ….
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

Sunday, December 7, 2008

16.00 Put an afternoon at the museum …
Guided tour and tasting of Sagrantino
Montefalco Passito docg at the Museum Complex
San Francesco di Montefalco
(Reservations required – including the euro 10,00
Entrance to the Museum Complex of St. Francis)

18.00 Montefalco meets Deans Slow Food
Meeting-tasting with the “Eviction of Goym, sweet
Typical of the area of Pitigliano and Sorano (Gr)
(Reservations required)

21.30 hours on the heights of the past.
Tasting of dessert wines Mountain:
Erbaluce of Caluso Verduzzo Friulano, Wine
Holy trentino, Muscat of Valle d’Aosta ….
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

Monday, December 8, 2008

16.00 The cake that comes from cold to warm
Winter: The Eiswein
Tasting of Austrian Eiswein
and Canadian
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

18.00 The hills of passiti.
Tasting of dessert wines of the hill:
Vin Santo Toscano, Recioto the Refrontolo,
the Torcolato ….
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

Saturday 27 December 2008

16.00 Put an afternoon at the museum …
Guided tour and tasting of Sagrantino
Montefalco Passito docg at the Complex
Museum of San Francecso Montefalco
(Reservations required – including the euro 10,00
Entrance to the Museum Complex of St. Francis)

18.00 Montefalco meets Deans Slow Food
Meeting-tasting with the “Lonzino fig, sweet
Typical of the area of Castelli di Jesi.
(Reservations required)

21.30 hours A sea of passiti!
Tasting of dessert wines of the lands
sea: the Passito di Pantelleria, Malvasia delle Lipari,
Primitivo di Manduria, Aleatico, Sciacchetrà ….
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

Sunday 28 December 2008

19,00 Aperitivo sweet after the concert Brother Passito,
sister rot
Tasting of Sagrantino Passito and
Noble rot
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

Saturday, January 3, 2009

19,00 Dolce or spicy? Col Passito!
Gorgonzola DOP meets dessert wines (Moscato
Pantelleria, Picolit, Erbaluce of Caluso, Vin Santo
Chianti Classico …). Tasting with
presence of producers of Gorgonzola
(Reservations required – euro 12.00)

21.30 hours The hills of passiti
Tasting of dessert wines of the hill: Vin
Santo Toscano, Recioto the Refrontolo the Torcolato
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

Sunday, January 4, 2009

16.00 There is gentle and sweet: the dessert wines and chocolate
Presentation of combinations of dessert wines and
Chocolate De Bondt, one of the best chocolatiers
craft in the world.
(Reservations required – euro 10.00)

18.00 Sweet or spicy? Col Passito!
Gorgonzola DOP meets dessert wines (Moscato
Pantelleria, Picolit, Erbaluce of Caluso, Vin Santo
Chianti Classico …). Tasting with
presence of producers of Gorgonzola
(Reservations required – euro 12.00)

21.30 hours The sweet that comes from cold to warm winter:
the Eiswein
Eiswein tasting of Austrian and Canadian
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

Monday, 5 January 2009

16.00 Montefalco meets Slow Food
Meeting-tasting with the “Morlacco del Grappa
Malga, cheese typical of massive
Monte Grappa
(Reservations required)

18.00 Sweet sweet sweet Calabria.Vini Calabria.
Ancient traditions of the Greek White Head
Zefiro and Moscato di Saracena of Viola,
that are in the best tradition
calabrese pastry.
(Reservations required – euro 12.00)

21.30 hours & Bio Bio: sweet wines organic and biodynamic
We discover and taste characteristics
best Italian dessert wines made by techniques
biodynamic farming and organic farming.
(Reservations required – euro 15.00)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

16.00 Put an afternoon at the museum …
Guided tour and tasting of Sagrantino
Montefalco Passito docg at the Complex
Museum of San Francecso Montefalco.
(Reservations required – including the euro 10,00
Entrance to the Museum Complex of St. Francis)

18.00 Sagrantino Passito gives goodbye!
Closure of the event with tasting
Sagrantino di Montefalco Passito docg. From Montefalco
Castel Ritaldi, some of the most interesting interpretations
of Passito.

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My last glass of Italian wine shall be taken beside a beach. The sea will be wide and blue, waves flowing in and out gently.

