Australian Bottle Named Best Wine of the 70s

The Ideal Wine Company was not the least bit surprised to learn recently that one of Australia’s most famous vintages was named the best wine of the 1970s.

New world wine maker

Long gone are the days where wine making was seen as the sole province of ‘old world’ countries such as France, Italy and Spain. Since their colonisation, many new world countries including the US, Chile and Australia have established roaring wine trades.

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Cultivated over 200 years, the Australian wine industry has evolved to become one of the most successful on the planet. According to the Australian government, the land down under now boasts 60 wine making areas including well known regions such as Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley and Mudgee.

Best wine of the 70s

Produced in South Australia, Penfolds Grange is often regarded as the land down under’s most collectible wine. Typically made from Shiraz grapes delicately blended with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, these hearty reds will knock your socks off. The brand’s most famous bottle is the 1971, a standout vintage which was recently named the best wine produced in the 1970s at an event sponsored by European Luxury Magazine, FINE.

Good Food recently reported that the Magazine gathered together a panel of judges from nine different countries to assess various wines worth in excess of $500,000. They awarded the Penfolds Grange 1971 a near perfect score of 98.5 out of 100, whilst French wines secured eight out of the other top ten spots on the list. Chateau Y'quem 1975 from Sauternes, France was awarded second place, securing a score of 98 out of 100.

Incredibly proud moment

Penfolds’ head wine maker, Peter Gago, commented on the victory. He said that it’s an “incredibly proud moment” for the land down under’s most famous vintage, adding that he “almost fell off his chair when I heard.” Gago went on to say: "this isn't just competing with wines of one vintage or from one country.

“This is competing with the greatest wines from an entire decade, sourced from the whole world, and including some of the greatest vintages in the history of Bordeaux and Champagne. It was a blind tasting, too, with an international panel of judges, which removes any suggestion of bias.”

Try a Penfolds Grange

The 1971 is an amazing wine, but it isn’t the only standout bottle produced by Penfolds Grange. You should buy a Penfolds Grange from the Ideal Wine Company today if you want to learn how this estate has produced some of the best reds the world has ever seen. 

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!

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!

Sparkling Red Wine Roars Back Into Fashion!

Stop the presses! The Ideal Wine Company has discovered something that’s set to change the life of every wine enthusiast in the world. It’s OK to drink sparkling red wine again!

Sparkling wine

What do you think of when you hear the words “sparkling wine?” If you’re anything like us, you think of a premium bottle of sparkling white like the first-rate Champagnes sold by the Ideal Wine Company.

However, what many people don’t know is that you can also buy sparkling reds. These vintages combine the full-fruited flavour of a hearty red with the traditional tang of a carbonated creation, to produce a bottle that contrasts opposing elements to provide you with a unique drinking experience.

Wine trends

Believe it or not, sparkling reds were the height of fashion back in the 70’ and 80’s, however they faded into the ether of social obscurity during the 90’s. Yet trends always come zooming back into style if they’re given enough time, and according to the Telegraph, this is what’s currently happening to sparkling reds.

The publication reported that online supermarket chain Ocado has named sparkling red wine “the red wine style for 2015.” The firm elaborated by explaining that the ever-important British middle classes have started to desert the style of wine that has characterised tastes over the past decade, Prosecco, in favour of sparkling red.

“Red wine of 2015.”

Ocado buyer Julian Twaites explained: "With Prosecco and rosé wine still in favour, it’s no surprise that this equally light and fresh wine is now proving increasingly popular with shoppers."

He went on to comment: "The real breakthrough came with sparkling Shiraz from Australia – it had been bubbling for a while there, became niche in the mid-Eighties in the UK but is now being rediscovered by customers."

Buy Australian wines

The Ideal Wine Company hasn’t quite caught up with the times just yet, but we do have a fantastic selection of Australian wines that you’re destined to love. Why don’t you buy the Hobbs 2006 today? This unique bottle will provide you with a wine-drinking experience you’ll never forget! 

