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Burgundy wines tries to buck falling UK sales with week-long event

Published:  17 December, 2014

The generic body behind Burgundy wines in the UK is launching a week long showcase of the region's wines in London in January 2015 as part of a bid to counteract its slump in sales.

The generic body behind Burgundy wines in the UK is launching a week long showcase of the region's wines in London in January 2015 as part of a bid to counteract its slump in sales.

Discovering BurgundyThe BIVB hopes to re-energise buyers with the launch of the first-ever Bourgogne week in January in London.

Hit by three successive bad harvests, Burgundian wine exports to the UK fell 23% by volume for the 12 months to the end of August 2014. The six months to the end of August painted an even bleaker picture, with exports to the UK halving by both volume and value. Shortages were mainly felt in Macon and Chablis appellations. The UK is the biggest export market for Burgundy wines - accounting for 19% of exports.

From 2010 to 2013, the region's production fell 531,000 hl - the equivalent of 70.8 million bottles or around one third of a normal annual yield of 1.5 million hl. Overall the region saw its global exports fall for the first time in five years - for the 12 months to August 2014 they were down 1.2% to €733 million. 

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Although a number of senior buyers in the UK expressed concern in October that Burgundy would struggle to regain market share, even if volumes increased again, the BIVB is confident that it can reverse the trend. It describes the 2014 harvest as of "excellent quality" - and said yields beat forecasts and were ahead of the last two years. The harvest is estimated to come in at 1.5 million hectolitres - the average figure across the past 10 years. Given the larger harvest, the BIVB is now set on "reconquering certain markets".

From January 12, 2015, the BIVB, alongside a range of importers and wholesalers will host a range of tastings, dinners, receptions and sales of en primeur wines. The BIVB has set up a website showing a timetable for events for the week, which goes live on December 22. Part of Bourgogne Week will see a wine bar pop up in the heart of Mayfair specially dedicated to Burgundy's wines. This is being set up in partnership with Master Sommelier Xavier Rousset, co-owner of 28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen, and the BIVB said the aim is to offer a "convivial gathering place" for winegrowers and negociants to host their customers or journalists.  

 The Chablis arm of the BIVB will be also be offering a trip from one bank of the River Serein to the other, with a tasting of different Premier Cru Chablis wines from 2012 at the Bourgogne Wine Bar, on January 15 from 3-8pm. 

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