It's a hard life, no doubt (Bodegas Margon, Spain)

prieto picudo old vine planted ca 1920 Bodegas Margon , DO Tierra de Leon , Pajares de los Oteros spain castile and leon

-

Bodegas Margon, Tierra de Leon, Castilla y Leon, Spain, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Bodegas Margon is the creating of the two families Martinez and Gonzalez in the Léon region. It is located in the small village Pajeres de Los Oteros in Castilla y Leon (Castile and Leon) in north-west Spain. The DO (Denominacion de Origen) is Tierra de Leon.

The bodega was created only a few years ago so the winery has been built recently. Nothing seems to have been spare in equipping the winery with the latest vinification technologies. There are shining stainless steel tanks as well as handsome wooden fermentation vats. There is a barrel aging room filled with oak barriques for the aging of the wines. The winery is run by the oenologist and winemaker Raul Perez Pereira together with Eugenio Gonzalez Rubio and Alfredo Martinez Cuervo, co-owners.

The main grape variety for the wines is the local prieto picudo. The vines grow on dry land, are planted with a very low planting density (there is so little water so the density must be kept low), some are approaching a hundred years. They make a range of wines, all under the brand Pricum (perhaps unfortunately chosen, for the English market). For example: Pricum Rosado; Pricum Albarin Barrica made from the albariño grape variety and aged in wood, Pricum Albarin Valdemuz a white wine where albariño is blended with verdejo; the red wines Pricum Prieto Picudo, Valdemuz and Paraje de El Santo, and a sweet white Pricum Aldebaran Vendimia Tardiva.

http://www.bodegasmargon.com

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Castilla y Leon Tierra de Leon Bodegas Margon - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Holy Mary! What a building! And what mussels! (Leon, Spain)

Santa Maria de Regla cathedral Plaza de Regla , Leon spain castile and leon

[And since this is not really wine related (will be back on theme next post!) here is a bonus food picture.]



mussels in tomato sauce restaurant Imprenta Casado Leon spain castile and leon

-

Leon, Castilla y Leon, Spain, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Leon is a city in the region of Castilla y Leon (Castile and Leon) in north-west Spain. I arrived there being on a wine tour of the wine district in this part of Spain. I only wish I had had more time in Leon. It seemed like an interesting city.

Leon is the capital of the province of Leon with a population of 140,000 people. It is on the Bernesga river and also on the pilgrimage route Camino de Santiago leading to Santiago de Compostela on the Atlantic coast.

There are many sites and interesting buildings in Leon. some examples: the magnificent Gothic Santa Maria de Regla cathedral on Plaza de Regla, the Casa de Botines designed by Antoni Gaudi, the Palacio de Guzmanes etc etc.

There are also many restaurants and cafés of course. One to mention in particular is the restaurant Imprenta Casado where we had a wonderful lunch with some excellent wines from Castilla y Leon.

Time to go back?

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Castilla y Leon Leon city - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson


If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Las Medulas (Castilla y Leon, Spain)

Las Medulas Roman gold mine spain castile and leon

[This is one of those scene that are absolutely incredibly spectacular in real life but the grandeur and impression is difficult to convey in a small image.]

-

Las Medulas Roman gold mine, el Bierzo, Castilla y Leon, Spain, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Las Medulas is an incredible man-made landscape in northern Spain in Castile y Leon.

This is how Wikipedia describes it: "Las Médulas is a historical site near the town of Ponferrada in the region of El Bierzo (province of León, Castile and León, Spain), which used to be the most important gold mine in the Roman Empire. Las Médulas Cultural Landscape is listed by the UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites.

The spectacular landscape of Las Médulas resulted from the Ruina Montium, a Roman mining technique described by Pliny the Elder in 77 AD consisted of undermining the mountain with large quantities of water supplied by at least seven long aqueducts tapping the rivers in the nearby mountains. The same aqueducts were used to wash the extensive gold deposits, a precursor of Californian hydraulic mining. The area Hispania Tarraconensis had been invaded in 25 BC by the emperor Augustus, so the mining was initiated some time after the region had been subdued."

