Thursday 31 December 2015

# BURGUNDIAN WINE GRAPES MAIN REGIONS

Wednesday 30 December 2015

WHAT IS BURGUNDY FAMOUS FOR?

Monday 28 December 2015

France’s UNESCO Sites: Why Should Wine Investors Care? – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

France’s UNESCO Sites: Why Should Wine Investors Care?

• Fine Wine Blog • UNESCO Bordeaux • UNESCO Burgundy • UNESCO Champagne • UNESCO Sites

The World Heritage designation is directed by UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations and the manager of its UNESCO sites. This status is awarded to areas of cultural and natural significance that are of crucial value to worldwide history.
The official UNESCO site designation increases international interest in any site, and has the potential to increase tourism while also possibly helping the area earn funding for preservation.

UNESCO Sites In France

France is home to over 41 UNESCO sites on the World Heritage List, four of which are wine-making regions. Saint Emilion and Port of the Moon are both located within the Bordeaux region, while the regions of Champagne and part of Burgundy have only recently been granted the award.
The recognition is greatly deserved by all of the awarded regions, and will help them better preserve for posterity. Additional effects such as increased tourism and a heightened interest toward the UNESCO regions’ wines result in increased value over time – which should be of interest to any wine enthusiast who considers investing.

1. UNESCO Site: Bordeaux

Bordeaux has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Port of the Moon (Bordeaux’s port city) and also Saint Emilion, a village in the true heart of the Bordeaux area.
The Port of the Moon is a historic city with amazing architecture from the age of the enlightenment. This city has more historically protected buildings than any other city in France except for Paris. It is recognized for its history spanning over 2000 years of cultural exchange and commerce, including as a capital city for world famous wine production.
Saint Emilion – the second UNESCO site in Bordeaux – is a small, pretty village in the center of the wine region. It is home to world class wine, excellent wineries, and beautiful architecture. It also boasts over 2000 years of history, with an important focus on world-class fine wine.

2. UNESCO Site: Burgundy

One of the most recently designated UNESCO sites, the wine-making region of Burgundy, was recognized for its grape cultivation and production.
The Climats (vineyards) on the side of the Cote de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune (south of the city of Dijon) are the areas specifically recognized for preservation and recognition.
UNESCO states that "the site is an outstanding example of grape cultivation and wine production developed since the High Middle Ages.” A great example of a world-class wine region with a long history of innovation, Burgundy is a worthy addition to the world’s officially designated UNESCO sites.

3. UNESCO Site: Champagne

Along with Burgundy, the region of Champagne (where our favourite bubbly is produced) was very recently announced as a World Heritage Site.
Its innovative production method was developed in the early 17th century and industrialized throughout the 19th century – a strong reason for UNESCO to recognize its cultural and historical significance.
The area includes production locations, cellars, champagne houses, and the vineyards of the Hautvilliers, Ay, Mareuil-sur-Ay, Saint-Nicaise Hill, the Avenue de Champagne, and Fort Chabrol.
UNESCO’s official designation of Champagne as a new UNESCO site states “the property bears clear testimony to the development of a very specialized artisan activity that has become an agro-industrial enterprise” – one that has come to be known and loved worldwide, we might add.

Investment Value of the UNESCO Status

Tourism in the UNESCO designated wine regions is expected to grow, as interest in World Heritage sites strengthens worldwide. Heightened attention (and free advertising) toward the regions is also likely to increase demand for their wines, which would naturally result in the appreciation of the tangible asset.
This may create an excellent opportunity for savvy wine investors. If you’re looking for high quality wine from these regions, the best place to look is our online wine shop – where a wide selection of the world’s finest is a few clicks away from arriving at your doorstep.
If you need help making the most informed decision when investing in Bordeaux, Burgundy, or Champagne, the skilled wine experts of Moncharm would be happy to assist. Please feel free to write us a quick message or give us a call for any queries you may have, and we will respond promptly.
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Monday 21 December 2015

Wine Serving Temperature: Store & Serve Fine Wine Like A Pro – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

Wine Serving Temperature: Store & Serve Fine Wine Like A Pro

July 30, 2015 • Fine Wine Blog • Wine Serving • Wine Storage • Wine Temperature

The temperature of your wine is extremely important for your final tasting experience. By keeping track of your wine's temperature during both storage and serving, you’ll ensure you enjoy that highly acclaimed label at its very best.

Wine Temperatures: Storage & Serving

An incorrect wine storage temperature can damage the wine irreparably. Storing the wine at a stable, ideal temperature (10-16C for reds, and a bit lower for whites) preserves its flavour and taste and will allow it to later be served at an optimal serving temperature.
The wine’s serving temperature affects its aromas, flavour, and taste at the moment of serving. A wine that is served too warm will taste alcoholic, while a wine that is served too cold will lose its flavour.
A properly stored wine also needs to be served at the best temperature for its characteristics, which will usually be different to its storage temperature.
In general a low quality wine is best served a bit cooler than average, while high quality fine wines such as those in our online wine shop are best served a bit warmer.
But what is the best wine serving temperature for the bottle you’re looking at right now? It will depend on the wine’s characteristics, and we discuss the ideal wine serving temperatures for each type of wine below.

Red Wine Serving Temperature

Rich red wines should be served a little cool, most usually between 17-21C. A good example is this Château Le Petit Cheval, 2010 as well as other high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. The high tannins of these wines do best and mellow at the warmer temperature.
Light red wines (such as Pinot Noir and Zinfandel) should be served cool, most usually between 12-17C. Light, fruity weds can be served cooler to be more refreshing, or a bit warmer to enhance the flavours.
To achieve the ideal temperature of light reds, it is suggested that the wine be placed in the fridge for approximately 30 minutes or less before serving.

White Wine Serving Temperature

White wines should be served refrigerator-cooled, from 7-14C. A good example is this Chateau d'Yquem, 2006 as well as other Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay wines. The lighter and zestier the white wine, the further on the cool end it should be served.
Oaked wines should be served a bit warmer. Full-bodied white wines should be served warmer to take advantage of their complexity and aroma range. Depending on the desired temperature, the wine should be placed in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours before serving.

