Liquor Industry News

Liquor Industry News 05-19-25

Franklin Liquors

Liquor Industry News

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

By: Mark C Lenzi

CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*

05-19-2025

Liquor Industry Week In Review

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

This Weeks Highlights:

New Products

Study finds toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in beer

Why Alcohol Hits Women Harder

Drinking Wine Really is Good for You

Paris Cafés Caught Ripping Off Tourists With Cheap Wine

Part of the allure of visiting Paris is the idea of sitting at a busy sidewalk café casually sipping a glass of French wine.

https://vinepair.com/booze-news/paris-cafes-cheating-tourists-cheap-wine/

Most popular beer in America revealed in new study

See the favorite beer in your state: ‘Surprising patterns’

https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/most-popular-beer-america-revealed-new-study

China’s Non-Alcoholic Wine Booms Is All Business

As non-alcoholic wine rides a wave of popularity across Europe and North America, China is seeing its own boom — but for very different reasons

https://vino-joy.com/2025/04/28/chinas-non-alcoholic-wine-booms-is-all-business/

The most valuable wine brands over recent years

Things are a bit unsettled in the global wine world at the moment, for reasons of which you are presumably well aware

http://winegourd.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-most-valuable-wine-brands-over.html

A beginner’s guide to sherry wine, an incredibly misunderstood drink

Sherry deserves another chance. Here’s a breakdown of the classic fortified wine

https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/what-is-sherry-wine-beginners-guide/

On Italian wine labels, do the words ‘Classico’ or ‘Riserva’ mean better quality?

How to Drink Better: In most cases, a wine from the Classico region will be better; the same cannot be said of Riserva wines

https://www.irishtimes.com/food/drink/2025/04/27/on-italian-wine-labels-do-the-words-classico-or-riserva-mean-better-quality/

Ever experienced a headache from drinking red wine? Researchers may have identified a reason

Quercetin, a bioactive flavonoid present in red wine, can impair alcohol metabolism

https://peterattiamd.com/quercetin-and-red-wine/

Why Alcohol Hits Women Harder

Alcohol use among women has surged to match men’s rates, but women face far greater health risks even at lower consumption levels.

https://neurosciencenews.com/women-aud-neuroscience-28810/

Massachusetts has top ranked craft brewing, but the state’s favorite beer is more basic

States like Colorado and Oregon may be well known for their love of beer, but Massachusetts is home to the second best craft brewing company in the US, according to The Brewers Association.

https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/news/2025/05/04/massachusetts-favorite-beer-states-top-craft-brewing-boston-beer-co/83371309007/

What Is Agave Syrup And Is It Better For You Than Sugar?

This is what you need to know about agave syrup.

https://www.tastingtable.com/1849726/what-is-agave-syrup/

New On The Rocks

Suntory Global Spirits has extended cocktail brand On the Rocks into canned cocktails with three new sparkling options. The trio—Sparkling Lime Margarita, Mango & Mint Mojito, and Cucumber & Lemongrass Mule—are at 10% abv and come in 355-ml. cans. Like all of On the Rocks’ cocktails, the new canned varieties are made with Suntory spirits brands, with the Margarita using Tres Generaciones Tequila, the Mojito using Cruzan rum, and the Mule using Effen vodka. The new On the Rocks cans are now available in 4-packs across the U.S. On the Rocks grew 7% to just under 800,000 cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.

Is Your Local Wine Actually Local? It’s Not So Simple

Consumers don’t necessarily parse the provenance of grapes—or site of production—when they enter a winery, and it can be misleading when grapes are not locally sourced.

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/emerging-wine-regions-texas-outside-wineries/

Do You Know the ‘20 Minute Rule’ for Serving Wine?

