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BKWine TV: [E,F] Truffle hunting - the black diamond

>> Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Truffle hunting with a dog (or a pig) is a very special experience. The black Perigord truffle, Tuber Melanosporum, The Black Diamond, hides in the ground and only a trained dog (or more rarely, a pig) can find it - one of the rarest gastronomic delicacies, used in small quantities in luxury cuisine.

This is a clip from one of our truffle hunting tours where we go looking for truffles in Perigord, in Provence or in the Rhone Valley. The truffle master also explains the different qualities of the truffle and what makes a good one.

Come join us for a truffles experience! Visit our website: http://www.bkwine.com

Découvrez ce visite d'une truffière ou nous partons dans le foret de truffe avec le chien (aujourd'hui rarement avec un cochon) pour chercher ce diamant noir.

By BKWine, http://www.bkwine.com

Se all our wine videos on our channel: http://www.youtube.com/bkwine



Join us on the upcoming Truffles, Foie Gras and Wine Tour for a really unique truffle hunting and gourmet experience. More info here!

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The great tasting in Paris…

Le Grand Tasting they call it… It is a big wine fair and, yes, tasting that is open to both the public and professionals and will take place this year on November 21 and 22 at the Caroussel du Louvre in Paris. Numerous quality wine producers from all over France will participate and this year there will also be representatives from Italy and from Spain. More info www.grandtasting.com and www.bvizioz.com.


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Something ‘nouveau’ in the Muscat?

Since 2006 a Muscat de Noel (Christmas Muscat wine) is launched just in time to be enjoyed around the Christmas tables. From this year it will be a special designation available to wines within the AOC Muscat de Rivesaltes provided they comply with the requirements: being a primeur wine and bottled before December 1 following the harvest. It will certainly go better than a Beaujolais with the sweets on the Christmas table. More info: www.muscatdenoel.fr


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BKWine TV: [F] Chateau Tour des Gendres

>> Monday, September 29, 2008

Interview with Francis de Conti owner of the property together with his cousins Luc and Jean de Conti.

Tour des Gendres has 55 hectares of vineyards and is situated in the Appellation Bergerac.

Planted with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon & Franc and Malbec red grape varieties. White grapes are Sauvignon, Semillon and Muscadelle.

They make dry white and red as well as some sweet white wines. Cuvées: Classique to Anthologia, the top cuvee.

Cuvées : Gloire de mon Père, Moulin des Dames, Anthologia

They do a lot of experiments to develop the winemaking, for example: they were an early adopter of fermentation on the lees for the whites; microoxygenation (micro-oxidation), organic (biologique) farming, and now also experiments with biodynamic (to try and give more vigour to some weak parcels).

Language is French.

Entretien avec le vigneron Francis de Conti, l'un des propriétaires du Château Tour des Gendres.

http://www.chateautourdesgendres.com/

By BKWine, http://www.bkwine.com

Se all our wine videos on our channel: http://www.youtube.com/bkwine



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Best French sommelier competition on November 9 & 10 in Perpignan

The finals for the Best French Sommelier competition will this year take place in Perpignan, hosted by the Wines of Roussillon. 12 candidates, double up from the last issue of the competition in 2006 will for the trophy this year. More info from the CIVR or ABCommunication.


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Mediterranean meeting for muscat with pudding promotion

Excuse us the heading – it is question of the third annual rencontres for Muscat VDN wines (vins doux naturels) together with the ‘Le Roussillon Dessert Trophy’ that will take place in Perpignan on January 31 to February 2, 2009 in Roussillon. It is an occasion for professionals, for wine buyers, and for the public to meet the VDN winemakers and taste many of their wines. The Dessert Trophy features the best VDN wine and sweets combinations and the finals will take place in the famous international patisserie school of Olivier Bajard. More info www.vinsduroussillon.com


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The harvest has started in Bordeaux

The harvest will be later than usual this year, due to the cool summer. But the ‘ceuillette’ for the white wines has already started. For example, at Chateau Carbonnieux, a winery in Pessac-Léognan / Graves that makes both red and white wine, the picking of the sauvignon blanc grapes commenced on September 5. But they don’t expect to start the red grape harvest until the beginning of September.