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Castilla y Leon El Bierzo Las Medulas Roman gold mine - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Cap on for Bierzo (Bodegas y Vinedos Agribergidum)

bottle neck with control seal Bodega Agribergidum, DO Bierzo, Pieros-Cacabelos spain castile and leon

-

Bodegas y Vinedos Agribergidum, el Bierzo, Castilla y Leon, Spain, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Bodegas y Vinedos Agribergidum is a winery in El Bierzo in Castilla y Leon (Castile and Leon) in north-west Spain, in Pieros-Cacabelos. It seems that they have recently changed name to Godelia Bodegas y Vinedos (http://www.godelia.es). It was founded in 1994 and has according to some sources 65 hectares of vineyards.

They make a range of different wines, including reds and sparkling. They bottle their wines under various brand names. Fructus is a wine made from the mencia grape variety, grown in vineyards in Pieros y Cacabelos and vinified with carbonic maceration. Encomienda Templaria is another red wine made from mencia has been aged for seven months in French and American oak. Odorus is a white wine made from the godello grape. Castro Bergidum is made in a red, white and rosé variant from mencia. There is also a Roble version aged for some time in wood.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Castilla y Leon El Bierzo Bodegas y Vinedos Agribergidum - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

What do wine writers actually do? (Castilla y Leon, Spain)

A lot of knee-bending!

(Glimpses from a wine tour with the Circle of Wine Writers in Castilla y Leon)



tempranillo and Gabriella Opaz, Catavino journalist Bodegas Vinas del Cenit, DO Tierra del Vin de Zamora spain castile and leon



Brett Jones kneeling in a vineyard, taking a photo , Pajares de los Oteros spain castile and leon



Carla Capalbo, journalist, photographing a prieto picudo vine, with Quentin Sadler planted ca 1920 Bodegas Margon , DO Tierra de Leon , Pajares de los Oteros spain castile and leon



three long shadows on the walking path up to Las Medulas viewpoint spain castile and leon

But there is also the occasional bistro:



hotel el convento restaurant interior , Coreses spain castile and leon

And one can always hope that there will be someone caring for reformed wine writers too!



XIVth bull fighting festival for the benefit of rehabilitated alcoholics , Zamora spain castile and leon


Castilla y Leon CWW - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Sticks and stones - will make good wine (Bodega Frutos Villar, Spain)

tempranillo old vine gobelet training gravelly soil bodegas frutos villar , cigales spain castile and leon

-

Bodega Frutos Villar, Cigales, Castilla y Leon, Spain, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Bodega Frutos Villar is a winery in the Cigales DO (Denominacion de Origen) in Castilla y Leon (Castile and Leon) in Spain. Cigales is a small town close to the city of Valladolid where they have their Bodegas Calderona winery. Frutos Villar has a long history starting as a wine trading company in the DO of Toro. It is now also active in the wine regions Rueda, Ribera del Duero, and Vino Tierra de Castilla y Leon.

Bodega Frutos Villar makes a wide range of wine under various brands: Conde de Siruela, Muruve, Calderona, Miralmonte, Conde Ansurez, Riberal, Don Frutos / vina Morejona, and Tasco.

The vineyards of Bodega Frutos Villar are mainly planted with the tempranillo grape variety for the red wines. For the rosé wines they use verdejo, tempranillo, albillo, and garnacha (grenache). They also make some white wine from e.g. verdejo and sauvignon blanc.

The winery is large scale and modern, with a mix of traditional installations and modern technology (eg a centrifuge for clarifying the wines). Some of the wines are aged in wooden barrels in the oak aging cellar. But in the village of Cigales they also have some very traditional and old fashioned underground cellars. On the outskirts of town there is an area with what looks like giant ant hills. In fact, it is the entrances to a vast labyrinth of hand-dug underground wine making and wine storing cellars. Today some of them are still used for wine making and others are used for receptions.

http://bodegasfrutosvillar.com

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Castilla y Leon Cigales Bodegas Frutos Villar - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Snow in the vineyard.

