Latest news with #Gewürztraminer
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Beloved German wine returns to local market
Soh (second from right) with (from right) Heckly, Helfrich, Schneider, Boureille and Yap presenting a selection of Blue Nun wines at the launch. — CHAN TAK KONG/The Star Malaysian wine enthusiasts can now get a taste of German heritage as the renowned Blue Nun brand returns to our shores. Collaborating with importer and sole distributor Luen Heng F&B Sdn Bhd (LHFB), the brand's relaunch featured a selection of delightful whites, vibrant reds and sparkling editions. Held at Kampai KLCC, the event also unveiled a distinctive new drink designed to captivate both loyal customers and a new generation of wine enthusiasts. The new Blue Nun Chill Red is in response to global demand for lighter reds with a distinctive profile. It has a delicate light red hue and smooth, mouth-filling finish. The 150 guests in attendance were also privy to the Blue Nun 24K Gold Edition. 'Blue Nun is constantly evolving, striving to meet our consumers' expectations by breaking traditional wine conventions,' said Blue Nun brand manager Clarys Doumenjou-Larroque. 'Our 2025 releases are a celebration of both innovation and our enduring commitment to excellence,' she said. Created in 1921 by H. Sichel Sohne, the century-old brand from Mainz has roots dating back to 1857. The brand experienced dramatic growth from the 1950s through the 1980s. Other Blue Nun choices include the Authentic White, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Eiswein and Blue Nun Pink Rosé. The Authentic White is aromatic and fruity with aromatic apple notes, giving it a refreshing acidity; while Gewürztraminer has a rich yellow hue with the aromas of roses and vanilla, perfect for white meat and spicy cheese. As for the Merlot, the full-bodied red wine is smooth, with fruity notes of blackcurrant and spicy plum flavour. Those with a sweet-tooth will probably enjoy the Blue Nun Eiswein as the ice wine has a distinctive sweetness from peach with apple and lemon notes on the palate. It is made from grapes that are picked at -7°C or colder. 'Blue Nun is an established wine brand and we are happy to import such fine wines for the Malaysia market,' said LHFB managing director Datuk Kenneth Soh. Also present at the launch were French wines and spirits exporter Les Grands Chais de France Group owner Laurence Helfrich, key area director Maxime Boureille, South-East Asia country manager Linlin Heckly, marketing manager Solène Schneider, LHFB senior marketing general manager Teong Hooi Min and senior brand manager Erica Yap. The full range will be officially available in stores starting September 2025.
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Fairytale European city that is like ‘going back centuries' to get new easyJet flights from the UK
A EUROPEAN city most people associate with Christmas is getting new UK flights this year. Strasbourg is the capital city of the Grand Est region and sits on the French-German border. 5 easyJet is introducing new flights to Strasbourg Credit: Alamy 5 The Petite France quarter is known for its beautiful houses and canals Credit: Alamy And in November, easyJet will be flying to Strasbourg from Manchester. Despite the UK getting hot this week, the city is known for its bustling Christmas market. Strasbourg is known as the "Capital of Christmas" with the market, also known as Christkindelsmärik, is scheduled to run from November 27 to December 27. Flight tickets have been released already with tickets on sale in November from £48.99 (one-way). Read More on City Breaks From November 28, the new service will operate twice weekly on Fridays and Sundays. This is part of easyJet's expansion of 22 new routes from UK airports for the winter season. For anyone keen to jet off before then, easyJet already offers flights from the UK to Strasbourg flying from London Heathrow from £38.99 - and it's one hour and 35 minutes away. And the city is equally just as beautiful to explore during the summertime with average highs of 26C. Most read in City breaks The area of Strasbourg that attracts most of the tourists is Petite France where you'll find the charming houses, cobbled streets and canals. One visitor said: "It's breathtaking, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. Escape Winter: Fly to Gran Canaria with EasyJet 5 easyJet flights from Manchester align with the Christmas market Credit: Alamy 5 Strasbourg also houses what's believed to be the world's oldest wine barrel Credit: Alamy "It's like stepping back in time several centuries." Another added that it's a place that makes you "feel like you're in a fairytale." Not that you can taste it, but Strasbourg is home to what's believed to be the world's oldest barrel of wine. It's housed in the Historic Wine Cellar of Strasbourg Hospital, a 14th-century cellar beneath the modern city hospital . The wine has been tasted only three times in its history, in the years 1576, 1718, and 1944. It's not drinkable any longer though as it dates back to 1472. While that barrel remains untouched, the cellar still produces wine, around 140,000 bottles each year. Not to mention there's lots of wine bars and pubs throughout the city, it's known for its white wines, particularly Riesling and Gewürztraminer . Popular spots for wine include L'Alsace à Boire which sells local wines along with charcuterie boards. Or Le Purgatoire which has been praised for its extensive wine list. Here are Plus, easyJet has launched One Travel Writer visited Strasbourg The Sun's Health Feature Editor Alice Fuller recently visited the city - here are her thoughts. "The vibrant French city is a powerful political centre (home to the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights) yet it still has a quaint countryside village feel. "With half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets and a 1,000-year-old cathedral stood alongside lively bars, modern museums and shimmering glass consulates, it's a seamless mix of mediaeval and futuristic. Strolling the narrow streets, I marvel at colourful toytown cottages that look like they're straight out of a Grimm's fairytale next to sprawling French chateaux." 