Bordeaux Wine Output To Reach Seven Year Peak

Bordeaux is one of France’s most reputable and prolific wine-making regions. New reports confirm that Bordeaux’s 2016 wine harvest will allow the region’s wine output to reach a seven year peak, as it escaped the adverse weather conditions that hit the rest of France’s iconic wine-making regions.

For more, visit Ideal Wine Company's blog site.

Four Amazing Wine Dessert Recipes

If you choose to start cooking with wine this year, you can use this incredibly versatile product to whip up everything from mouth-watering mains to delicious deserts. In order to help you develop your wine-based cook book, here we reveal four amazing wine desert recipes for you to try in 2017.

For more, read on at Ideal Wine Company's blog.

Bordeaux Promotes Wine With Christmas Campaign

Industry body the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) recently launched an innovative new Christmas campaign. The project is designed to “promote the diversity” of Bordeaux tipples to UK consumers.

For more visit Ideal Wine Company's blog

What Can You Expect From The 2016 Port?

Reports recently confirmed that this year’s Port grape harvest was “surprisingly good,” raising hopes over the quality of the vintage. Ideal Wine Company asks: what can you expect from the 2016 Port?

A quick summary suggests the 2016 Port vintage will be good, with strong colours and rich flavours. For more, visit the Ideal Wine Company blog site.

Five Ideal Wine Gifts For Christmas 2016

We’ve now entered December, so Christmas is just a few weeks away. In order to beat the Christmas rush, you may want to start buying gifts now, but what should you get the wine lovers in your life? Helping you find something perfect, here we reveal five ideal wine gifts for Christmas 2016.

To find out more, visit Ideal Wine Company's blog.

How To Make Mulled Wine This Christmas

We’re just a few weeks away from Christmas, so you might want to start thinking about your holiday drinks menu. You could whip up a batch of mulled wine to serve your guests, giving them the perfect drink for a cold winter’s night. Ideal Wine Company reveals how to make mulled wine this Christmas.

To see Ideal Wine Company's instructions on Mulled Wine, read more on our blog.

Four Great Wine Books For Beginners

You should strive to amass as much knowledge as you can, before you start a wine collection. You may want to buy a wine book for beginners, to help you learn more about the product, as well as how to store it. Here Ideal Wine Company lists five of the best wine books for beginners you may want to buy.

 For more, visit the Ideal Wine Company blog.

Flutes Vs Coupes: Which Glass Is Better For Champagne?

With the holiday season right around the corner, you might want to start stocking up on Champagne. To give your guests a fabulous time this year, you might want to ensure you have the right kind of glasses for your top Champagne. Ideal Wine Company debates flutes vs. coupes for Champagne.

Try them out

There are pros and cons to flutes and coupes, so test out both before choosing how to serve your Champagne this holiday season. To ensure your guests have a fabulous time, make sure that you have wonderful Champagne to serve in either flutes or coupes. Browse Ideal Wine Company’s Champagnes list, which features noted brands like Dom Perignon, to find your perfect tipple this Christmas.

Global Wine Production To Decrease In 2016

New forecasts released by industry body the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) indicate that global wine production is set to decrease in 2016. Ideal Wine Company reports.

Find out more here.

More from Ideal Wine Company

What Happens To Wine As It Ages

We’ve all heard that old saying, “wine gets better with age.” Have you ever wondered why over time, the aromas, flavours and colours of wine undergoes complex changes, turning into something entirely new? 

To provide some insight, Ideal Wine Company explains what happens to wine as it ages.

Read more here - there'a wealth of information about the process.

More from Ideal Wine Company

Ideal Wine Company Moves Offices

At Ideal Wine Company, we're always looking to expand. We are delighted to announce that recently Ideal Wine Company moved offices, so we are now based on Earls Court Road, Kensington, London. 

Contact Us

What does this mean? You can buy wine on the Ideal Wine Company website as normal. If you need to get in touch, you can do so via the form on the 'Contact Us' page on our portal. 

If you wish to ring our offices, note that our number has changed to 0203 409 9160. However, you choose to get in touch, Ideal Wine Company's team will always be ready to help you find the right luxury vintage for you! 

What Is The Ideal Humidity For Wine Storage?

When you buy fine wines from Ideal Wine Company, it is key that you store your products correctly, to maintain quality. Lending a helping hand, here we ask: what is the ideal humidity for wine storage?

It is vital that you keep humidity levels in your storage facility high, to stop corks from drying out. We strongly advise you to ensure the humidity never drops below 50%. In general it is wise to maintain humidity levels are around 60% - 80%. If humidity rises above 80%, it will not damage the cork or wine, but the high level could cause mildew to develop in your storage area, damaging fine wine labels. 

Researching storage

Humidity is not the only concern you need to take into consideration, when storing fine wine bought from Ideal Wine Company. To find out more, visit the 'Storing Wine Correctly' section of our website. Here we cover subjects such as vital storage factors and  outside storage services. With this investment, you can find the right storage investment and make the most of the luxury vintages you buy from us

Why Should You Buy Chateau La Conseillante Wine?

Are you starting a wine collection? Consider adding bottles from the Bordeaux-based Chateau La Conseillante winery, which over its long, distinguished history, has developed a reputation for excellence. Ideal Wine Company asks: why should you buy Chateau La Conseillante wine?

Legendary wine region

Bordeaux is one of France’s most celebrated wine-making regions. Located in the South-West of the country, people have been making wine in Bordeaux since the Roman Period. It has now become the largest wine-making region in France, producing around 700m bottles of wine every single day.

Read the article in full with Ideal Wine Company.