The Le Meal vineyard. The Hermitage vineyards on the hill behind the city Tain-l'Hermitage, on the steep sloping hill, stone terraced. Sometimes spelled Ermitage. Vineyards under snow in seasonably exceptional weather in April 2005. Tain l'Hermitage, Drome, Drôme, France, Europe

[Seemed like an appropriate image choice a day like this]

-

Vineyards and snow, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Vineyards under snow. Snow in the vineyards is not necessarily a good thing. Quite the contrary actually. When it is snowing it is usually not very cold. It is the very cold weather that can be dangerous for the vines. In addition, the snow can be somewhat of an insulation against too cold ground temperature. It also adds water to the ground, slowly, as the snow melts, which can be good for the wines. Much better than heavy rain which can cause soil erosion in the vineyard.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Vineyard: under snow - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Weeping vine (Bodegas Concejo, Spain)

a vine weeping, dripping sap at pruning cut Bodegas Concejo (previously called Pilcar), DO Cigales , Valoria la Buena spain castile and leon

-

Bodega Concejo, Cigales, Castilla y Leon, Spain, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Concejo Bodegas is a family winery originally called Bodega Pilcar. It is located to the north east of Valladolid in northern Spain, in Castilla y Leon (Castile and Leon). You will find it near the village Valoria la Buena where they also run a hotel. The winery was founded long ago by the grandparents of Enrique Concejo, the current winemaker. Their names were Pilar and Carlos, whence the original name of the bodega.

Bodega Concejo has 25 hectares of vines in the DO Cigales. 15 ha are planted with the grape variety tino fino (tempranillo). At harvest, when the grapes arrive at the winery, they are sorted and then destemmed. After a light crushing they are put in stainless steel tanks for fermentation. When fermentation is finished the wine is transferred to oak barrels for some cuvees whereas others are kept in tank.

Bodega Concejo makes four different ranges of wines: Vina Concejo, with some aging in American and Franch barriques, Carreduenas Rosado (rosé) and Roble (oak aged), Suarenas Rosado and Roble, and Cutoli which is a white wine made from verdejo grapes.

http://www.concejobodegas.com

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Castilla y Leon Cigales Bodegas Concejo Pilcar - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Ever tasted a 40 yr old rosé? I did. (Bodegas Otero, Spain)

Was it fresh and fruity? Of course not. But very much still alive!

glass with 1970 rosado rose wine , Bodegas Otero, Benavente spain castile and leon

-

Bodegas Otero, Vinos de la Tierra Valles de Benavente, Castilla y Leon, Spain, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Bodegas Otero, Vinos de la Tierra Valles de Benavente – Bodegas Otero is a hundred year old family wine business in the town of Benavente in the region of Zamora in Castile and Leon (Castilla y Leon) in northern Spain. Amazingly, the family business is still located in the same place as it was in 1911 when don Juan Otero Colino opened a shop selling wine there.

The wine making business of Bodegas Otero really started in 1853 after a new winery had been built. Even the winery is at the same location as 100 years ago. It shows a mix of tradition and modern technology. There are old concrete fermentation tanks as well as more modern temperature controlled stainless steel vats. (A curiosity: there’s an almost antique washing machine!) Some of the wines are aged in oak barrel.

The wines made at Otero are mainly what is called Vino de Calidad (quality wine) from the region of Valles de Benavente. It is located in north western Spain, just on the edge of Portugal. Bodegas Otero makes wine from their own vineyards and from grapes harvested in the vineyards of some 300 independent grape growers. The grape are both of relatively well know varieties and specific autochthonous for the region: prieto picudo, tempranillo, mencia, verdejo, malvasia, garnacha, and even cabernet sauvignon. Bodegas Otero makes a range of different wines. Their main wine labels are Otero Tinto Reserva, Pago de Valleoscuro, El Cubeto, Vina Alegre, Panduco, and Pena Trevinca. Some are made in both red, white and rosé / rosado versions.

http://www.bodegasotero.es

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Castilla y Leon Benavente Bodegas Otero - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

