Weekly Liquor Industry Highlights: January 2026 Edition

Liquor Industry News 01-12-26

Franklin Liquors

Liquor Industry News

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

By: Mark C Lenzi

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

01-12-2026

Liquor Industry Week In Review

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

This Weeks Highlights:

New Products

What Is a ‘Still-Strength’ Spirit?

Is there any holiday cheer in the wine world?

Live Free or Dry?

8 Bloody Mary Riffs That Take the Classic in Delicious New Directions

From Caesars to Micheladas, these savory brunch favorites are the ultimate eye opener.

https://www.foodandwine.com/best-bloody-mary-variations-11874408

How Long Open Boxed Wine lasts — Our Week-by-Week Test Has Answers

We tasted the same box of wine every week to learn exactly when its flavor fades — and how long you can really keep it open.

https://www.foodandwine.com/how-long-boxed-wine-lasts-11875041

Should You Store Wine Glasses Up Or Upside Down?

There’s a 50-50 chance you’re storing your wine glasses the way the pros suggest.

https://www.southernliving.com/how-to-store-wine-glasses-11874192

Portugal wine production down 14%

Wine production in Portugal fell by 14% in the 2025/2026 season, to 5.9 million hectolitres, according to data from the Institute of Vine and Wine (IVV).

https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2025-12-24/portugal-wine-production-down-14/935212

Tariffs have American whiskey distillers on the rocks

Jim Beam is the latest brand to feel the pain

https://theweek.com/business/economy-whiskey-tariffs-american-distillers

What’s the Difference Between a $15 and $150 Bottle of Wine?

Answer: A lot more than $135. A look inside the numerous variables that contribute to a wine’s final price.

https://www.foodandwine.com/what-makes-wine-expensive-11874162

Live Free or Dry?

Falling Alcohol Use Threatens NH Revenue Stream

https://nhjournal.com/live-free-or-dry-falling-alcohol-use-threatens-nh-revenue-stream/

A Newly Discovered Reaction Between Ethanol And Sugars in Beer

Michael Hellwig, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Germany, discusses his recent study showing that ethanol reacts with sugar-derived compounds in beer to form a new ethoxy dicarbonyl, revealing a non-enzymatic pathway that may contribute to beer aging and flavor changes.

https://www.chemistryviews.org/a-newly-discovered-reaction-between-ethanol-and-sugars-in-beer/

Is there any holiday cheer in the wine world?

From Trump’s tariffs to declining consumption, a tough year comes to a close

https://thehub.ca/2025/12/20/is-there-any-holiday-cheer-in-the-wine-world/

Iconic 230-year-old whiskey brand stops distilling for a year

Trump’s tariffs and slowing exports are hitting U.S. spirits, leading the historic Kentucky distillery to pause production.

https://www.thestreet.com/retail/iconic-230-year-old-whiskey-brand-jim-beam-pauses-distilling-for-a-year

Can a Tiny Fee on Every Bottle Save California’s Wine Countries?

Employing a relatively new concept called a “wine improvement district,” appellations like Temecula, Livermore, Santa Barbara, and Amador County are now tacking on an extra 1 to 2% fee on every bottle sold in their regions to enhance the coffers of their vintners associations. Lodi and Santa Cruz Mountains just enacted their own, while regions like Paso Robles to Sonoma have flirted with the notion as well.

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/wine-improvement-district-fee-california/

The Whiskey Trends That Defined 2025, From Ultra-Aged Bourbon to Smaller Formats

Industry insiders say tighter economics, a surplus of well-aged barrels, and shifting drinking habits quietly shaped what whiskey drinkers saw on shelves last year.

https://www.foodandwine.com/whiskey-trends-2025-11873560

Sustainable Labels Resist Slumping Sales

As overall wine sales continue to fall, success often now lies in the idealogy behind the product.

https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2025/12/sustainable-labels-resist-slumping-sales

The Future of Champagne May Be Written in the Soil

As climate pressures mount, biodynamic growers in Épernay, the Côte des Bar, and beyond argue that healthier vineyards lead to more precise, vibrant wines.

https://www.foodandwine.com/biodynamic-champagne-wine-pioneer-11874163

Viña Santa Sofía: beyond the score, wine is defined in the glass.

With so many wines in Chile, ratings help guide consumers, but they don’t tell the whole story. For Fernando Bustos Latorre, manager of Santa Sofía Chile, “numbers serve as a reference, but the true measure is in the glass: in how each wine is enjoyed, shared, and experienced.”

https://www.marcachile.cl/en/noticia-socio-mbc/que-significan-los-premios-y-puntajes-del-vino/

These 11 Booze-Free Sparkling Wines Deliver Real Champagne Energy

These non-alcoholic sparkling wines deliver the near-real deal, with bright bubbles, brisk acidity, and plenty of reasons to pop a cork anytime.

https://www.foodandwine.com/best-nonalcoholic-sparkling-wine-11875104

The One Nonalcoholic Sparkling Wine Brand We Regretted Buying

The brand’s website describes its Italy-made Non-Alcoholic Sparkling wine as “refreshingly vibrant,” made from Glera grapes with notes of “pear, citrus, and green apple” and a “bright hint of acidity.”

https://www.tastingtable.com/2057237/worst-non-alcoholic-sparkling-wine-josh-cellars/

Here’s What Actually Happens to Your Blood Pressure When You Drink Alcohol

Plus, if red wine is good for heart health.

https://parade.com/health/what-happens-to-blood-pressure-when-you-drink-alcohol

A French Winemaking Family Keeps the Bubbles Popping in New Mexico

Based in Albuquerque, by the turn of the 21st century and after having been in business since 1985, Gruet had sold more than one million bottles of wine — and was just getting started. Over the ensuing years, the accolades were many and continue to this day

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/a-french-winemaking-family-keeps-the-bubbles-popping-in-new-mexico/article_766b0156-f0fd-4d9f-92a1-26ea7b0ee0a3.html

If You Love Pinot Noir, Meet Your New Favorite Wine Region

Bright, juicy, and easy to drink, Alsatian Pinot Noir belongs on your radar.

https://www.foodandwine.com/pinot-noir-alsace-11869790

The Beer Style Expected to Dominate 2026

Lagers are back and expected to become an even bigger part of the American beer scene in 2026

https://www.mensjournal.com/drink/the-beer-style-expected-to-dominate-2026

The Oldest Liquor Store In The US Has Been Serving Customers For Over 300 Years

Places like the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston witnessed pro-Revolution meetings, and George Washington celebrated victory over the British Empire at New York’s Fraunces.

https://www.thetakeout.com/2058226/oldest-liquor-store-in-the-us-serving-customers-300-years/

Did Your Liquor License Just Get Devalued?

Most Massachusetts’ municipalities, including Boston, are limited to how many so-called “Pouring Licenses” and “Package Store Licenses” they can have issued at any one time depending upon their population, as determined by the last United States Census.

https://ucdlaw.com/blog/

What you need to know about Italy’s new decree on dealcoholised wine

IT HAS BEEN SIGNED AFTER MONTHS OF WAITING AND PRESSURE FROM TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, WHICH HAD BEEN CALLING FOR CLEAR RULES ON EXCISE DUTIES, AUTHORISATIONS AND PRODUCTION.