DAN'S WINE BLOG

Friday, February 17, 2023

?BUBBLING UP TO THE TOP!:?Following on from last week’s item on Champagne, comes the news that the House of Arras Museum Release Blanc de Blanc 2001 has just been awarded “World Championship Library Vintage” at the “Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships 2022” (Wow, that’s a mouthful!) and what an awesome honour. This is the very first time ever that the trophy has been awarded to a sparkling wine made outside of Champagne!!! How awesome is that? Congratulations to Ed and the crew!!!

?Tasmanian House of Arras lead by the incomparable Ed Carr has been making Australia’s best sparkling wines for many, many years. I can still clearly recall the sheer joy of enjoying the House of Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged 2003 at the 2016 Effervescence Sparkling Wine Festival welcome dinner, such a memorable and brilliant wine. Every single House of Arras sparkling I have ever tasted has been a delightful wine.

?I would argue that this track record puts Ed Carr right up there alongside the likes of Maurice O’Shea, Colin Preece, Max Schubert, Brian Croser, John Vickery, et al as the greatest ever Australian winemakers.

?JUST ONE MORE TO ADD TO THE LIST: ?When Jancis Robinson, et al wrote “Wine Grapes” in 2012, they identified 1,368 distinct grape varieties that were used for making wine. Since then there has not been a season go by without the announcement of another (or several) new varieties specifically bred for one purpose or another. It is usually to have more/better mould resistance so as to reduce the need for chemical sprays such as the PIWI varieties (see link below for my Blog, “Environmental Issue”, 16/12/2022).

?Well, ironically in these days of global warming, viticulturists in the USA have developed a new variety that they are calling, “Clarion”, which is the sixth variety that they have developed to better survive and perform in cold climate. Clarion is a white grape variety – they do not mention its parentage in the report, which according to their (University of Minnesota) trials has a flavour profile comparable to “Southern Hemisphere Sauvignon Blanc”.

?Blog Link:?https://www.wineassist.com.au/dans-blog/environmental-issue

?INDIA:?A recent article in Drinks Trade lauded the opportunities for Australian wine in India because we had a Trade Agreement set up well before Europe or any other wine producing countries (see link below).

?It said: “Under the agreement, Australian wine priced at US$15 per bottle or more has had the 150 per cent tariff reduced to 75 per cent. This will reduce annually over 10 years with a final tariff rate of 25 per cent. Mid-range Australian wines also benefit. Tariffs on wine priced between US$15-15 have fallen to 100 per cent and will decrease to 50 per cent after 10 years.”

?Sounds good BUT the reality is that much of our wine is exported at under AU$5 FOB a bottle (no change) such as the No.1 selling wine in India, which is Jacobs Creek – approximately 50-60,000 cases a year (about the same as they sell to Fiji). So no benefit for our commercial wines, only the premium and ubber expensive.?Given the average income of the middle-class in India, this will not help to open up the market to new wine drinkers.?All it will do will be to switch a few/some people currently drinking European wine over to Aussie wine.

?So in no way will India be a panacea for China, for the Australian wine industry. I would venture to suggest that you would have better export prospects focusing on Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and even possibly, Indonesia, than on India.

?Well, I will dismount my soap box and wish you a great week. Please #chooseaustralianwine and when possible try #emergingvarieties.?Cheers, Dan T.

?Article Link: https://www.drinkstrade.com.au/popping-the-cork-on-indias-wine-market