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space had no influence on the quality . However , differences in colour , persistence of aromas and taste were noted ”.
9 . The weather in France
French winemakers have just suffered the worst frost damage to their crops since the 1990 ’ s , causing fears to grow that grape vines could yield the smallest harvest for 40 years . The damage has threatened to destroy grape harvests in some of the country ' s best-known and most prestigious wine-producing regions . Wine producers across the country have had to light thousands of small fires near to their crops in a bid to protect their vines , and fruit trees , from frost and to prevent them from freezing ( the practice of lighting fires or candles near vines or fruit trees , to prevent the formation of frost , is a long-standing technique used in early spring when the first green shoots are vulnerable to the cold ). In Belgium too , after a heatwave a few weeks ago , there was snow . This , too , has caused real concern to those who run vineyards , to fruit growers and apparently to asparagus farmers too .
10 . Air rage
Recently the former Instagram model , Hannah Lee Pierson , appeared in Christchurch District Court ( New Zealand ) after threatening to blow up an Air New Zealand flight whilst en route from Melbourne to Auckland . This threat was part of an explicit laden rant after crew members refused to get her a glass of wine . According to reports she asked for a glass of wine when the cabin crew began serving food and beverages . Unfortunately , she was told it was not included in her fare . The air then turned blue , she became abusive towards the flight attendants on board and had to be handcuffed , and strapped to her seat , to keep her out of the galley of the aircraft . She has recently just pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly behaviour , and one of disruptive conduct , and has been remanded on bail to be sentenced in June …. all over a glass of wine !
All these ten stories , in their own way , tell us something - there is never anything dull or uninteresting about wine or the wine world . There is always a story to tell , a problem to overcome , but more than anything else , more and more great wines and wine regions to taste and discover . Over the last month I have not had the opportunity , nor the pleasure , of tasting wines that have either been aged in space or under the sea – but I have , as always , been digging to find decent wines at a decent price .
So , to conclude this month , here is a recommendation for you . A great little wine merchant called VinCognitio ( based in Putney , London ) sells some wonderful wines online . Recently I have purchased , and recommend : ( i ) their Sauvignon Gris , El Viejo del Valle , Casablanca Valley , Chile 2019 at £ 9.95 a bottle ( unbelievable value for a great wine , described as an alternative to Pouilly-Fumé ; ( ii ) their Pouilly-Fumé ‘ Caillottes ’, Corty Artisan , Loire , France 2019 at £ 22.96 a bottle ( a top class example of its type and worth every penny ); ( iii ) Odd Lot Pinot Noir , Scheid Family , Monterey , California 2017 at £ 9.95 a bottle ( unbelievable Californian pinot noir for under £ 10 – bargain !).
Enjoy your newfound freedom ! Enjoy your wine too ... but make sure , if you are booking a flight anywhere , that it is included in your fare !
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