This way please for wine and cheese! (Bodega La Setera, Spain)

Cheese and wine shop Bodega La Setera, DO Arribes del Duero spain castile and leon

-

La Setera, Arribes, Castilla y Leon, Spain, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

La Setera is a small family run wine and cheese farm in Spain, in the tiny village Fornillos de Fermosells in the Zamora region (Castilla y Leon / Castille and Leon). The winery is in Arribes del Duero (or DO Denominacion de Origen Arribes). Arribes del Duero is a long drive west from Valladolid taking you almost to the Portuguese border. The landscape is barren, dry hills, bush vegetation, scattered vineyards, but also spectacular when you get close to the winding Douro river.

La Setera started making cheese in 1993 and wine in 2003. It is run by the Spanish-English couple Sara Groves-Raines and Francisco José (Patxi) Martinez. Bodega La Setera makes only 12,500 bottles of wine per year. The vineyard is planted with vines spaced wide, water is a limited resource. In the tiny winery the grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks. Some wines are aged in wooden barrels. La Setera makes red, rose and white wines: La Setera Blanco Malvasia, Rosado, La Setera Tinto Crinaza, Tinto Joven, Tinto Roble (oak aged) and Tinto Roble Seleccion Especial, all sold at very modest price. They also make a sweet wine from merlot (!) grapes. The red and rosado wines are made from the grape vine variety "juan garcia" giving dense wines with a pronounced acidity and good structure. The white wine is made from malvasia grapes.

La Setera is also a "queseria", a cheese making dairy. They produce 5000 goat cheeses per year. The cheese is hand made, stored and aged in a cheese 'aging room'. During the aging process the cheese gains in flavour and gets a hard crust. They also make a blue cheese, Queso Azul.

http://www.lasetera.es

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Castilla y Leon Arribes del Duero Bodega La Setera - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Still waiting for the dinner invitation? (Clos de Vougeot, Burgundy)

The Clos de Vougeot 16th century monastery and vineyard and the les Petits Vougeots vineyard, Burgundy, Bourgogne, France

-

Clos de Vougeot, Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Clos de Vougeot (or Clos Vougeot) is a vineyard in the commune of Vougeot in the Cote de Nuits in Cote d’Or in burgundy. In its centre there is an old medieval monastery, called the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot.

The Clos de Vougeot has some 50 hectares, which makes it the biggest grand “vineyard” (perhaps more accurately, grand cru appellation) in Cote de Nuits (Bourgogne). It was created in the medieval age by the Cistercian monks from the Citeaux Abbey.

The vineyard is enclosed by a stone wall, hence the prefix “clos”. It produces red wines from the pinot noir grape (a small portion of chardonnay, pinot blanc and pinot gris is allowed). Clos de Vougeot is also famous for the large number of owners who each own a plot of the “vineyard”. The number varies depending on the source, sometimes quoted as high as 80. Jasper Morris lists 41 in his book on Burgundy. The truth is probably in between. Some of the land owners do not make wine themselves but sell grapes or must to others. Since it is a very well known grand cru appellation many négociant consider it important to be able to offer a Clos de Vougeot wine to their customers.

Each year there is a famous festive dinner given at the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot. It is the Confrerie des Chevalies du Tastevin who gives their great annual dinner.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Vougeot Chateau du Clos de Vougeot - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Must be a while since the hose-keeper came and dusted (Domaine Doudet-Naudin, Burgundy)

Old bottles in the cellars of Domaine Doudet-Naudin chalk board savigny-les-beaune cote de beaune burgundy france

-

Domaine Doudet-Naudin, Savigny-les-Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine Doudet-Naudin is a mid sized wine estate in Savigny-les-Beaunes in Côte de Beaune in burgundy (Cote d’Or). It was founded in 1849 and is still in the hands of the same family. Today it is to a great extent Isabelle Doudet who is in charge of wine making, together with Emmanuel Berteloot.

