New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
08-28-26
Archive for the ‘Beer’ Category
New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
August 28, 2026Liquor Industry News 08-24-26
August 24, 2026
Liquor Industry News
The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*
08-24-2026
Liquor Industry News
New Products
How RTDs are winning over bars
How heatwaves affect what we drink
Tales of Kosher Alcohol
Why You’ll Never Find Norway’s Best-Selling Beer On American Shelves
As beer fans in the United States may already know, there are quite a few countries in the world that also have strong beer cultures. Germany, the Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Mexico, and Japan are a few staples that come to mind, but one nation you might not think of is Norway.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2224153/norway-best-selling-beer-unavaliable-america
The World’s Best-Selling Vodka Isn’t Grey Goose Or Ketel One — It’s Cheaper
The (arguably) tasteless spirit may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying that vodka reigns supreme worldwide.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2222773/best-selling-vodka-world-not-grey-goose-ketel-one-smirnoff
How heatwaves affect what we drink
As another heatwave begins in Europe, you might think all this dry, sunny weather would benefit drinks sales. We consider if that’s true, as well as the impact on wine, and which styles stand to benefit.
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/08/how-heatwaves-affect-what-we-drink
America hits major marijuana milestone as daily weed use surpasses daily drinking
Survey finds 21.4 million Americans now use cannabis daily or near-daily, up 21% since 2022
Tales of Kosher Alcohol
I’m sure many of you have heard of kosher food and many rules associated with it, in purchasing the ingredients, cooking, and consuming (don’t mix meat and dairy, for example). But wine is wine, right?
On Declining Per Capita Wine Consumption: Are We Reliving 1986 or 1993?
Is it just the beginning or the beginning of the end? Or something else?
https://tomwark.substack.com/p/on-declining-per-capita-wine-consumption
Is wine good for you? Here’s what the evidence says
Between WHO warnings and NHS guidelines lies a complex truth about wine, health and why humans have never stopped drinking it. Gabriel Stone considers the effect of booze on your body
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/08/is-wine-good-for-you-heres-what-the-evidence-says
Global alcohol deaths drop by 26%
According to a new report, the alcohol-attributable mortality rate has fallen by more than a quarter since 2010
10 Lime Beers, Ranked Worst To Best
Most beer drinkers have shoved a small lime slice through the narrow neck of a clear-bottled Corona — it’s practically a rite of passage once you’re legally old enough to drink. The Corona and lime pairing is such a staple nowadays that other brewers are starting to incorporate lime into their ales.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2226890/lime-beer-ranked-worst-best
Sarah Jessica Parker and Invivo Winemakers Just Bottled the Internet’s Spiciest Wine Trend
Invivo X, SJP launches the first major-label Sauvignon Blanc infused with jalapeño – turning the TikTok phenomenon into a bottle you can pick up off the shelf & find on select restaurant menus this summer
Next Century Spirits buys Chicken Cock Whiskey
North Carolina-based Next Century Spirits has acquired four brands from Grain & Barrel Spirits, including Chicken Cock Whiskey and its two Kentucky visitor experiences.
Find out the trends attracting Gen Z consumers to drink
The main consumer choices and behaviours influencing alcohol consumption among legal-drinking-age adults have been uncovered in a new white paper. But what are they? db finds out.
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/08/find-out-the-trends-attracting-gen-z-consumers-to-drink
The 30 Best Gins for 2026
Should you trust your eyes or the statistics when it comes to gin these days?
https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/best-gins-2026
NEW RTD
- Minute Maid Spiked, part of Coca-Cola’s Red Tree Beverages, has launched Vodka Lemonade Iced Tea. The 5% abv drink is non-carbonated and made with iced tea and 3% lemon juice. It joins the brand’s other vodka-based offerings—Lemona de, Pink Lemonade, and four flavors of Vodka Punch—plus wine-based cocktails like Margarita and Daiquiri, among others, in the brand’s portfolio. The new release is available in 8-packs of 12-ounce cans ($17) and in individual 16-ounce cans ($3.49). Both formats are available nationwide. Last year, Minute Maid’s spirits-based RTDs reached 100,000 cases in the U.S. in their first year on the market, according to Impact Databank.
These Are the Only 5 Beers to Win 3 Stars at the 2026 Great Taste Awards
More than 15,000 food and drink products competed, but only five beers earned the competition’s highest honor.
https://www.foodandwine.com/best-beers-great-taste-awards-2026-12033143
Idaho Makes Great Wine, and This Producer Is Leading the Charge
3100 Cellars is the only dedicated sparkling wine house in the Gem State, where vinous treasures abound.
https://www.foodandwine.com/idaho-sparkling-wine-12033554
The world’s best-selling spirit brand is not a Scottish whisky, a Russian vodka or a Cuban rum
The title belongs to South Korea, where Jinro soju shifted 94.5 million cases last year and has held first place for 25 straight years.
Are campers a massive untapped market for drinks?
As summer holidaymakers toast marshmallows over campfires, Sarah Neish asks marketing experts whether campers are a smoking hot demographic, and why this consumer segment is left out in the cold by many drinks brands.
Your Wine Habit Could Be Doing Public Good
Recycled wine corks find new life in Brooklyn public housing with sustainable cork pathways, playgrounds and community spaces
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/recycled-wine-corks-helping-communities
How To Order Wine Like An Expert
Whether ordering a bottle to share with friends at a bar or choosing something to pair with dinner, selecting wine can be daunting.
https://www.mashed.com/2227909/how-to-order-wine-like-an-expert
How a More Casual Drinker Gets the Most Out of the Fancy Coravin Wine Preserver
It’s keeping my bubbly, well, bubbly, so I can enjoy a summer’s worth of sparkling cocktails at my own pace.
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/coravin-sparkling-spritzes
Exploring eight EU wine regions set to win over drinkers
The EU is at the heart of the international wine trade, with its position built on quality assurance and regulation. A recent masterclass explored how that is driving innovation in its emerging regions.
Cutwater is fastest-growing alcohol brand in US
AB InBev’s canned cocktail Cutwater has become the fastest-growing brand in the US alcohol industry after rising by 104% over the past 12 months.
Slovenian Winemakers Face Threat of Not Being Allowed to Sell Wine
Here’s the full details, plus how you can help
https://themorningclaret.com/p/slovenian-winemakers-face-threat-of-not-being-allowed-to-sell-wine
Mexico Became the World’s Largest Beer Exporter in 2025
Among the five main destinations for the Mexican beverage are the United States, with US$6.046 billion; the Dominican Republic, with US$49 million; Spain, with US$39 million; Peru, with US$37 million; and Panama, with US$32 million, as of the close of 2025.
How weight-loss medication is changing relationships with alcohol
There is a growing body of research into the link between weight-loss drugs and alcohol consumption.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr7kmlg0lxpo
Best Champagne for Celebrations
How to Choose
https://winesfromfrance.com/blogs/news/best-champagne-for-celebrations
Burgundy’s Crémant starts its earliest harvest
Burgundy is seeing one of the earliest harvests for Crémant this year, with some producers having already started picking over the weekend
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/08/burgundys-cremant-harvest-start-is-earliest-yet
The Legal Drinking Age Used to Be Different in Every State.
Here’s What America Looked Like Before 1984.
https://vinepair.com/articles/every-state-legal-drinking-age-1984-map
Bota Box Introduces Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in a 1.5-Liter Box
Renowned vineyards meet sustainable packaging and exceptional value in new Limited Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/newreleases/article/321715
China’s Biggest Wine Influencer Lady Penguin Under Investigation
The company behind the six-million-follower wine personality will face trial in Beijing, casting a shadow over a content-commerce empire that once generated RMB 350 million in annual sales.
PourPlays Launches the First Gamified Wine Education Platform
Making Wine Discovery Engaging, Rewarding, and Fun for a New Generation
How RTDs are winning over bars
After conquering supermarket shelves, ready-to-drink brands are making their mark behind the bar. We explore why brands are increasingly being poured in on-trade establishments.
Copper & Kings delivers distillery exclusives
Louisville-based brandy producer Copper & Kings has begun nationwide shipping of its exclusive distillery bottling.
https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/08/copper-kings-delivers-distillery-exclusives
The Top 150 Tequila Brands Ranked
Fifteen reviewers scored more than 350 brands. Here are their favorites.
https://www.tequilareport.com/p/the-top-150-tequila-brands-ranked
How wine brands are finding growth in a shrinking market
Global wine consumption has fallen to levels not seen in more than six decades, leaving producers searching for new definitions of growth. From natural wine and Michelin-starred restaurants to China and Champagne, a handful of businesses are showing that expansion remains possible when producers know precisely who they are trying to reach.
Scientists have found out what causes ‘tropical’ aromas in whisky
Researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh have uncovered the source of ‘tropical’ or ‘mango’-like characteristics in whisky, meaning distillers could in future “dial up or tone down” the aromas as desired.
Old Elk unveils 10YO whiskey trio
American whiskey brand Old Elk has released a collection of three 10-year-old expressions as the first major releases under Middle West Spirits’ ownership.
Crown Royal gets snug in Juicy Couture
Diageo’s Crown Royal has collaborated with lifestyle brand Juicy Couture on flavored whisky-inspired bottle bags and matching velour tracksuits.
The (Unhinged) Frozen Pickle Wine Hack, Explained
Once upon a time, the frozen snack hack was simple. You put grapes in the freezer, waited a few hours, and got little marbles of frozen fruit that tasted vaguely like sorbet. It was low-effort, deliciously clever, and completely uncontroversial.
How To Grow Wine Without Herbicides
…Is The Wrong Question
https://beyondorganicwine.substack.com/p/how-to-grow-wine-without-herbicides
What temperature should you serve wine at?
Serving wine at the right temperature can make a significant difference to how it tastes, whether you are opening a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, a mature red or a bottle of Sherry. Gabriel Stone explains when to chill, when to warm and why the old rule of white wine cold and red wine at room temperature does not always work.
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/08/what-temperature-should-you-serve-wine-at
Most popular beers across US regions revealed in new data
New research has revealed the beer brands people are most curious about in different parts of the US that lead to them discovering and then buying certain brews. db looks at the findings.
