Ashes and coal? No, vineyard soil - black slate. (Domaine Piquemal, Roussillon, France)

Soil detail. Slate. The black soil. Called Terres Brulees, burnt soil. Domaine Piquemal, Espira de l'Agly, Roussillon, France

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Domaine Piquemal, Espira de l'Agly, Roussillon, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Domaine Piquemal is a family property in the village of Espira de l'Agly in Roussillon in the south of France. It is in the Vallée de l'Agly valley just south of the Corbieres mountain range. The winery was established in its present form by Pierre Piquemal in the 70s. Today it is managed by Franck and Marie-Pierre, son and daughter of Annie and Pierre.

Piquemal has some 48 ha of vineyards. The vineyards are split up over several different plots with very different soil types. The terroir includes black schist, stones and pebbles, clay-limestone and others. The vineyards are planted with a variety of grape varieties. There are traditional Roussillon vines, such as grenache and carignan, as well as more international varieties, merlot, cabernet sauvignon etc, from which they make varietal wines.

The winery is equipped with modern vinification tools while still maintaining tradition. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks, grapes are sorted if necessary on a sorting table, fermentation is temperature controlled etc. Some of the wines are aged in oak barrel before bottling.

http://www.domaine-piquemal.com/

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


Roussillon Domaine Piquemal stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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Millefeuille? No, vineyard soil. (Domaine Boucabeille, France)

Flaky flakey rock soil schist slate. Domaine Boucabeille, Corneilla la Riviere, Roussillon, France

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Domaine Boucabeille, Roussillon, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Domaine Boucabeille is a small family owned winery in the Roussillon area in the south of France. Today it is Jean Boucabeille who manages the property, works the vineyards and makes the wines in the cave. He has taken over from his father, Régis, although Monsieur Boucabeille senior still gives a helping hand.

The vineyards extend over 18 ha split up on different parcels. Some are beautifully located on the slopes of the Força Real hill. The vines planted in the vineyards are a mix of syrah, mourvèdre, grenache and carignan, a classic blend for the region. Domaine Boucabeille also makes some white wines from maccabeu and viognier. The names of the cuvees are: Le Blanc and Le Rosé, unsurprisingly, and for the reds Les Terrasses, Monte Nero, and Les Orris (which also exists in white). The wines are full-bodied with plenty of fruit and freshness. Some get a careful élevage in oak barrel.

http://www.boucabeille.com/

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


Roussillon Domaine Boucabeille stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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The very first Mas de Daumas Gassac (Languedoc, France)

The first vintage 1978, 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Pinot and Tannat. Back label. Domaine du Mas de Daumas Gassac. in Aniane. Languedoc. France. Europe. Bottle.

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Languedoc, Mas de Daumas Gassac, Stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Mas de Daumas Gassac is perhaps one of the more famous wineries in the Languedoc. It is not far from a small town called Aniane. It was once considered a pioneer in the development of quality wines from the Languedoc region, a position that is perhaps less obvious today.

The story is quite well known, not least propagated by the estate itself, how a wealthy glove-maker, Aimé Guibert, from the Massif Central went to the Languedoc to buy a house for the family. They found the house that they named Mas de Daumas Gassac. A friend of theirs happened to be a geology professor at the wine university in Bordeaux, Henri Enjalbert. He is said to have looked at the soil (that was not at all used for wine growing at the time) and exclaimed that it was soil of similar quality to the Grand Crus in Burgundy. The Giberts started to plant vines to create their first vineyard. For some reason they planted cabernet sauvignon vines – in spite of the apparent link to Burgundy. They also enlisted the help of another great Bordelais professor, Emile Peynaud.

In 1978 they made their first wine, a cuvée made from 80% cabernet sauvignon. The wine was labelled as Vin de Table. At the time they were certainly a precursor in the move towards quality wines in the Languedoc, but today the innovation and initiative is has perhaps moved into the hands of many other producers.

Today Mas de Daumas Gassac makes a whole range of wines, both from their own vineyards and as négoiciants, from bought-in grapes: the Mas in red, white, sparkling rosé variant. The Moulin de Gassac range with a large number for different wine and some other products.

http://www.daumas-gassac.com

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


Languedoc Mas de Daumas Gassac - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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One of France's driest regions (Chateau Pech Redon, La Clape, France)

Chateau Pech-Redon. La Clape. Languedoc. France. Europe. Vineyard.

