1903 NZ claret up for auction

Let's hope, for the sake of the prospective buyer, that 1903 was a great year for New Zealand claret.

The country's oldest bottle of wine is going up for sale at a charity wine auction on July 7. Bob Campbell, Master of Wines, said he expects “the bottle of Lansdowne 1903 claret to shatter all previous records."

The wine was made by William and Hermanze Beetham, owners of one of the first commercial vineyards in New Zealand.

“This bottle represents a rare slice of not only Wairarapa but New Zealand Wine History. Produced before prohibition, it’s remarkable that it has survived so long and still remains in the original Beetham family cellar” said Larry McKenna, charity wine auction chairman for Te Omanga Hospice.

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Kiddie champagne and beer a Japanese trend

Sangaria, a Japanese beverage company, is doing what in most countries would be unthinkable: manufacturing pretend beer and other such beverage products for children.

Japan's drinking culture, which includes educating young people in the practices, is well known and the company says using such products allows children to more fully participate in family celebrations.

"Kodomo no nomimono," for example, comes in cans, bottles and six-packs. It looks like beer, tastes like apple juice and foams in a glass. The product line also includes fake champagne, wine and cocktails.

There's even a TV ad you can watch featuring kids downing these drinks.

Ridiculous stuff.

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Aussie wine glut easing at last

(Click on map to enlarge.)

Australia's widely publicized wine glut is being eased by what usually are thought of as bad weather conditions. In this case, successive waves of drought, frost and rain have helped reduce the wine harvest, according to the latest report from the Australian Wine and Brandy Corp.

AWBC, established by the government to provide strategic support to the wine sector, says the 2007 wine grape harvest is expected to be the smallest since 2000 and one-third smaller than 2006.

Australia is expected to make 105 million gallons less wine than the prior year and some of the wines should move to a higher price range.

The AWBC said it expects a return to "supply-demand balance" by either next year or 2009.

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Reality winemaking nears for public TV

Last December, I reported that Public Broadcasting was working on a six-part series called "The Wine Makers," patterned along the lines of "The Apprentice."

Well, production is marching on and the 12 contestants culled from more than 600 applicants have been chosen to compete in the hour-long installments, according to co-creator Kevin Whelan, who says:

“The show features people from all walks of life, with no experience in wine, who will compete against each other, and the winner will create and launch their own wine label.”

They also have to handle the marketing and sales of the wines they produce, which should quickly separate the wannabes from the winemakers. The winemaking will be done at Crushpad, a San Francisco custom-winemaking facility. Crushpad’s resident winemakers will help the contestants through the process.

Whelan, whose partner is wife Jennifer Levine, previously worked with Mark Burnett, who produced both “The Apprentice” and “Survivor.” He also ran the six-part PBS series "UNCORKED: Wine Made Simple," which is set to air in most parts of the country this month.

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