The vineyards of Domaine Doudet-Naudin are primarily in the Cote de Beaune, in a number of different appellations, for example: Savigny-les-Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Beaune, and Aloxe Corton. They also make Bourgogne Aligoté and Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune, and a grand cru Corton. Chardonnay and pinot noir are of course the main grape varieties.

They make wine both from their own vineyards and from bought in grapes and must, thus being both a vine grower, wine maker and négociant. In the vineyards they practice ‘culture raisonée’ spraying as little as possible but not excluding treatments if need be. They do not use chemical weed killers but prefer mechanical de-weeding with ploughs. they limit yields with strict pruning and debudding early in the season. The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted at two sorting tables. After fermentation most of the wines are aged in oak barrels. The time in wood depends on the vintage and on the appellation. In their cellar they also have a ‘library’ of older vintages, aging slowly in bottle, for future generations.

http://www.doudet-naudin.fr

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Savigny les Beaune Domaine Doudet Naudin - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Water? No, definitely not! (Domaine Edmond Monnot et Fils, Bourgogne)

silicone bung on barrel with glass domaine edmond monnot & fils santenay cote de beaune burgundy france

-

Domaine Edmond Monnot et Fils, Maranges, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine Edmond Monnot et Fils is a family owned wine estate in Dezize-lès-Maranges in Maranges, near Santenay in Côte de Beaune in Burgundy (Côte d’Or). Today it is run by Edmond Monnot and his son Stephane.

Comaine E Monnot has around 15 hectares of vines. The vineyards are situated in mainly in the Maranges and Santenay appellations in central Burgundy. They have a small winery in the centre of the village of Dezize. The make a range of several different cuvees: AOC Bourgogne, village appellations and premier crus. the whites are made from the chardonnay grape variety and the reds are pure pinot noir. The wines are vinified traditionally. After fermentation some of the wines are aged in oak barrels. The time in wood depends on the vintage and on the cuvee.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Maranges Domaine Edmond Monnot - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

There's a fire inside (Claude Gillet Tonnellerie Cooper, Saint Romain, Burgundy)

Toasting a barrel with fire on the inside tonnellerie claude gillet st romain cote de beaune burgundy france

-

Claude Gillet Tonnellerie Cooperage, Saint Romain, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

The Tonnellerie Claude Gillet cooperage in Saint Romain (Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy) was founded in 1966 and is still very much family owned and operated. It is one of the smaller barrel makers but their barrels can be found in wineries all over the world.

Tonnellerie Claude Gilet cooper has a wide range of products. The barrels are virtually all made from oak and can be had in many different sizes: The traditional Burgundy pièce of 228 litres, the Bordeaux barrique barrel of 225 l, demi-muids of 600 litres as well as many other sizes.

The wood raw material (oak staves, douelles) is aged over an extended period of time outside - up to three years. The staves are cut and shaped into the oblong forms by a machine but the barrel is then put together by hand. An important part of the process is the 'chauffe' or the toasting of the inside. The interior of the barrel is toasted (burned) by an open fire. Depending on the length of the toasting the chauffe is light (légère), medium (moyenne), medium plus (M+), or strong (forte).

The oak vats from Claude Gillet are sold to wineries and winemakers all over the world who use them to age their wines for a short or long period of time in their wine cellars.

http://www.tonnellerie-gillet.com

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Saint Romain Claude Gillet Tonnellerie Cooper - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

More fun than watering the plants! (Domaine Parent, Pommard, Burgundy)

topping up wine barrels domaine parent pommard cote de beaune burgundy france

-

Domaine Parent, Pommard, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine Parent is one of the leading properties in Pommard. They are just off the main square in the village centre of Pommard. Pommard is in the Côte de Beaune, the next village south from Beaune, perhaps one of the most famous appellations in the Côte d’Or (Burgundy). Today the property is run by the sisters Anne and Catherine Parent.

Domaine Parent has some 10 hectares of vineyards planted mainly with pinot noir for the red wines and chardonnay for the white wines. They also operate as a négociant, buying grapes from other wine growers, to supplement the production. The négociant business is approximately twice the size as their own vineyards’ wine production.