Scotland’s First Wine Branded “Undrinkable”

Scotland has produced its first wine in living memory. The Ideal Wine Company has learned that experts across the world have branded the concoction “undrinkable.”

Wine growing conditions

England’s neighbour to the north is known for many things; haggis, William Wallace, kilts, Holyrood and Ben Nevis among them. In particular the nation of the Loch Ness monster is known as one of the finest Whiskey producers on the planet.

However, Scotland has never had a reputation as a wine producer. This is because you need certain conditions to produce the quality grapes that are required to make an outstanding wine; conditions such as those enjoyed by our neighbours across the Channel, France. Scotland is a cold, wet, windy country that sees about as much sunlight as Scandinavia; it’s no France.

Scotland’s first home grown wine

Yet this hasn’t stopped one man from trying to beat the odds. The Daily Mail has reported that Aberdeen-based Christopher Trotter has produced Scotland’s first home grown wine in living memory in his vineyard in Fife.

Trotter succeeded; he produced a vintage which he has gone on to call “Chateau Largo.” From what we can tell, this is a hearty red that experts suggest has a sherry-like consistency. If we’re being honest, that was the nicest thing the experts had to say about Scotland’s first ever home grown wine.

Critics comment

The vast majority branded it “undrinkable” and “not fit for human consumption.” The first to try it was Richard Meadows, the owner of Edinburgh-based wine merchants the Great Grog Company. 

He said: “It has potential. It doesn't smell fresh but it's crisp and light and structurally it's fine. It's not yet drinkable but, that said, I enjoyed it in a bizarre, masochistic way.”

Even Trotter himself admitted the wine was “not great.” The wannabe wine-producer commented: "We have produced a vintage of, shall we say, a certain quality, but I’m confident the next will be much better. We have proved we can grow grapes in the Scottish climate."

Buy a Bordeaux

Yeah… we’re not holding our breath Chris; here at the Ideal Wine Company we think we’ll stick with our Burgundies and Bordeauxs thanks. If you want to see why we love French wines so much, why don’t you buy one of the Ideal Wine Company’s Bordeauxs today? 

Champagne Receives World-Heritage Status

The Ideal Wine Company were pleasantly surprised to learn last week, that various wine-making sites throughout the French region of Champagne have been awarded world-heritage status.

World-Heritage status

There are sites across the world which have a special cultural and/or natural significance to humanity. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) set up the World Heritage Committee in the latter half of the 20^th Century, to ensure that these sites are protected for the benefit of future generations.

The Committee, which is composed of representatives of the 21 UNESCO member states, carries out this task by awarding these sites ‘world-heritage status,’ based on six cultural and four natural criteria. Sites that make it onto the list can include buildings, cities, deserts, forests, islands and even lakes, and as of July 2015, there are 1031 sites on the planet that have been awarded world-heritage status.

39^th World Heritage Committee

UNESCO held the 39^th Session of the World Heritage Committee on Sunday 5^th July, 2015. They used this as an opportunity to award world-heritage status to a number of culturally and physically significant sites including the vineyards of Burgundy. See why this famous wine-making region was awarded such a prestigious honour, by purchasing one of the fine Burgundian wines sold by the Ideal Wine Company.

Another wine-making region that was honoured by the World Heritage Committee at its 39^th Session was Champagne; a land which is known for making the sparkling wine which bears its name. The Committee awarded world-heritage status to the Champagne industry’s vineyards, production sites, and sales points.

According to Quartz, the UN agency published a press release which explained why the “hillsides, houses, and cellars” of the Champagne wine region in the North-East of France deserve recognition. It said that: “The property encompasses sites where the method of producing sparkling wines was developed on the principle of secondary fermentation in the bottle since the early 17th century to its early industrialization in the 19th century.”

