Andrew Halliwell
@adhalliwell.bsky.social
I'm a British winemaker living in Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. I like the outdoors.
True also for #wine. Take a bottle that ends up 30 GBP in a UK restaurant. If somehow it could cost 30.10 GBP and that 10 pence went to the grape grower, it would make a huge difference and the customer wouldn't even notice, might even support the initiative. No doubt the same for coffee.
Max Blau@maxblau.bsky.social · 2w agoSupermarkets commit to paying a little more for produce — a cost so negligible, only a few pennies per pound, that one expert said it shouldn’t drive up prices. For those few pennies, grocers get crops from farms that offer their workers stronger protections.
Yet another twist on the long-running #Catalan #fizz labyrinth, that possibly seems important to those involved, but few others will be on the edge of their seats. DO #Penedès splits its still and #sparkling #wines into two separate bodies. www.vinetur.com/202607301050...
La DO Penedès plantea una nueva estructura propia para sus espumosos de calidad
El proyecto prevé dos cámaras de gobierno y una clasificación en tres niveles ligada al territorio y al viñedo
vinetur.com
Out in the #vineyards of #Rioja today. Everything looking goodish at the moment, fingers crossed for a decent August.
Another hot day forecast for La #Rioja. #Temperatures over 40ºC (104ºF) have become normal, but they're not normal and spell disaster for the region's emblematic #wine industry. Just another example of #climatechange, that will become apocalyptic within the lifetimes of many.
Out looking at some much better #vineyards today. Just 15ºC at 8am, but suposed to get to 36ºC later. Everything looks good at the moment, with veraison very roughly at 50% around Samaniego, #Rioja Alavesa.
Saw some pretty apocalyptic-looking #vineyards today, whilst out on my bike to the west of #Logroño. I was left wondering if they might have been abandoned, or was it just the heat? Even though they have irrigation, sometimes there's no water to irrigate. Game over this season.
Out on the town in #Logroño last night. Not so packed, and a drastic reduction in temperatures made for a very pleasant evening.
A little bit of a break this weekend, but then back at it with endless heat and no rain on the horizon in La #Rioja. Fortunately there were good winter rains here, but even so, this can't be good for the grapes. This must be the hottest summer ever (again).
Fun #blindtasting last night at #LaCanilla in #Logroño. The various teams did a not so impressive job in the earlier rounds, but the winning team saved the best for last doing great work identifying the last wine as Jura Chardonnay.
Having a look at some #vineyards today in La #Rioja, checking on progress of the grapes. Things seems to have slowed down a bit I imagine, probably due to heat and lack of water. This one at least 6-7 weeks yet I'd reckon.
News that nobody wants to see. A bad #fire at a #cooperage in #Navarra. A lot of damage apparently, and probably smoke-damage to the non-burnt staves too. We've worked with #Intona in the past, a real shame. www.noticiasdenavarra.com/sucesos/2026...
Un incendio destruye una fábrica de barricas de vino en Monteagudo
El fuego no ha provocado daños personales aunque si graves pérdidas materiales, incluyendo la destrucción total de la nave de Intona Tonelería
noticiasdenavarra.com
Bit of a tricky #blindtasting last night at #Roots #Logroño. They're always tricky though, until you know the answers. A Maturana Tinta and two from Badajoz.
Wow, #RaquelPérez is really in the driving seat of #SpanishWine these days. Has her own large winery, head of the #Rioja DOCa and now head of BWW. Best of luck - and great job by outgoing JavierPagés in establishing BWW as such a major event so quickly even through covid years.
We picked up 2nd prize for our #Rosé in a local comp. Would have preferred 1st, obviously, but we'll take it. #BodegasObalo #Rioja
