18,000 Bottles of Wine are Going to be Poured Down the Drain!

The Ideal Wine Company was left more than a little horrified this week when that we learned 18,000 bottles of wine are going to be poured down the drain.

Wine Enthusiasts of the Highest Degree

We may be a supplier of luxury vintages at reasonable prices, but that is not all the Ideal Wine Company is. We are wine enthusiasts of the highest degree, which is why we love what we do.

Therefore, we’re of the opinion that a drop of wine should never be wasted – each drop should be savoured and explored as it dances on the palate. That is why we were left stunned and shocked, when we heard that a judge in the UK has ordered 18,000 bottles of wine to be poured down the drain.

Wine Worth £155,000 to be Disposed Of

According to the Telegraph, District Judge Pam Baldwin ordered 18,000 bottles owned by wine wholesalers, A.G Peters to be disposed. Collectively, the vintages were worth £155,000, and included noted labels such as J.P Chenet, Hardy’s, Blossom Hill and Echo Falls.

The order followed raids of the wholesalers’ warehouses across Lancashire and West Yorkshire, which revealed a large scale effort to the £2 duty charge which the law demands must be paid on every bottle. According to a spokesman for Customs and Excise "the wine will be quite simply be destroyed....poured down the drain."

No Reason to Think the Duty Was Not Being Paid

The wholesalers have fiercely denied that they avoided paying duty tax on their wine intentionally. A.G Peter’s manager director, Stephen Frazer, spoke out on the matter, saying:

"We sell 15,000 cases of wine a week. I need a quick turnaround on stock. I don't want stock on the warehouse floor for more than a fortnight. I don't know where this pallet of wine came from, it should not have been there.

"We cut prices because we market loss leaders....that is how we can compete with the buying power of say Tesco. I did my due diligence checks on my suppliers and had no reason to think duty of the wine we handle had not been paid."

Ideal Wine Company Has Been Left in Mourning

We can’t be sure whether that claim holds an ounce of validity or not. Nevertheless if nothing else, this story has left the Ideal Wine Company in mourning. These bottles may not have been luxury vintages, but wine should never be wasted!

Bordeaux Poised For Recovery?

In light of comments made by the managing director of Liv-ex, on the fortunes of one of France’s most famous fine wines, Ideal Wine Company has been inspired to ask; is Bordeaux poised for a recovery?

A Superior Vintage

The Ideal Wine Company exists to bring you fine vintages from every corner of the globe at a reasonable price. Many of those vintages originate from the French region of Bordeaux.

Bordeaux wines are a cut above the rest. The climate, temperature and terrain of the region fosters the facilitation of superior bottles. Nevertheless, the value of Bordeaux as a fine wine has been in steady decline in recent years; a trend that according to Liv-ex managing director James Miles, is set to change.

How Bordeaux Can Turn Its Fortunes Around

According to Harpers, Miles suggested that now is a good time to enter the Bordeaux market. This is because prices for Bordeaux currently sit at their “lowest ebb since the early 1970’s,” after four years of continually falling values. In other words, it’s ripe for a boom.

Speaking at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair, the managing director gave his opinion on how Bordeaux can turn its fortunes around. Specifically, he called for a “well-priced 2014 vintage,” adding that it would act as a “vital precursor to any kind of sustained recovery.”

A Reasonably Reliable Boom and Bust Every Ten Years

Miles also expanded on the general boom and bust nature of Bordeaux, which he argued is cyclical.  He suggested that evidence illustrates that Bordeaux experiences a “reasonably reliable boom and bust every ten years or so.”

The managing director went on to point out the nature of the boom and bust trend, saying that “while booms and busts in wine are influenced by external factors – in this case, UK pension reform, the collapse of Lehman, the removal of tax in HK and the huge fiscal stimulus in China in 2009 – they also tend to be self-inflicted and tend to start and finish with successful and disastrous en primeur campaigns, in this case the 2005 and 2010.”

The 2014 En Primeur Campaign Has to Work

In other words, yes Bordeaux is poised for a recovery, but that doesn’t mean it will actually recover. As Miles went on to point out, Bordeaux’s 2014 en primeur campaign needs to be able to work with “prices falling far further than many in Bordeaux currently appreciate.”

China’s Fine Wine Region of the Future

This week the Ideal Wine Company wants to take this opportunity to introduce you to what many are calling China’s fine wine region of the future; Ningxia.

Global Wine Powerhouse

Because Ideal Wine Company is a firm dedicated to providing a range of fine wines from across the world at reasonable prices, we couldn’t have failed to notice the rise of China.