The winemaking is in the hands of Anne Parent. There is a lot of attention to detail. Brapes are hand picked and sorted on a sorting table. Fermentation is done with the natural yeast from the grapes. Some pigeage, punching down, is done. After fermentation the wines are aged for some time in wooden barrels (the Burgundy pièces).

Domaine Parent makes a range of Burgundy wines: from the Bourgogne Blanc (Chardonnay) and Bourgogne Rouge, over village appellation wines from Pommard, Ladoix Serrigny, Monthelie, Volnay and Beaune and a series of premier cru wines from Pommard, as well as grand cru from Corton.

http://domaine-parent-bourgogne.com/

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Pommard Domaine Parent - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Taking the temperature of the new-born (Domaine Gachot-Monot, Burgundy)

pinot noir fermenting must and grapes with thermometer domaine gachot-monot nuits saint georges cote de nuits burgundy france

-

Domaine Gachot-Monot, Corgoloin, Nuits Saint Georges, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine Gachot-Monot is a family owned wine estate since five generations back. Today it is managed by Damien Gachot-Monot and his Danish born wife Liselotte. The winery in located in Corgoloin in the Côte de Nuits (Côte d'Or, Burgundy).

Domaine Gachot-Monot has 12 hectares of vineyards in the communes of Corgoloin, Comblanchien and Nuits Saint Georges. The vineyards are managed in what is called 'culture raisonnée' i.e. minimal chemical spraying, but if there is an urgent need some treatments are used. The vineyards are densely planted with some 10,000 vines per hectare. The grape varieties are pinot noir and chardonnay for the major part. Some gamay is used for the Passetoutgrains and some Aligoté for the whites.

The grapes are harvested by hand and vinified in traditional Burgundian open-top concrete vats. Some pigeage (punching down) is done. Temperature is controlled within certain limits. Depending on the vintage and the cuvée the wines are fully or partially aged in oak vats (Burgundian pièces) in the barrel cellar.

Domaine Gachot-Monot makes several different cuvees but since most of the vineyards are in the Nuits St Georges the appellations that is the focus of their production: Nuits St Georges 'villages' as well as premier cru (several different cuvees), Bourgogne Rouge, Passetoutgrain, Bourgogne Blanc, Aligoté and even a crémant de Bourgogne.

They are located virtually half way between Beaune and Nuits Saint George, the two main towns in Burgundy.

http://www.gachot-monot.com

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Nuits Saint Georges Domaine Gachot Monot - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Our latest wine newsletter is out

The new issue of our wine newsletter, the BKWine Brief is out. #88 with plenty of wine news and some opinions. And some recommendations on wine producers and restaurants.

Read it here, or why not subscribe? It's free:
http://www.bkwine.com/bkwine_brief/bkwine_brief.htm

Read more...

This is what comes out of the destemmer (Clos des Langres, Domaine d'Ardhuy, Burgundy)

pinot noir Stems and stalks after destemming clos des langres domaine d'ardhuy nuits-st-georges cote de nuits burgundy france

-

Clos des Langres, Domaine d’Ardhuy, Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine d’Ardhuy owns two wine estates: the Domaine d’Ardhuy at Clos des Langres in Burgundy and the Domaine de la Cabotte in the Rhône Valley. The Domaine d’Ardhuy in Bourgogne is located magnificently in the ‘monopole’ vineyard Clos des Langres in Corgoloin where it has a charming winery in the middle of the vineyards. The Clos des Langres is just one of several vineyard plots the Domaine d’Ardhuy owns in Burgundy but it is certainly their best known cuvée.

In total they have 42 hectares of vines in several different appellations in Burgundy in both the Côte de Nuits and the Cote de Beaune. Their wines range from regional appellations (Bourgogne Rouge and Blanc), over 14 village appellation, 15 premiers crus appellations to 6 grands crus (in Corton and Vougeot). Both red wines from pinot noir and white wines from chardonnay are made. The Clos des Langres vineyard is an AOC Côte de Nuits Village 'monopole' (single ownership) located just north of Ladoix and a bit south of Nuits Saint Georges.