Jameson Distiller’s Batch lands in US
Irish Distillers-owned Jameson has brought Distiller’s Batch, a single pot still Irish whiskey, to the US.
The Number of Breweries Per Capita in Every State Has Changed Dramatically Since 2010
Here’s What the Shift Looks Like
https://vinepair.com/articles/breweries-per-capita-in-every-state-percent-change
Climate Change & True Terroir
What this summer’s fires tell us about the future in your glass
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/climate-change-and-true-terroir
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Podcast
Listen On Our Facebook Page OR On Franklin Radio 102.9 FM
On Air Wednesday 9:00am, 02:00PM and 7:00PM
And
Saturday at 9:00 am and 01:00PM
Good Pods Top 100 Podcast For Education
Podcast Award Nominations 2019, 21, 22 ,23, 24 AND 2025!!
2025 AND 2026 Tasty Award Winner!
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Certified Specialist Of Wine-CSW
Certified Specialist Of Spirits-CSS
Society Of Wine Educators
California Wine Appellation Specialist-CWAS-San Francisco Wine School (First In MA)
French Wine Scholar FWS-(Instructor) Wine Scholar Guild
Quini Certified Educator- QCE (First In USA)
Italian Wine Specialist-IWS*-North American Sommelier Association
Spanish Wine Scholar SWS-Wine Scholar Guild
Oregon Wine Expert OWE-Napa Valley Wine Academy
Italian Wine Maestro-The Vinitaly International Academy (First Class In USA)
Italian Wine Scholar IWS*-Wine Scholar Guild
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Liquor Industry News 08-10-26
August 10, 2026Liquor Industry News
The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*
08-10-2026
Liquor Industry News
New Products
The Wine That Refuses to Behave
A Virginia Wine Expert Says These Are the Best Wines for Summer
These wines’ bright, acidic flavors pair well with sunshine.
Why Wine Fans Should Embrace Cruising
Cruise lines have realized that the readership profile at wine magazines aligns with their target audience.
WHICH WINE GOES BEST WITH A GLUTEN-FREE MEAL?
Gluten-free menus have become widely available, whether for medical reasons, digestive comfort or dietary choice
https://www.lasommeliere.com/en/blog/which-wine-goes-best-with-a-gluten-free-meal–n861
Is Sauvignon Blanc Dry Or Sweet? What Wine Newbies Should Know
In many ways, it would be far more accurate to describe sauvignon blanc as “crisp and bright” rather than “sweet” or “dry.”
https://www.tastingtable.com/2214242/is-sauvignon-blanc-wine-dry-or-sweet
Former Jack Daniel’s Cooperage closes in Alabama
Alabama Cooperage, previously known as Jack Daniel’s Cooperage, will close in September, resulting in 71 job losses.
Why it’s hoped Taylor’s latest innovation will go unnoticed
As db is first to report, Taylor’s Port has developed a new, lighter bottle for its fine fortified wines. We find out why CEO Adrian Bridge is hoping that consumers won’t notice.
Will Modelo and Corona brewing move from Mexico to the US?
US President Donald Trump is being urged by trade unionists to make some of America’s biggest beer brands “a lot more American”. But what is provoking the rift with Mexico over imported beer? db looks at the argument
This Nonalcoholic, Low-Calorie Beer Is The Highest-Rated Brew In Our Ranking
The nonalcoholic drink market has surged in recent years, as more and more people turn to zero-proof options.
Terragena Launches Single-Serving Frozen Wine Product
Terra Pop
PAIRING WINE WITH SALMON
5 EASY WINS
https://www.matchingfoodandwine.com/news/features/pairing-wine-with-salmon-5-easy-wins
The 30 Best Chardonnays for 2026
One of Pinot Noir’s most famous, if not most famous, progeny, Chardonnay captured American hearts long before the heartbreak grape took center stage in the early aughts.
https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/best-chardonnays-2026
New Book Challenges Conventional Thinking About the Wine Business
James Silver’s The Reset Is Over Argues the Industry’s Transformation Is Complete–and Offers a Practical Blueprint for What Comes Next
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/people/article/320858
Moonshine University to close after 14 years
Flavorman will cease operations at Kentucky’s Moonshine University and its associated programs on 31 December 2026.
New Vodka
Heaven Hill’s Deep Eddy has launched a new Espresso-flavore d vodka, billed as a shortcut for making the popular Espresso Martini cocktail and other coffee-forward drinks. The 35% abv vodka is now available across the U.S. with the 750-ml. size retailing at $17; Deep Eddy Espresso is also available in 50-, 100-, and 375-ml. formats, plus larger sizes like 1- and 1.75-liter bottles. This is the 10th expression in the Deep Eddy portfolio, joining popular flavors like Ruby Red and Sweet Tea, among others. Last year, Deep Eddy was up 1% to 1.75 million cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
Bardstown finishes whiskey with pineapple
Lofted Spirits’ Bardstown Bourbon Company has introduced a Kentucky-exclusive expression, finished in pineapple rum casks sourced from the Caribbean.
11 Lesser-Known Beers You Should Try if You Love Hazy IPAs
Way back in the day, before craft beer rose to prominence, if a bartender served you a cloudy beer, you might send it back and start questioning the cleanliness of their tap lines. In today’s beer world, though, receiving a murky beer is considered by many to be an attractive feature.
https://vinepair.com/articles/less-popular-hazy-ipas-to-try
Your Guide to Wheat Beer, From Hefeweizen to Berliner Weisse
From fruity German hefeweizens to citrusy Belgian witbiers and refreshingly tart Berliner weisse, here’s how to tell the world’s most popular wheat beers apart, and the best bottles to try this season.
https://www.foodandwine.com/wheat-beer-styles-12023598
Why Faux Works With Food
Faux is an alcohol-free, wine-adjacent beverage made from verjus, wine grapes, fruit, and botanicals. Every ingredient has a role. Verjus provides acidity and structure. Wine grapes create a varietal foundation. Fruit brings balance and aromatic lift. Botanicals add savory complexity.
https://www.fauxwine.com/blogs/news/why-faux-works-with-faux
The Top 10 Best-Selling Beers in America
Every Decade Since the ’80s
https://vinepair.com/articles/us-best-selling-beer-brands-by-decade
How Four Roses Is Shaping the Future of Bourbon Without Forgetting Its Past
Iconic brands never tread water. Instead, they make waves. Always in motion, these outfits manage to both honor longstanding tradition and stay ahead of trends via constant innovation.
Champagne to limit production to 250m bottles for 2026
The region of Champagne is to cap the amount of wine that can be made from this year’s harvest at 8,800kg/ha – the equivalent of around 250 million bottles.
Could craft beer be seeing the start of a second wave?
In the US, craft brewing trends have held steady, declines in operating breweries have slightly increased and consumer engagement has strengthened. Jessica Mason asks: are we seeing craft beer’s resurgence?
15 Lies About Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo Tequila
A quiz about tequila that most people get wrong. What’s your score?
https://www.tequilareport.com/p/15-lies-about-blanco-reposado-and-anejo-tequila
‘Good day for Scotland’: US lifts tariffs on Scotch
“This is a good day for Scotland,” said the country’s first minister, as the US officially returned to tariff-free trading for Scotch whisky.
Bulleit creates Bourbon-rye blend
The newest core expression from Bulleit Frontier Whiskey is named ‘87 and marries both Bourbon and rye whiskeys.
Why electrolytes have become wine’s newest additive
Joel Gott Wines has released Sauvy B, a canned Sauvignon Blanc spritz with electrolytes from pink Himalayan salt – the latest sign that ‘functional’ hydration ingredients, long confined to sports drinks and hangover cures, are moving into wine.
10 reasons why Moldovan wine should be on your radar
The story of Moldovan wine is one of fortitude in facing great challenges – and now this remarkable wine nation is ready to take its place on the global stage. We pick out 10 reasons why the country is worth a closer look by those in the drinks trade.
Super Mario’s namesake planted the grapes behind Washington’s only 96-point scoring white wine
Of all the white wines produced in Washington, only one earned a top score from the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards, widely considered the Oscars of the wine world. The grapes that made it were planted by the man who inspired Nintendo’s most famous character.
https://mynorthwest.com/seattles-morning-news/super-mario-white-wine/4259719
8 Affordable Sparkling Wines That Are Just As Good As Champagne, According To Sommeliers
Your wine shop run just got a lot more interesting.
https://www.delish.com/food/a71746275/best-champagne-alternatives-sparkling-wines
Samuel Adams Is Introducing a New Version of a Best-Selling Beer
Plus, 3 fan-favorite drinks are returning.
https://www.allrecipes.com/samuel-adams-new-fall-beers-12026452
Wine Experts Say Your Order Might Be Showing Your Age—Here’s Why
Team sauvy b or rosé all day?
https://www.delish.com/food/a71851702/wine-order-age-trends
Pot Still or Column Still? Why Most People Get This Wrong!
Pot stills make flavourful spirits, column stills make neutral spirits — right? Not quite. The truth is more interesting, and far more precise.
https://thespiritjournal.substack.com/p/pot-still-or-column-still-why-most
Is Your Go-To Beer Still Truly American?
The Answer May Surprise You
Jimothy the viral raccoon gets his own beer can tribute from a top Mass. brewery
While Tree House shared few details about the can, it confirmed on Instagram that, “yes they are real, and they’re beautiful,” and that they’re on sale at the Charlton location.
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/jimothy-raccoon-beer-tree-house-mass/3986746
The Unusual Way This Southern Liquor Store Sells Rare Bourbon
Southern Spirits has unique ways of making the hunt for rare whiskey fair.
https://www.southernliving.com/southern-spirits-uses-games-to-sell-rare-bourbons-12004234
The Wildest Flavored Vodkas Bartenders Actually Recommend
Bartenders share the surprising flavored vodkas they’d happily pour, from popcorn and pickle to marshmallow and Doritos.
https://www.foodandwine.com/the-best-unexpected-flavored-vodkas-12025247
What Is Blouge Wine?
The Red-White Hybrid Built for Chilling
https://wineguide101.com/what-is-blouge-wine
Say Goodbye To Mediocre Wine
This 20-Minute Rule Makes It Taste Premium
https://www.tastingtable.com/2220488/say-goodbye-to-bad-wine-20-minute-rule
Old Forester releases first whiskey from Louisville distillery
The latest addition to Old Forester’s 117 series is the first expression made entirely at the brand’s distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.
