Erste Lage

Designation which indicates a “First Class” vineyard, similar to the designation “Premier Cru” in Burgundy. The designation used by the 200 plus members of the VDP. The term Erste Lage generally appears on the neck label. See VDP.

Le Mistral is the French name for an infestation of locusts in the vineyards of southern France. Such infestations occur about once every two decades.

Answer: False.

Le Mistral (named after the Occitan dialect word for "masterly" or "master") is a treacherous, often unexpected, year-round wind that barrels out of the Alps down through France. (It's the sort of wind that can lift you up into the air if you're caught in it.) The mistral can be helpful for grape vines in some ways and detrimental in others. During the growing season if the wind is moderate, it cools down the vines, helping the grapes retain acidity. Near harvest time it can act like a giant blow-dryer, making sure the grapes are free of mold. However, the mistral can be so violent that it can rip vines apart. As a result, some of the best vines planted in the mistral's path, such as those in the southern Rhône Valley, are found in partly sheltered pockets of land and are pruned low to the ground.

It’s in the Mail… The History of Winery Mailing Lists

Getting on a top winery’s mailing list can be harder than scoring tickets to the Super Bowl. Indeed, there are now waiting lists to get onto mailing lists. How did such coveted access begin? The quick story… Continue reading

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