Vinexpo Daily - Review Edition

NEWS
Napa Winemakers
on a Quality
Conquest of
Europe
Forty winemakers from
California’s Napa Valley were
exhibiting at Vinexpo Bordeaux
last week, on a mission to change
perception of the region’s wines.
They spearheaded the 525
wine makers grouped in the
association of Napa Vintners.
The group seeks to distance
Napa Valley wines from the rest
of California and drive home to
the thousands of European and
Asian buyers at the fair how
Napa Valley wines are subtler,
more nuanced and capable of
quality ageing.
Setting themselves apart, the
Napa Vintners thus had their
own pavilion, close to, but apart
from, the main California wines
booths.
Dana Osbourne, international
marketing manager, for Napa
Valley Vintners says that 150
years of tradition have resulted
in wines of the highest quality,
cultivated in one of the most
extraordinary places in the
world.
A three-year plan is in place to
change perceptions of Napa
vines so that they are seen to be
of distinct quality from California
A GRAND CRU OF… WATER
France is the world’s #1 exporter of mineral
water, and for the second time running,
Abatilles was designated as Vinexpo’s
Official Water in 2017, a partnership that
gives the brand worldwide visibility.
Indeed, after decades of being
underestimated, “premium waters” have
gained recognition as an indispensable
component of gastronomic meals. Like
wine, they are increasingly tantalising the
curiosity and appetite of consumers, who
can now appeal to a growing population of
specialists, such as water sommeliers, to find
out more and enjoy all the subtleties of these
very sought-after waters.
At the same time as enjoying a strong
regional position with national ramifications,
while Abatilles made its first steps towards
international recognition at Vinexpo 2015
- now exported to supply a dozen markets,
Vinexpo 2017 enabled Abatilles to develop
its outlook and do business with another ten
targeted countries •
wines in general. The plan will
explain why quality means that
prices may be higher, ranging
from $22 to as much as $225
a bottle and while quantities
available will be lower.
In contrast to their reputation,
production is small. Napa
produces only 4% of the total
California wine harvest; on
a global stage that accounts
for only four tenths of world
production.
Dana says that there is clear
evidence from media reaction
around the world that the
Napa strategy is working. “The
messages coming all sectors of
the media, bloggers and social
media emphasise quality. People
are beginning to understand
why Napa Valley wines are
The estate of the Dampt brothers, located
different.”
between Chablis and Tonnerre in the Yonne,
Not least, Napa Valley Vintners
offers, among other things, a beautiful
have a new generation of wine
palette of wines from the three valleys of the
drinkers in their sights. “There is
Yonne.
a new generation in Europe that
wants to venture outside their old
experiences” •
A TOUR OF THE YONNE –
WITH LE DOMAINE DAMPT FRÈRES
From the valley of the Armançon, the Tonnere
Burgundy and the Epineuil Burgundy will
sharpen one’s taste buds at aperitif time.
From the Yonne valley, Emmanuel and Eric
propose an Irancy village wine.
Following along the Serein valley, a little
Chablis born on the plateaus, as well as the
Chablis from the slopes and to crown the
lot, five Chablis Premier cru “Barbu”, “Les
Stoves”, “Vaucoupin”, “Mont de milieu”,
“Fourchaume”, as well as two rare Chablis
Grand cru «Bougros» which possesses a
particularly sharpened minerality, and “Les
Preuses” with a chalkier structure.
Eric and Emmanuel Dampt have been
working their vines in a “reasoned struggle”
since the creation of the estate in the
1980s and say they wish to pass on their
knowledge and the love of their terroir to
future generations •
8 VINEXPO DAILY / REVIEW EDITION / FRIDAY 30 TH JUNE