Wales bids for world’s first natural wine appellation
Britain could become home to the world’s first appellation dedicated to natural wine, with Welsh producers seeking protected status for wines made without synthetic chemicals, additives or industrial yeasts. The proposed Natural Wine of Wales PGI would also require grapes to be grown and spontaneously fermented in Wales.
Can we please stop calling wine “porch pounders?”
The “porch pounder” is a slang word for a wine that is light in alcohol, crisp in acidity, and easy drinking. These are the wines that don’t need food or even snacks to enjoy. You simply crack it open and guzzle it down, to live up to its phrase.
https://cellarnotes.substack.com/p/can-we-please-stop-calling-wine-porch
Hard seltzer loses its sparkle as the RTD market evolves
The past decade has seen the rise and fall of hard seltzers as they have morphed into other RTD categories. Can the sector regain the effervescence that initially made it so popular?
3 Summer Sparkling Wine Cocktails
That Aren’t Aperol Spritz
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EVERY WINE REGION WANTS TO BE PREMIUM?
The formula for at least some premiumization is familiar.
The Case for Buying Wine You Actually Understand
Most people buy wine slightly anxiously.
Vintage Dated Whiskies
Pick your favorite year. Vintage-dated bottlings are a rare, fun treat
https://whiskyadvocate.com/vintage-dated-whiskies
The Wine That Refuses to Behave
: A Love Letter to Pét-Nat
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/the-wine-that-refuses-to-behave
Beyoncé takes ownership of SirDavis American Whisky
Grammy Award-winning singer Beyoncé has taken sole ownership of SirDavis American Whisky, the brand she founded in partnership with Moët Hennessy.
Svedka introduces Vodka Water Cooler
Sazerac-owned Svedka has reimagined the office water cooler for its new ready-to-drink (RTD) canned Vodka Waters.
New Old Elk
- Old Elk, owned by Ohio’s Middle West Spirits, has announced a trio of 10-year-old whiskies, the first major new releases from Old Elk since its May 2025 acquisition by Middle West. The new releases include a Straight Bourbon, a wheat whiskey, and a wheated Bourbon, all retailing for $70 a 750-ml. The Bourbon is made from a mash of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye, and bottled at 52.5% abv. The wheat whiskey is distilled from 96% rye and 4% malted barley and released at 51.5% abv. Finally, Old Elk’s new wheated Bourbon is bottled at 52.5% abv and distilled from 51% corn, 46% wheat, and 3% malted barley. All three are rolling out now across the U.S.
The European Sparkling Wines Tell a Story in Every Sip
With 27 countries spanning 1.5 million square miles, 446 million inhabitants and 24 languages, the European Union (EU) is the third largest exporter of agricultural and agri-food products consumed in the U.S. Products produced in the EU not only have a long cultural history steeped in culinary tradition, but are held to rigorous standards denoted by a specially developed set of EU Quality Labels designed to assure consumers are not only getting a top-caliber product, but to also inform them about the product’s background.
Explore the Two Faces of Tuscany
It’s one of the most recognizable regional identities in the world, and it carries that recognition into everything: from wine labels to travel brochures to the produce aisle at a grocery store
https://verovino.com/vero-blog/tuscany-food-wine-tuscan-olive-oil
‘Worst crisis since WWII’: Bordeaux wildfires continue amid extreme heat
As wildfires continue to blaze near Bordeaux, in what President Emmanuel Macron has described as the toughest situation France has faced since World War II, the country’s celebrated wine region confronts a growing environmental crisis.
Australian wine exports drop to 22-year low
Australian wine exports have fallen to their lowest level in more than two decades as a worldwide decline in wine consumption weighs on demand, according to a new industry report.
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2026/07/australian-wine-exports-drop-to-22-year-low
MGP’s whiskey sales plunge 59% in Q2
The Distilling Solutions arm of MGP Ingredients plummeted by 42% in the 2026 second quarter (Q2) as whiskey suffered a 59% drop.
https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/07/mgps-whiskey-sales-plunge-59-in-q2
Tsingtao enters Irish whiskey with Great Northern
Chinese brewer Tsingtao has joined forces with Great Northern Distillery to make Irish whiskey for Asian consumers, with plans to open a distillery in China.
https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2026/07/tsingtao-enters-irish-whiskey-with-great-northern
US wine industry risks losing ground without collective marketing
While regional trade organizations “do excellent work”, the US wine trade “does not do a fantastic job” of collective marketing, says agency founder behind anti-prohibitionist campaign.
7 Things You Should Know About Sun Cruiser
Boston Beer Company’s Other Hard Tea
https://vinepair.com/articles/ntk-sun-cruiser
The Portuguese Cork Association Launches “Drink Responsibly.
Choose a Bottle with a Natural Cork.” Campaign
Beer Review
Samuel Adams’ New NA Octoberfest And Apple Spice Ale Beers Hit All The Right Autumnal Notes
https://www.tastingtable.com/2228364/sam-adams-fall-2026-beers-review
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Podcast
Listen On Our Facebook Page OR On Franklin Radio 102.9 FM
On Air Wednesday 9:00am, 02:00PM and 7:00PM
And
Saturday at 9:00 am and 01:00PM
Good Pods Top 100 Podcast For Education
Podcast Award Nominations 2019, 21, 22 ,23, 24 AND 2025!!
2025 AND 2026 Tasty Award Winner!
Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter
Get updated On Liquor Industry News, Events, Sales And More!
Find Us Online
Like Us On Facebook
www.facebook.com/franklinliquorsMA
Follow Us On X
www.twitter.com/franklinliquors
Our Latest Specials
Liquor
Wine
Beer
Beer Keg Information Page
Upcoming Events
Franklin Wine Club
Wine Explorers wanted!
Over 900 Club Members!
How To attend and join
http://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/
http://www.facebook.com/FranklinwineclubMA
Food And Wine Events
Our TV Show And Facebook Page
Franklin Liquors Wine Education
Certified Specialist Of Wine-CSW
Certified Specialist Of Spirits-CSS
Society Of Wine Educators
California Wine Appellation Specialist-CWAS-San Francisco Wine School (First In MA)
French Wine Scholar FWS-(Instructor) Wine Scholar Guild
Quini Certified Educator- QCE (First In USA)
Italian Wine Specialist-IWS*-North American Sommelier Association
Spanish Wine Scholar SWS-Wine Scholar Guild
Oregon Wine Expert OWE-Napa Valley Wine Academy
Italian Wine Maestro-The Vinitaly International Academy (First Class In USA)
Italian Wine Scholar IWS*-Wine Scholar Guild
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New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
August 7, 2026New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
08-07-26
New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
July 31, 2026New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
07-31-26
Liquor Industry News 07-27-26
July 27, 2026Liquor Industry News
The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*
07-27-2026
Liquor Industry News
New Products
What is ‘back sweetening’ and why does it matter?
Life Behind the Liquor Counter
Does Expensive Wine Actually Taste Better?
Top 10 most popular whisky distilleries in 2026
Cask Connoisseur has released its annual ranking of the UK and Ireland’s favourite whisky distilleries, but which producer came out on top?
Does Light Drinking Lower Cancer Risk?
Depends Who You Ask
https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/new-alcohol-health-study-june-2026
Statement on Irresponsible and Biased Alcohol-Related Commentary
WHY EQUATING ALCOHOL TO TOBACCO OVERSIMPLIFIES AND DAMAGES PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS
Will Canada end up being punished for the US alcohol ban?
Legislation calling for an investigation into Canada’s limits on importing US alcohol has been proposed by congresswoman Claudia Tenney. db reports.
French vineyards battle extreme heat as climate pressures mount
French wine producers are facing another difficult growing season as record-breaking temperatures compound the effects of frost, hail and prolonged drought across key regions.
SipSource: vodka to outpace US spirits market
The vodka category is expected to outperform the core spirits market in the US over the next 12 months, according to a SipSource forecast
We Asked 12 Bartenders: What’s the Best Scotch Under $50?
Scotch doesn’t have to be expensive.
https://vinepair.com/articles/wa-bartenders-best-scotch-under-50-2026
Why These 6 Beers Were Named the Best in the Country at the 2026 Good Food Awards
Exceptional craftsmanship and a commitment to sustainability made these breweries and their beers stand out.
https://www.foodandwine.com/good-food-awards-beer-winners-2026-12012552
Barton 1792 Unveils Its First Rye Whiskey Alongside a 15-Year Cask-Strength Bourbon
The Kentucky distillery is expanding the 1792 lineup with two exciting bottles.
https://www.foodandwine.com/barton-1792-whiskey-releases-12012542
Can You Bring Your Own Bottle Of Wine Into Olive Garden?
While the casual dining chain is usually accommodating, you shouldn’t assume BYOB is guaranteed.
https://www.foodrepublic.com/2204959/bring-bottle-wine-olive-garden
Does Expensive Wine Actually Taste Better?
The Science
Kentucky Bourbon Trail gains new stops
Four new destinations have been added to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, taking the total tally to 74 experiences for whiskey fans.
Green agenda: what to know before converting to organic
Thinking of converting to organic? Amelie Maurice-Jones has asked producers across the globe what they wish they’d known before starting out
How Provence turned rosé into a lifestyle
The average export price is €5,90, significantly higher than competing Spanish or Italian rosés (and high by most standards)
Have we forgotten wine’s place at the table?
Gastronomy is classically defined as the art of eating well. For me, an essential part of eating well is drinking well.
French heatwave to cut Champagne yields by 10%
France’s prolonged summer heat and drought are shrinking grape development across major wine regions, with Champagne growers expecting yields to fall around 10% and harvests beginning weeks earlier than normal.
The Consumer Has Said What They Want. Is Wine Willing to Listen?
New research listened to social media, online conversations and found fun, not fuss wins out.
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/320311
Crealis Unveils A New Scientific Study On The Impact Of Crown Cap On Sparkling Wines During Aging
The research demonstrates the aging potential associated with liners’ different levels of permeability from CREALIS PE.DI’s range of crown capsules.
