EU reforms, Lavaux preserved, perfection discovered, wine as Listerine — tasting sized pours
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Uprooted
The Financial Times has extended coverage today of the controversial plans that Mariann Fischer-Boel, EU Agriculture Commissioner, has for the reforming the wine sector. The policy still must approved by the member states but if enacted as early as next year, it would lead to the uprooting of 500,000 acres of low-end vines as one measure to reduce the structural wine surplus. The whole policy would, in the words of the Commissioner, put European wines “back…on top of the world” (um, has she note been to Burgundy, Champagne, Bordeaux, or Piedmont to name a few regions that would be on the top of anyone’s list?) France, Italy, Spain and Portugal may oppose the plans. [Financial Times 1 and 2; Bloomberg]
Protected
On the northern shores of Lake Geneva some vines won’t be threatened by either development or the new EU plans, and that’s not just because Switzerland is not a member of the EU: the Lavaux wine region has just been designated proclaimed part of our world heritage by UNESCO. [Swissinfo]
Contextualized
Eric Asimov discovers the perfect food-wine pairing: a juice glass of aglianico with a pizza margherita at Una Pizza Nepoletana in the East Village. Three cheers for evaluating wine in context! [The Pour]
Gargled
Feel a strep throat coming on? Got some wine handy. Gargle. That could be the advice of some Italian researchers who say that wine “could be used to cure a sore throat.” [Telegraph.co.uk]
From reader comments:
JW sez re: Chamarre: “Where will it be in 12 months time - my view is that it will be the victim of the 3 R’s of marketing - redesign, relaunch and resign!”
Jay Miller sez: “Forgetting “emotion” for the moment, if Bob (or any other critic) rates a wine 95 (or 100) one day, will it get the same, or nearly the same score a week or a month later(under blind tasting conditions).”
Related: “To reform or not to reform…“
One of the "seven best wine blogs." 
One of the three best wine blogs
On July 5th, 2007 at 10:45 pm ,BPS wrote:
I just read Tyler’s article in “FOOD AND WINE” July ‘07.
I suggest you should bring your mom a bottle of ‘71 Dom Preignon for your next birthday and share it with her and others close to you.
Best regards, B. Stauch
On July 8th, 2007 at 7:39 am ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Thanks for the tip–sounds good to me!