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1 month ago | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
by Valeria TenisonMarch has been full of tension and uncertainty for the French wine and spirits industry. The recent announcement by Donald Trump of a potential 200% tariff increase on European imports to the U.S. has sent shockwaves through the sector.
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2 months ago | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
According to data from the French customs authorities, Bordeaux recorded its smallest harvest since 1991 in 2024, with production dropping 14% to 3.3 million hectolitres. This decline was driven by vineyard uprooting and weather-related challenges, including frost, heavy spring rains leading to mildew, and poor flowering. The vineyard area shrank to 95,000 hectares, its lowest level since 1985.
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2 months ago | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
by Valeria TenisonThe final week of January 2025 has been marked by the shocking news of the death of former Bordeaux mayor Nicolas Florian, at the age of just 55, following a stroke. Florian was the successor of longterm mayor Alain Juppé, taking over from him as mayor of the city from 2019 when Juppé headed up to Paris to join the Conseil Constitutionnel.
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
by Valeria TenisonThe footprint of Bordeaux’s vineyard area is expected to fall below 100,000 hectares (ha) by the end of 2024. This decline follows years of difficulties, including the implementation of a vine pull-out programme. As of 2023, the vineyard covers 103,000ha, down from 115,000ha in 2019, and by the end of 2024, the area is predicted to shrink further. The Bordeaux vine removal plan, offering compensation of €6,000 per hectare, aims to address overproduction and sustainability issues.
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Oct 29, 2024 | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
by Valeria TenisonThe Sauternes harvest has now drawn to a close in Bordeaux, with most picking going on well into the second half of October. Although harvesters needed patience, in the end most estates saw an excellent final wave of botrytis cinerea or noble rot. Harvest at Château Coutet, as an example, began September 19 and concluded on October 24 for a total of 21 days of picking over the course of six weeks.
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Sep 23, 2024 | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
by Valeria TenisonThe 2024 harvest in Bordeaux began in late August with the grapes for crémants, followed by white grapes at the beginning of September and red grape harvest at the fourth week of the month. ‘The harvest will be small due to the deliberate reduction in the area under vine – 103,000 hectares last year – and damage caused by rain-related diseases, according to the Bordeaux Wine Trade Council (CIVB).
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Jul 22, 2024 | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
by Valeria TenisonEven though most of France clocks off for July, there’s still plenty of wine news in Bordeaux – particularly as the growing season in 2024 continues to provide challenges. On July 11, the vineyards of Bordeaux were struck by a severe hailstorm, with hailstones the size of golf balls causing extensive damage, particularly in the Sauveterre region to the south of Entre-deux-Mers.
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Mar 26, 2024 | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
by Valeria TenisonSpring is in full swing in Bordeaux, and due to the warm temperatures in the second part of the month, many vineyards have already seen the first buds of the 2024 vintage. Overall, March has been a busy month for the local wine industry, full of political and legal drama. The sale of Château Beauséjour for €72 million has landed SAFER (Société d’Aménagement Foncier et d’Établissement Rural) in hot water.
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Jan 23, 2024 | 
janeanson.com | Valeria Tenison |Jane Anson
by Valeria TenisonA busy month of wine news, starting off with the growth of no and low wine in Bordeaux – even if it can’t be bottled under that name. A significant milestone in the Bordeaux wine landscape comes with the first alcohol-free Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Zero by Edmus.
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Oct 25, 2023 | 
vinorandum.com | Valeria Tenison |Paul Caputo
Authors ▸ Valeria Tenison Russian-born, Valeria has lived and worked in eight countries of Europe and Asia. She started her career in wine in 2009, having obtained a sommelier diploma in Saint-Petersburg, later adding to that a WSET 3 certificate and lately a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador title. She was the winner of the 2018 Best Female Sommelier of Russia and a runner-up in Ruinart Sommelier Challenge France 2019. Based now in Bordeaux, she works as a sommelier at an Italian 1* Michelin...
