Which country drinks the most wine? Perhaps this has changed due to the pandemic? In all of these countries (Italy, France, Portugal, Argentina), per capita wine consumption is high. But Portugal comes out on top with 16.4 gallons/62.1 liters of wine per person per year (for people over 15 years old). According to the OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine), the next three countries in descending order are France (13.3 gallons/50.2 liters), Italy (11.5 gallons/43.6 liters), and Switzerland (10 gallons/37.8 liters).
At any one time, there are one million wines available for sale around the world, according to Julian Perry, CEO of wine-searcher.com, the world’s largest database for wines, spirits, and beers. Wine Searcher was founded in 1998 by Martin Brown a former e-commerce manager for the prestigious London wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd.
Kendall Jackson’s new low-calorie chardonnay called Avant which will launch in May. Avant ($17) has 23% fewer calories (only 85) than Kendall-Jackson’s super popular Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay. The lower calorie count is the result of Avant’s lower alcohol—just 9% abv. The grapes for the wine are harvested early in the growing season when they contain less sugar.
Sauvignon Blanc is arguably the world’s greatest white grape, for its richness, herbal notes, complexity, minerality and aging potential. And while there are notable examples of Sauvignon Blanc produced in New Zealand, northern Italy, California and Chile (as well as a few other nations), my pick for the greatest example of Sauvignon Blanc is Sancerre from Loire.
Sancerre is a district in the Loire Valley wine territory in north-central France, named for the Loire River. Sancerre itself is a medieval town in the Upper Loire where Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are planted; Pinot Noir is used here to produce Sancerre Rouge and Sancerre Rosé.
But it is the white Sancerre, made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc, that is the most famous wine of in this district. Styles vary according to producer, but a typical Sancerre features aromas and flavors of stone fruit (apricot), white flowers and especially notes of freshly cut hay or a light herbaceous quality, such as yellow pepper or even asparagus. The wine is medium-full to full-bodied with many examples made without the influence of wood, although there are numerous oak-aged versions that are dazzling. The finish is often one with distinct mineral notes, as well as the same herbal character found in the aromas; the wines produced from flinty soils known as silex are especially singular in their flavor profiles. These are wines to be paired with rich seafood, game birds (pheasant) or goat cheese. (from Tom Hyland, Food and Drink, Forbes magazine)
Here are a few to try:
Domaine Vacheron Sancerre 2019
Pascal Cotat Sancerre La Grande Cote 2019
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre 2019 ($26)
Henri Bourgeois Les Barrones Blanc 2019
I love a good Sauvignon blanc or Sancerre. Try a few and let me know your favorites.
Many thanks to Winespeed for this great information.
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