For the second time in a year, an experimental vineyard with genetically modified rootstock was destroyed in mid-August by a group of sixty or so anti-biotech activists. The vineyard, which contained around 70 GMO rootstock, was part of an experimental programme conducted by French agricultural research institute INRA in Colmar, Alsace. The experiment is one strand of a broader project aimed at identifying alternative ways of combating a widespread vine disease, grapevine fanleaf virus. Currently, wine growers have little option but to use highly toxic chemicals to fight the disease. In its defence of the experiment, INRA stresses that “stringent conditions were applied to prevent any risk of gene dissemination: the rootstock bore no flowers and graft inflorescence were removed before flowering; additionally, a cover was laid on the ground to keep nematodes in, these are worms in the roots of the vine which carry the grapevine fanleaf virus”. The Institute also insists that the [...]

Grape harvesting has begun in earnest in many of France’s wine regions, slightly later than normal. This year’s season kicked off after August 15th in the southernmost regions, with most areas expecting to start between 8 and 15 days later than normal. Outbreaks of mildew are more widespread than... [abonnement obligatoire]

The European wine business committee CEEV has welcomed the entry into force on September 1st of the Wine Accord between the EU and Australia. The new agreement replaces and improves upon the previous 1994 text making it the most comprehensive bilateral agreement on wine concluded by the EU with its... [abonnement obligatoire]

The Canadian government is investing in British Columbia wine and grape innovation to strengthen crops and improve growers’ economic viability and sustainability. The B.C. Wine Grape Council will receive up to $2.1 million to address challenges facing grape producers in B.C. by improving pest and... [abonnement obligatoire]

The Loire Valley Wine Bureau will host trade tastings in seven markets across the United States in September. The tastings are the only trade event devoted entirely to the AOC wines of the Loire Valley. All wines presented are locally distributed. The tastings will take place in Seattle... [abonnement obligatoire]

The Sud de France Festival is a two-week celebration of the Mediterranean lifestyle, which kicks off on Friday 17 September 2010 with a one-day Sud de France food and wine market in central London’s Cavendish Square, in front of the Maison de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon. Food and wine producers... [abonnement obligatoire]

For many years now, the French co-operative winery movement has been adjusting to changing consumer habits and markets through consolidation and constant quality upgrading. Mergers have allowed them to invest more in state-of-the-art technology and greater awareness of the demands of the... [abonnement obligatoire]

The Dassault group, which already owns Château Dassault and Château La Fleur in Bordeaux, is said to be interested in purchasing Château La Croix de Gay and Château La Fleur de Gay in Pomerol. Both properties are jointly run by Dr Alain Raynaud and his sister Chantal Lebreton. Real estate experts... [abonnement obligatoire]