The vineyards are managed in ‘lutte raisonnée’ which means minimal use of chemical fertilisers or treatments. The soils are worked mechanically. To fight the grape worm they use sexual confusion pheromones. Vinification is traditional. Most of the red grapes are destemmed, but a small percentage may keep their stems. The grapes (or the must for the whites) are then put in fermentation tanks. Some pigeage (punching down of the cap) is done on the reds. Some of the wines are aged in wooden barrels in the barrel cellar under the main building. Carel Voorhuis, a Dutchman, is in charge of the winemaking.

http://www.ardhuy.com

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.


Bourgogne Cote de Nuits Clos des Langres Domaine d'Ardhuy - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Not goldilocks. Goldi-drops! (Domaine Coche-Bizouard, Burgundy)

old bottles in the cellar meursault goutte d'or premier cru 1997 chalk board domaine coche bizouard meursault cote de beaune burgundy france

-

Domaine Coche-Bizouard, Meursault, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine Coche-Bizouard is a family owned wine estate in Meursault. Meursault is one of the most famous wine villages in the Côte de Beaune in Côte d'Or, Burgundy's central district. The winery is in the village of Meursault itself but the 10 hectares of vineyards they have are spread out over several communes: In addition to Meursault they also have vineyards in other villages in Burgundy: Pommard, Auxey-Duresse and Monthelie.

The work in the vineyards is traditional. They use plough the soil rather than use chemical treatments. Work in the wine cellar is equally traditional. Vinification is in vats and careful ageing in oak barrels with varying length of time in wood depending on the cuvee and the vintage. They are also using some modern winemaking techniques, such as a vibrating sorting table.

Domaine Coche-Bizouard makes both red and white wines but being in Meursault the whites, made from chardonnay, takes pre-eminence. For the reds they use the classic Bourgogne red grape variety, pinot noir. They also make small quantities of gamay. They have several different vineyard plots and each plot is made into a separate cuvee. Their list of wines extends up to almost 20 different labels.

http://www.coche-bizouard.com

Domaine Maurice Protheau, Château d'Etroyes, Mercurey, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.


Bourgogne Meursault Domaine Coche Bizouard stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

What is wrong with this picture? (Domaine Protheau, Burgundy)

barrel aging cellar domaine protheau mercurey burgundy france

-

Domaine Maurice Protheau, Château d’Etroyes, Mercurey, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine Maurice Protheau et Fils, to give its full name, also operates under the name Château d’Etroyes. It is an old family wine estate, founded in 1720, in the Mercurey area in Côte Chalonnaise in southern Burgundy.

Domaine Protheau has some 70 hectares in total, 50 of them in the Côte Chalonnaise. Their main holdings are in the appellations of Mercurey and Rully. They follow what is called culture raisonnée (sometimes translated to sustainable agriculture) with minimal chemical spraying. They are progressively returning to mechanical ploughing of the soils to aerate it and to encourage root growth.

The red wines are made from pinot noir grapes and the whites from chardonnay. In the early 2000s the Domaine Protheau changed the vinification methods from a traditional tannic style to a more modern fruit oriented style. The wines are vinified in stainless steel tanks in the wine cellar. Some of the cuvees are then aged in wood in the barrel cellar.

The Domaine Protheau / Chateau d’Etroyes makes a wide range of wines: regional red and white Bourgogne, Bourgogne Aligoté and even a sparkling crémant, as well as a series of “village” Burgundies from Rully and Mercurey. They also have red and white premier crus.

http://www.domaine-protheau-mercurey.fr/

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Mercurey Domaine Protheau - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Degrees of separation - never shall the two meet (Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Portugal)

Vineyards. Oak trees. Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Alentejo, Portugal

-

Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Alentejo, Portugal, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Herdade da Malhadinha Nova in the Alentejo region in Portugal is located some two hours' drive from Lisbon. It is run by the two brothers Joao and Paulo Soares together with their families. The Soares family bought a run down old farm house but became so enthused by the region that the decided to restore it and the vineyards to a perfect state. The Malhadinha Nova vineyard is primarily on schist soil planted with Portuguese grape varieties: touriga naciional, aragones, trincadeira, alicante bouschet, alfrocheiro, arinto, roupeiro antao vaz, as well as international varieties: syrah, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay. They make a range of wines under different labels: Malhadinha, Monte Beceguina, Pequeno Joao, Marias da Malhadinha as well as varietal labels. At the vineyard they also have a restaurant serving local specialities, e.g. dry cured ham from the black Alentejo pig and traditional local stews. They have also built a small luxury hotel on the grounds.