Champagne Serving Temperature

Sparkling wines such as Champagne should be served ice cold, from 5-10C. A good example is this Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon, 2002 along with other Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava sparkling wines.
The chilling keeps bubbles fine and deliberate instead of frothy. To achieve this temperature, the champagne should be placed in the freezer for no more than 1 hour.

Last Minute Miracles

For urgent cases where you have less than an hour to prepare a wine that is not at the desired temperature, a few tips can save the day. The most important general rule is that if a wine tastes too alcoholic, it should be cooled. If there is not enough flavour, it should be warmed.
If a wine is too warm and needs to be cooled, it can be immersed in a bath of ice and cold water. A red wine should be submerged for 10 minutes, a white for approximately 20 minutes, and a bubbly for 30 minutes or up until serving.
If a wine is too cold, it can be decanted into a warmed container, or immersed for a brief moment in warm water. Take care not to heat the wine directly, as this can destroy it.
When serving your wine it is better to start with a temperature a bit lower than desired, as the wine will always be easier to warm up in the glass when a hand cups it, as opposed to the hard task of further cooling it down.

No Wine to Cool Down?

Take a moment to check out our online wine shop, where a range of the world’s best fine wines is literally at your fingertips – be it for serving, collection, or even investment.
If you have any other wine-related questions, our experts are here to help. Just write us a short message or give us a call – our team always responds promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Steven

Saturday 19 December 2015

5 Regions Wine Investors Should Look At. #2 Is Essential to a Strong P – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

5 Regions Wine Investors Should Look At. #2 Is Essential to a Strong Portfolio

Bordeaux Wine • Famous Wine Regions • Fine Wine Blog • Wine Investment

Less than 0.1% of the wine produced in the world is regarded as “investment grade.” In general, the most popular and sought after wines for investment are top Bordeaux and Grand Cru Burgundy – but there are several other regions on the rise that informed wine investors should keep an eye on.
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is rising in collectability, and certain fine wines from Rhone Valley and Tuscany are proven portfolio additions as well.
Like with any and all investments, information is what gives you the edge in achieving good ROI. With that in mind, we’ve put together this list of the best wine investment regions to give you a gateway into the world of wine investment.
With additional research and resulting informed decisions, wine from any of these 5 top wine regions can be turned profitable.

1. Burgundy

Some of the best and most popular wines around the world today, the best Burgundies of both red and white varietals fetch some of the highest prices at wine auctions.
Regularly dominating the Top 50 Most Expensive Wines (as seen here), Grand Cru and other Burgundy wines have high ROI to offer if purchased at opportune times.
The best Burgundies are made in the smallest quantities, and are quickly grabbed by smart investors, as they are sure to reappear on the market later at skyrocketing prices due to scarcity.

2. Bordeaux

Over 90% of all investment grade wine is produced in Bordeaux – making it a key, crucial component region to any wine investment portfolio.
Many traditional portfolios focus only on red Bordeaux from the best vintages, as they have a well-established secondary market and unsurpassable reputations for quality, consistency, and cellaring.
For example, the 2000 vintage of Bordeaux (see this Cheval Blanc, 2000) has seen some bottles quickly increase 4 and 5 fold in value, which was virtually unheard of previously in wine investment.
Bordeaux is the most traditional wine investment region, and offers the most security on future trading in wine, as there are known and consistent markets for it. Any proper portfolio will prioritize key vintages and vineyards of Bordeaux – of which you can read more about in this article on Moncharm.

3. Rhone Valley

While Burgundy and Bordeaux may generally outshine the other regions for investment wine in popularity, Rhone Valley does offer a few strong prospects that can reach the same prices.
Recommended wines from Napa that you should keep an eye on are the “La-La” wines: La Landonne, La Mouline, and La Turque. You can read more about various vintages from these Rhone wines, as well as other investment-grade wines from Rhone, in this article on Moncharm.

4. Tuscany

While Tuscan classics such as Brunellos and Vino Nobiles are sometimes included in wine portfolios, the top investment wines from the region that we recommend keeping an eye on are without a doubt the Super Tuscans.
Sassicaia, Solaia and Tignanello are some of the most popular and distinguished investment-grade wines to come out of Italy – and for good reason, given their past performance. You can read our full article and input on these Tuscan wines (as well as others from Italy), in this Moncharm article.

5. Napa Valley

While many of the New World regions offer expensive and top quality wine, very few have proven themselves as investment quality – one of which is the USA’s California.
Napa Valley is the shining star in investment wine here. While investment wines from Napa Valley are not traded as frequently in secondary markets as are French investment wines, they have still managed to prove they are a solid investment.
Two good examples of Napa investment-grade wines are this Screaming Eagle, 2011 and this Opus One, 2009. Apart from other vintages of these wines, you should also keep an eye on other top quality Cabernet Sauvignons.
You can find more about this region, as well as Champagne and Bordeaux, in this Moncharm article.

Win £500.00 Worth Of Wine From Top Investment Regions

If you’re a wine collector or investor – or, simply, if you’d like a chance to start your journey in wine collecting for free – we’d like to invite you to enter our monthly prize draw right now.
This gives you a monthly chance to win a case worth £500.00 of wine from some of the world’s top investment regions – including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhone Valley, and Tuscany.
Did we mention that this is a free-to-enter giveaway? No strings attached – click here and enter now!

Creating A Strong Portfolio

Conventional wine investment wisdom suggests that a strong portfolio must contain a strong base of key vintages of Bordeaux, along with an optional selection of wines from the other regions that present potential – which we have discussed above.
If you have any other wine investment questions or queries, or if you’d simply like the input of a wine expert, please feel free to write us a short message here or give us a call at any time. Our team always responds promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Neal

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Wednesday 9 December 2015

Wine Acidity: A Guide to An Essential Wine Characteristic – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

Wine Acidity: A Guide to An Essential Wine Characteristic

• Fine Wine Blog • Wine Acidity • Wine Guide • Wine Tasting

Wine acidity is a confusing concept for many, and the taste of acidity is frequently mistaken for tannins or alcohol. But the acid in wine plays an important role.
From a functional perspective, acidity is crucial for the preservation of wine. Proper wine acidity prevents spoilage of the wine and inhibits microorganism growth – while an acidity level too low will ruin the wine quickly as it will go bad.
The acidity of your wine is also important from an enjoyment perspective, providing balance and zest. We discuss in greater detail in this quick guide to wine acidity.