Three Trends Transforming Wine Right Now

Long-established traditions many have shaped wine-making, especially in old world regions like Bordeaux, but some things are now changing. Technology and shifting consumer attitudes are altering how we make, serve and drink wine, sparking new trends.

For instance, if you purchase the Dom Perignon 2000 from Ideal Wine Company, you’ll receive a quality drink, produced according to strict guidelines. Champagne houses have been legally required to conform to specific production rules since 1891.

In an interview with Business Insider, Master Sommelier Devon Broglie revealed several trends which are transforming wine right now.

Read this article in full with Ideal Wine Company.

Taste the age of your wine with this device

Rapidly advancing technology is increasingly allowing wine-makers to improve the quality of their products. New reports show that recently, an ‘electronic tongue’ was created which can determine the age and quality of wine on an industrial scale, ensuring customers receive high quality bottles.

Electronic tongue

This ‘electronic tongue’ was invented by researchers from the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute, with the team being led by Research Associate Dr Xavier Ceto Alseda. The team claim that this device, which is made from gold, platinum and carbon electrodes, can accurately determine the age and quality of wine, even showing the type of barrel it was aged in.

Specifically, the device creates a unique “fingerprint” for each wine, by measuring the electrochemical signals of sugars, phenolic compounds and other compounds present in the drink. Industry publication The Drinks Business writes that this electronic tongue analyses the overall combination of compounds found in the wine. Explaining, Ceto said: “It mimics the process of tasting, where the different sensations perceived (sweet, bitter, sour, salty and umami) are combined by your brain.”

Read the article in full with Ideal Wine Company.

Burgundy Prepares For Smaller 2016 Harvest

New reports confirm that wine-makers in Burgundy are currently bracing themselves for a smaller grape harvest this year, following adverse weather conditions. Ideal Wine Company investigates what may become short in supply.

Legendary wine

Burgundy, based in Eastern France, is one of the world’s most celebrated wine-making regions. Evidence suggests that people have been producing wine there since Roman times. Burgundy’s wine-making tradition was famously shaped by Roman Catholic monasteries, who made it for religious reasons in the medieval period and over time, the region’s products became popular across the world.

Wineries in Burgundy are especially known for making dry red wines from Pinot Noir grapes. Some of the top producers of dry red wine in this region, such as Clos Saint Denis, Chambertin and Echezeaux, make bottles which you can find on Ideal Wine Company’s Burgundy wine list. But if recent reports are to be believed, it may be hard to find 2016 Burgundy vintages anywhere, due to limited supply.

Read the article in full with Ideal Wine Company.

Celebrate National Champagne Week 2016

We have officially entered National Champagne Week 2016. Running from 1st to 7th October, this unique event gives you a chance to celebrate your love for France’s signature sparkling wine!

Brits and Champagne

We Brits love Champagne. Our fondness for Brut Champagne even helped popularise this style of France’s famous sparkling wine all over the world during the 20th Century. We in the UK drink more Champagne than anyone outside of France, according to Harpers, consuming 40m bottles on average per year.

Read this article in full with Ideal Wine Company.

How to start a Wine Collection

Establishing a wine collection can prove very rewarding. Wine is truly unique, with numerous styles and vintages available, making it a natural fit for collecting, as there’s always something new to acquire. In order to help you get started, Ideal Wine Company explains how to start a wine collection.

Learn the lingo

Wine-making is complex and over time, the industry has developed its own language. It is advisable to familiarise yourself with key wine-making terms, such as vintage, terroir and chateau, so you can read wine tasting notes accurately, allowing you to source quality bottles. Visit the Glossary Page on Ideal Wine Company’s official site to learn more about essential wine terminology.

Determine your tastes

There’s no substitute for experience. We would suggest that you taste any wine before you buy it, to determine whether it’s a quality product worthy of your collection. It is also key that you determine what kind of wine you like, before starting a collection, because ultimately, wine is your passion. Otherwise you may buy into wine trends and lose your passion for collecting your favourite tipple.

Read this article in full with Ideal Wine Company.

When Are Wine Grapes Harvested?

You might want to schedule your holidays to coincide with wine grape harvesting time. During this period, you get to learn more about the wine-production process, deepening your knowledge of fine wines. To help you plan your next holiday, Ideal Wine Company asks: when are wine grapes harvested?

Rich wine cultures

Wine has been made for thousands of years. Over time, a variety of distinct wine-making cultures developed across the planet, providing you with plenty of options for wine holidays. With so many destinations to choose from, which wine region should you visit on your next getaway?

Read the full article with Ideal Wine Company.

Know your brandy: Cognac Vs Armagnac

If you’re looking for a luxury brandy, you should look no further than Cognac or Armagnac. But which one? To help you select the right fine brandy, Ideal Wine Company takes the Cognac vs Armagnac question and explores the similarities and differences between these two popular, reputable products.

Exploring similarities

Cognac and Armagnac are French white wine brandies, which are both made from famously undrinkable wine and distilled. Both Cognac and Armagnac have appellation d’origine contrôlée status. Therefore only drinks which are made via specific production processes can be called Cognacs or Armagnacs. This is where the similarities end.

Grapes and distillation

Vinepair notes that while both Cognac and Armagnac are made from “thin” wine, they use different grapes. Traditionally, Cognacs are solely produced from the Ugni Blanc grape. Armagnacs are made from a wider selection of grapes, specifically Baco Blanc, Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche. As you can see from the map (left) Cignac is near the West Coast of France, whereas the Armagnac region is South of Bordeaux.

You can read this article in full with the Ideal Wine Company.