In today’s market, China is a veritable powerhouse. Not only is it the world’s largest growing economy, but is becoming one of its biggest wine consumers – especially where red is concerned. Furthermore, it is making inroads into wine production, which has prompted the rise of a potential new luxury wine hot spot, Ningxia.

The Ability to Foster a Ripe Grape Crop

An article in Drinks Business recently explored the region’s capability as a fine wine powerhouse. It featured the thoughts of Berry Bros & Rudd’s Jasper Morris, who weighed up whether Ningxia has what it takes.

Jasper started out by pointing out the region’s positives, of which there are many. Essentially, it has a “strongly continental climate with hot sunny summers and severely cold winters.” Meanwhile, with an altitude sitting 1,000 metres above sea level, Ningxia enjoys 3,000 hours of sunshine annually.

This last point means that it really is adequately positioned to become a major player in the world of viticulture. It means that harvests can be picked in October, before the first frost. Frosts are known to damage the quality of the grape. Morris elaborated on the point, saying “there seems to be just enough hang time to ripen the grapes but with current viticultural practices, it is a close run thing.”

Killing the Vine

Yet the region isn’t without its issues. Namely, Ningxia same weather patterns. It can reach extreme temperatures on either end of the spectrum. This would mean that vines would need to be buried to survive winter. This process is known to kill a certain percentage of vines every time, meaning new ones must be planted, which can hinder the development of fine wine.

Morris explained why even replanting may be hard in the region, saying “this is labour intensive and probably reduces the life of the vine as a percentage do not survive. It is also very difficult to do in those locations, such as Château Yunmo, where there is a much greater percentage of stones in the otherwise sandy soil – certainly there were many more gaps in the vineyard here.”

The Potential of Ningxia

So Ningxia is hardly going to take the crown from Bordeaux anytime soon, nevertheless, it does have the potential to become a major player in the world’s fine wine industry. Whether it does, and increases the role of China in said industry, remains to be seen. 

Why are the French on top of the world?

This week, it has come to the attention of Ideal Wine Company that France has overtaken Italy to once again become the world’s foremost producer of wine.

What does this mean for the world of wine?

Whilst global wine production was down for many nations on last year, the French have seen a substantial increase output to regain the number one position – the first time since 2011. Their production for the year is thought to equate to 46million hectolitres.

Runners-up, Italy, but saw production drop 15% this year, to 44 million hectolitres, after a less than ideal harvest. Production in other big producers such as Spain, the US, and Chile also went down.

Whilst Australia and Argentina didn’t see much difference, New Zealand, South Africa and Germany also saw considerable increases in production.

What are the reasons for this?

So it seems a lot of countries have produced then. The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (IOV) blamed the global decline from last year on “significant climatic hazards, which are at the root of these developments, particularly in Europe.”

However it appears that these adverse weather conditions didn’t affect French vineyards who saw their production increase by 10% on the previous year.

A turning tide..?

Interestingly though, whilst the French have been producing more wine, it has been reported that they are drinking less of it.

French wine consumption fell by 7% this year as the United States beat them to become the world’s largest consumer of wine, despite only having half the output as their transatlantic counterparts. 

The report also found that ten countries alone were responsible for 80% of the world’s wine production. In order, these countries are: France, Italy Spain United States Argentina Australia China South Africa Chile and Germany

Final thoughts…

We at Ideal Wine Company would like to congratulate the French for their rise back to the summit of the wine world. Ideal Wine Company can’t speak highly enough about the wine making regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, the two foremost regions where our vintages originate from.

Five Tips for Cooking with Wine

If you’re as much a lover of the kitchen as you are fine wine, you’re in luck. This week the Ideal Wine Company reveals five tips for cooking with wine.

The Versatility of Wine

Through crafting a reputation as a provider of excellent fine wines at prices true wine enthusiasts can actually afford, we have learned of the versatility of our product. You can drink it, invest in it, collect it, turn it into a cocktail etc.

You can also cook with it. Cooking with wine is actually a pretty popular pastime. You can use it to craft mouth-watering dishes such as Coq Au Vin. Even better, when you pair a wine with a dish you’ve used wine with, you end up with an experience which will blow your tastes buds away.