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Languedoc, La Clape, Chateau Pech-Redon, Stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Chateau Pech-Redon is a wine estate in the La Clape district in Languedoc. To get there you drive up a winding road to the top of the La Clape mountain on the coast to the Mediterranean. It is not really far from the city of Narbonne but it feels remote and rustic. Far into the country side, a wild and well preserved landscape, in spite it not being far from the beaches.

La Clape is a mountain range (mountain top would be more correct) that once was an island but is now connected to the mainland. It has one of France’s lowest rainfalls and can get quite hot in summer. It is also an area where you can find rare flowers and of course the garrigue, the wild herbs, so typical both for the Languedoc landscape and for the Languedoc wines. La Clape recently became an appellation (AOC / AOP) in its own right after previously have been part of the greater Languedoc.

Chateau Pech Redon is run by Christophe Bousquet, a very talented winemaker. His winery is, like the landscape, rustic with not too much modern technology. It is housed in an old barn. Christophe makes a range of wines, some very unique cuvees from e.g. very unusual grapes. Lithos is a barrel aged cuvée. L’Eperview is a wine made from a majority of syrah mixed with grenache. Les Cades is not aged in wood at all. It is made from a blend of syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, carignan and cinsault. Les Genéts is a white wine made from chardonnay and viognier vinified in barrel. La Centauée is made from syrah and grenache with 24 months in 500 l barrels (demi-muids).

http://www.pech-redon.com

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


Languedoc La Clape Chateau Pech Redon - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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A vineyard in Macedonia, Greece

Vineyard. Winery building. Kir-Yianni Winery, Yianakohori, Naoussa, Macedonia, Greece

[The founder of this vineyard, Yiannis Boutaris, was recently elected mayor of Thessaloniki. The winery is now run by his son Stelios.]
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Greece Macedonia Wine & Vineyards Stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

Macedonia is a region in Northern Greece, bordering to Macedonia-FYROM and Albania. It is one of the premier quality wine regions in Greece. It has seen many young and ambitious winemakers bringing established wineries to new levels or by creating new vineyards. There are several different wine producing sub-regions. The most famous vineyards are perhaps in Naoussa. One should not forget Drama, Amyntaio, Kaval, Epanomi and others. Most wine is red, often made from local indigenous varieties. Some traditional grape varieties that we find here are xinomavro, malagousia, agiorghitiko, mavrodaphne for red and for white wine assyrtiko, malagousia, moschofilero and roditis...

Some of the best known quality wine producers are: Alpha Estate, Ktima Pavlidis, Wine Art Estate, Ktima Kir-Yianni Estate, the Amytaion Co-operative (also making much rosé and sparkling), Domaine Gerovassiliou, Ktima Biblia Chora, and the Boutaris Winery, to mention just a few. There is also a small vineyard run by the Tsantali winery on the famed monastic peninsula Mont Athos.

Tsipouro is another local drink, a distilled spirit flavoured with aniseed, much like the French pastis (anisée) and ouzo.

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


Greece Macedonia Wine & Vineyards stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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Falling over each other to make good wine (chardonnay grape variety)

white grapes delivered on a conveyor belt chardonnay clos des langres ardhuy nuits-st-georges cote de nuits burgundy france

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Chardonnay grape variety, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Chardonnay is without a doubt the world's best known white grape variety. It is grown all over the world. Its most sought after wines come from Burgundy in France.

Chardonnay as described in Wikipedia: "Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is believed to have originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand. For new and developing wine regions, growing Chardonnay is seen as a "rite of passage" and an easy segue into the international wine market.

The Chardonnay grape itself is very neutral, with many of the flavors commonly associated with the grape being derived from such influences as terroir and oak. It is vinified in many different styles, from the rich, buttery Meursaults to New World wines with tropical fruit flavors.

Chardonnay is an important component of many sparkling wines around the world, including Champagne. A peak in popularity in the late 1980s gave way to a backlash among those wine drinkers who saw the grape as a leading negative component of the globalization of wine. Nonetheless, it remains one of the most widely-planted grape varieties, with over 400,000 acres (175,000 hectares) worldwide, second only to Airén among white wine grapes and planted in more wine regions than any other grape - including Cabernet Sauvignon."

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


Grape Variety: Chardonnay - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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Cloaking that is not necessarily bad behaviour (this is an internet joke) (Sandeman, Portugal)

barrels with aging port sandeman port lodge vila nova de gaia porto portugal

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Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia, House of Sandeman port lodge, Portugal, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Sandeman is one of the classic brands of the port wine trade. it has perhaps the best known symbol of all – the cloaked man. Today it is part of the Sogrape Group (Sogrape Vinhos) together with several other port and table wine brands and wineries. The Sandeman port lodge is located on the river side in the classic port storing and trading area in Vila Nova de Gaia, opposite Porto, at the mouth of the Douro river.

