Monday 24 August 2015

UK Could Become a Centre of Global Wine Tourism

The Ideal Wine Company has learned that a British wine making association recently suggested that the UK has the potential to develop itself into a major centre of global wine tourism.

British wine making 


The British aren’t exactly known as the best wine makers in the world. People look at us British as the wine making novices of Europe; the ones who can craft a good sherry, but wouldn’t be able to produce a fine pinot noir if our lives depended on it. 

The onset of global climate change has signalled a shift in the European wine making landscape. The UK is getting warmer, and as temperatures rise we’re starting to develop a distinct, even respected, wine producing culture. New figures suggest that there are now 470 vineyards in the UK, and these burgeoning estates are primarily growing Chardonnay (21%), Pinot Noir (19%) and Bacchus (9%) grapes. 

Wine tourism  


The Drinks Business reported that recently, the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) argued that wine could become a valuable source of tourism for the UK. The publication quoted figures which suggest that tourism became the UK’s third largest service export in 2014. WSTA argued that the UK could develop this rapidly expanding sector by moving into wine tourism, pointing out that the average US wine traveller spends £650 per trip, to suggest that it could generate major revenue. 

The marketing director of English Wine Producers, Julia Trustram-Eve, explained how the UK’s wine tourism market is already growing. She said: “Vineyards are using increasingly creative methods to host visitors, from guided tours and visitors’ centres to places to stay and on-site restaurants. 

“The growth in awareness and enthusiasm in locally-sourced and produced food has heightened the interest in rural tourism and the exciting work being done at vineyards across the country. As English wines become available in pubs, restaurants and retail outlets, it is great to see visitors given the chance to look behind the scenes. Wine tourism, in whatever guise, is something that is a growing area in the UK wine industry.”


Set the bar


This is an interesting idea, but here at the Ideal Wine Company we have to point out that wine tourists expect the best. UK wine producers need to ensure they cultivate superior vintages if they want to enter the rapidly growing global wine tourism market. If you want to see the kind of quality these highly discerning wine enthusiasts expect, why don’t you buy a Bordeaux from the Ideal Wine Company today!

Monday 17 August 2015

Is a Glass of Bordeaux the Secret to a Long Life?

The world’s oldest twins have recently revealed the secret to their longevity. This startling admission has prompted the Ideal Wine Company to ask; is a glass of Bordeaux the secret to a long life?

Life expectancy in the UK  


It’s hard to deny that living conditions in the UK have improved in the last century. The Daily Mail reported that researchers from Imperial College London found that in 1981, average life expectancy was 71.4 for men and 77.4 for women. However, this rose to 79.5 for men, and 83.3 for women by 2012, and is predicted to increase to 85.7 for men, and 87.6 for women by the time we hit 2030. 

Secret to a long life 


This begs the question, how do you live a long life? The answer to this question may be found in recent comments made by Belgians Pieter and Paulus Langerock, who at 102 years old apiece are the oldest set of twins in the world. 

The Langerock twins now reside in Ter Venne nursing home in Ghent, Belgium, and they recently spoke out on why they believe they’ve lived to the grand old age of 102. Paulus was quoted by Yahoo News saying that if you want break the 100 year age mark, “don't waste your time fooling around, don't eat too much and don't run after women."

Paulus, who along with his brother was born on 8th July 1913, also revealed that wine has played a role in pro-longing his life. The Langerock brothers are known to indulge in a glass of fine Bordeaux wine each every day. Paulus is often heard asking his nurse at Ter Venne, to "get us a Bordeaux, but a good quality one," and he cites it as another reason why he’s been alive since 1913. 

Try a Bordeaux 


This doesn’t mean that drinking a glass of Bordeaux every day will help you live longer. Yet the story of the Langerock brothers does suggest that it can’t hurt to indulge in a glass of the fine French tipple every once in a while. If you want to try out the world’s oldest twins’ theory for yourself, why don’t you buy a Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1978 from the Ideal Wine Company, and get pouring!