Use These Five Tips to Master the Art of Cooking With Wine

Despite the fact that the way you do it often depends on the dish, there are common tips you can use whenever you cook with wine to get it right. Here are five we would suggest:

1. Don’t Cook With Something You Wouldn’t Drink: Since the heating process burns the alcohol off, it’s the flavours of the wine that you are bringing to the dish. That is why you should only ever cook with wines you would drink. If you don’t, you’ll bring flavours you don’t find appealing to the dish.
2. Match the Wine to the Flavour: Certain wines go with certain foods, and choosing contrasting flavours will only ruin the dish. If you’re cooking fish, for example, for heaven’s sake don’t use a rose.
3. Pour in Slowly: Cooking with wine really is a balancing act.  Get the balance wrong, and you’ll throw the composition of the dish off. That is why whatever you’re making or using, you need to pour the wine in slowly.
4. Taste and Stir: To ensure you are getting the balance right, stir it in gently with a wooden spoon as you pour, then taste to keep track of the balance. There’s no substitute when it comes to cooking with wine, for experience! Tasting is also useful for determining the quality of the wine before you cook it.
5. Watch the Temperature: When wine hits a temperature of 70 degrees, it starts cooking. However if it hits 80 degrees, you can cook it too much, robbing it of some of the flavour you want to infuse into your dish. That is why you should keep a careful eye on temperature whenever you cook with wine.

Now it’s Time to Get Specific

From there, it’s time to get specific. Depending on the type of dish you are cooking, there are different ways to go about things. However these five tips should get you well on your way to crafting a mouth-watering dish by cooking with wine!

The Growing Number of UK Wine Producers

New figures have suggested that the number of UK wine producers is growing, leading the Ideal Wine Company this week to explore the country’s burgeoning wine scene.

The Emerging UK Wine Scene

As a provider of fine wines from around the world at reasonable prices, Ideal Wine Company follows wine trends. We need to, in order to ensure you get the most from our service.

Over the last year or so we have been watching the emerging UK wine scene. Bottles from the British Isles are slowly, but surely, gaining a stellar reputation. This is something that is sure to continue, as the number of producers making wine in the UK grows.

UK Receives 46 New Wine Producers

According to the BBC, new research from accountants UHY Hacker Young has suggested that 46 new producers signed up with the HMRC in the year to 31^st March 2014. This means that 135 wine producers in the UK are now registered with the tax man.

The firm went on to explain the reason for this growth, as well as the fact that the number of micro-breweries has increased by 188% over the last half decade. Essentially, tax changes have helped, but the main reason is consumers. They have developed more of an interest in locally produced food and drink.

Shifting Consumer Trends

The firm’s head, Roy Maugham, went on to talk about the research. Maugham said: "Consumer interest in boutique products continues to grow. Food products such as artisan cheeses and organically reared meats, and drinks such as craft beer and artisan spirits, have been the focus of increased demand.

"Now, we're seeing the same thing in the UK's once-mocked wine industry. English wines have enjoyed a genuine renaissance over the last couple of years and are now being taken seriously on the international stage."

Making a Name for Themselves

At the Ideal Wine Company, we find this trend fascinating. UK wines may not have attained the calibre of their French, Italian or Spanish counterparts, but they certainly are making a name for themselves. It’s only a matter of time until the UK becomes a significant player on the global wine stage. 

Pop Up Luxury Wine Merchant About to Launch in London

This week, Ideal Wine Company looks at the oncoming launch of a pop up luxury wine merchant in London, and what it could mean for the diversification of the fine wine trade.

The Diversification of the Fine Wine Market

One thing that the Ideal Wine Company continues to find fascinating working as a provider of fine wines from around the globe, is the diversification of the wine industry.

New developments are coming every day, and they change the way we think about buying and consuming wine. Take the Coravin device, which we recently blogged about for example. That one small technological advancement has the capability to reimagine the way people store wine.

2,000 Fine Wines to Sample at Your Convenience

Which is why we find the news that a pop up luxury wine merchant is due to open on London’s South Banks so compelling. Called a Vinorium, the stand will feature over 2,000 fine wines to buy and sample. Furthermore, each bottle will come with a QR code, which will enable consumers to research the wine they are trying.

Meanwhile, the transparent Perspex building (constructed from two 20 foot shipping containers), will also feature wine tasting master classes. Hosted by the Vinorium’s founder Stuart McCloskey, these Bordeaux master classes will teach people how to drink wine like an expert for £50 - £150 per ticket.

The Vinorium was Nothing but a Wonderful Dream a Year Ago

McCloskey took the time to comment on the project. According to Harpers, McCloskey said that: “The Vinorium Pop-Up was all but a wonderful dream a year ago, but we have made it into a reality by transforming two 20ft shipping containers into a luxury mobile wine merchant and wine bar.”

He went on to add that “it will have an entirely bespoke interior fit made out of clear Perspex and the wine will be available to drink in or take home. We will be offering a chance for people to try some exquisite and UK exclusive wines during our masterclasses.”

The Opening Up of the Fine Wine Market

Ideal Wine Company finds this fascinating, because it illustrates the opening up of the fine wine market. The pop-up is like selling fine wine online; it’s a new way to ensure that consumers who would never before have the chance, are equipped with the opportunity to experience luxury vintages for themselves.