What Does Acidity Taste Like In Wine?

For an easy generalization, wines with higher acidity feel lighter or “zestier,” while wines with less acidity feel heavier or “richer.” Acidity can be recognized as a tingling sensation at the sides of the tongue, or a bumpy feeling on the rough of the tongue, with a prominence of saliva in the mouth.
Wine lacking acidity tastes flat and boring, while wine with too much acidity is too tart and sour. Acidity and sweetness in an ideal wine should correctly be used to balance each other.
Proper acidity proportions can enhance a wine’s refreshing qualities, and can complement paired foods exquisitely. This is achieved incredibly well in highly regarded fine wines such as those from these wine investment regions.

Types Of Acid In Wine

Four types of acid are found most commonly in grapes and in wine. The presence of a fifth type of acid (acetic acid or vinegar) should be found only in tiny amounts in good wines, because in large amounts it indicates a wine flaw – a common occurrence in cheap table wine. Acetic acid is undesirable and volatile.
Tartaric and malic acid are the most common acids in wine, and are created in grapes as they mature on the vine, with acidity decreasing as the grapes continue to mature. In general, wines from cooler years and areas tend to have higher acidity and lower sugar.
Warm climate grapes tend to have lower acid and higher sugar. Colder climates’ acidity is preserved better as compared to warm climates (thus presenting a higher level in the wine), because warmth and sunlight cause grapes to both mature and lose acidity faster.

Measuring Wine Acidity: TA & pH

TA (or total acidity) is measured under the assumption that a wine’s acid is all tartaric, and measures the percentage of acid in the wine. Total acidity is recorded as grams per 100 mL of wine. The general range is between 0.4% and 1.3%, with a most desirable range between 0.6% and 0.7%.
Wine that tastes too tart and sour would rate near 1.0%, while wine that tastes flat and boring is near 0.4%. An average red table wine is about 0.6%, with the average white wine just slightly higher.
An exception is very sweet white dessert wines, which may have acidity above 1%. This is considered very high, but necessary to balance the high sugar.
pH, on the other hand, measures active acidity. It is a logarithmic measure of wine acidity, meaning that a pH of 4 translates in 10 times more acidity than a pH of 5. The lower the pH number, the higher the acidity. If a pH is too high, microorganisms may grow in the wine.
Most wines are between the pH levels of 3.3 and 3.7.
To learn how you can find the acidity measurements of your wine, we recommend reading our recent article on wine tech sheets.

Understanding Your Fine Wine

The enjoyability of your wine drinking experience is often times dependent on your knowledge of it. It is this knowledge that helps you choose the right wine for your palate, and keep choosing right wines in the future. This is why we bring you weekly articles and guides here on our blog!
We hope understanding wine acidity will help you better understand your wine, and we recommend checking out our online wine shop for a collection of some of the world’s best fine wines from the most popular wine making regions – all just a button away from arriving at your doorstep.
For any other fine wine related questions or queries – or if you’re interested in fine wine investment or collecting – please feel free to contact our experts at any time. We always respond promptly, and will be glad to help!
Image source: Brent Hofacker

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Thursday 26 November 2015

What Makes A Wine Expensive? The 3 Wine Price Factors – Moncharm Fine Wine Merchants

What Makes A Wine Expensive? The 3 Wine Price Factors

• Fine Wine Blog • Most Expensive Wines • What Makes A Wine Expensive

What Makes A Wine Expensive?

The price of a wine reflects the cost of production, which includes the raw physical materials, such as grapes, other ingredients, barrels for aging, and bottles and labels for packaging.
High quality materials translate to a higher quality of wine, but also a higher price. In addition to the materials, the production method to move the grapes from the vineyard, to the barrels, to the bottles also needs to be considered.
Utilities add to the production cost, as does labour. A change in any one of these costs increases the end price of the wine – moreover, variables such as the grape yield (highly influenced by weather) will also affect production costs and are to be considered.
While many production factors interlace, three main aspects contribute to a wine’s end price.

3 Main Wine Price Factors

1. Time

It is a widely known fact that high quality wine that is well-aged tastes rounder and smoother – qualities that are highly sought after among consumers.
Aging adds heavily to the production costs (think storage, labour, uncertainty in an unstable market) as the wine takes up space in a winery and costs money for maintenance.

2. Oak barrel aging

Aging high quality fine wine in oak barrels is favourable to any other aging method, leading to enhanced flavours and an overall better quality.
Oak barrels result in lost wine as it evaporates from the barrel, leaving less wine to be bottled. This is not to mention that oak itself is an expensive material, coming with the need of expert staff to maintain quality and perform periodical tastings of the wine.

3. Vineyard Locations

Wine produced from vineyards in famous locations that are known for their ability to produce outstanding wine consistently will cost more.
The proven track record of the most famous wine investment regions almost always command higher prices. As with most any other product, branding and quality assurance costs more.
Wines from developing countries tend to be cheaper than from developed countries (sometimes resulting in great value wines during certain vintages). This can be attributed both to a reduced cost of production (cheaper labour, etc.), but to the region’s lower profile too.
Other factors contributing to the price of fine wines that will influence it in the future are the rarity of a high quality vintage, as well as its ability to attract collectors (something famous wine regions such as Bordeaux and Rhone are well known for).

What Are The Most Expensive Wines?

Wine Searcher compiled the top 50 of the most expensive wines in the world, gleaned from almost 55.000 wine price lists and based on the average price of a 750ml bottle.
The most expensive wines in the world are overwhelmingly European, with the top 10 coming from France (8) and Germany (2). The Cote de Nuits of France commands 4 of the top 10 spots, while Cote de Beaune of France commands 2.
All of the top 10 have average prices over $3000, with most of them nearer to or exceeding $10.000. The most expensive wine in the world right now, a highly renowned Burgundy, can go for as much as $24.000.