While it’s not an exact science, there’s a very helpful tip to keep in mind when serving wine at home known as “the 20 minute rule.”

https://vinepair.com/articles/wine-20-minute-rule-explained/

Australian wine exports drop to 20-year low, excluding sales to China

Exports to markets excluding China have declined to their lowest volume in more than 20 years as consumers drink less.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-01/australia-global-wine-exports-decline-excluding-china/105228348

Drinking Wine Really is Good for You

The science keep piling up: wine is good for your health, no matter what the temperance lobby says.

https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2025/05/drinking-wine-really-is-good-for-you

New RTD

Spirit of Gallo has launched Lucky One Lemonade, the latest spirits-based RTD from the company. The 4.5% abv cocktail comes in four flavors—Original , Peach, Blueberry, and Raspberry—all at 100 calories per 355-ml can and available in individual flavor 4-packs ($11) and variety 8-packs ($20). The new brand is a collaboration with business personality Dave Portnoy and his dog, Miss Peaches, and the brand has pledged to raise $1 million for rescue dogs in the U.S. The brand is working with LifeLine Animal Project and Best Friends Animal Society as part of the “Our Pack Gives Back” program, running through September 1st. Lucky One Lemonade is now available across the U.S.

Alaska introduces cancer warnings to bars and liquor stores

Alaska will become the first US state to introduce signage with health warnings linking excessive alcohol consumption to colon and breast cancer.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/04/alaska-introduces-cancer-warnings-to-bars-and-liquor-stores/

No One Wants to Talk About the Oversupply of Scotch and Bourbon

Across the industry, a pool of surplus whiskey is growing.

https://vinepair.com/articles/global-whiskey-oversupply/

Champagne could reduce risk of cardiac arrest, study suggests

The moderate consumption of white wine and Champagne could lower the risk of a sudden cardiac arrest, according to a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/04/champagne-could-reduce-risk-of-cardiac-arrest-study-suggests/

Beer and whisky waste to be made into leather alternative

Arda Biomaterials has received US$5.25 million in funding to turn beer waste into an eco-friendly leather alternative.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/04/beer-and-whisky-waste-to-be-made-into-leather-alternative/

What the Trump Tariffs Mean for the US Fine Wine Market

Even fine wine isn’t immune to the effects of tariffs, finds Jeff Siegel. That’s why those working in fine wine are holding their breath.

https://www.meiningers-international.com/wine/insights/what-trump-tariffs-mean-us-fine-wine-market

Why Blaufränkisch Wine Is a Sommelier Favorite

Industry pros call this underrated Austrian red wine ‘seriously fun.’

https://www.foodandwine.com/blaufraenkisch-red-wine-guide-11730132

The Official Guide to Ouzo — Greece’s National Drink

This anise-flavored aperitif will transport you to seaside summers in Greece.

https://www.foodandwine.com/guide-to-greek-ouzo-11729164

I Cook For A Living & I’m BEGGING You To Stop Using Cooking Wine

Here’s what you should use instead.

https://www.delish.com/kitchen-tools/kitchen-secrets/a64689022/stop-using-cooking-wine/

Devils River Distillery files for bankruptcy

Dave Bautista-backed Devils River Distillery in Texas has become the latest whiskey maker to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2025/05/devils-river-distillery-files-for-bankruptcy/

Diageo sued over ‘100% agave’ Tequila claims

Global drinks giant Diageo is facing a new legal challenge over the purity of two of its most celebrated tequila brands, Casamigos and Don Julio.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/05/diageo-sued-over-100-agave-tequila-claims/

The Famous Italian Wine Grape that is Not (Yet) Famous

Who’s heard of the Italian white variety Famoso, which means famous in Italian?

https://verovino.com/vero-blog/famoso-white-wine-grape-nearly-extinct-romagna-italy-rediscovered

Wine Fraud Rocks Switzerland

Fast cars, espionage, forgery and fake blends all crop up in Swiss fraud cases involving Spanish bulk wine.

https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2025/05/wine-fraud-rocks-switzerland

Study finds toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in beer

A new RTI study finds toxic “forever chemicals” in many beers, linking PFAS contamination to municipal water used in the brewing process and raising concerns about everyday exposure.