5 Strasbourg has classic timber houses and very old wine Credit: Alamy
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alto Adige Wines, Vintage 2024: Exceptional in Vineyard and Cellar
Lighter, elegant and modern wines emerge after a challenging growing season in Alto Adige BOLZANO, Italy, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the release on the US market of the 2024 vintage of many Alto Adige wines, the Consorzio Alto Adige Wines has recently gathered some interesting data about the vintage and its unique characteristics. The overall 2024 vintage in Alto Adige presented considerable challenges for winegrowers, resulting in reduced yields in several areas. Yet, despite these difficulties, expectations for this vintage remain exceptionally high. The wines promise to be lighter, elegant, and distinctly modern, showcasing the region's longstanding commitment to quality. A Year Marked by Weather ExtremesWeather data confirm that 2024 was one of the most challenging growing seasons in recent memory. An unusually mild winter gave way to an early bud break around March 20, but this was soon followed by a sharp frost a month later, causing widespread damage across vineyards. The spring continued to test growers with cool, cloudy conditions that limited photosynthesis, leading to fewer grape clusters and smaller berry size. "The lowest yields were recorded for Lagrein, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Grigio, while Schiava, Merlot, and Riesling were more resilient during flowering," noted Hansjörg Hafner of Alto Adige's Advisory Council for Fruit and Winegrowing. In Valle Isarco, Andreas Huber of Pacher Hof in Novacella near Bressanone, reported yield losses ranging from 15 to 70 percent, while Martin Lemayr, cellar master at Cantina Colterenzio, shared that some plots experienced total crop losses. Challenging Year, Delayed HarvestThe meteorological challenges of 2024 meant that the harvest in Alto Adige took place later than usual, with frequent interruptions due to rain. "The delay gave us a bit of breathing room," said Huber with a smile. "It was a demanding year that required patience, flexibility, and constant vigilance in the vineyards." In hail-affected areas, grapes were carefully sorted by hand to ensure only the best fruit made it to the cellar. Frost and humidity added to the year's challenges. Veronika Pfeifer of Pfannenstielhof in Bolzano confirmed the difficulties growers faced: "This vintage required not only precise and careful manual labor in the vineyard, but also flexibility and timely decision-making." Pinot Varieties ShineThanks to careful canopy management and rigorous sorting, grape quality remained high despite the volume losses. Pinot varieties—particularly Pinot Nero—stood out, reaching ideal ripeness and health. Martin Lemayr's assessment of the Pinot Nero from the 2024 vintage was therefore correspondingly positive:"It is characterised by fresh fruit aromas such as raspberry and sour cherry and has a very clear, bright and luminous colour. The wines are lower in residual sugar and show great freshness, elegance, and a fine tannin structure." On the other hand, late-ripening, tannin-rich reds faced the greatest challenges. Achieving full maturity required impeccable timing and exceptional care during harvest. "Some 2024 special Reserves were not produced this year, as only a few vineyards reached full ripeness," Lemayr added. Focus on Native GrapesAmong Alto Adige's native reds, Schiava wines performed relatively well, showing slightly lower alcohol levels than in previous years. Veronika Pfeifer summarized the vintage's profile as "fresh, fruity, and fine." The region's second most important native red variety, Lagrein, was more affected by adverse weather conditions—particularly frost and poor flowering—which led to somewhat reduced yields. Still, Pfeifer described the wines as "harmonious, smooth, and velvety." White Wines Benefit from Cool Conditions: Fresh Fruit and Finesse In contrast to reds, Alto Adige's whites appear to have benefited from the season's cooler conditions. "Cool September weather enhanced flavor development, resulting in freshness, fruit and finesse," said Andreas Huber. Noble rot and damp weather contributed to exceptional quality, especially for Riesling, Kerner, and Sylvaner from Valle Isarco. "We are very confident about the 2024 vintage", Huber added, "Low yields and extended ripening laid the foundation for wines with exceptional finesse and aging potential." Lemayr echoed this optimism: "Whites like Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc reveal fine, fresh fruit and an elegant, delicate