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/vendor/article/320386
The 20 Best Vodkas for 2026
What does it mean to be the best-selling spirits category in a world where people are supposedly drinking fewer spirits?
https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/best-vodkas-2026
Ignore the Second-Cheapest Wine on the Menu — Here’s Why You Should Drink the Cheapest Instead
Don’t be swayed by the lure of spendier options. The least-expensive wine can often surprisingly punch well above its weight class.
https://www.foodandwine.com/order-cheapest-bottle-wine-12014453
Demystifying the Packaging Dilemma
The Heavy Bottle Illusion
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/demystifying-the-packaging-dilemma
Super-premium Tequila faces 5% drop by 2030
As super-premium Tequila volumes decline, the high-end part of the category is expected to soar by 2030, according to IWSR.
Uncle Nearest receiver claims lender ‘ignored red flags’
The receiver for Uncle Nearest has filed a counterclaim against Farm Credit Mid-America, arguing that the lender’s failures helped the alleged fraud remain under the radar for years.
The Best Beer Styles For Newbies, According To Experts
When the weekend hits and you’re in the mood for a beer, you may head to the store to grab your favorite six-pack.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2210578/best-beer-beginners
This Brilliant Wine Bottle Trick Keeps Your Plants Watered for Weeks
Before recycling your wine bottles, consider using them to water your plants.
https://www.marthastewart.com/wine-bottles-to-water-plants-12012933
WE TESTED EVERY MANUAL WINE OPENER SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO
The manual wine opener category is wider than most buyers realize.
https://truewinelover.com/blogs/news/title-we-tested-every-manual-wine-opener-so-you-dont-have-to
7 Grape Varieties to Try if You Love Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, bold, and full of personality, Cabernet Sauvignon rules the world of red wine.
https://vinepair.com/articles/cabernet-sauvignon-alternative-grapes-to-try
Six Summer Beers You Should Be Buying In 2026
In case you need any inspo to get all that chillaxing started, here are six beers that are perfect for summer 2026.
Franzia Without America: How Tariffs Reinvented an Iconic Brand in China
Franzia is one of America’s best-known wine brands. But in China, it is no longer selling American wine.
How to Label “Estate Bottled” (and When You Legally Cannot)
One of the most coveted terms on a wine label — and one of the most strictly defined. You qualify on every count, or you cannot use it.
https://www.colaclear.com/blog/how-to-label-estate-bottled
America’s Regional Whiskey Styles, Mapped
In American whiskey, bourbon reigns supreme, a position supported by measures both quantitative (sales) and qualitative (fame). But it’s far from the country’s only whiskey style. The U.S. boasts a range of other categories, including some that predate bourbon itself.
https://vinepair.com/articles/america-regional-whiskey-styles-map
10 Lesser-Known Brands You Should Try if You Love Scotch
Scotch is a simple beverage at its core.
https://vinepair.com/articles/less-popular-scotch-brands-to-try
Weavers sacked from Uncle Nearest amid federal investigation
Uncle Nearest’s co-founders, Fawn and Keith Weaver, have been dismissed from the company, as its receiver disclosed he is cooperating with ongoing federal investigations.
Life Behind the Liquor Counter
The rules say check IDs, refuse the drunk, protect the vulnerable. The incentives say do the opposite. Somebody has to live in that gap.
https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-paradox-behind-the-liquor-counter
The Human Element
Decoding Social Responsibility in the Vineyard
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/the-human-element
Roman women managed wine and olive oil production on ancient farms, study finds
For years, historians described the Roman vilica, or female farm manager, as a housekeeper whose work focused on meals, cleaning, and supervising servants inside the home. A new study argues this view misses one of the most important jobs on a Roman estate. Evidence shows many vilicae managed large farming operations, especially the production of wine and olive oil, two of the estate’s main sources of income.
Freeze, drought make 2026 a difficult year for Virginia vineyards
Despite some recent rain, Virginia remains in a drought—the latest insult for vineyards where grape crops were crushed by an early freeze followed by extreme temperatures. WMRA’s Christine Kueter reports.
https://www.wmra.org/2026-07-14/freeze-drought-make-2026-a-difficult-year-for-virginia-vineyards
What is ‘back sweetening’ and why does it matter?
Wines by the glass in the US are becoming sweeter as a global trend for ‘friendlier’ table wines begins to take hold. And European regions including Bordeaux and the Rhône are considering adapting legislation to follow suit, reports Roger Morris.
The Celebrity Spirits Boom Is Over. Long Live Dead Celebrities
The celebrity spirits boom has almost certainly come to an end.
https://vinepair.com/articles/celebrity-spirits-brands-boom-again-with-dead-celebrities
Trinchero Releases ‘Sauvy B,’ a Wine Spritzer With Added Electrolytes
At a time when the wine industry attempts to court younger consumers and better-for-you trends swarm the market, Trinchero Family Wine and Spirits is releasing Sauvy B, a ready-to-drink (RTD), citrus-flavored wine spritz containing electrolytes, the alcohol conglomerate announced today. Famed winemaker Joel Gott partnered with Trinchero, the third largest wine supplier in the U.S., to produce Sauvy B
https://vinepair.com/booze-news/trinchero-releases-sauvy-b-wine-rtd-with-electrolytes
WhistlePig joins Kentucky Distillers’ Association
Non-profit trade group the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) has welcomed WhistlePig Whiskey as its newest member.
What the Wine World Teaches Us About Taste (and Smell)
Before anything makes it to our mouths, all drinking and dining experiences start with our eyes. In the case of wine, tasters consider the color and opacity of the liquid before them, and swirl it around to assess its legs, or the streaks the liquid leaves on the side of the glass. Then, they raise it to their noses and inhale deeply for the bouquet, parsing which scents they glean. Finally, it’s time to take a sip.
The Complete Ultimate List of Craft Tequila Brands
The additive-free tequila conversation needs to expand. Here is what craft actually means, and who qualifies.
https://www.tequilareport.com/p/the-complete-ultimate-list-of-craft-tequila-brands
New Bourbon
- Bardstown, Kentucky’s Heaven Hill Distilleryhas announced Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash, a new whiskey marrying a traditional Bourbon and a wheated Bourbon. The 50% abv bottling is a blend of two 9-year-old whiskies made during the same distillation season by the company. Two-thirds of the final blend is a Bourbon distilled from a mash of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, with the final third a wheated Bourbon made from a 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley mashbill. Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash ($50) will be available in limited quantities across the U.S. beginning in August.
Inside a Kentucky Rickhouse
A Whiskey Distiller Explains How Barrel Placement Impacts Bourbon
https://vinepair.com/articles/ask-a-distiller-does-rickhouse-placement-matter-for-whiskey
What the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Roundup Means for Wine (and the World)
In a 7-2 opinion, Supreme Court Justices sided with Monsanto, agreeing to shield the agricultural giant from future liability against those claiming its weed killer, RoundUp, caused adverse health effects.
https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/glyphosate
Stop trying to make non-alcoholic wine happen. It’s not going to happen
Drinks that are never going to break through plus England’s greatest vineyard, Breaky Bottom, is on the market
https://henryjeffreys.substack.com/p/stop-trying-to-make-non-alcoholic
Laser technology could combat deadly fake alcohol
Adelaide University is developing laser-based technology that could detect counterfeit alcohol and identify dangerous chemicals, like methanol, inside unopened spirits bottles.
Fireball creates hightops with whiskey pouch
Sazerac-owned Fireball Cinnamon Whisky has released a pair of limited edition sneakers with a custom-built compartment designed to hold a Stash Flask.
US restaurants pushing wine markups to six times cost
Restaurant wine pricing in the US has become “a particular pain point” for the category, with some venues now taking six-times markups on bottles, according to Gino Colangelo, founder and president of Colangelo & Partners, the New York-based wine PR agency.
Why the world is about to see more Canadian cider
Canadian non-profit association for cider makers Cider Canada has received federal support to expand into international markets. db looks into what this could mean for the category’s prosperity.
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Podcast
Listen On Our Facebook Page OR On Franklin Radio 102.9 FM
On Air Wednesday 9:00am, 02:00PM and 7:00PM
And
Saturday at 9:00 am and 01:00PM
Good Pods Top 100 Podcast For Education
Podcast Award Nominations 2019, 21, 22 ,23, 24 AND 2025!!
2025 AND 2026 Tasty Award Winner!
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French Wine Scholar FWS-(Instructor) Wine Scholar Guild
Quini Certified Educator- QCE (First In USA)
Italian Wine Specialist-IWS*-North American Sommelier Association
Spanish Wine Scholar SWS-Wine Scholar Guild
Oregon Wine Expert OWE-Napa Valley Wine Academy
Italian Wine Maestro-The Vinitaly International Academy (First Class In USA)
Italian Wine Scholar IWS*-Wine Scholar Guild
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New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
July 24, 2026New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
07-24-26
New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
July 17, 2026New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
07-17-26
Liquor Industry News 07-13-26
July 13, 2026Liquor Industry News
The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*
07-13-2026
Liquor Industry News
New Products
What is “American” Wine?
Top 10 oldest wineries and distilleries in the US
The 6 Best Summer Beers, According to Experts
The No. 1 Mistake to Avoid Before Your First Sip of Wine, According to a Sommelier
If you’ve ever written off a wine after one taste, you may have been judging it too early.
https://www.foodandwine.com/dont-drink-water-before-tasting-wine-12003407
Willett starts production at Springfield site
Family-owned Willett Distillery has filled its first cask and begun whiskey production at its new facility in Springfield, Kentucky.
How the Martini glass became more than the Martini
Think of a Martini and what do you picture? We bet that it’s the classic V-shaped cocktail glass that immediately comes to your mind.
Why Is Everybody Making Blackberry Whiskey?
