Vineyard expansion in Europe? What are they thinking???

It came as a real surprise to me to see this article in the Decanter magazine this morning: "European wine growing regions are battling European Commission plans to allow massive vineyard expansion." Full article here: Decanter.com

After years of pulling off vineyards and converting excessive wine production into ethanol for fuel - The European Union has distilled millions of hectoliters of wine into industrial alcohol because producers in Europe have been making more wine than they can sell - it is hard to believe that the EU wants to go in a total different direction.

The Decanter.com article says: "To boost the wine sector’s competitiveness by reducing production costs, the EU has included an amendment to liberalise planting rights, from January 2016, within proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - a policy which one lobbyist said would have 'catastrophic' consequences."

Really? Are they saying that planting vineyards in the Douro Valley in Portugal or in Rioja in Spain (where production costs are very high) is going to help with the competitiveness of the European wine sector by reducing its costs? My gosh! What are they thinking???

Someone said that "the effect of this could be catastrophic". Well, I couldn't agree more, but I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Cheers,
LA

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U.S.-KOREA Trade Agreement Removes 15% Tariff on U.S. Wines by Philip S. Kampe

Congress approved the U.S.-Korea trade agreement (KORUS) which eliminates tariffs and other barriers on U.S. wines that trade to Korea. The agreement immediately removes the 15% tariff on U.S. wines and the 45% tariff on grape juice concentrate.

The 15% tariff elimination also reduces the amount of excise, VAT and other taxes that are imposed on wine imports.

The 15% reduction opens the door to California wines, which make-up 90% of Korea's U.S. wine imports. Korea has a thriving wine culture with import consumption up 177% over the last decade.

In 2010, California exported 500,000 cases to Korea, valued at $11.2 million to wineries.

Through 2004, the U.S. was second only to France, but were displaced by Chile in 2005, after tariffs were lifted to Korea. Elimination of tariffs will now put the U.S. on level playing field with Chile and the EU.

PHILIP S. KAMPE
philip.kampe@thewinehub.com

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One of the pillars of TheWineHub is Wine Tourism. Whether you are a wine maker, or a wine drinker, we all enjoy having discoveries...

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Life on the Douro screenings in Los Angeles, San Francisco and at the Toronto Portuguese Film Festival and Paso Robles Film Festival

Life on the Douro will be screening in LA and San Francisco on November 15 and 17, respectively, followed by a tasting of some of the best Port and still wines produced in the region. Doors open at 6 PM, the film will start at 6:30, presented by director Zev Robinson, followed by a Q&A, and a wine tasting presented by Oscar Quevedo, marketing director for the Quevedo winery http://quevedoportwine.com, and Roy Hersh of www.fortheloveofport.com, one of the world's leading experts of Port and Douro wines. Luiz Alberto of www.thewinehub.com who was part of the 10 day For the Love of Port trip tailor made for my activities, will give invaluable behind-the-scenes support and insights.

The venues are:

Chaplin Theater and Raleigh Cafe,
Raleigh Studios
5300 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles CA 90038
Tickets are $32.00 and can be purchased here - http://lifeonthedouroinla.eventbrite.com

Delancey Street San Francisco
Screening Room and Private Club
600 Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94107
Tickets are $32.00 and can be purchased here -
http://lifeonthedouroinsanfrancisco.eventbrite.com

Just before that, on Saturday, November 12, Life on the Douro will be showing at the Toronto International Portuguese Film Festival http://www.portuguesefilmfestival.com/en/synopsis.html
and the following Saturday, November 19, at Paso Robles Film Festival (exact time TBA) -
http://www.pasoroblesfilmfestival.com

Directing this film has been one of the great experiences of my life, the Douro is one of the wonders of the world that should be seen at least once in a lifetime, and Portugal is a country that deserves to be much better known.

Zev Robinson

 

TheWineHub Store

http://www.thewinehub.com/
One of the pillars of TheWineHub is Wine Tourism. Whether you are a wine maker, or a wine drinker, we all enjoy having discoveries...

TheWineHub exists to help you with that.