structure. Aromatic varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc show precise, cool, slightly greenish aromas and a well-integrated, balanced acidity. Lower alcohol levels make these wines even more approachable and enjoyable." About The Consorzio Alto Adige WinesThe Consorzio Alto Adige Wines was formed in 2007 to promote and strengthen the image of the wines from Alto Adige. One of Italy's smallest wine-producing regions, Alto Adige is also one of its most multifaceted. Twenty grape varieties are cultivated on vineyards stretching from Mediterranean-influenced valleys to Alpine hillsides, tended by individual growers, small family-wineries, and cooperatives alike. For media enquiries: press@ T +39 0471 978 528 / 339 1895544 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Consorzio Alto Adige Wines Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Winnipeg Free Press
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Warmer weather, cooler wines
Opinion With the mercury climbing in earnest this weekend, it's as good a time as ever to shift gears from heartier, more robust wines to warm-weather sippers — which doesn't necessarily mean ditching red wines altogether. Recent trends have seen a growing number of wineries producing lighter, fruit-driven and lower-tannin reds that are often best served at least slightly chilled. Toss the following four reds (and one orange wine) in the fridge or some ice for 15 minutes and enjoy, in even the warmest temperatures. Canadian wine of the week Pelee Island 2021 Empress (South Islands, Ont. — $27.79, Liquor Marts and beyond) This orange wine is made from Gewürztraminer grapes macerated with the skins and seeds for 28 days, giving the wine its pinkish-gold hue. Aromatically, it delivers lovely bread dough and yeast notes, along with apricot, lychee, honeycomb and saline notes that are compelling. It's a mainly dry, chalky and light-plus bodied wine, with spice, tangerine, lychee and red apple skin flavours, modest tannins and acidity and, at 12 per cent alcohol, a medium-length finish. Any barrel aging on this skin-fermented white was likely in larger, older vessels that are neutral in flavour. 4/5 Gerard Bertrand 2023 Cote de Roses red (Pays D'Oc, France — around $25, Calabria Market) Bright strawberry candy in colour, this southern French red's front label reads 'frais – léger – fruité' (fresh, light, fruity), and it delivers. Made from Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grapes, it brings plum, violet, blueberry, brambly blackberry and white pepper notes, aromatically. It's a dry, medium-bodied red that offers plum, blueberry, blackberry, violet and spice notes, light tannins and acidity and, at 13.5 per cent alcohol, a medium-length finish. Packaged in a tall, attractive bottle, it's more than just a pretty face. Available at Calabria Market; if you can't track it down, Gerard Bertrand also makes the Le Chouchou, another light, chillable red that's at Liquor Marts and, at 11 per cent alcohol, is also a warm-weather crusher. 3.5/5 De Bortoli Wines NV Chill Bill Spritzy Red (Australia — $18.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) Made from a blend of Tyrian, Shiraz and other grape varieties sourced from the Riverina and Rutherglen regions, this fizzy red is deep purple in colour, with ripe cherry, Tootsie Roll, red licorice and floral aromas. It's medium-bodied and medium sweet, with cherry candy and red licorice flavours, as well as chocolate and raisin notes, medium effervescence and acidity, light tannins, at 9.5 per cent alcohol, a short finish. Definitely requires chilling; without it the crunchy, slightly sweet red candied fruit flavours would seem way out of balance. 3/5 Rosewood 2020 Night Moves Gamay (Niagara Peninsula, Ont. — around $25, Kenaston Wine Market) Pale ruby in colour, this Niagara red is made from Gamay, the same grape used in France's Beaujolais region. Aromatically it brings light herbal notes as well as tart cranberry, saskatoon berry, plum and blackberry notes. On the dry, light-plus bodied palate those tart fruit flavours persist, although on this slightly older vintage it's lost a bit of its verve, with secondary woody notes, light-plus acidity and a medium-length finish. Kenaston Wine Market is blowing this out right now (it's regular $34.99), so grab it while you can then crank up the Bob Seger. 3.5/5 Famille Perrin 2022 Signature red (Côtes du Rhône, France — $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) An organic Grenache-Syrah blend from France's Rhône Valley, this red is black cherry in colour and aromatically offers red licorice, cherry, iron, blackberry and violet notes aromatically. It's full-bodied and dry, delivering ripe cherry, black pepper, tar, blackberry and red licorice flavours with medium tannins, modest acidity and, at 14.5 per cent alcohol, a moderate finish. Chill this down for 15 minutes and drink now, or hope the tannins mellow out while the fruit stays vibrant over the next couple of years. 4/5 uncorked@ @bensigurdson Ben SigurdsonLiterary editor, drinks writer Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press's literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben. In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press's editing team before being posted online or published in print. It's part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. 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