Discovery

The Unknown Portugal
When we talk about Portugal and its wines, we have all heard, to a greater or lesser degree, about the historical wines of Porto, the Douro’s potent pours, the highly regarded Madeira and ‘Vinho Verde’ and its connoisseurs. However, there is much more to Portugal’s wine scene than these seminal regions, and wine enthusiasts have an undeniable soft spot for them.
Classic Beverage, a focus on sustainability and artisan wines
Classic Beverage was launched by Classic Fine Foods UK in June 2023 with the aim of expanding the company’s beverage portfolio. Jérôme Poussin, head of the beverage department, explains the company’s ethos, along with current trends in the UK market.
South America goes sparkling
Sparkling wines are beginning to make festive noises in South America and are rippling outwards to global markets. Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador are witnessing new developments that deserve a toast.
Prosit Group: From nought to sixty (markets) in five years
In just five years, Prosit Group has gone from inception to a holding company with five wineries, a US import company and sixty export markets to its credit. Its CEO Sergio Dagnino and marketing manager Luca Maruffa explain the ethos driving the group’s development, and its plans for the future.
The way to a German wine drinker’s heart
Germany is considered to be a notoriously difficult market in the consumer arena. In the 1990s, supermarket chains Migros (Switzerland), Delhaize (Belgium/USA) and Intermarché (France) successively attempted to enter the German market. Without success. Discount prices by rival companies and brand loyalty among German consumers proved to be insurmountable obstacles. But what about the Germans' taste in wine? Perhaps there is an opening for exporters, especially as domestic production, at 9 million hectolitres, only accounts for just under half of what Germans drink each year. So which wines do Germans prefer? Gilbert & Gaillard asked the experts in Germany.
Roussette, Savoy’s star grape variety
The snow-capped peaks and ski slopes in winter make way for sunshine and hiking in the summer across the steep mountain landscapes. This picture-postcard image recalls the most memorable moments spent in these unspoilt surroundings. Savoy’s vineyards are unique and can be likened to one big garden where the soils mirror the significant changes in geology, from the birth of the Alps to the emergence of part of the Jura mountain range.
How Portugal has achieved outstanding international success
Last February, over 150 Portuguese exhibitors took part in the fifth Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, underscoring just how significant Portugal has become in the international wine arena. Long focused on their domestic market, the country’s wine producers have garnered global acclaim and exports have risen accordingly. Frederico Falcão, chairman of Wines of Portugal, along with representatives from three Portuguese companies explain how this small wine revolution came about.