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Budget Travel features Britt/BKWine: travel tips and Bergerac

In the August issue of Budget Travel, an American travel magazine, they have an article featuring the ten best travel tips for a wine tour traveller – based on an interview with Britt (that hardly needs any further presentation here). You can read the article here: www.budgettravel.com

In the same issue they also have an article about one of Britt’s “hidden gems”, a destination that is not so well know but definitely worth discovering: Bergerac in the south-west of France, with plenty of good food and excellent wine. Read the article here www.budgettravel.com. And that’s also a region where you find the famous black Perigord truffles that you can discover on BKWines Truffle Hunting Tour in February! http://www.bkwine.com/wine_tours/wine_tours.htm


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BKWine TV: Chateau Petrus - A visual visit

>> Wednesday, September 24, 2008

This is how Chateau Petrus in Pomerol, Bordeaux, looks.

By BKWine, http://www.bkwine.com

Se all our wine videos on our channel: http://www.youtube.com/bkwine



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The CEO of Systembolaget, the Swedish monopoly, to resign

Anitra Steen has announced her resignation, well in advance of May 2009, which is the date she has set for the end of her term as CEO of the Swedish monopoly wine and spirits retailer Systembolaget AB. At that date she will have been in charge of the company for 10 years and will celebrate her 60th birthday. 60 years is also the obligatory retirement age for a CEO at the company.


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Robert Parker likes Austrian wines

In the latest versions of eRobertParker David Schildknecht (one of Parker’s collaborators) rates and comments on Austrian wines. Of the 500 wines that are covered just over 200 are rated as “outstanding” (i.e. gets more than 90 points). All wines are from the 2006 vintage. Schildknecht especially likes the Blaufränkisch wines. www.weinausoesterreich.at and www.erobertparker.com


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New wine videos

We have published four new wine videos on BKWine TV, our channel on YouTube. Did you know that you can subscribe to the new videos we publish? Just click on ‘subscribe’ on YouTube and you will receive an email each time there’s a new video online. And we’re particularly glad if you take the time to write a comment on one of our videos or give it a rating. Here are the new clips:

- Chateau Petrus, a visual visit
- Chateau Tour des Gendres in Bergerac
- Truffle hunting with a truffle dog in the Bergerac (perhaps it will tickle your taste buds and make you join our truffles hunting tour in February…)
- Domaine de l’Ancienne Cure in Bergerac and Monbazillac
.




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Launch of spring wine tour program 2009

bf17-403-0396BKWine has launched the spring program 2009 with two new wine and food tours. The destinations include Périgord (with truffles, duck and wine), and the wins and food of the Alentejo in Portugal. The detailed programs are available on www.bkwine.com. “The trend towards active holidays seems to continue” says Britt Karlsson, founder of BKWine, “so I think that the two spring tours will fill up quickly”. Britt continues: “I am particularly happy that travellers have started to discover that springtime is also a good time for wine and food travel. There’s no harvest, of course, but there are plenty of things happening in the wine cellars. Plus summer is approaching with brighter evenings and warmer weather”.

The two tours on the spring program are both classics:

- Truffles, foie gras and wine in the Périgord (south-west France), including a real truffle hunt, a half day cooking workshop with duck and foie gras, and wine of course, February 11-15
- The Alentejo in Portugal, a wine region that is on the forefront of the modern winemaking in Portugal, with gourmet specialities like the pata negra ham, March 25-29


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BKWine Pick: Domaine Roc des Anges, Côtes de Roussillon

>> Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Marjorie Gallet was only 23 when she in 2001, without a penny in her pocket, decided to settle in Roussillon to become winegrower. She had an opportunity to buy an old property of 10 ha thirty kilometres north of Perpignan and has added some land since so she now has 20 ha. But she only makes 45,000 bottles each year since her yields are miniscule, not more than 16 hl/ha. This is, she says, because the vines are old and the soil is very poor, and the climate is hot and very windy. Perhaps we need to add to that her ambition to make very concentrated and well constructed wines? Try for instance the Roc des Anges 2006 Segna de Cor. A full-bodied, powerful wine but that retains a lot of fruit mixed with aromas of chocolate, tobacco, leather and ripe grapes.