As a spirits writer and reviewer, samples arrive at my (home) office nearly every single day. Some are exciting. Some aren’t great. Many are just part of the job. And you never quite know until you open the box
https://vinepair.com/articles/blackberry-whiskey-distilleries-recent-trend
The 10 Most Popular American Whiskey Brands in the World for 2026
Despite the dips in certain regions, American whiskey was the country’s most exported spirit with major growth in new markets like Brazil and Australia
https://vinepair.com/booze-news/most-popular-american-whiskey-brands-2026
Buffalo Trace’s Proof of Concept
The distillers behind Pappy Van Winkle have been experimenting with what strength to cask at and the results are surprisingly good.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/06/buffalo-traces-proof-of-concept
Orange Wine
An Ancient, Sustainable Sip Making a Modern Comeback
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/orange-wine
The 32 Best Pinot Noirs for 2026
Pinot Noir remains the ultimate litmus test for many winemakers.
https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/best-pinot-noirs-2026
7 Producers You Should Know to Get Into Rioja
Tempranillo is a sneaky little grape.
https://vinepair.com/articles/rioja-producers-to-know
New RTD
- Sazerac has expanded its spirits-based RTD offerings with three new brands: Lovebug Hard Cream Soda, Buckhorn Whiskey Lemonade, and Endless Afternoon Whiskey Lemonade. Lovebug, at 5% abv, comes in Vanilla ’n Cream, Cherries ’n Cream, Cola ’n Cream, and Peaches ’n Cream flavors. Buckhorn (7% abv) covers Classic Whiskey Lemonade, Peach Whiskey Lemonade, Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade, and Honey Whiskey Lemonade. Finally, Endless Afternoon, canned at 9% abv, comes in Original Lemonade, Peach Lemonade, Blackberry Lemonade, and Ginger Lemonade flavors. The three new brands are each available in select regions across the U.S. in brand-specific 8-packs of 12-ounce cans retailing at $19.
The 6 Best Summer Beers, According to Experts
Nothing goes better with scalding-hot summer days than an ice-cold beer. Crack open our favorite cold ones and share a toast that chilly weather is many, many months away.
https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/a71472301/best-summer-beers-to-drink
The Hottest Gen Z Alcohol Trend Isn’t a New Cocktail — It’s Drinking Earlier
After-work drinks and earlier bed times are in vogue.
https://www.foodandwine.com/daycap-trend-drinking-earlier-12003980
Guinness and Oysters Are Having a Moment
This Unexpected Pairing Has a Long History
https://vinepair.com/articles/guinness-oysters-popular-pairing
Online searches ‘through the roof’ for Sancerre and chilled reds
A new ‘Summergeist’ report by Google reveals the top-trending food and drinks this season, with Sancerre and chilled reds storming ahead, as well as, bizarrely, spam hotdogs. db finds out more.
Irish whiskey GI under review
Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine has launched a public consultation to review the rules that govern Irish whiskey.
Bulleit bottles its oldest straight rye
Diageo-owned Bulleit Frontier Whiskey has released a limited edition 20-year-old straight rye, the brand’s oldest of its kind to date.
Ole Smoky releases RTDs
Tennessee-based Ole Smoky has revisited the ready-to-drink (RTD) market with a line of sparkling moonshine lemonades.
New RTD
- Brown-Forman has announced El Jimador Tequila Spritz, a new RTD extension for the brand. The new line comes in three flavors—Lime, Orange, and Mango—all at 4.8% abv and hitting shelves across the U.S. beginning in July. The cocktails come in 4-packs of 12-ounce cans for a suggested price of $11. The new Tequila Spritzes mark the brand’s first entry into the spirits-based RTD category in the U.S., although El Jimador is present in the malt-based cocktail category with El Jimador Bebidas. Last year, El Jimador Tequila was down nearly 13% in the U.S. to 672,000 cases, according to Impact Databank.
On Greek island of Santorini, winemakers try to adapt to heat and drought
Climate change makes wine growing harder on Greek island
Will Europe’s heat wave kill a harvest too?
Shades of 2003 haunts growers
https://tomm142661.substack.com/p/will-europes-heat-wave-kill-a-harvest
Buffalo Trace Revives 5 Historic Whiskey Brands in Its New Prohibition Collection
This year’s lineup includes the distillery’s highest-proof rye in modern history.
https://www.foodandwine.com/buffalo-trace-prohibition-collection-2026-12009201
Sazerac buys Garrard County Distilling for $20m
Tom Collins Distilling, which is affiliated with Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac, has purchased the former Garrard County Distilling property located in Lancaster, Kentucky.
Finnish Long Drink explores raspberry
Ready-to-drink (RTD) brand The Finnish Long Drink has debuted a new flavor, raspberry, as well as a zero-sugar variant.
Schiava and Lagrein: The red spirit of Alto Adige
The indigenous red varieties of Alpine northern Italy are a worthy complement to the region’s fine whites.
https://worldoffinewine.com/news-features/schiava-lagrein-red-spirit-alto-adige
What is “American” Wine?
Truth in labeling is a valid request.
https://stevenunlimited.substack.com/p/what-is-american-wine
We need to kick back a bit on wine and health
I’m worried that people are being scared about enjoying wine for no particular reason. Maybe we need to be more honest in the sphere of wine and health?
https://jamiegoode.substack.com/p/we-need-to-kick-back-a-bit-on-wine
7 Things You Should Know About BuzzBallz,
The Trailblazing RTD Popular With Gen Z
https://vinepair.com/articles/ntk-buzzballz
Top 10 oldest wineries and distilleries in the US
Ahead of Independence Day on Saturday, db reveals the ten oldest wineries and distilleries in the United States that remain operational, two of which predate the Declaration of Independence altogether.
Champagne on course for earliest harvest start date ever
Following an unusually early and heavily frost-damaged start to the season, followed by recent heatwave conditions, Champagne could be on course for the earliest start date for harvesting in its long history.
Beer considered to be the ‘most American’ of drinks
Ahead of Independence Day celebrations, new statistics have revealed that the majority of adults believe beer is the drink that is understood to be “most American”. db looks at the findings.
New Bourbon
Jefferson’s Bourbon, part of the Pernod Ricard portfolio, has released a new limited edition 20-year-old whiskey finished in Bordeaux casks. The Bourbon is bottled at 47% abv and is a tribute to the brand’s namesake and “the pioneering spirit of America,” according to the company. Jefferson’s Bourbon Founder’s Reserve 20-Year-Old is limited to just 250 bottles, available through the brand’s website and in select retailers across the U.S. The limited-time-off ering carries a suggested price of $500 a 750-ml. Last year, Jefferson’s was at 131,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
Ten whiskeys for the US 250th anniversary
Whiskey producers across the country have unveiled a plethora of limited releases to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US.
ARE LOW-CAL BEERS THE NEXT BIG THING?
So: weaker than a Michelob Ultra and less than 100 calories, but stronger than NA and fuller-flavored for craft beer drinkers.
https://www.beervanablog.com/beervana/2026/6/30/are-low-cal-beers-the-next-big-thing
This Is the No. 1 Nonalcoholic Beer in America, According to the First NA Beer Competition
Judges tasted more than 100 alcohol-free beers and beverages to crown the inaugural Best in Show winner.
The Ultimate Champagne Flavor Map
Wineries of all types strive to develop an estate identity through their liquid, but nowhere is that brand recognition as important as it is in Champagne
https://vinepair.com/articles/champagne-flavor-map-infographic
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Podcast
Listen On Our Facebook Page OR On Franklin Radio 102.9 FM
On Air Wednesday 9:00am, 02:00PM and 7:00PM
And
Saturday at 9:00 am and 01:00PM
Good Pods Top 100 Podcast For Education
Podcast Award Nominations 2019, 21, 22 ,23, 24 AND 2025!!
2025 AND 2026 Tasty Award Winner!
Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter
Get updated On Liquor Industry News, Events, Sales And More!
Find Us Online
Like Us On Facebook
www.facebook.com/franklinliquorsMA
Follow Us On X
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Our Latest Specials
Liquor
Wine
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Upcoming Events
Franklin Wine Club
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How To attend and join
http://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/
http://www.facebook.com/FranklinwineclubMA
Food And Wine Events
Our TV Show And Facebook Page
Franklin Liquors Wine Education
Certified Specialist Of Wine-CSW
Certified Specialist Of Spirits-CSS
Society Of Wine Educators
California Wine Appellation Specialist-CWAS-San Francisco Wine School (First In MA)
French Wine Scholar FWS-(Instructor) Wine Scholar Guild
Quini Certified Educator- QCE (First In USA)
Italian Wine Specialist-IWS*-North American Sommelier Association
Spanish Wine Scholar SWS-Wine Scholar Guild
Oregon Wine Expert OWE-Napa Valley Wine Academy
Italian Wine Maestro-The Vinitaly International Academy (First Class In USA)
Italian Wine Scholar IWS*-Wine Scholar Guild
SaveSave
New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
July 10, 2026New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
07-10-26
New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
July 3, 2026New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
07-03-26
Liquor Industry News 06-29-26
June 29, 2026Liquor Industry News
The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*
06-29-2026
Liquor Industry News
New Products
Can you taste history?
Are Washington wines ‘volcanic’?
Organic Wine Decoded
What’s Actually in Your Wine, and Why Almost None of It is on the Label
Cultured yeast, fining agents, added sugar, and sulfur all go in. Here’s how to taste the difference.
https://thepolishedpalate.substack.com/p/whats-actually-in-your-wine-and-why
21 Liqueurs to Know to Read a Cocktail Menu With Confidence
When ordering a classic cocktail, drinkers can anticipate how the beverage will likely taste.
https://vinepair.com/articles/cocktail-menu-liqueurs-to-know
No Increased Risk of Cancer Death from Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Study
Who’s Gonna Tell The WHO? Who’s Gonna Tell the Media?
https://tomwark.substack.com/p/no-increased-risk-of-cancer-death-from-moderate-alcohol-consumption
When People Say They Want Sustainable Wine, Are They Telling the Truth?
The industry keeps telling itself that its customers are demanding greener winemaking. Research backs that up. Or does it?
https://robertejoseph.substack.com/p/when-people-say-they-want-sustainable
New Bourbon
- Barrell Craft Spirits has released Bourbon Batch 038, the latest cask strength bottling from the Louisville, Kentucky-based blender. Batch 038 brings together 12-year-old Kentucky Bourbon, 12- and 15-year-old Tennessee Bourbon, 9- and 10-year-old Indiana Bourbon, and 8-year-old Maryland Bourbon creating a derived mash bill of 79% corn, 17% rye, and 4% malted barley that’s bottled at 58.48% abv. The new release is now available in 49 states at a suggested price of $85 a bottle. Timed to the U.S.’s 250th anniversary, Barrell Bourbon Batch 038 features a commemorative red, white, and blue label.
