N°31 July 2012 Bourgognes International Burgundy starts its Plan Amplitude 2015 with the aim of becoming the worldwide example of Grands Vins made through sustainable viticulture. “Bourgognes International”: information bulletin on Burgundy wines, intended for wine sellers. Issued five times per year. Traceability and checks Wine is one of the most controlled products in the world, from production to the consumer including of course its transformation, marketing, distribution, communication and consumption. Alongside the State services (fraud, customs, etc.), other structures now also have to carry out checks within the sector. This is the case for the Advocacy and Management Organisations (ODG) or inspection bodies, which ensure that each appellation observes its specifications. The net has been gradually closing in over time and is today very tight. This system ensures that those who try to escape the net are found out very quickly. From this point of view, the profession has an unambiguous position. Its activities respect the regulatory texts, which cover its practices. And for this reason, the Burgundy wine sector has joined proceedings as a civil party in the Labouré-Roi case. The Burgundy Wine Board (BIVB) wants to find out more about the case to allow it to better carry out its mission of promoting and defending the reputation of Burgundy wines. For the vast majority of Burgundy’s producers and merchants, integrity is an essential value. And they confirm this by the presence of their signature on their bottles. Indicators Winery sales +1.5% by volume (total for 8 months of campaign: August 2011 – March 2012 / August 2010 – March 2011) French supermarket sales +1.9% by volume +3.9% by value (total for 12 months February 2012/February 2011) Exports +7.8% by volume +26.2% by value (first quarter 2012 / 2011) VOLUME VALUE World +7.8% +26,2% USA +8.6% +38.7% United Kingdom -1.5% +17.2% Belgium +5.2% -4.9% Japan +21.4% +28.5% Germany -4% +8.6% Netherlands +5.4% +11% Canada -6.1% -4.3% Denmark +20.8% +19.9% Sweden +41.8% +44.9% Switzerland +25.3% +78.2% Taiwan +25.5% +42.3% Singapore +29.6% -16% Australia +75.2% +83.2% Hong Kong +15.3% +86.5% China +18.7% +103.8% Ireland +10.4% +12% Winery sales return to a decent level at the beginning of the campaign Over the first seven months of the 2011-2012 campaign (August-February), winery sales (bulk and bottles, all vintages) grew by 2% compared to the first seven months of the previous campaign. Winery sales have therefore almost returned to the record level of the 2006 campaign, with 956, 000 hl leaving the storehouse. This performance is predominantly down to Crémant de Bourgogne, with some 120,000 hl leaving the storehouse after just seven months of the campaign. The low availability for this appellation during the previous two campaigns seems to have boosted demand. Red wine sales also seem to be up compared to the last three campaigns (+2.6% compared to 2010), under the impact of the Regional and Village AOCs from the Côte de Nuits. However, they have not returned to the level of the previous campaigns. The volume of white wines leaving the stores has fallen slightly over one year (-0.6%), but remains relatively high, sustained by the Mâconnais (Regional and Village) and the Village appellations of the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits. The wines from the Côte Chalonnaise and the appellations Chablis 1er Cru and Chablis Grand cru are the most affected by the decline in this colour. EXPORT - Sales of Burgundy wine continue to grow in 2012 On the export markets, 2012 began under the same good auspices as 2011 for Burgundy wines, with an excellent first quarter. Despite the difficult economic environment, the year 2011 allowed Burgundy to continue the recovery of its exports, particularly in terms of revenues (+16.5% by value compared to 2010). It has therefore been able to cancel out some of the losses recorded during the crisis (2008/2009). Exports during the first quarter of 2012 are still up 8% by volume compared to the same period in 2011, with 19.4 million bottles (i.e. 1.4 additional units). Value is growing even further, with sales growing 26% by value. Sales of white wines (+5% by volume over one year) continue to grow, just like red wines (+6%). The large majority of Burgundy’s markets are heading upwards, but the strong increase in value is predominantly attributable to the US, Swiss and Chinese/Hong Kong markets (where revenues have doubled again in three months). Although the UK has grown in terms of revenues (but not by volume: -1.5%), it has been overtaken in these few months by the USA, at the top of Burgundy's list, and has been caught up by Japan. Internet: the Burgundy wines website available on mobile phones Take your encyclopaedia of Burgundy wines with you wherever you