Click here for address and more recommendations.


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BKWine Pick: Domaine Coume del Mas, Collioure

Coume del Mas is close to the village Cousprou, between Collioure and Banyuls. The soil is poor, dominated by slate that gives a strong backbone and fresh acidity to the wines. The main grape variety is Grenache. The property is built up of many small plots acquired over the last ten years by the owner Philippe Gard. Some are close to the sea; others are at 300 m altitude inland, facing east. Here the climate is a bit cooler than by the sea, especially at night. But even the plots close to the sea get a bit of freshness from the sea breezes. The yields are low, very low – only 10 to 15 hl/ha! The wines are, of course, concentrated.

Click here for address and more recommendations.


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Spring 2009 program

>> Monday, September 22, 2008

Spring 2009 program

February 11-15: Truffle, wine, duck and foie gras in the south west of France

an18-327-2722Have you always dreamed of going truffle hunting? Now you have the opportunity. Join us in February on this trip to the south west of France – le Sud-Ouest. We truffle hunt, learn how to make foie gras and, of course, taste a lot of good wines too.
More info on this wine tour with truffles and duck!

March 25-29: Alentejo in Portugal, one of the most exciting and modern Portuguese wine regions

bf17-403-0396In Portugal you find tradition and innovation side by side. Many of the wineries are recent and with leading edge technology, but that does not prevent them from sometimes treading the grapes by foot. The traditional style of Portuguese wines has been generally replaced by a decidedly modern winemaking style. The best producers build on tradition, e.g. by using Portuguese grape varieties, and use modern technology to make fruity and very drinkable wines, and certainly some very high quality cuvees. More info on this wine tour to Alentejo in Portugal!


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Two new wine tours from BKWine - launch of spring travel program 2009

Press release

Two new wine tours from BKWine - launch of spring travel program 2009

The specialist tour organiser BKWine has launched the spring program 2009 with two new wine and food tours. The destinations include Périgord (with truffles, duck and wine), and the wins and food of the Alentejo in Portugal. The detailed programs are available on www.bkwine.com.

“The trend towards active holidays seems to continue” says Britt Karlsson, founder of BKWine, “so I think that the two spring tours will fill up quickly”. Britt continues: “I am particularly happy that travellers have started to discover that springtime is also a good time for wine and food travel. There’s no harvest, of course, but there are plenty of things happening in the wine cellars. Plus summer is approaching with brighter evenings and warmer weather”.

The two tours on the spring program are both classics:

- Truffles, foie gras and wine in the Périgord (south-west France), including a real truffle hunt, a half day cooking workshop with duck and foie gras, and wine of course, February 11-15

- The Alentejo in Portugal, a wine region that is on the forefront of the modern winemaking in Portugal, with gourmet specialities like the pata negra ham, March 25-29

The tours are organised by Britt Karlsson, founder of BKWine and one of Europe’s most active organisers of specialists wine and gastronomy tours. Each tours is scheduled around a long week-end, starting Wednesday evening and ending on Sunday morning, giving travellers the opportunity to combine it with other activities – golf, culture, shopping or other things. The three days with BKWine as filled with winery visits and food events. All tours are led by Britt herself.

Britt summarizes her philosophy with her tours: “I want the travellers to have a unique experience that will stay with them for a long time after coming home. At the same time I hope they come home knowing a bit more about the wines and food of the places we visit, so there’s definitely an educational part. But most importantly I want to share some of my enthusiasm for the wine, for the food and for the regions we visit”.

BKWine is a tour organiser that focuses solely on wine and gastronomic travel. Over the years the company has organised more than two hundred wine tours to France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Germany and Austria. BKWine also arranges custom designed tours.