Beyond the Buzzwords: The Evolution of the Natural Wine Movement
Wait! Isn’t all wine natural?
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/beyond-the-buzzwords-the-evolution
The States That Drink the Most Liquor in America
Wine and beer continue to top spirits in total consumption by volume
https://vinepair.com/articles/map-states-drink-spirits-america-2025
Bartenders Say ‘Overly Complex’ Cocktails Are Out—Here’s What Everyone Will Be Drinking This Summer
If that’s not a recession indicator, I don’t know what is.
https://www.delish.com/food/a71410804/summer-cocktail-trends-2026
Elijah Craig Is Bringing Back Its 21-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon After More Than a Decade
The limited-edition bourbon was bottled at 94 proof.
https://www.foodandwine.com/elijah-craig-21-year-old-single-barrel-bourbon-11993275
Vin de France gains ground in Bordeaux
An increasing number of Bordeaux producers are stepping outside appellation rules in favour of Vin de France, seeking greater freedom over grape varieties, winemaking techniques and branding. While still a small part of regional production, the category is becoming a vehicle for innovation, climate adaptation and commercial flexibility
Coors Light’s New ‘Tallerboy’ Packs 3 Beers Into 1 Giant Can
There’s no need to get up from your couch to grab a second or third beer.
https://www.foodandwine.com/coors-light-tallerboy-canister-11993250
Everything You Need to Know About Johnnie Walker
A look at the blended scotch whisky brand that rose from humble origins to become the number one scotch whisky brand in the world
https://whiskyadvocate.com/johnnie-walker-whisky-overview
First 5,000 bottles produced from Pope’s vineyard
Pope Leo XIV gave thanks for the inaugural vintage made from the two-hectare vineyard located inside his summer residence and farmed by migrant workers.
10 Essential Bottles of Rosé
Although rosé’s popularity peaks in the summertime, the pink wine’s roots prove it is more than a trendy seasonal beverage.
https://vinepair.com/articles/essential-bottles-rose-timeline-infographic
Biodynamic Wine: Stardust, Sorcery, or the Ultimate Terroir?
The cosmic side of viticulture
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/biodynamic-wine-stardust-sorcery
Why Is NA Wine So Far Behind NA Beer?
Read More
https://defector.com/why-is-na-wine-so-far-behind-na-beer
Champagne growers and houses rethink old partnerships
Climate change and shifting consumer preferences are prompting some Champagne producers to deepen ties with their grape growers. For estates such as Laurent-Perrier, closer collaboration is becoming increasingly important for maintaining quality and long-term stability.
Why China could be fine wine’s next success story
From award-winning Chardonnays to ambitious export plans, China’s wine industry is shedding old stereotypes and building a reputation for premium quality. As curiosity grows at home and abroad, producers are positioning themselves as the next major force in fine wine. Amelie Maurice-Jones reports.
Frey Ranch ballots northern Nevada’s ‘oldest’ Bourbon
Nevada’s Frey Ranch Distillery has released its first batch of 10-year-old Bourbon, which is available exclusively through a ballot.
Teremana debuts limited design series
Actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Teremana Tequila has launched its first limited edition design series, called The Craft Editions.
9 of the Best Albariños From Spain’s Rías Baixas
Albariño is a quintessential summer white wine.
https://vinepair.com/good-wine-reviews/best-albarino-spain-rias-baixas
We Asked 14 Wine Pros
What ‘Cult’ Wine Is Actually Worth the Hype?
https://vinepair.com/articles/wa-wine-pros-cult-wines-worth-the-hype-2026
New Bookers
- Suntory Global Spirits has introduced the second batch of Booker’s Bourbonfor 2026, “The Milkshake Batch.” This edition comes in at 62.2% abv and aged for just over seven and a half years before bottling. The Bourbon’s name is inspired by the treats shared by Booker and Fred Noe after fishing trips. Booker’s “The Milkshake Batch” is now available in limited quantities across the U.S. for a suggested price of $100 a bottle.
lcohol drinking will shrink in the next decade, research finds
Global alcohol consumption is set to drop over the next decade, despite population growth and rising demand in India, which is set to become the world’s biggest drinks market after China, according to market research firm IWSR
Light Beer Isn’t a Joke Anymore — and Science Shows Why
Brewing experts reveal how ingredient quality, fermentation science, and modern technology are transforming light beer into a category worth drinking.
https://www.foodandwine.com/light-beer-taste-better-11995399
Why Molson Coors is betting on cheap beer
The brewer is reviving Keystone Ice and expanding Miller High Life to reach younger drinkers and budget conscious consumers.
https://www.fooddive.com/news/molson-coors-cheap-beer-value-miller-high-life-keystone-light/822646
56 Great Reposado Tequilas Under $60
The cheat sheet for stocking a serious reposado shelf without blowing your budget
https://www.tequilareport.com/p/56-great-reposado-tequilas-under-60
10 things to look for when drinking rosé wine
So, what makes a good rosé? Such is the diversity of the category today, there’s no simple, single answer. Nevertheless, Patrick Schmitt MW has listed 10 things to consider when drinking pink wine – including his views on sweetness and ice in your rosé.
7 Things You Should Know About Rabbit Hole
The Bourbon Distillery Breaking Tradition
https://vinepair.com/articles/ntk-rabbit-hole
Organic Wine Decoded
The baseline of eco-friendly drinking
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/organic-wine-decoded
Water, Barley, Hops, and … Dinosaurs?
For decades, beer brewers have achieved that crisp, clean taste with a weird relic from the land before time. Will modernization make your favorite brand go extinct?
https://slate.com/life/2026/06/beer-lager-ale-brands-filtration-fish-diatomaceous-earth.html
What Is Chardonnay Rose? Meet the Pink Grape Approved for Making Champagne
This pink-skinned grape is helping growers combat the effects of climate change.
https://www.foodandwine.com/what-is-chardonnay-rose-pink-champagne-grape-11982908
I Asked a Beer Expert If It’s Better to Buy Beer That’s Already Cold
Her Answer Totally Surprised Me
https://www.thekitchn.com/room-temperature-vs-chilled-beer-expert-23786696
Dry Martini
What ‘dry’ really means in a Martini, and the perfect recipe.
https://www.foodandwine.com/dry-martini-cocktail-recipe-11997380
Former U.S. health official explains why the Trump administration ‘ignored’ a key alcohol study
A study finding that even one drink a day causes health risks was deliberately sidelined by the Trump administration, a former federal public health official alleges
10 Lesser-Known Producers You Should Try if You Love Bourbon
There are two ways to view the bourbon market in 2026. The first way is through the current lens of doom and gloom, lamenting the slowdown in bourbon sales and complaining about how Gen Z doesn’t drink as much as previous generations, even though data suggests this hot take looks increasingly like a load of fertilizer.
https://vinepair.com/articles/less-popular-bourbon-producers-to-know
Top 10 best-selling world whisky Brand Champions
While North American and Japanese whiskies had a lackluster 2025, there was one Irish player that stormed to success.
From chilled Cabernet to Riesling with rib eye, sommeliers are challenging some of wine’s most persistent myths.
https://www.foodandwine.com/wine-rules-to-break-11997826
Bag wines, low alc wines, no alc wines.
It’s all happening!
This Is Who Chooses The Wine Selection At Costco
Despite having a large warehouse format, Costco is quite selective with the products it chooses to carry.
https://www.mashed.com/2190776/how-costco-chooses-its-wine
\
Digital influence rises, but consumers still trust people over AI, study finds
New research commissioned by drinks marketing specialist Chelsea Co. suggests digital channels are becoming increasingly important in drinks discovery, but consumers continue to place greater trust in human recommendations and real-world experiences.
The Italian region selling rosé to the French
Maremma is finding success with its fresh coastal rosé in Provence, with one producer telling db it sold 10,000 bottles to the south of France in the last year as consumers look beyond their own back yard for refreshing pink wines. Sarah Neish reports.
Coors Whiskey Co debuts American malt blend
The whiskey arm of brewing giant Molson Coors has launched its first namesake blended American malt whiskey expression.
First Texas Cooperage Opens Doors
Standard Cooperage Offers Texas-Made Sustainable, Artisan Barrels for Wineries and Distillers
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/vendor/article/319239
Embracing White Wine Season
A Red Drinker’s Guide to the White Wine World
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/embracing-white-wine-season
Lambrusco Is the No-Brainer Wine You’ve Been Missing
A great place to start to look for good Lambrusco and its kin is in the hills just outside Modena
https://verovino.com/vero-blog/lambrusco-red-italian-sparkling-wine
Wine Is Swinging for the Fences With Sports Advertising
Is It Working?
https://vinepair.com/articles/wine-industry-investing-in-sports-advertising
94% of alcohol-free beer drinkers also consume booze
New research has revealed that moderation trends are changing the way people perceive no and low alcohol drinks. The data has shown that many who indulge in drinking alcohol are also seeking out non-alcoholic options as well. db reports.
New Long Drink
- The Finnish Long Drink, part of the Mark Anthony Group portfolio, has launched a new Raspberry-flavor ed RTD. It comes in two varieties, Traditional Raspberry and Raspberry Zero Sugar, both at 5% abv, with the sugar-free version at 99 calories per serving. The new releases are exclusive to the brand’s variety packs, with Traditional Raspberry available alongside Citrus, Peach, and Pineapple in an 8-pack that retails at $19, and Raspberry Zero Sugar available in a 12-pack ($25) that includes the brand’s other Zero Sugar offerings. Last year, the gin-based Finnish Long Drink grew 20% to 3.2 million cases, earning Impact “Hot Brand” honors.
WHAT IS MOSCATO WINE?
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE
https://moscato.life/blogs/news/what-is-moscato-wine-beginners-guide
Alcohol cancer labels: public health measure or scare tactic?
In the second of our series on the implications of the WHO’s ‘no safe level’ agenda, Tom Bruce-Gardyne explores the battle to impose cancer warnings on drinks, and ponders the motives, whether it is really to inform consumers or simply to scare them into drinking less.