Monday 10 August 2015

Turning Slag Heaps into Vineyards

The Ideal Wine Company has recently learned about something extraordinary. A wine producer in the north of France has turned one of the region’s infamous ‘slag heaps’ into a vineyard.

Blight of the skyline


France has been mining the coal seam that runs along its border with Belgium for roughly 300 years. Mining is a dirty game; it leaves behind a lot of coal residue and the miners had to put it somewhere.
They dumped it in the countryside, and over time mountains of the residue, or ‘slag heaps,’ grew up to blight the Northern French skyline. These heaps were once regarded as a national embarrassment, but the BBC has recently reported that the citizens of this region have decided to turn their greatest embarrassment into their greatest asset.

Charbonnay


They’re transforming these slap heaps, called ‘terrils’ by the French, into exciting new projects that have ignited a fondness in the hearts of our continental cousins for these environmental eyesores. Wine-grower Henri Jammet decided to do something truly revolutionary; he transformed one terril into what has become France’s most northerly vineyard.

He planted vines on the slopes of a slag heap in Haillicourt, Northern France, in 2011. Jammet created a vintage that he’s lovingly called ‘Charbonnay,’ a play on the words ‘Chardonnay,’ arguably the world’s most famous wine, and ‘bonnay,’ the French word for ‘coal.’ The novel winery produced 150 bottles in 2013, before doubling its capacity to 300 bottles last year.

“The wine is great.”


Speaking about the project, Jammet said "people here were very surprised, but the wine is great. The terril is stony - it drains well because it is on a slope; the earth is black which keeps in the warmth; and we face south - all things that help the vines."

The innovative wine producer elaborated, "obviously the soil is poor - but that is good. Vines need to struggle in order to bring out the best in the grape. Our wine is sharp because they don't have the sun up here to reduce the acidity - and it's got the proper Chardonnay citrus notes."

Buy a Bordeaux


The fact that the French can turn slag heaps into vineyards shows you just how good they are at making wine. If you want to sample a range of the country’s finest vintages, why don’t you buy a Burgundy from the Ideal Wine Company right now!

Wednesday 5 August 2015

Could Red Wine Help Prevent Bowel Cancer?

Hold on to your hats people, the Ideal Wine Company has discovered yet another study about the health benefits of resveratrol. This time researchers are claiming that the wonder anti-oxidant can help prevent bowel cancer.

The wonder anti-oxidant


Resveratrol is an anti-oxidant that’s found on the skin of grapes, supposed to have more health benefits than a trip to the hot springs of Reykjavik.

In other words you can find resveratrol in red wine, and this is why red wine is supposed to have so many health benefits. According to various studies, resveratrol-laced red wine may be able to help you live longer as well as act as a memory aid, and be as good for your health as an hour in the gym.

Resveratrol and bowel cancer


A new study conducted by researchers at Leicester University has now shown that resveratrol can act as a safeguard against bowel cancer. Interestingly, the Daily Mail reported that this research found that the tiny amount of resveratrol in one glass of wine can be more effective than resveratrol supplements, which tend to contain much higher doses of the anti-oxidant.

The publication wrote that the University’s Karen Brown came to this conclusion by dosing mice that were genetically designed to develop the condition, with resveratrol. Brown discovered that low dosages of the anti-oxidant were twice as effective at preventing bowel cancer-related tumours, than dosages that were 200 times more powerful.

Effect of low doses


Professor Brown wrote in the journal ‘Science Translational Medicine,’ that she was “amazed” by the finding. However, she went on to add that resveratrol only had an anti-cancer effect on mice that were fed fatty foods.

She went on to say: “For the first time, we’re seeing that less resveratrol is more. This study shows low amounts may be better at preventing tumours than taking a high dose. The same might be true for other plant-derived chemicals and vitamins being studied for cancer prevention. There should be more research looking at the effects of low doses.”

Meaning for wine enthusiasts


This doesn’t by any means indicate that you can consume a full bottle of red wine to shield yourself from the risk of developing bowel cancer. However, it does indicate that if you purchase a Chateau Lafleur 1990 from the Ideal Wine Company and drink it modestly, you might be doing yourself the world of good!