The 2012 edition of the Hachette Wine Guide will be available from August 31. Will follow in mid-October the first mobile application that brings together all of the reference book, as told Relaxnews Stephane Rosa, Director of the Hachette Wine Guide.

Relaxnews: You just take the direction of the Guide Hachette des Vins, succeeding Francois Bachelot. What are your goals?
Stephane Rosa: My mission is to strengthen the brand “Guide Hachette des Vins”. Within 27 years, the book became a reference paper. The challenge now is to decline in digital format. The website dedicated to him is already developed, but we’ll move up a gear. This is an exclusive that I give you: we will launch the mobile application of the Guide Hachette des Vins mid-October.
R: What is it?
SR: You will find all the contents of the Guide Hachette in this application. This will include geolocation. So if you are on vacation near Bandol (Var), you can identify producers close to be discovered. This module will be the same use that version of “paper”. It will bring more convenience. The application will initially be available on iPhone and iPad, then come on Android and other brands of smartphones.
R: What would you bring new to the Guide?
SR: Some years ago, we introduced a new chapter on wines, such as Cognac. For now, it’s only project, but it seems interesting to dig this. Other areas would include also devote more space to new countries. Speaking of wine or Belgian Maghreb is an idea. Finally, we should deepen the food and wine, detailed in the guide. It’s a trend that must be developed with the phenomenon of the kitchen to which many French people are passionate.
A: The 2012 edition of the Guide provided she surprises? Wines, producers have they surprised?
SR: Of course there are some interesting findings, but they are too numerous to list. Know that we conducted a tasting of recent vintages, from 2008 to 2010. The 2008 vintage is now in great Bordeaux. Include the Médoc, for example. These wines are difficult for amateurs, complex to decipher. The 2009 vintage is also a very good level. I urge novices to taste the Beaujolais, where prices are very affordable. The 2009 vintage in Burgundy is also essential in the Rhone Valley or Alsace Pinot Noir. Finally, the 2010 vintage looks very good. Prices are already exorbitant for the great wines of Bordeaux. This year is also marked by the growth of roses in the Valley of the Rhone, very good. The pink is a trend that is just assertive. These are wines of summer, easily accessible both by their price at the tasting.
A: Another trend: organic wines. These bottles are playing an increasingly important on the shelves of supermarkets and wine shops. Is this a phenomenon that is confirmed in your guide?
SR: Yes, organic wines are growing rapidly. We put forward in the guide through a small pictogram. But we will never do a wine guide bio. An organic wine is an organic wine. Consumers do not seek at all costs to find just such a reference.
A: Other trends in the wine world are they destined to emerge, such as new packaging?
SR: Instead of new packaging, I will discuss more readily wine bars. They grow considerably in Paris, but also in the provinces. This indicates that the wine is moved from a traditional product, a little dusty, say, a real phenomenon related to the trend “kitchen”. The gift boxes and various benefits in kind have of course contributed to the emergence of these addresses are increasing, as is wine tourism. This is not trivial if we renewed our list of places to taste wine. We might be able to edit a guide to wine bars, but only in the planning stage. The wine is back in fashion!
A: The wine fair is scheduled to begin in a few days. What is your advice to not miss out on the best deal?
SR: Look in the guide signage promotions and identify those bottles in a reference guide, such as the Guide Hachette. Make your list. But there is no secret, the Wine Fair especially for wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhone Valley. Business and enjoy the early days, as for the sales!
Hachette Wine Guide 2012
Hachette Pratique
€ 27
August 31, 2011