Try Champagne

UNESCO awarded sites in Champagne world-heritage status because they were integral to the development of the fermentation process, which allowed the world to produce sparkling wine. If you want to see why the region has been heralded for its role in the creation of sparkling wine, why don’t you try one of the Ideal Wine Company’s Champagnes, which you can buy from our website for very reasonable prices right now! 

The History of Cristal Champagne

If you’re looking for a first-rate Champagne, you should buy a bottle of Cristal from the Ideal Wine Company; a sparkling wine brand that’s steeped in history, glamour and political intrigue.

Luxury vintage

No birthday, anniversary or graduation is complete without a bottle Champagne. France’s signature sparkling wine is the ultimate luxury vintage; it adds that little touch you need to turn any celebration into a special occasion you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

No Champagne says ‘special occasion’ quite like Cristal. Typically created from a heady mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, this Champagne brand is often considered one of the finest in the world. In part, this is because it has a fascinating and compelling history that has shaped its unique character ever since it was founded way back in the 19^th Century.

Wine of the Tsars

Cristal was founded by Champagne producer Louis Roederer in 1876, on the orders of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. This led him to create what has since become known as Cristal Champagne; the first ‘prestige cuvee’ (blended wine of the highest quality), a vintage that was fit for an Emperor.

The Russian autocrat ruled a very unstable empire, and he feared that he would be assassinated at every turn; he feared that enemies would use the Champagne to hide a bomb! With this in mind, he demanded that Roederer store the Champagne in a bottle that was clear, so that he could see the bubbles and drink in safety. This led the producer to create Cristal’s distinctive clear, flat-bottomed bottle.

Pop culture Champagne

Since its creation, Cristal has maintained its status as the ultimate luxury product; it wasn’t even commercially available until 1945. It’s the 90’s where things get really interesting.

 The 90’s were the age of hip hop and rap culture. Dance-pop and disco were dead, and urban artists such as Jay Z, Tupac Shakur, Puff Daddy and Biggie Smalls ruled the airwaves. These music megastars made a habit of referencing Cristal in their song lyrics, turning the brand into pop culture phenomenon that’s lasted well into the 21^st Century. Today, we associate Cristal with fast cars, giant mansions and mountains of cash; the jet set lifestyle.

Try Cristal

If this should tell you anything, it’s that Cristal Champagne has always been associated with success, glamour and luxury. If you want to find out why Cristal was the favoured brand of Tsars and hip hop stars alike, why don’t you try one of the Ideal Wine Company’s finest Cristals, the Louis Roederer Cristal 2000, today?

Can Drinking Red Wine Help You Lose Weight?

The Ideal Wine Company recently discovered that a debate is currently raging throughout the medical world over the health effects of red wine. Can your favourite tipple help you lose weight?

Wonders of resveratrol

You must be familiar with the drill by now. Every few weeks, the national press will latch on to another study that shows that drinking red wine can improve your health. This is because it contains something called resveratrol.

This is an anti-oxidant compound that’s found in the skin of grapes, blueberries, raspberries and mulberries. Various research has shown that it has a range of health benefits, from improving physical fitness and curing acne to acting as a memory aid and even improving your attractiveness.

Weight loss aid

According to the Independent, research conducted by experts at Washington State University has proved that resveratrol can now act as a weight loss aid as well. They discovered that it has the ability to turn “white” fat into active “brown” fat, which burns calories.

The researchers proved this by dosing mice with the same amount of resveratrol that a human would consume if they ate 12 pieces of fruit in one day. The experts discovered that these mice gained 40% less weight than the ones who didn’t receive dosages of resveratrol.

This finding has been contended by the NHS. Decanter reported that the Health Service went on record saying that with the research in question “based on mice studies only, we don’t know whether resveratrol will have the same effect in people.”

Try yourself

So does this mean that red wine can help you lose weight? The jury’s still out on that one but you could always help clear up the confusion by trying the theory out for yourself.