Great Wine Collecting Alternatives

If you’re looking to celebrate with, collect, or invest in fine wines of high quality from the same renowned wine regions (but without the $24.000 price tag), the following recommendations meet the criteria and provide great value – without the highest of costs.
Our main suggestions hail from the Rhone Region. Especially noteworthy are the famous “La La” wines – such as the La Mouline (1989 vintage), La Landonne (1995 vintage, 2009 vintage), or La Turque (1988 vintage, 2005 vintage). You can check out more recommendations here in our online wine shop.
For any other fine wine related questions or queries – or if you’re interested in fine wine investment or collecting – please feel free to contact our experts at any time. And don’t forget to sign up for our monthly prize draw right now for your chance of winning fine wine worth £500.00!
Image source: Flickr

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Monday 23 November 2015

Wine Temperature Chart: Storage & Serving | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Wine Serving Temperature: Store & Serve Fine Wine Like A Pro

• Fine Wine Blog • Wine Serving • Wine Storage • Wine Temperature

Wine Temperatures: Storage & Serving

Red Wine Serving Temperature

White Wine Serving Temperature

Champagne Serving Temperature

Last Minute Miracles

No Wine to Cool Down?

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Friday 20 November 2015

What Is Bordeaux Famous For? | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

What Is Bordeaux Famous For?

• Bordeaux Wine • Bordeaux Wine Region • Fine Wine Blog • What Is Bordeaux Famous For

What is Bordeaux famous for? A natural question about the most popular wine region today that every newcomer to the world of fine wine asks. And for good reason, given all the talk about it in this online community!
Bordeaux is famous for its red wines – of course – but is known for so much more! The World Heritage designation that this wine region has maintained over the last decade has increased interest in the region, but why? And what exactly is Bordeaux famous for, if not just red wine?

1. The Bordeaux region is famous for its shopping

The Rue Saint Catherine in the Bordeaux wine region boasts over a kilometre of fancy shops, bustling cafes, and beautiful shopping centres. The famous department store Galeries Lafayette – which resembles a royal palace – is known for being the longest shopping strip throughout Europe.
And of course, it goes without saying that the myriad vineyards and shops selling the region’s famous wine and foodstuffs are a main tourist attraction point in this region.

2. The Bordeaux region is famous for its beauty

Bordeaux lovers like to say that parts of Paris were modelled after Bordeaux, long known for its well-worn charm and pretty buildings.
An affectionate nickname for the city is Petit Paris (meaning Little Paris). With three beautiful universities, neat avenues, open squares, and ornate architecture, the city has an international vibe that inspires old school elegance.

3. The Bordeaux region is famous for its history

Wine has been grown in Bordeaux for thousands of years – since even before the Romans arrived. The city of Bordeaux is almost as old, and its wine has always been at the forefront of the economy.
The location of the city (near the port) allowed for easy commerce, and due to the control of the English, a major customer was England – who called the Bordeaux red wine “claret.”

4. Bordeaux wine is famous for amazing grape blends

All Bordeaux wine is made of region-specific grape blends. Red Bordeaux wines are nearly always blends of mainly Cabernet and Merlot – which are the main red varieties of the region. Other grapes (in smaller amounts) are grown and occasionally used as well – such as Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
A white Bordeaux wine is usually a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, with the occasional Muscadelle in smaller quantities.
These grape blends resulted in impressive wine aromas that have been highly regarded consistently by wine connoisseurs.

5. Bordeaux wine is famous for consistent excellence

The wine-making process has been perfected in Bordeaux for thousands of years. Additionally, the two main grapes of the Bordeaux blend lend themselves to excellence.
Because the two dominant grapes have different ripening seasons, even if say Cabernet Sauvignon has a bad season, Merlot would not – and vice versa.
This provides consistency and reliability for all Bordeaux vintages, and helped secure the region’s popularity as one of the very best for wine investment and wine collecting.

6. Bordeaux is famous for the sheer amount of wine it produces

Producing four times as much wine as the second most famous region in France (Burgundy), Bordeaux is a production powerhouse.
It has over 250.000 acres of vines and over 20.000 wine producers in the region (though only about 100 are famous worldwide for making the region’s very best). In total, 850 million bottles are produced each year.

7. Bordeaux wine is even famous for its iconic bottles

The wine bottles of Bordeaux are iconic and highly recognizable around the world. With high, right-angled shoulders, you can’t mistake a bottle of Bordeaux for anything lesser.

What Is Bordeaux Famous For?

We hope our 7 reasons why Bordeaux is the most popular wine (and wine region) have helped answer your question! A history-making wine producer, Bordeaux is sure to have a wine in store that will fit neatly with your personal tastes.
Try one of Bordeaux’s world-famous wines from our online wine shop (click here), and have a piece of flavourful history brought right in front of your doorstep by our expert team! You can check out our best Bordeaux recommendations here to get you started.
If you have any wine-related questions or queries, please feel free to write us a quick message or give us a call at any time. Our fine wine experts always respond promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Muhamad

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Wednesday 18 November 2015

Champagne Vs. Sparkling Wine – Characteristics & Recommendations | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Champagne Vs. Sparkling Wine – Characteristics & Recommendations

• Champagne • Fine Wine Blog • Sparkling Wine

When it’s time to celebrate, the first beverage that comes to mind is something bubbly, elegant, and festive.
But how do you know whether to reach for the Champagne or the Sparkling Wine? Even more importantly – do you know the differences between the two?
One of the easiest to spot and biggest differences is the price – Champagne is almost without exception more expensive than the rest of the sparkling wines. But that is definitely not the main difference. Let’s explore what is!

Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine is made through ordinary winemaking techniques (combining sugar in the form of grapes and yeast, which results in alcohol and CO2), but is made special by not allowing the resulting gas to escape.
When wine is created by fermenting in a closed environment, the CO2 gas returns into the wine, creating sparkling wine. This gas is released in the tell-tale sparkling wine bubbles after popping the cork.
Sparkling wine is created in regions throughout the whole world, everywhere from Champagne to Tasmania and Austria to Oregon.
But the only sparkling wine that can be called Champagne is produced in the Champagne region. Even French sparkling wine produced outside the region of Champagne cannot be called Champagne.

