Appellations

Articles in this section

• Who or what is hiding behind the name “Vin de France”? #wine

  21 March 2016, by Sebastian Nickel

  The name “Vin de France” (VDF) was created as part of a reform of the European wine market in 2009. It replaces the traditional designation “Vin de Table” (table wine). One also designates VDF as VSIG - Vin Sans Geographical Indication (wine without geographic origin). All French wines that are not produced under an AOP (Appellation d’Origine protégée) or IGP (Indication Géographique protégée) label, are therefore by definition a Vin de France.
  It’s a relatively ungrateful wine category. Although it (...)

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• #Champagner – the Devil’s #wine...

  28 March 2015, by Sebastian Nickel

  Wine from Champagne becomes popular at the French and the English court during the XVII. Century. At this time the wines are without any bubbles and sometimes red.
  Rather light and poorly structured, their storage in oak barrels doesn’t always work out as desired. A major dilemma for the wine growers. Fortunately, the British diplomat Sir Kenelm Digby invents the wine glass bottle in 1632. A great relief for the winemakers, who trust cork sealed glass bottles for wine storage rather than (...)

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• #RASTEAU - THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT OF THE SOUTH #RHÔNE #WINE

  16 January 2015, by Sebastian Nickel

  “A Cru of generous spirit” that is what RASTEAU says of RASTEAU. At least since 2010, the year of birth of this 8^th Cru of the southern Rhone Valley (“Cru” being the highest classification of an AOC in the Rhône), previously classified as Côtes du Rhône Villages. GRENACHE reigns in RASTEAU (assisted by SYRAH and MOURVÈDRE, but also by the “little helpers” like CARIGNAN, COUNOISE, and many others), laying the foundation for sumptuous dry red wines, as well as seductive and intriguing natural sweet (...)

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