We sell a fantastic collection of luxury Bordeaux wines here at the Ideal Wine Company. This historic French wine making region is known for creating some of the most scintillating reds the world has ever known. You could buy one and see whether red wine really does help you lose weight; even if it doesn’t, you’ll have a great time trying to solve the question!

The History of Veuve Clicquot

When you buy a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, you receive a vintage of the highest quality and character. To determine why, the Ideal Wine Company explains the fascinating history of this extraordinary Champagne maker.

The founding of Veuve Clicquot

Veuve Clicquot is a Champagne house that was founded by Philippe Clicquot in 1772. According to the Veuve Cliquot website, he decided to use his prominent family’s vineyards to establish a Champagne brand whose wares would “cross all borders.” Philippe then passed the business to his son François in 1798, as France was entering its notorious revolution.

Madame Clicquot

Yet the story really gets interesting when ownership of the company fell into the hands of François’ widow, Barb Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin in 1805. She had such an effect on the House that its modern name, Veuve Clicquot, is an homage to her memory; “veuve” is French for “widow.”

Madame Clicquot was such a character. After becoming the first woman to run a Champagne house at the tender age of 27, she created what has since became known as the first recorded “vintage Champagne” in history. Madame Clicquot is particularly famous for breaking the continental embargo that prevented trade with Russia during the Napoleonic Wars, by shipping 10,550 bottles of Veuve Clicquot to the realm of the Tsars in 1814.

Invention of the riddling table

However the widow’s greatest achievement was the invention of the riddling table in 1816. Prior to this date, Champagne was cloudy because there was no way to remove the lees (dead yeast) that built up during its unique double fermentation process.

The problem was that it was almost impossible to remove the lees without sacrificing a large portion of Champagne. The invention of the riddling table changed this; it allowed Champagne producers to remove the lees without losing too much liquid to create crystal clear wine in a process called “disgorgement.” A moderated version of this process continues to be used to this day.

Try the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin 1998

In conclusion, when you purchase a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, you buy a bottle that’s the product of one of the greatest minds in wine history. You can taste Madame Clicquot’s genius in every drop. If you want to see what we mean, why don’t you try the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin 1998, which you can buy for only £112 from the Ideal Wine Company today; it’ll blow you away. 

When Can You Add Ice to Wine?

There’s nothing better than an ice-cold drink on a scorching hot day. With summer just around the corner, the Ideal Wine Company felt inspired to ask; when can you add ice to wine?

Striking a balance

You need to be very careful when you pair something with wine. The wrong match can offset the subtle balance of flavours that characterise this complex drink and ruin your favourite vintage.

Let’s take the popular pairing of wine and cheese as an example. There are certain rules you should follow when pairing wine with cheese if you want to ensure the vintage in question is cast in the best light. One rule, for instance, demands that you contrast salty with sweet; the saltier the cheese, the sweeter the wine needs to be to make a good match.

Follow storage guidelines

We can apply the same logic to pairing ice and wine. You should always think about how a particular match will affect the flavours of the wine, so you should keep in mind when using ice that it melts, watering down the power of your chosen bottle.

Apart from this, we would say that there are some instances where it’s OK to pair ice with wine; where doing so can even enhance the flavour of your drink. Use the Ideal Wine Company’s guidelines for storing wine as a rule of thumb. You’re supposed to chill white and rose, but you should store red somewhere warm. Translation; you can add ice to a white or a rose (especially for a spritzer), but you should never couple it with red, as the result would offend your taste buds.

Social conventions

There’s one final element we need to discuss here; wine snobbery. There are certain social conventions that have developed over time to govern how people drink wine and this has created an elitist attitude towards what is an acceptable match for the world’s oldest tipple. These conventions abhor the pairing of ice with wine.

Personal preference

Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference. If you feel like plonking a few ice cubes into your glass of dry white go ahead. However we would advise you to refrain from pairing ice with reds such as the Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1978. You should also remember that people may look at you a little strangely if you add blocks of frozen water to wine; it’s simply not done. 

