Mike Ratcliffe’s Post

New article on Forbes. "There is something fascinating about a business that has operated independently for more than 200 years. Founded in 1797, the Latour family has built, expanded, and preserved its legacy across 12 generations. Having accumulated prestigious vineyards throughout Burgundy, and crafted long standing relationships with growers, Maison Louis Latour, based in the village of Aloxe-Corton, now represents one of the most visible and accessible references in this complex region."

When grapes are brought into our Research Winery, most trials are processed on our Pellenc Crusher-Destemmer. This is the same brand as many harvester machines you'll see in New Zealand vineyards. The machine can be set up to operate the same way as a harvester, so when applicable to the trial, the grapes are processed similarly to a commercial vineyard but just on a much smaller scale. We also cold macerate the grapes for an hour and a half to simulate time in gondola and truck post-machine harvest for those trials. This way our research findings are more relevant to real-world scenarios than if we processed them by hand. #bragatoresearch #nzwine #researchwinery #vintage2024

Where in the world are the oldest vineyards? Hint, not in Europe 🤔. And why are the wines from old vines good? Check out the short video in the link below with all the answers. Cheers!

It was great to be a part of 67 Pall Mall's recent video feature on LBW Drinks Ltd. (Lyme Bay Winery) which is based in Devon but sources grapes from all over the country to make its award-winning still and sparkling wines: We supply Lyme Bay with grapes from nine of our vineyards including Martin's Lane Estate, Holland's Farm and Crow's Lane Estate, all situated in the Crouch Valley. In this piece I talk about the factors that make this area so special in terms of growing premium grapes...a quick summary: ☔The Crouch Valley sits in one of the driest pockets in England - average yearly rainfall is about 550-600mm but in 2022 it was as low as 220mm. That's exceptionally dry. ⛰ It's also at low altitude (around 50m or less from sea level) so the vines are at less risk of windchill (which increases the higher up you go). 🌡Situated between two estuaries - the River Crouch and River Blackwater - there is less risk of crop loss caused by spring frost damage. Temperatures don't tend to plummet so dramatically at night near bodies of water. 🍇 Crouch Valley sits in London clay, which, despite my initial reservations, means that whilst it absorbs moisture it doesn't relinquish it so easily. If we have a wet harvest, the clay will retain water and it won't be drawn up into the vine diluting the berries or splitting their delicate skins. Ultimately the clay soil gives us longer hanging time and that's absolutely key . As a result of these factors, the pinot noirs and chardonnays coming out of this area are absolutely world-class. Hopefully the amazing cinematography in this video will give you a flavour of the sheer beauty of the Crouch Valley. It's a pretty good place to have as your office! #viticulture #Englishwine #Essexwine #CrouchValley #LymeBayWinery #vineyards #vineyardmanagement https://lnkd.in/eYfQW6mg

At Pridham Viticulture, we understand the importance of vineyard health. That's why we're excited to share our latest blog post on vineyard fungicide spraying 🚜 Click the link below to dive into our insight on the 2023 season so far, and the impact it's had on our vines 🌿 ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gHWZkX2P

+++ Fines for Neglected Vineyards +++ For the first time, vineyard owners in Bordeaux are facing penalties if they neglect their vineyards. Fines of up to €5,000 per hectare may be imposed. Reading time:  1m 15s Read more --->>> https://lnkd.in/eFb_5FsJ #mundusvini #wineaward #winebusinessinternational #meininger #wbi

Where in the world are the oldest vineyards? Hint, not in Europe 🤔. And why are the wines from old vines good? Check out the short video in the link below with all the answers. Cheers!

Maximizing resource efficiency is a key factor that #SWOCertified wineries must taken into account. Maintaining both a winery and vineyard requires a lot of energy, which is why many SWO Certified wineries are designed with energy efficiency in mind.

Grape news from our partners in #NorthTexas. We couldn't resist having fun with this announcement from our friend Tony Kaai and the Denison Development Alliance. When you move or expand your business to #Texas, you will find partners like Tony who want to help you grow your business. It comes from a belief that if you succeed, our communities will succeed. Let our team help match you to communities in Texas that are a good fit for your business. It all starts with a simple message. Click the link in the comments to get the ball rolling. #EconDev #GonetoTexas #MovetoTexas #TexasEDC #EconomicDevelopment #Industrial #smallbusiness #Businessowners #commericalrealestate

What gives our wines their distinct character? Watch as winemaker, Martin Smith talks us through Paserene’s unique soils and terroirs. UP NEXT: Harvesting Processes Are you enjoying this series? Let us know in the comments 🍷 #paserene #paserenewinefarm #pasereneharvest #harvest2024 #franschhoek #wineharvest