go, without breaking your back! The www.burgundy-wines.fr website is now available in a mobile version. Make sure you take a look before the holidays. Since the beginning of May, the Burgundy Wine Board (BIVB) has provided a mobile version of its information website. Extremely practical when you want to find the name of a producer open to the public, information on an appellation, information on food and wine pairing, etc. It is a must-have for stays or just stopovers on your way to your holidays. By typing www.burgundy-wines.fr into your telephone, you will automatically be directed to this version (French/English). Internet: spotlight on the Climats of the Burgundy vineyard For those who know their appellations like the back of their hand or for those who want to understand exactly what the Climats are, that we hear so much about in Burgundy, new applications on the Burgundy wines website will allow them to learn more. In the section “At the heart of the appellations” of the site www.vins-bourgogne.fr, users can now enter the name of a Climat, or a lieu-dit, in a search engine. A page will appear dedicated to the appellation to which it is linked, illustrated by a 360° view of the vineyard. The appellation sheet presents the character of the wines, advice from wine-waiters on food and wine pairing and a lot of other information (surface area, production, history, etc.). A particularly instructive innovation is the map (signed by Jean-Charles Servant and Sylvain Pitiot) allowing users to visualise the situation of the Climat in question: Precise boundaries, contours, position in the hierarchy, etc. Sound files help users pronounce the name of the appellation, which is essential given the subtleties of Burgundy pronunciation (for example, check Fixin, Auxey-Duresses, Montrachet, etc.) The last part of the page provides the list and contact details of the producers of the appellation. Shop: for the ladies, a "Burgundy” bracelet Fine, elegant and subtle, Burgundy wines are popular with women. And they can now wear a bracelet showing their favourite wines. Its red leather strap and its 100% silk tie with an orange motif make it a very refined product. This bracelet combines ethics and aesthetics as it is entirely French made. Its high-quality case is environmentally friendly. So gentlemen, don’t wait any longer: treat the lady in your life to this pretty gift. Show her that you too have taste! The bracelet is available for 26.30 euros (incl.tax) from the Burgundy wine shop on line (www.burgundy-wines.fr). USA: the Society of Wine Educators honours Burgundy The Society of Wine Educators* puts Burgundy at centre stage. In partnership with the Burgundy Wine Board (BIVB), it will organise a seminar on Burgundy wines in San Mateo, California, on 25 July. In particular, this event will focus on Burgundy’s “Climats” and “lieux-dits”, with a tasting of eight wines. It will be led by Shelby Ledgerwood, official Burgundy wines instructor. Around sixty members of the trade are expected to attend. *Founded in 1974, the Society of Wine Educators is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to advance wine education through professional development and certification. Its programmes confer certifications to professionals and individuals. The Society of Wine Educators is made up of 350 Certified Wine Educators. The Burgundy wine sector focuses on sustainable development As part of the implementation of its “Bourgognes Amplitude 2015” plan, the Burgundy Wine Board (BIVB) launched its sustainable development assessment at the end of 2011. At the end of March, the BIVB presented the results of this work, encouraging some sixty participants and partners of the sector to implement action plans. The assessment carried out from October 2011 to March 2012 has allowed the sector to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the Burgundy vineyard. Many examples already illustrate its dynamism in this field: a reduction in phytosanitary treatments was recorded over recent years, 85% of effluents from the cellars are now treated. 14 collective washing areas are in place and just as many are being studied (figures from the chambers of agriculture). Not forgetting the innumerable individual initiatives conducted by the estates, groups of estates or caves cooperative. From this assessment and from studying various other vineyards, future action plans are already coming together. The BIVB will draw up an action plan which will be put to a vote during its next General Meeting (4 July), so that it can be applied as quickly as possible. The caves cooperative of Burgundy and Beaujolais launch the “Coteaux Bourguignons” appellation On 17 May 2012, 27 caves cooperative of the burgundy and Beaujolais unveiled their “Coteaux Bourguignons”, a new appellation which links Burgundy and Beaujolais.