Would You Like a Burger with Your Wine?

Two businesses in Cheltenham recently challenged an established myth by holding an event to find the best way to pair burgers and wine. Here at the Ideal Wine Company, we thought it was a fabulous idea!

The rise of the fancy burger bar

You don’t often hear the words ‘”wine” and “burger” in the same sentence. The latter immediately conjures up images of a late night takeaway. The range of fare produced at fast food burger joints doesn’t exactly act as the perfect complement to the types of products you’ll find on the Ideal Wine Company product list.

But the classic American dietary staple has recently been the focus of an image overhaul. Fancy burger bars are careening rapidly into vogue and the patties they create are succulent, flavourful and delicious. As such, people are starting to realise that burgers can be paired with wine, as long as the quality of the burger matches the quality of the wine it’s paired with.

The best burger/wine pairing

Two businesses in Cheltenham decided to capitalise on the trend. The Gloucester Echo reported that fancy burger bar Real Burger and classic wine bar The Grape Escape decided to join together to hold an event to find the best wine/burger pairing in all of Cheltenham.

The event was held on Saturday 6^th June and was a roaring success. Gloucestershire locals were able to choose from the full range of Real Burger’s menu and have their chosen meal delivered to The Grape Escape. When their dish arrived they could choose from the latter’s specially selected wine list, which featured vintages that the owners of both establishments believed would be the perfect complement for a nice, juicy burger.

Get experimental

Here at the Ideal Wine Company we love it when people get experimental with wine. Often it can produce revelations that introduce unlikely yet fabulous new wine pairings to the world.

Why don’t you follow the example of these two Gloucestershire businesses and start experimenting for yourself? We’d suggest you begin by grilling a meaty burger and pairing it with a Gevrey Chambertin Clos St Jacques 2000 from the Ideal Wine Company. 

Wine is Becoming More Popular With Millennials

A recent article on Business Insider pointed out something we’ve known for quite a while here at the Ideal Wine Company; wine is becoming more popular with millennials.

The typical wine drinker

What immediately comes to mind when you picture the typical wine drinker? Is it a sophisticated middle aged professional? That’s the stereotype that has been championed by popular culture for decades.

That’s why a majority of people wouldn’t think of somebody between the ages of 21 and 34; a millennial, when they’re asked to picture the typical wine drinker. The common perception is that younger people, professionals with less income than their older counterparts, prefer cheaper fare such as beer and cider.

Millennials desert beer for wine

Once upon a time this may have been true, but Business Insider recently pointed out that times are changing. Millennials are deserting beer in astonishing numbers in favour of wine and spirits.

The article cited a survey carried out by Budweiser in the US which asked millennials what their favourite alcoholic beverage was to support their case. In 2012, 33.0% said beer, whilst in 2015 this number had dropped to 27.4%. Analysts noted that "overall beer consumption trends remain weak, and it appears millennials are increasingly turning to other alcoholic beverages."

Millennials drink more wine than their parents

But how do we know that its wine they’re turning to instead of beer? We have statistics to support our case! US wine consumption figures show that whilst people over the age of 55 are still the biggest drinkers of wine at 41% of total volume, millennials consume 25.7% of total wine volume in the country. This is double the volume of wine, 13%, consumed by their parents when they were in their twenties or early thirties.

What we also found fascinating is why millennials are turning to wine. Statistics cited by Medic Daily show that 83% of millennial wine drinkers in the States said that they decided to start championing the tipple because of its taste.

Millennials have good taste

If this Business Insider has made anything clear it’s that millennials have good taste. Wine such as the Chateau La Conseillante 2007 from the Ideal Wine Company are rich, complex drinks with a thousand subtle notes, which is why we’re not surprised that they’re becoming more popular with the younger generation. 

How to Make a Sidecar

Do you have a bottle of cognac lying at the back of the cupboard? If so read on, as this week the Ideal Wine Company lets you know how to make a sidecar.