3 Most Popular Sparkling Wines That Are Not Champagne

The most popular non-Champagne sparkling wines are Cava, Prosecco, and Cremant.

1. Prosecco comes from the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, and is produced mainly from the prosecco or glera grape.

2. Cava comes from Spain, and is produced mainly in the Catalonia region with macabeo, parallada, and xarel-lo grapes.

3. Cremant comes from France (like Champagne), but is produced in the regions of Alsace, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Jura, Limoux, and Loire.

It is made from a wide variety of grapes including pinot blanc, auxerrois, pinot gris, pinot noir, and Riesling. The production process is quite similar to Champagne’s, however the result is less bubbly.
An excellent example of a great Cremant is this Cremant de Limoux Rose. At only £14, this sparkling wine is an absolute steal and an excellent value!

Champagne

All Champagne falls into the broad category of sparkling wine, however not all sparkling wine can be called Champagne.
Champagne is only the sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France, where the Méthode Champenoise unique method of winemaking started being used in the 19th century (see the oldest champagne bottle).
Champagne is, therefore, a sparkling wine categorized by two main factors: the region where it is produced (called Champagne) and the special wine making process used to make it (called Méthode Champenoise).

Champagne Grapes & Recommendations

Authentic Champagne can only be produced within the Champagne region of France, and must be made with chardonnay, pinot noir, and/or pinot meunier grapes.
This Tattinger Comtes de Champagne, 2004 is an excellent example in terms of value (priced at just £60), while this Krug, 1996 and this Dom Perignon Rose, 2002 are fine examples of exceptional quality Champagne.
The historical beverage of choice for kings, the Champagne Cristal is yet another example of exceptional quality. You can find more fine champagne recommendations in this article.

Champagne Vs. Sparkling Wine

Regardless of which of the two you prefer most, you can always find a comprehensive selection of some of the world’s best Champagnes and sparkling wines in our online wine shop – all just a few clicks away from arriving at your doorstep!
Additionally, if you have any wine related questions or queries, please feel free to contact us at any time. Our experts will respond promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Cat Klein

Saturday 14 November 2015

Left Bank vs. Right Bank Bordeaux: What You Should Know | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Monday 9 November 2015

Holiday Wine Pairing: How to Choose Wine for Your Dinner | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Friday 30 October 2015

WHAT IS BURGUNDY FAMOUS FOR?

Wednesday 28 October 2015

The 7 Most Popular White Grape Varieties | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

The 7 Most Popular White Grape Varieties

• Fine Wine Blog • White Grape Varieties • Wine Grapes

There are hundreds of different kinds of white grape varieties, but the 7 that we’re going to talk about in detail throughout this article are without a doubt the most popular.
While red wines have been talked about more lately, the ideal conditions of growing white wine grape varieties have left the latter due to making a strong comeback!
Without further ado, here are the 7 most popular white grape varieties in the world today.

White Grape Varieties – The 7 Most Popular

1. Chardonnay

Chardonnay is a very versatile white grape variety, and an extremely popular one. Throughout the 1990s, it was far and away the most popular white wine grape variety throughout the world.
Burgundy is well known to this day for its chardonnay – which is the main grape they use to make their iconic white wine.
Although it accounts for less than 5% of the world’s vines, chardonnay can be grown in a variety of climates. It is grown in more than 10 different countries, including Australia and Italy, though the most vine acres of this white grape variety are located in California.
It is commonly aged in new oak, and can be crisp, buttery, toasty, or fresh depending on the winemaker. The resulting wine adds more versatility to this white grape variety, as it can be either sparkling or still.
This Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, 2004 (which you can acquire from our online wine shop) is a particularly good example of a sparkling Chardonnay wine of fine quality. It is already well aged, and can be consumed at any point until 2034.

2. Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc originated in France, and continues to grow in the Bordeaux region today.
Australia and New Zealand both grow it as well, but it is New Zealand that truly makes this white grape variety shine. In this country it has, over the years, become the most grape variety used in making white wine.
Sauvignon Blanc is often blended with Semillon (another popular white grape variety we describe below) – especially in France.
This Chateau d’Yquem, 2006, for example, is a fine wine of high reputation that’s made of a Sauvignon Blanc blend and that will reach maturity in 2016 and will be great for drinking all the way until 2060.

3. Semillon

Semillon, as mentioned before, is quite popular when blended with Sauvignon Blanc. It is less popular as a solo varietal, though wineries in Washington (US) and Australia do grow it as such.
Today it is grown in Bordeaux, in addition to South America, Australia, and the US. This Chateau d’Yquem, 2002 is a great example of a Semillon white that has already matured and can be enjoyed at any time until 2033.

4. Moscato

Moscato is a white grape variety that is mainly grown in Italy, the Rhone Valley, and Austria.
Moscato wine is notable for its sweet and fruity flavour, and is one of the most popular white wine grape varieties with American consumers. The grape can create either still or sparkling wines.

5. Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is one of the most popular white grape varieties of Italy, especially in the Venezia and Alto Adige regions. It is also grown in the western US – in addition to France, Germany, Austria, and Australia.
It usually results in a light and zippy wine that pairs extremely well with food.

6. Gewurztraminer

Gewurztraminer is the most popular white grape variety in Alsace, Germany, but is grown with a degree of success in the US as well. The resulting wine is ideal for sipping, and is generally a dry and aromatic wine.

7. Riesling

Riesling is a popular wine grape variety of the Rhine and Mosel wine regions in Germany, but grows well in many regions, including the US. It results in a light, fresh tasting wine that improves remarkably well with age.

Acquiring Your Favourite Whites

You can acquire fine white wines from our online wine shop (click here) – where we make available a collection of some of the world’s best according to wine collector ratings.
If you have any other wine-related questions or queries, please feel free to write us a quick message or give us a call at any time. Our fine wine experts always respond promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Chris

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Wednesday 21 October 2015

Burgundy wine glasses characteristics top 5 recommendations

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Burgundian Wine Grapes: Main Regions

• Burgundy • Burgundy Wine Region • Fine Wine Blog • Wine Grapes

Burgundian Wine Grapes: Main Regions & Famous Varietals

ns, Chablis lies halfway in-between the Cote d’Or region and Paris. The region is known solely for its dry, white wine.
Chablis has some of the world’s best Chardonnays, which are not oaked, and recognizable for their steely, dry palate and light flavors of lemon.