The waves are listening.

The sand on which I sit will be fine – made pink from tiny crystallized shells that in their death, left a beautiful visual legacy.

Rocking chairs are not allowed on the beach. But I am defiant. I rock in my chair, naked, the sand giving way, welcoming the curved tattoos the chair makes. When the moon seduces the waves to sway to shore with more vigour, the waves will taste the curved imprint left hours ago.

My wine glass shall be made out of rainbow thread, dashed hopes and recycled dreams.

A sea lion shall waddle onto shore and pop a purple oyster into my glass.

I’ll smile.

A mermaid shall follow with a bottle of wine made from 700 Sangiovese grapes. Looking happy, but looking sad (for me), she will fill my glass, kiss me on the fingertip, then go back to sea with the sea lion. A couple madly in love.

I am alone.

But I am not lonely.

I need no-one for company.

Nature is enough. Almost.

For every sip I take, I shall look out to sea for reassurance.

For every sip I take, I shall pour one drop onto the pink sand.

Until there are no sips left to be had.

I shall place my finger in the glass and lick the remnants of Italy.

The glass belongs to the sea now.

The glass belongs to the sea.

When the moon seduces the waves to sway to shore with more vigour, the waves will taste the curved imprint left hours ago.

(img by: jurvetson)

I had to blink a few times to make sure I wasn’t getting the zeros mixed up.

The tour includes a helicopter ride to Bolgheri to explore the vineyards and cellars where Ornellaia wine is produced; a trip to the mansion where Brunello wine is made as well as lunch and exclusive wine-tasting in both areas, some which haven’t been tasted by the public before.

Erm, ok. Does that include hotel accommodation as well? Or is that separate?

I wouldn’t spend ₤10k on a wine tour – no way – no matter how exclusive it was, not even if they served me wine with sediments made out of gold floating at the bottom of the bottle. (though if they threw in a night with George Clooney, thick walls and copious amounts of tiramisu and Sangiovese wine, I might be tempted. Possibly.)

I don’t have the money, anyway …and if I did, I’d hope a good friend would talk some sense into me (or whoop me upside the head) if I ever decided to whip out that amount for a wine tour. Don’t get me wrong, I like Italian wine, I’m interested in its history and the names sound so beautiful to me, but would I spend that much on a tour?

No.

Would you?

My father is an ex-accountant, so maybe it’s that side of my genes talking. Also, mild-to-heavy sarcasm is my way of addressing situations I deem to be utterly frivolous and ridiculous, so pay me no mind. If you can afford the tour, then good for you, go for it. Bring me back a souvenir, like a grape or something.

Ciao!

(img by: luismi1985)

…and Bacchus patted my head affectionately, with a Humphrey Bogart accent, saying ‘you done good, kid. You done good’.

You should have been there. But then I would have had to share. And I was already sharing it between two members of the family.

I didn’t give into temptation in the wee hours of the morning as mentioned in the previous post. I just let the wine be (reluctantly) until my brother-in-law was ready to open it.

I had some again this afternoon while I worked on the computer. Only a bit. But I got a bit light-headed. Should have checked the alcohol content. All I know is that I opened the fridge and before I knew it, I was pouring myself some.

I like the colour of Sangiovese wine – it’s a deep rich red. I think that’s one thing red wine has over white wine. The visual appeal.

This one tasted a bit dry, but it also had a certain level of sweetness that rounded it off quite nicely. If it was part of a sentence, it would be an ellipsis (dot, dot, dot) rather than an abrupt and final full stop.

It’s my wine of choice at the moment …until my tongue elopes with another vintage. I really like it.

As I’m into the meaning of names, I thought I’d find out more about what the name ‘Sangiovese’ actually means.

‘Sangiovese’ is derived from the Latin word ‘sanguis Jovis’ which means ‘the blood of Jove’. Jove (or Jupiter) is a deity prevalent in Roman mythology. He was the god of gods, so to speak (similar to Zeus in Greek mythology).

The weekend’s winding its merry way round. I do hope you have a good one.

Ciao!

(img by: booleansplit)

There’s a bottle of Sicilian Sangiovese on the wine rack – unopened. I cannot open it ‘til the Cabernet’s finished. Those are the rules in the household.