For more information on the wine tours: http://www.bkwine.com/wine_tours/wine_tours.htm, contact: Britt Karlsson, info@bkwine.com, ph +33 6 80 45 35 70.

- - - - - - - - -

More information:
- About the Wine Tours: http://www.bkwine.com/wine_tours/wine_tours.htm
- About BKWine: http://www.bkwine.com/international/about_bkwine.htm
- Press photos: http://www.bkwine.com/diverse/press.htm (Additional press photos from our 20.000 picture library are available on request)

Press contact:
- Britt Karlsson, ph 00 33 6 80 45 35 70, info@bkwine.com
- Per Karlsson, ph 00 33 6 83 51 12 53, info@bkwine.com

About BKWine AB:
51, rue du Chevalier de la Barre, F-92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux (Paris), France, 00 33 6 80 45 35 70, info@bkwine.com, http://www.bkwine.com

BKWine AB is managed by Britt Karlsson, a Swede living in Paris. She is one of the few Swedes working internationally with wine education and wine journalism and is also a very experienced organiser of wine tours. She started her business in the early 1990s. Since 1995 she publishes a private newsletter called "VinNytt" with articles on wine. The same year she launched one of the first wine web sites: www.bkwine.com, which is now bilingual (English-Swedish). She also publishes an email newsletter - the BKWine Brief - which in a short time has grown to become one of the most wide spread newsletters on wine. "The Brief" is available in English and Swedish - for free. Britt is completely independent of wine producers and of the wine trade. She is a member of the British Circle of Wine Writers, the International Wine and Food Society and numerous other wine and gastronomic organisations.


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Welcome to the BKWine Brief nr 62, September 2008

>> Wednesday, September 17, 2008

It will be an interesting harvest this year. The weather have been playing hide-and-seek with many winegrowers in France, putting various sticks in the wheels. I just returned from the Rhône Valley where during one morning last week they had so much rain that many cellars flooded. Now they need some dry weather and wind to dry up the grapes. Added to their woes were hailstorms in June that in some places destroyed 30% of the harvest, and some problems with mildew. Plus an exceptionally cold August. Not easy to be a winegrower in the northern Rhône Valley this year.

In Alsace growers seem quite happy though. In Bordeaux, with a cool summer, the harvest will be 2 or 3 weeks late, but the weather outlook looks good with stable weather until the harvest and even some warmer temperatures – so there is hope. In Champagne they’ve also had a cool summer and expect a late and not very big harvest. Further south the picture is quite different: hot and dry, sometimes even very dry, bordering on a draught. Read more in our short harvest notes further down.

In Italy, where we also were last week, they have had (at least in Tuscany) an exceptionally hot summer and the grapes were small and very sweet. The excessive heat they have had almost gives you the impression that the weather gods are on edge, and sometimes it flips over – in several places across Tuscany (Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano) they have had hail storms that have caused damage in the vineyards. At Poliziano in Montepulciano for example they told us that one of their vineyards that this year celebrates 25 years since plantation, hail struck and destroyed virtually all the grapes. Not much of a birthday celebration there… The Tuscan harvest has just started in places ripening early but most areas will wait another week or two. The day before we left we had a terrible thunderstorm and pouring rain (over most of Tuscany) but it seems to be a one off thing – for the rest of the harvest the outlook looks better and the short burst of rain should not make much damage since grapes were very healthy. We will have to wait and see.

Over the coming weeks we will continue around the wine districts – Alsace, Burgundy, Champagne, Veneto, Portugal… - so we will no doubt be back with more reports.

And if this makes you tempted to go visit some vineyards we have just launched the spring 2009 wine tour program. I can promise you some excellent wines and some really tempting food. The first trip takes you to the French South-West, the Périgord, where we will go truffle hunting, learn how to cook duck and of course visit some of the region’s top wine producers. This is followed by Portugal, where you can meet spring in a lush and green Alentejo and enjoy the new-wave Portuguese wines and their specialities, e.g. the pata negra ham…

Britt

PS: Recommend to your friends to read the Brief or forward it to them !

Read all of the BKWine Brief here!



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