We do more than just wine

The Ideal Wine Company is a firm which is dedicated to supplying you with a range of luxurious wines from around the world at prices you can actually afford.

Yet we specialise in luxury tipples and as such there’s more to be found than just wine on the Ideal Wine Company product list. You can also find a range of decadent cognacs such as Remy Martin, Delamain and Claude Thorin for prices destined to leave nothing more than a light dent on your bottom line.

Get creative with your bottle of first-rate cognac

But what should you do once you’ve purchased your bottle of first-rate cognac? Obviously, you may want to drink it neat however if you’re the kind of person who likes to get creative with their after-work nightcap we’d suggest you use it to craft a delicious cocktail.

Cognac is a key component in a range of cocktails including the Sidecar. Invented roughly around the end of World War One, the Sidecar is a classic cocktail which combines cognac, triple sec and lemon juice to lend any party a touch of 1920’s glamour.

Guide to making a Sidecar

So if you want to use your bottle of mouth-watering cognac to provide festivities with an air of flapper culture the next time you throw a party, it might be a good idea to learn how to make a Sidecar. Luckily it’s a pretty easy drink to make…

·       Gather together 5cl of Cognac, 2cl of triple sec and 2cl of lemon juice. 

·        Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker.

·        Fill with ice and shake vigorously for one to two minutes 

·        Strain and pour into a cocktail glass.

Give your guests the shindig to end all shindigs!

Voila. It really is as simple as that. Follow these instructions and you can use any bottle of the finest cognac from the Ideal Wine Company to craft a cocktail your guests are destined to love the next time you decide to throw the shindig to end all shindigs!

Five Must-Know Facts about Rhone Wine

If you want to learn more about one of the most prestigious wine making traditions in the world stick around. This week the Ideal Wine Company reveals five must-know facts about Rhone wine.

You Have to Try a Rhone at Some Point in Your Life

Because we’re dedicated to providing you with fine wines from around the world here at the Ideal Wine Company, we had to include vintages from the French region of Rhone on our product list.

It may not be Champagne or Bordeaux, but the South-French region of Rhone has a robust wine-making tradition that goes back as far as before the time of Christ. The region is known for its stellar medium bodied reds which every wine enthusiast needs to take the time to try at some point in their lives.

Five Things You May be Interested to Learn about Rhone Wine Making

Introduce yourself to this proud wine making tradition right now. Check out the following five fascinating facts about Rhone wine…

1)     Its Production Began a Really Long Time Ago: No one knows exactly when viticulture was first introduced to this famously hot French region, but we do know it was a really long time ago. Experts suggest that wine making first came to the Rhone as far back as the 3^rd or 4^th Century B.C.

2)     Its Reds are Out of This World: You can find a decent white from the Rhone but the region is most known for the quality of the reds produced in its vineyards. Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre are the most common red grapes grown in the Southern French region.

3)     It’s Really Popular: Statistics show that 400 million bottles of Rhone Valley AOC vintages were sold in 159 countries around the world in 2012-2013 alone. Considering the fact that someone on this plant enjoys a bottle of Rhone every 13 seconds, it must be pretty popular!

4)      It’s Really Loved by the Americans: As if you needed any more evidence to suggest that our cousins across the pond love a little Vino! The States is the number one export market for Rhone Valley AOC wines, spending a colossal 85.7 million euros on the tipple!

5)      It’s Got a Lot of Flavour: Wines from the Rhone are known for their complex array of dazzling flavours that make each sip as compelling as a glass of the finest Bordeaux. Common flavours include dark fruit, herbs, coffee, and earth.

Buy the Hermitage La Chapelle 1985

In other words you get quality, complexity and a rich wine drinking experience when you buy a luxury vintage from the outstanding French wine making region of Rhone. Try one out for yourself and buy a bottle of Hermitage La Chapelle 1985, a classic Rhone vintage, from the Ideal Wine Company today.

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.