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Alentejo Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Alentejo Portugal sample stock photo - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Just before the big squeeze (Domaine Michel Juillot, Burgundy)

horisontal vaslin grape press chardonnay domaine michel juillot mercurey burgundy france

-

Domaine Michel Juillot, Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine Michel Juillot is a family run winery. It is on the main street in the village of Mercurey in Côte Chalonnaise in southern Burgundy. The estate is today run by Laurent Juillot, the current generation winemaker, although his father, Michel, is always close by. They have in total 33 hectares of vineyards, most of it in the Mercurey appellation but some in other parts of Burgundy.

The Domaine Michel Juillot property makes a whole range of wines, from Bourgogne Blanc and Rouge (and even some rosé), over Mercurey and also a little Côte de Beaune (from Aloxe Corton, including both a red and white grand cru). The white wines are made from chardonnay grapes and the reds mainly from pinot noir.

The winery is located a short walk away from the main building, on the edge of the Mercurey village, with its back to the vineyards. The vinification is traditional. Grapes are harvested by machine or by hand, are brought in to the winery and pressed (for the whites). Fermentation is steel tanks. Some wines are aged in oak barrels.

Domaine Michel Juillot produces each year around 180,000 bottles of Burgundy wine. The total production is sold in bottle.

http://www.domaine-michel-juillot.fr

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Mercurey Domaine Michel Juillot - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...

Ahhh, very nice! (Domaine Olivier Guyot, Burgundy)

glass of wine on a barrel in cellar domaine guyot marsannay-la-cote cote de nuits burgundy france

-

Domaine Olivier Guyot, Marsannay-la-Côte, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

THIS IS ONLY A SELECTION OF SAMPLES. Use the image SEARCH function to find more relevant photos.

Domaine Guyot (or Dom. Olivier Guyot, or Domaine Guyot Albert et Olivier) is a family run winery in the northern Cote de Nuits in Cote d’Or in Burgundy. Olivier Guyot has been in charge of the estate since the early 1990s. The total vineyard area is 15 hectares. The vineyards are both in Marsannay-la-Côte and in Gevrey-Chambertin.

The vineyards at Domaine Olivier Guyot are farmed bio-dynamically, and thus of course also organic. However, Guyot does not adhere to any organisation so has no official organic or biodynamic label. He considers it is too much of an administrative burden. Domaine Olivier Guyot is one of the small number of vineyards in Burgundy who use a horse for the work in the vineyards. They have a work horse called Indigo that is used for ploughing and soil preparation. (Many people think soil compacting due to use of heavy tractors is a problem in modern farming.). In the vineyard Olivier works with careful management of the vines: leave-thinning and crop-thinning as needed, to produce high quality grapes and concentrated yet elegant wines.

Domaine Guyot makes a range of Burgundy wines, both red from pinot noir, white from chardonnay (e.g a Bourgogne Blanc), and even the in Burgundy rarely seen rosé. They also make a white from aligoté grapes, Bourgogne Aligoté. In addition to vineyards in Marsannay-la-Côte they have vineyard plots in Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, and Morey-Saint-Denis.

http://www.domaineguyot.fr

All images © copyright Per Karlsson, BKWine. Images may not be used without our permission.


Bourgogne Marsannay Domaine Olivier Guyot - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

If you want to see more photos on this: follow the link above.

- TIP 1: You can 'grab' this slide show and embed it on your site. Click the 'share' button.

- TIP 2: Click the 'full screen' button if you want to see the images in larger size.

Read more...