There’s less than half of the Cabernet left. It’s almost 2am and I’m thinking of putting it out of its misery to speed up the process of moving on to the Sangiovese.

There are two problems though:

1) my brother-in-law: he’s still in his prime in the memory department – he’ll remember just how much was left.

I could always tell him the rat drank it. Or the tooth fairy.

2) There’s another bottle of unopened Cabernet on the rack so there’s no guarantee that the Sangiovese will be the next one to be popped open (even though you’d think he’d have had enough of the Cabernet after the first bottle).

So, what do I do, dear reader? Down the rest of the Cabernet and hide the other one? Then when my brother-in-law wakes up, upon discovering two of his bottles have ‘mysteriously’ disappeared, he’ll be so distraught that he’ll want to console himself with the Sangiovese.

Sounds like a plan?

No?

Ok, how about I just drink the bloody Sangiovese? What’s the worse that could happen? Pound-for-pound, I’m bigger than the guy so he couldn’t possibly wrestle me to the ground! (not in front of the children anyway, so if I go everywhere the kids go, I’ll be just fine).

It’s not as if I won’t share it with him once I open it, though. I’ll only have a glass. Or two.

Make it three. And a quarter.

I’m quite sad, aren’t I?

It’s ok, you can say it!

Don’t judge me – just admire my courage …and my complete lack of willpower!

Ciao!

(img by: lngorrr)

I know there’s a Chilean Sauvignon called ‘Monkey Puzzle’, but I never knew there was a Sauvignon Blanc called (wait for it) ‘Cat’s Pee on a Mulberry Bush’, or a Chardonnay called ‘Fat Bastard’!

Not exactly the kind of wine label I’d like to get my mum for her birthday as the humour would be lost on her – she’d probably think I was insulting her, then I’d have to get another bottle of wine (clean label this time) by way of apology.

I’d very gladly receive such a gift myself, even if it went as far as sporting the F word! I’d probably be more offended if the wine tasted awful.

I already know about ‘Est!, Est!, Est!’ – an unusual Italian-wine label with a rather interesting historical build-up to the name.

According to Peter’s site, there’s also an Italian wine called ‘The Full Monte-pulciano’!, and a Sicilian one called ‘Flying Pig’ (the makers believe there’s a better chance of seeing a flying pig than getting another bottle of wine like theirs at that quality).

There are other weird and wonderful labels like the French ‘Frog’s Piss’ (I kid you not) and the Spanish wine ‘Scraping the Barrel’ (very clever use of a well-known cliché) as well as one called ‘The Unpronounceable Grape’ from Hungary.

I’m all smiles! You?

Ciao!

(img by: apdk)

These are just ideas I want to share (involving Italian wine). Some might work and some might not. Who cares?! Let’s be big kids and take our tongues through a culinary playground.

Ok, so here are the ideas:

1) Do you like jelly? Well, while preparing it, why not add some sliced-up strawberries, add a bit of black pepper, pour in a bit of Italian wine for an extra kick and leave it in the fridge to set.

2) Sweet Wine and Coffee porridge: Yes, the everyday oat porridge you get in supermarkets! I’ve tried making sweet coffee porridge before and I found it to be a deliciously low-fat way of enjoying dessert. It tastes like rice pudding but, well, without the rice! So I see no reason why it can’t be jazzed up with some sweet Italian dessert wine (like Marsala wine, for instance). Add the wine last so it doesn’t burn off. While you’re making the porridge, you could also squash some really ripe bananas into it. I suspect that with the alcohol added, it might taste better cold (with some single or double cream poured over it and a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg sprinkled over. Mmmm.)

3) Soak some bread in some strong fragrant Italian wine and vanilla pods overnight. Take the bread out carefully and leave to dry. Add a bit of almond oil and toast it. Use as toppings for vanilla or strawberry ice creams or yogurts.

I plan to try these ideas out over the next couple of weeks and post feedback about how it went. I’m not too worried about it falling flat on its face. Maybe the Italian wine I choose to use might not be forgiving, but I’m looking forward to experimenting.

You can join me if you like! Tweak the recipe as you see fit and comment on how it turned out for you.

Ciao!

(img by: clairity)