2. The Côte de Nuits

The recognized home to some of the best red Burgundian wine grapes, the region also produces overshadowed white wine. By and far, the majority of Grands and Premiers Crus wines originate in this region.
It is known, along with Cote de Beaune, as the “Golden Slopes” of Burgundy, for its revered villages including Gevery-Chambertin and the ability to produce some of the most valuable wine in the world.
Excellent examples of this wine are this Comte de Vogue Bonnes Mares, 2002 and this Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache, 2002.

3. The Côte de Beaune

Along with the Cote de Nuits, the Cote de Beaune makes up the other half of the “Golden Slopes” of Burgundy, though this part is known for the greatest white Burgundies (as the reds are overshadowed).
Other than Chablis, this region creates the best white Burgundies.
Cote de Beaune also has one red Grand Cru, from Corton, and has other less revered (but much cheaper) Pinot Noirs.

4. The Côte Chalonnaise

Compared to the other regions, the Cote Challonnaise is considered a lesser district, though it still produces excellent red and white wines, known for mid-range bottles that keep for about 5 years.

5. The Mâconnais

The southernmost region of Burgundy, the Maconnais produces cheaper wines of excellent value, made to be consumed young and not aged. It is best known for fresh Chardonnay whites, and Pouilly-Fuisse and St-Veran are two of the best vineyards.

Most Popular Burgundian Wine Grapes

All of the great Burgundies, whether red or white, are made from a single grape variety and are therefore un-blended. This sets the region vastly apart from Bordeaux, where most of the great wines are blends.
Famous Burgundian wine grapes include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Aligote, and to a lesser degree – Sauvignon, Cesar, Pinot Beurot, Sacy, and Melon. We explore them below.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is the most common grape of Burgundy, with over 48% of the region’s land being under this type of wine. Chablis, Macon, and Cote d’Or white wines are produced from 100% Chardonnay.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir accounts for 34% of the land under vine in Burgundy. The majority of the Cote d’Or region is focused on this grape, and in the Cote de Nuits region, this grape and other red grapes make up more than 90% of the production.

Other Grapes

Other Burgundian wine grapes worth mentioning are Gamay (a red grape) that makes up 10% of total production in the famous wine region, and Aligote (a white grape) that makes up 6%.
The others (including Sauvignon, Cesar, Pinot Beurot, Sacy, and Melon) make up less than 2% of the production overall.
These grapes are considered “second status,” and are never used in the best wines – however they do contribute toward budget bottles and are increasingly common further south.

Acquiring Fine Burgundy Wine

Whatever your favourite Burgundian grape variety is, we’d like to invite you to bring home a Burgundy fine wine today.
Check out our online wine shop – where a comprehensive collection of France’s best Burgundies (and more) are only a few clicks away from arriving at your doorstep!
For any wine-related questions or queries, please feel free to write us a short message or give us a call at any time. Our wine experts will respond promptly, and will be happy to help!
Image source: Thomas PaceFacebook,Twitter,Linkedin,Pinterest,Google+,Moncharm

Saturday 17 October 2015

What Is Bordeaux Famous For?

Friday 16 October 2015

What Is Burgundy Famous For? | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Saturday 10 October 2015

The 7 Most Popular Red Wine Grape Varieties

Friday 9 October 2015

Red Wine Grape Varieties: 7 Most Popular | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Thursday 8 October 2015

Autumn Wines: 7 Best Wine Recommendations This Fall | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

http://www.moncharm.co.uk/blog/autumn-wines/

Untitled Document Autumn wines are a smart purchase because most vineyards switch over to a new harvest in the fall, wholesalers and retailers greatly discount existing stock. Your pound will go a lot further with your wine purchase at this time of year.

Even if you don’t generally tend to buy wine, an autumn wine can make an excellent inexpensive gift, or you can stock up for later dinners or events. Better yet, put your autumn wine purchases to use this season!

Unsure which wines to pick? Check out the top 7 best opportunities to drink autumn wines blow!

1. ENJOY THE LAST BRIGHT AFTERNOONS

Fall cues the last nice afternoons with enjoyable temperatures. This is the season to enjoy your final garden sundowners before winter sweeps in!

Take advantage with an excellent autumn wine – such as this Crémant de Limoux NV – which provides freshness and bubbles, but this time with more structure and elegance following the season changing!

2. HOST A FORMAL FALL GATHERING OF FRIENDS

Autumn is the perfect time to gather together friends for a dinner party with wine. Moreover, timing your party in the fall will beat the stress and competition of the overloaded Christmas season.

The perfect autumn wine for such an event would be a glass of this Crémant de Limoux Rosé NV. The lovely pink touch provides a bright element and softens the atmosphere with its delicate tender foam character.

This autumn wine will bring a touch of glamour and sophistication to any event.

3. PAIR YOUR SEASONAL DISHES WITH FLAIR

Fall is associated with foods like mushrooms, chestnuts, truffles, parsnips, pumpkins, and figs. Your autumn wine will ideally adapt to these rich and seasonal flavours.

Our velvety and concentrated 14" target="_blank">Felin Noir from Languedoc
is an excellent autumn wine choice for expert pairings. The same goes for this Marchesi di Barolo Riserva, 2004 – an especially excellent match for a white truffle dish during a special dinner.

4. PLAN A CASUAL SPORTS-CENTRED PARTY

Sometimes, the focus is on your favourite team, and your autumn wine should simply provide backup. When hosting a casual event, like a major football match, you need a wine to be enjoyable on its own and easy to pair with snacks.

Two of the best suggestions for fun, fresh autumn wines are this Saumur Blanc “Elegance” (with lemony, crispy notes and refreshing character), and this Ntisu Rosso, 2012 because of its lightness, featuring floral and young fruit flavours.