The cloaked man (or woman? – our cloaked guide at Sandeman was a young blond Danish woman…) was actually created in 1928 by the French poster artist George Massiot Brown but has since become the inseparable symbol of the port wine brand.

The story of Sandeman dates back to 1790 when a young Scotsman, George Sandeman, started a wine business in London and started trading in port and sherry. Today the house is run by … George Sandeman, a 7th generation descendant from “the original”.

The House of Sandeman winery produces a range of port wines (as well as sherries): white port, ruby port, tawny port, Partners’ ruby port, the famous Old Invalid Port (why “Invalid”?), Founders Reserve, Imperial Reserve, 10 years old tawny, 20 years old tawny, 40 years old tawny, and of course vintage port, currently in its 2007 version.

http://www.sandeman.eu

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


Douro Vila Nova de Gaia Sandeman Port Lodge - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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That would be interesting to taste. Shall we share a bottle? (Ferreira, Portugal)

old bottles in the cellar 1858 ferreira port lodge vila nova de gaia porto portugal

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Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia, Ferreira Port Lodge, Portugal, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Ferreira is one of the classic port wine brands in the Douro Valley. Today the house of Ferreira is part of the Sogrape Group (Sogrape Vinhos).

The house of Ferreira traces its roots back to 1751 when it was founded by the Ferreira family in the Douro valley. The winery can perhaps thank Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira for much of its fame. Dona Antonia became a widow at the age of 33. She took the reins of the wine company after her husband’s death and contributed greatly to the fame of its wines. She not only made her company thrive and grow by planting new vineyards and building new wineries along the Douro River. She also developed the local infrastructure, building roads, and contributed to the social development by creating hospitals and schools.

The Ferreira port wine house has a wide range of wines: Dona Antonia Reserve Porto, Late Bottled Vintage, Quinta ports of 10 years, ruby, tawny and vintages.

The Ferreira port lodge is located along the Douro river in Vila Nova de Gaia. The cellars are immense although they look not very big from the outside. In the wine cellars in the port lodge one can see thousands of oak barrels, port pipes, with aging wine. There are also some gigantic wooden vats for aging of the port wines. In the private cellar lie old vintages in what can be called a reference library of wine. There is also a tasting room where one can taste various wines from their selection. It is decorated with the typical Portuguese azulejos blue tiles, one of which of course depicts Dona Antonia Ferreira as well as scenes from the vineyards and wineries in the Douro.

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


Douro Vila Nova de Gaia Ferreira Port Lodge - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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A view of a view of a vineyard (Douro, Portugal)

train station azulejos with a picture of a vineyard pinhao douro portugal

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Douro River Valley, Pinhao Town, Portugal, stock photography samples, by Per Karlsson, BKWine.

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Pinhao (or Pinhão) is one of the main towns in the upper Douro and in the port wine district. Calling it a town is almost an exaggeration. A big village might be more correct. The other two towns of note are Regua (or Peso da Regua) and Foz do Tua.

Pinhao is a small and rather unspectacular town but it is located magnificently at a bend of the Douro River, just where the Pinhao river joins the Douro. There is a big and beautiful hotel on the river called The Vintage House. Many rooms have a view over the river and there is a garden with a pool on the water front. The train station at Pinhao is also a sight not to miss. It is lavishly decorated with the Portuguese style blue and white tiles, the azulejos. The paintings depict various scenes from the port wine district: harvest and picking, treading the grapes in lagares, transporting on the river etc. There is even a wine bar in the station building itself!

You can also go for a stroll along the river side. There is a nice walking path along the dock with one or two cafés. The big river cruise ships that bring in loads of foreign tourists often stop here over-night. From the dock you have a beautiful view over the Douro river with many quintas dotted on the hill sides. Not to be missed at sunset! You can also take a closer look at some of the barcos rabelos – the old boats that was once used for transporting the port wine down to Vila Nova de Gaia.

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


Douro Valley Pinhao Town - stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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How to find a needle in a haystack (The Eiffel Tower, Paris)

Warning: This has nothing to do with wine.

On Alamy, one of the world's biggest stock photo agencies, there are 16,053 images of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

I work with Alamy. They are one of the places where you can license BKWine photography.

I have a handful of images of the Eiffel Tower on Alamy. Well, 57 actually.

Somehow someone just found one of my Eiffel Tower images and licensed it.



I wonder how they found it.

Here are some more:


Paris Eiffel Tower stock photo samples - Images by Per Karlsson

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