Consumers prefer grocers with the better private label brand: report
Those retailers with better products, sharper execution and experience will retain customers
Are Washington wines ‘volcanic’?
Yes, no, and maybe.
https://www.northwestwinereport.com/2026/06/are-washington-wines-volcanic-yes-no-and-maybe.html
The Ultimate Guide to Pairing Burgers With Wine
No longer are burgers relegated to just backyard barbecues. Now, patties populate menus at restaurants of all statures, and gourmet versions get dressed up with high-end cheeses, perfectly proofed buns, and quality accouterments. Of course, something as meaty and rich as a burger requires a palate cleanser: wine
https://vinepair.com/articles/burger-wine-pairing-guide
Moving Beyond “Organic”
Here is your regional guide to the holistic sustainability certifications changing the wine world from New York to Chile.
https://sandraetaylor.substack.com/p/moving-beyond-organic
California wineries request US$32 million to fight vineyard pest
Senators have requested the immediate release of emergency funds from the US Department of Agriculture to “contain and eradicate” the glassy-winged sharpshooter before it decimates vineyards across California.
Frost and hail threaten 2026 US and French wine harvests
Severe frost and hail have already caused extensive vineyard damage across parts of the United States and France, raising concerns over another difficult harvest year. Growers are reporting losses of up to 90% in some regions, with months of weather risks still ahead.
Do Pickles Actually Belong in Your Sauvignon Blanc?
Another year, another wacky wine trend.
https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/wine/pickle-wine
Why European Wine Brands Struggle in the U.S. Market
European wine brands often enter the United States expecting quality and heritage to carry them. The wine earns respect, but the brand stalls. The reason is rarely the wine. It is that the U.S. market runs on different rules than most international producers expect. Below are direct answers to the questions producers ask most.
Can you taste history?
We try George Washington’s original beer
https://www.npr.org/2026/06/19/nx-s1-5843321/george-washingtons-original-beer-nypl
Stemmed vs stemless wine glasses
Which style is best?
https://westgarthwines.com/blogs/news/stemmed-vs-stemless-wine-glasses-which-style-is-best
Why the World Cup is a ‘make or break’ moment for alcohol
The World Cup might face another hurdle: A years-long decline in drinking.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/08/food/world-cup-spirit-sales
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Podcast
Listen On Our Facebook Page OR On Franklin Radio 102.9 FM
On Air Wednesday 9:00am, 02:00PM and 7:00PM
And
Saturday at 9:00 am and 01:00PM
Good Pods Top 100 Podcast For Education
Podcast Award Nominations 2019, 21, 22 ,23, 24 AND 2025!!
2025 AND 2026 Tasty Award Winner!
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The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*
06-15-2026
Liquor Industry News
New Products
What Is abv And Why Does It Matter?
Who is really driving the public health debate?
The World’s Best Value Bourbon
King Valley prosecco producers prepare for upcoming export label change for Italian wine variety
Australia is the only country outside Italy that can use the prosecco name, but in 10 years, Australian prosecco exports will be rebranded
America’s Most Popular RTDs
Ranked by Alcohol Content
https://vinepair.com/articles/popular-rtds-abv-ranked-infographic
BuzzBallz, BeatBox, and Cutwater, Oh My!
Why We Can’t Get Enough of Boozy RTDs
https://vinepair.com/articles/buzzball-beatbox-cutwater-rtd-popularity
The Only Wine Glass Guide You’ll Ever Need
(And Yes, It Matters)
https://thewineconcierge.co/blogs/news/wine-glasses-guide-what-you-need-at-home
New Rittenhouse
- Bardstown, Kentucky’s Heaven Hill has announced RittenhouseUnited States 250th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, a new 10-year-old rye whiskey released to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentenni al. The 50% abv rye is blended from 90 barrels and carries a suggested price of $100 a 750-ml. The whiskey is rolling out this month in limited quantities in select markets across the U.S. and joins commemorative releases from Evan Williams as part of Heaven Hill’s celebration of the U.S.’s 250th anniversary. Rittenhouse has U.S. volume of 70,000 cases, according to Impact Databank.
Champagne’s future lies in innovation, says De Saint-Gall
From climate adaptation to changing consumer habits, cellar master of Champagne De Saint-Gall Cédric Jacopin outlines the pressures shaping Champagne today.
The Napa Cabs You Should Try if You Don’t Like Big, Jammy Wines
In their heyday, Napa Cabs were nothing like today’s stereotypical version.
https://vinepair.com/articles/napa-winemakers-light-style-cabernet-sauvignon
12 Bartenders Pick Their Favorite Bourbons Under $50
Quality bottles of bourbon aren’t just for those with deep pockets. Here are 12 bartender-recommended picks that won’t break the bank
https://whiskyadvocate.com/bartenders-bourbon-recommendations-under-50-dollars
The wine industry’s Gen Z problem isn’t what you think
Benjamin Jack, son of Bruce Jack, has spent the past year moving between industry tastings, festivals and wine events. What he found was not a generation turning away from wine, but a trade increasingly out of step with how people discover and enjoy culture.
T
he World’s Best Value Bourbons
Our search for value takes us deep into the Kentucky countryside as we check on Bourbon’s best-value bottles.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/05/the-worlds-best-value-bourbons
Understanding Sparkling Wine Sweetness
Complete Wine Guide
https://vinovistara.com/blogs/production/understanding-sparkling-wine-sweetness-complete-wine-guide
Wine industry searches for answers as US alcohol sales slide
The US wine industry is grappling with falling sales, shifting consumer habits and intensifying competition from alternative drinks categories. But while traditional consumption patterns continue to weaken, pockets of growth suggest wine’s future may depend on reinvention rather than retreat. Kathleen Willcox reports.
French vineyard prices fall again as Bordeaux leads decline
French vineyard values fell for a second consecutive year in 2025, according to new figures from Safer, with Bordeaux suffering some of the steepest losses as structural pressures continue to weigh on the country’s wine sector.
Court says Uncle Nearest was ‘haemorrhaging money’
Uncle Nearest will remain under the control of a receiver after a judge rejected co-founder Fawn Weaver’s appeal.
The 20 Best Mezcals for 2026
To say mezcal is a complex spirit is a bit of an understatement.
https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/best-mezcals-2026
Bourbon’s Global Soft Power Is Fading as Trump Tariffs Reshape the Industry
Bourbon is facing a crisis of global proportions.
https://vinepair.com/articles/american-politics-hurt-bourbon-global-market
POUR THE WHY, NOT JUST THE WHAT: Tasting Flights that Fly
Craft Breweries Are Betting Big on the 2026 World Cup
If you’re into soccer, you might consider watching the world’s greatest teams play live in a nearby stadium sometime in the next month and a half.
https://vinepair.com/articles/craft-breweries-bet-big-on-2026-world-cup
The 8 Best Naturally Low-Alcohol White Wines, According to Experts
Consumer demand for lighter, fresher wines has put the spotlight on naturally low-alcohol whites. Here are eight bottles wine professionals across the country recommend
A
n Interview with an Average Wine Buyer
Here’s How My Sister Chooses Wine. You Are Not Going to Like It
https://thecorruptwinewriter.substack.com/p/an-interview-with-an-average-wine
The Most Popular Beer Brand Among Boomers In 2026 Isn’t Heineken Or Corona
The Baby Boomer generation includes people born between 1946 and 1964.
https://www.tastingtable.com/2181509/beer-brand-boomers-most-popular-guinness
Guinness v alcohol-free Guinness 0
We held a blind taste test to see if we could spot the fake
https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us/2026/may/30/guinness-v-guinness-0-non-alcoholic-taste-test
What Is Lambrusco?
It’s Your Next Summer Sip
2 Creative Ways To Use Wine In Your Cooking
Wine can elevate a dish, adding everything from zingy brightness to deep, rich, complex notes, depending on the wine you use and how you cook it.
https://www.mashed.com/2181860/creative-ways-use-wine-cooking
11 Grapefruit Cocktails to Shake Up All Summer Long
Bright, bitter, and refreshing, these sunny cocktails are easy and delicious.
https://www.foodandwine.com/grapefruit-cocktails-we-love-11987251
Bardstown and Mars create Japanese-Bourbon blend
Kentucky’s Bardstown Bourbon Company has partnered with whisky maker Mars to develop a limited edition blend that combines Bourbon and Japanese single malts.
Who is really driving the public health debate?
A century ago, America was in the grip of Prohibition. When it ended in failure in 1933, the campaign to demonise drink appeared to be dead and buried. But it’s back in a coalition of NGOs, public health officials and temperance crusaders under the banner of the WHO. In the first of a new series, Tom Bruce-Gardyne explores how we got here.
How Carmen DO preserves Chile’s viticultural legacy
Carmen DO spans Chile’s wine regions, with a range that foregrounds unique terroirs, varieties with history and – crucially – the growers that serve as vineyard custodians over generations.
Best canned craft beers available everywhere
Because beer tastes better in a can
https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/best-canned-craft-beers-available-everywhere
Why Wine Investors Need to Rethink Everything They Know Before Buying Whisky
Think your wine investment skills translate to whisky? Think again. Why does identical whisky in different bottles sell for a million pounds apart?
Wine Losing the Class War
While much of the equality buzz has been around gender and sexuality, class is the forgotten battlefield for wine.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/06/wine-losing-the-class-war
The Empty Chair
What Sports Betting, Cannabis, and Weight-Loss Drugs Taught Me About the Wine Business
Distillers Give Their Favorite Stills Nicknames
Here Are the Best Ones.
https://vinepair.com/articles/distillers-favorite-still-names
Scientists to brew beer with yeast from mummified remains
Researchers have said they plan to brew beer from the yeast strains collected from the corpse of Ötzi, the man whose body was preserved in the frozen Alps of northern Italy during the Copper Age.
Espolòn launches Extra Añejo in the US
Campari Group has added an extra añejo to the Espolòn Tequila range in the US, which has been finished in French Chardonnay casks.
Chaos revisited: US tariff refunds get complicated
A US Supreme Court ruling says many of president Donald Trump’s tariffs are illegal, meaning firms are trying to claw back money. But where does this leave consumers?