5. PULL OFF A SUNDAY MEAL SHOW-OFF WITH YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY

Do you have tough-to-impress in-laws, or maybe you’ve set the bar extremely high in past years. Regardless of the reason, planning a successfully impressive Sunday meal is simple with the right autumn wine.

The Les Demoiselles de Larrivet Haut Brion, 2011 from the famous Bordeaux region will blow them away with class and quality at a reasonable price. You cannot go wrong with this traditional choice – the palate is round and well balanced by silky tannins, with no harshness or bitterness.

6. INDULGE YOURSELF

You’ve worked hard and played hard all summer long. This fall, you deserve a break. Treat yourself one evening with easy comfort food and an excellent autumn wine.

Pull out any leftover cheeses, chutneys, honey, crackers, and bread and arrange them on a board.

Have a planned-ahead purchase of this Blanquette de Limoux Methode Ancestrale, the perfect match of sweetness and palate-cooling fresh bubbles for your lazy and well-deserved night in.

7. BRING YOUR HOLIDAYS HOME WITH YOU

After spending summer days lying on the beach, sipping rose, watching the waves, it can be tough to come back to your fall routine.

It’d be pretty hard to transport the sand and blue sea with you back home, but you can definitely bring your favourite rose into the fall.

An excellent choice for a summery autumn wine – this Colette Rosé of Côtes de Provence has a pleasant approach with strawberry notes, as well as a pink melony option that is always easy to match.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AUTUMN WINES

Take advantage of the best autumn wine offers today, inside our online Retail Wine store where we provide a large selection of the best value wines available – all just a call away from arriving at your doorstep

Autumn wines are a smart purchase because most vineyards switch over to a new harvest in the fall, wholesalers and retailers greatly discount existing stock. Your pound will go a lot further with your wine purchase at this time of year.

Even if you don’t generally tend to buy wine, an autumn wine can make an excellent inexpensive gift, or you can stock up for later dinners or events. Better yet, put your autumn wine purchases to use this season!

Unsure which wines to pick? Check out the top 7 best opportunities to drink autumn wines blow!

1. ENJOY THE LAST BRIGHT AFTERNOONS

Fall cues the last nice afternoons with enjoyable temperatures. This is the season to enjoy your final garden sundowners before winter sweeps in!

Take advantage with an excellent autumn wine – such as this Crémant de Limoux NV – which provides freshness and bubbles, but this time with more structure and elegance following the season changing!

2. HOST A FORMAL FALL GATHERING OF FRIENDS

Autumn is the perfect time to gather together friends for a dinner party with wine. Moreover, timing your party in the fall will beat the stress and competition of the overloaded Christmas season.

The perfect autumn wine for such an event would be a glass of this Crémant de Limoux Rosé NV. The lovely pink touch provides a bright element and softens the atmosphere with its delicate tender foam character.

This autumn wine will bring a touch of glamour and sophistication to any event.

3. PAIR YOUR SEASONAL DISHES WITH FLAIR

Fall is associated with foods like mushrooms, chestnuts, truffles, parsnips, pumpkins, and figs. Your autumn wine will ideally adapt to these rich and seasonal flavours.

Our velvety and concentrated Felin Noir from Languedoc is an excellent autumn wine choice for expert pairings. The same goes for this Marchesi di Barolo Riserva, 2004 – an especially excellent match for a white truffle dish during a special dinner.

4. PLAN A CASUAL SPORTS-CENTRED PARTY

Sometimes, the focus is on your favourite team, and your autumn wine should simply provide backup. When hosting a casual event, like a major football match, you need a wine to be enjoyable on its own and easy to pair with snacks.

Two of the best suggestions for fun, fresh autumn wines are this Saumur Blanc “Elegance” (with lemony, crispy notes and refreshing character), and this Ntisu Rosso, 2012 because of its lightness, featuring floral and young fruit flavours.

5. PULL OFF A SUNDAY MEAL SHOW-OFF WITH YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY

Do you have tough-to-impress in-laws, or maybe you’ve set the bar extremely high in past years. Regardless of the reason, planning a successfully impressive Sunday meal is simple with the right autumn wine.

The Les Demoiselles de Larrivet Haut Brion, 2011 from the famous Bordeaux region will blow them away with class and quality at a reasonable price. You cannot go wrong with this traditional choice – the palate is round and well balanced by silky tannins, with no harshness or bitterness.

6. INDULGE YOURSELF

You’ve worked hard and played hard all summer long. This fall, you deserve a break. Treat yourself one evening with easy comfort food and an excellent autumn wine.

Pull out any leftover cheeses, chutneys, honey, crackers, and bread and arrange them on a board.

Have a planned-ahead purchase of this Blanquette de Limoux Methode Ancestrale, the perfect match of sweetness and palate-cooling fresh bubbles for your lazy and well-deserved night in.

7. BRING YOUR HOLIDAYS HOME WITH YOU

After spending summer days lying on the beach, sipping rose, watching the waves, it can be tough to come back to your fall routine.

It’d be pretty hard to transport the sand and blue sea with you back home, but you can definitely bring your favourite rose into the fall.

An excellent choice for a summery autumn wine – this Colette Rosé of Côtes de Provence has a pleasant approach with strawberry notes, as well as a pink melony option that is always easy to match.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AUTUMN WINES

Take advantage of the best autumn wine offers today, inside our online Retail Wine store where we provide a large selection of the best value wines available – all just a call away from arriving at your doorstep

Tuesday 6 October 2015

what makes wine expensive 3 wine price factors

Thursday 4 June 2015

Types of wine glasses: how to pick the ideal one for your fine wine

Wednesday 3 June 2015

How Long Does Wine Last After Opening? | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

Types of Wine Glasses: How to Make The Perfect Choice | Moncharm - Fine wine Merchants

WINE AROMAS: WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

In case you're a kindred wine significant other who likes to peruse tasting notes, we're sure you've more than once discovered different depictions, for example, "the mind boggling bunch is rich with notes of earth; dark products of the soil pencil interlaced in notes of minerals and oak wood."

Numerous amateurs that find their newly discovered adoration for fine wine are regularly left pondering. What does this portrayal mean? Where did these wine flavors originate from? Did they really mix dark organic product into this wine? Furthermore, what on Earth does "earth" mean?

In today's article we will demystify wine fragrances. You'll realize where they originate from, what they mean, and how you can recognize them yourself whenever you taste wine. We should begin!

WHERE DO WINE AROMAS COME FROM?

Most importantly, its critical to note the contrast between a wine's smells and a wine's taste. The wine smell has an inseparable tie to our feeling of smell. The wine taste has an inseparable tie to the different faculties inside our mouth. Joined, they bring about wine flavors.

Since an imperative piece of the wine sampling knowledge happens inside our nose, broad examination has been led over the course of the years to better see how the wide mixed bag of wine smells come to be.

So, wine smells are the consequence of many distinctive mixes (counting alcohols) that join to give a wide mixed bag of special saw fragrances. Since when we drink wine we may feel a strawberry surface joined with a marginally acrid taste in our mouth, and a sweet scent in our nose, our mind is prone to assemble the pieces and let us know we're tasting strawberries.

The exacerbates that give a wine's smells contrast for each wine, and they are impacted at 3 stages.

1. THE GRAPE GROWING PROCESS

Known as essential wine smells, they're impacted by the kind of grape utilized, and the environment that it developed in. Smells in this gathering incorporate earth (petroleum, red beet, volcanic rock, and so forth.), organic product, natural, flavor, and others.

A gritty vintage that blasts onto the sense of taste with dull organic products, this Ch. Pontet Canet, 2006 is a brilliant case that takes its fragrances from a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit-Verdot.

2. Aging

Known as optional wine smells, they're affected by the aging procedure – which includes yeast and different organisms. Maturation impelled smells incorporate mushroom, truffle, ale, spread, cream, and others.

An extraordinary sample of Champagne no doubt understood for its velvety, aging instigated fragrances joined by a vivacious blast of fruity notes is this Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rose, 2005.

3. Maturing PROCESS

Known as tertiary smells (or the wine's "bunch"), they are the aftereffect of maturing (time spent in jugs or oak barrels, and in addition oxidation). Smells got from general maturing incorporate tobacco, espresso, and dried organic product. Fragrances got from oak maturing incorporate vanilla, smoke and coconut.

This Tignanello, 2008 is one of our most loved Super Tuscans, and a magnum opus known for its relentless smoke and tobacco bundle, joined by notes of dark cherries.

WINE AROMAS IN PRACTICE

You can utilize the bearings in this article to bind your own inclinations in wine fragrances!

By observing what you feel whenever you have your most loved wine, you'll start to build up your own flavor profile. This will permit you to investigate new wine mixed bags that have inconspicuous likenesses to wines you know you like, taking the mystery out of the comparison.

Also, meanwhile, why not examine our online wine shop? We highlight an uncommon choice of the world's finest wines, each with its own arrangement of smells holding up to be found.

Wednesday 11 March 2015

WINE COLLECTING 101: THE GUIDE FOR THE BEGINNING COLLECTOR

Are you interested in exploring the idea of collecting fine wine? There are many reasons to pursue this, and if you are enthusiastic about wine, with the passion to collect the most outstanding of vintages, then you are in the right place.

A substantial majority of collectors tend to lean toward the Bordeaux region, for its superb ability to age well with long drinkability value. Other valuable collection-worthy regions include Tuscany, Italy and Napa Valley, California.

Let’s review some of the superior wines from these regions that would make outstanding choices for your collection, followed by basic storage tips to keep your collection safe and in top condition.

Moncharm Bordeaux – France

Without question, the Bordeaux region of France is the most famous in the world, and rightfully so. This is undoubtedly a “go-to” place with which to begin your fine wine collection.

While in the United States, wines tend to be produced from a single grape variety, the Bordeaux wines are blends. Three grape varieties in a wine is typical, though one variety is dominant in most cases.

This Château Pavie 2003 is a masterful blend of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Franc (20%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). Luxurious deep purple color, intoxicating aromas of blackberry, black cherries and balsamic, and a deeply rich treat for the palate. While perfectly enjoyable now, the tannic structure of this wine also makes it an excellent choice for at least a decade of storage.

Moncharm, Tuscany – Italy

Italy’s finest wine region is Tuscany - it is renowned for its vintage status, romantic history, and the superior indigenous and famous grape variety Sangiovese. The revered Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Tignanello Wineries are another reason this region is so famed and beloved.

This Solaia 2007 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Sangiovese (20%), rounded out with Cabernet Franc. This standout vintage dark ruby wine is dense with black currants, tobacco and spice aromas. The flavors are full-bodied and rich, with an outstandingly long finish. Cellar time for this jewel will only improve this fine wine - all the way up to 2040.

Napa Valley – California

All the way across the globe from Europe, Napa Valley in California, U.S.A. is nevertheless one of the most famous wine regions in the world. It has the serendipity of having the perfect wine-making trifecta: a Mediterranean climate, an ideal geography, and geology that all come together to make the perfect grape.

This Screaming Eagle 2009 is young but with a mature quality. Perfumed nose with hints of eucalyptus, mint, spice and earth. Flavors of dark red berries, spice and rose notes, and a dense, multilayered palate. Very long finish, and can be stored for full enjoyment between 2017 - 2029.

Moncharm Storing Your Fine Wine

Temperature, light, and humidity are the three critical factors to keep in mind when storing your wine. The ideal range of temperature for storing red wine is 50-55ºF or 10-16ºC. You will want to keep humidity for wine storage in the range of 60-75% RH.

Investing in a good wine storage software system might be a good idea as well, since it can assist you in ensuring the ideal environment for your collection.

Also keep in mind the aging capability of your wines. A good rule of thumb is that the more expensive the wine, the longer the aging period. For example, premium Bordeaux wines are capable of long aging, while the less expensive wines (Zinfandels, table wines) are meant to be enjoyed immediately and do not age well.

Some wine collectors like to buy two of every bottle as they collect – so they can take notes on the first bottle to compare to later years.

Are you ready?

Starting a fine wine collection is an excellent pursuit. You can find many of the world’s finest in our wine shop. Please contact us should you have questions (or if you need assistance in your choices) – our experts respond promptly and will always be happy to assist you.