What Is abv And Why Does It Matter?
Reviews: Aubaine, Avennia, Cynthian, Hors Catégorie, No Girls & Wine of the Week
https://paulgregutt.substack.com/p/what-is-abv-and-why-should-it-matter
A Certified Cicerone’s Guide to Beer for Wine Lovers
From reading freshness dates to recognizing beer styles, these practical tips make navigating the beer aisle easier.
https://www.foodandwine.com/best-beers-for-wine-lovers-11990694
What does that even mean?
A few pet peeves and a good cheap pink
https://lettiewine.substack.com/p/what-does-that-even-mean
Why diversity is Grüner Veltliner’s ace in the hole
Grüner Veltliner first won attention as a characterful indigenous grape, flying the flag for Austria on the international stage, but its real strengths are its diverse styles and versatility.
Whiskey House of Kentucky cuts 30% of staff
Almost a third of the workforce has been reduced at custom distillery Whiskey House of Kentucky.
The 15 Beers That Defined American Craft Brewing
Where They Are Now
https://vinepair.com/articles/american-craft-brewing-defining-beers-today
The 10 Best High-Proof Tequilas
One way tequila producers are targeting spirits nerds is with high-proof expressions.
https://vinepair.com/buy-this-booze/10-best-high-proof-tequilas
America’s First Low-Alcohol Craft Brewery Is Here
Dad Strength is a 2.9% IPA that’s built for weeknights.
https://www.foodandwine.com/game-changers-dad-strength-brewing-11979326
Sazerac launches AJ Bond Tennessee whiskey
Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac has entered the Tennessee whiskey market with its first flagship expression from AJ Bond Distillery.
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Podcast
Listen On Our Facebook Page OR On Franklin Radio 102.9 FM
On Air Wednesday 9:00am, 02:00PM and 7:00PM
And
Saturday at 9:00 am and 01:00PM
Good Pods Top 100 Podcast For Education
Podcast Award Nominations 2019, 21, 22 ,23, 24 AND 2025!!
2025 AND 2026 Tasty Award Winner!
Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter
Get updated On Liquor Industry News, Events, Sales And More!
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Like Us On Facebook
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http://www.meetup.com/Franklin-Wine-Club/
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Food And Wine Events
Our TV Show And Facebook Page
Franklin Liquors Wine Education
Certified Specialist Of Wine-CSW
Certified Specialist Of Spirits-CSS
Society Of Wine Educators
California Wine Appellation Specialist-CWAS-San Francisco Wine School (First In MA)
French Wine Scholar FWS-(Instructor) Wine Scholar Guild
Quini Certified Educator- QCE (First In USA)
Italian Wine Specialist-IWS*-North American Sommelier Association
Spanish Wine Scholar SWS-Wine Scholar Guild
Oregon Wine Expert OWE-Napa Valley Wine Academy
Italian Wine Maestro-The Vinitaly International Academy (First Class In USA)
Italian Wine Scholar IWS*-Wine Scholar Guild
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New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
June 12, 2026New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
06-12-26
New Products This Week-Franklin Liquors New Beer, Wine, Liquor
June 5, 2026New Beer, Wine And Liquor Products
06-05-26
Liquor Industry News 06-01-26
June 1, 2026Liquor Industry News
The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*
06-01-2026
Liquor Industry News
New Products
AI Won’t Replace Sommeliers
What Makes a Good Scotch?
Inside Whiskey Allocations
How the ‘95/5’ Rye Mash Bill Went From MGP Signature to Craft Staple
In the early days of the 21st century’s American whiskey renaissance, as a slew of new rye brands arrived on the scene, seemingly out of nowhere, savvy drinkers learned a quick and easy way to determine who was actually distilling their “juice” and who had sourced it from somewhere else: Check to see if the mash bill was 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley.
https://vinepair.com/articles/95-5-rye-mgp-signature-to-craft-whiskey-staple
RTDs up 14% in US as spirits fall in 2025
Spirits volumes fell by 4% in the US last year, but ready-to-drink (RTD) variants soared by 14%, according to IWSR.\
New Korbel
- California sparkling wine label Korbel, owned by Gary Heck and marketed by Henkell Freixenet subsidiary Freixenet-Mionet to USA, has announced a new limited edition bottling celebrating the 250th anniversary of America. The celebratory label is available on Korbel’s Brut sparkler and features red, blue, and gold stars on a white background, with text reading “America 250 Years” at the bottom of the label. The limited release is rolling out across the U.S. and carries a suggested price of $14 a bottle. Last year, Korbel was at 1.06 million cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
What Makes a Good Scotch?
The Criteria Is Changing
https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/spirits/scotch-age-abv
Champagne Sales More Snakes Than Ladders
Champagne has seen some tough times in recent years, but perhaps the sales decline has bottomed out.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/05/champagne-sales-more-snakes-than-ladders
Cavit Wines Returns to Original 1970s Price for 50-Year Milestone
To mark 50 years of bringing Pinot Grigio to American tables, Cavit Wines is turning back time. For one week only, from May 10 through May 17, 2026, consumers can enjoy Cavit Pinot Grigio at its original 1970s price of $6.99 through a national rebate program.
Chianti DOCG set to include rosé among other changes
The Chianti DOCG is preparing for a series of amendments to its production specifications, covering grape varieties, rosé winemaking, vineyard management, and the appellation’s organisational structure, which together represent the most substantial revision to the region’s rules in recent years.
5 Wine Pairing Rules That Actually Work With Spicy Food
Spice has creeped into our cuisine – just notice at the next party you go to and see the snacks and appetizers being served.
https://verovino.com/vero-blog/spicy-food-wine-pairing-guide
The Cork Is Still King
How Diam Bouchage Keeps Reinventing Wine’s Most Essential Tool
California Wine Lawsuit Update
The State Moves to Dismiss
Kids from the Sticks
Defending the Legacy of American Wine
Why Two Famous Actors Waited Six Years to Make Tequila
An additive-free, Valley-made debut from Dos Hombres at a price most celebrity brands will not touch.
https://www.tequilareport.com/p/why-two-famous-actors-waited-six-years-to-make-tequila
US ban an ‘act of consumer resistance’ by Canadians
Canadian wine producers are in no rush for US-made alcohol to return to Canada’s shelves, describing the “tremendous” impact the ban is having on domestic sales. Sarah Neish reports.
Portuguese liqueur producer defeats Louis Vuitton in trademark case
A Portuguese court has ruled in favour of Licores do Vale following a trademark dispute with Louis Vuitton that centered on the use of the initials “LV”.
Ian Somerhalder chats American whiskey trends
“The world is a very strange and quite divided place, but it’s our job to lift it up, to bring the sentiment up, bring the energy up,” said Ian Somerhalder. We discussed in detail key American whiskey trends with the Brother’s Bond Bourbon co-founder.
Too Many Wineries, Not Enough Consumers
Banks are telling US wineries that some of them need to get out of the pool, a new report reveals.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/05/too-many-wineries-not-enough-consumers
Miller Lite Releasing Soccer Balls That Can Hold Up to 12 Beers Ahead of 2026 World Cup
The beer brand is taking soccer fandom to the next level with the limited-edition Miller Time MVP
https://people.com/miller-lite-debuts-soccer-ball-shaped-beer-holder-for-2026-world-cup-11972672
Burgundy Without Breaking the Bank (Sort Of): My Guide to Finding Value
You might not have $812,500 to buy a bottle of wine, but you can still find good value in Burgundy
https://juliaconey.substack.com/p/burgundy-without-breaking-the-bank
US Wine Spending Hits Record Despite Falling Consumption
Rising prices lift wine value as demand weakens across US markets
How a New York Wine Importer Helped Take Down Trump’s Tariffs
Victor Owen Schwartz, owner of V.O.S. Selections, discusses sticking his “neck out” to challenge President Trump’s crippling tariffs, the mix of egos on his winning Supreme Court team and his hope for a “lifeline” from refunds.
Is US Three-Tier System Already Dead?
Whisper it, but the US system of separating the distribution of wine and spirits might be on the way out.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/05/is-us-three-tier-system-already-dead
Penelope debuts golf-inspired Bourbon series
Luxco-owned Penelope Bourbon has unveiled the first three expressions in its new 18-bottle series called Architects of Golf.
South Africa predicts high-quality 2026 wine harvest
South Africa’s wine industry has reported a technically demanding but high-quality 2026 harvest, with producers overcoming climatic extremes to deliver concentrated wines with strong premium potential. Industry bodies said the vintage demonstrates both the adaptability of vineyard teams and South Africa’s growing focus on value-driven, premium wine production for global markets.
Ancient Cypriot grape offers hope for Australia’s wine growers
An ancient white grape variety from Cyprus is reducing water use by as much as 75% for Australian growers while surviving temperatures above 45°C. Producers in South Australia’s Riverland and Barossa Valley believe Xynisteri could provide a lifeline for parts of the wine industry facing rising water costs, oversupply and climate pressure.
New Fresca
- Coca-Cola’s Red Tree Beverages has announced Fresca Hard, a new malt-based RTD extension of the existing Fresca Mixed spirits-based RTD. The new drinks come in four flavors—Original Grapefruit Citrus, Watermelon Citrus, Pineapple Citrus, and Peach Citrus—all at 4.6% abv and 99 calories per can and available in a 12-pack of 12-ounce cans ($18). The new line is rolling out now across the U.S. Last year, the Fresca Mixed portfolio, produced by Sazerac and Red Tree Beverages, was at 426,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
Australia shocked as government slashes wine tourism budget
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reneged on his promise to support the struggling wine tourism sector, announcing this week that he will phase out the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door grant package, effectively wiping AU$10 million from the program.
Inside Whiskey Allocations
Why Only Some Stores Get Pappy, Buffalo Trace, and Other Prized Bottles
https://vinepair.com/articles/inside-whiskey-allocation-system
7 Things You Should Know About Voodoo Ranger
New Belgium’s Wildly Successful IPA Brand
https://vinepair.com/articles/ntk-voodoo-ranger
Green River finishes Bourbon in honey barrels
Lofted Spirits-owned Green River Distilling has released a Kentucky straight Bourbon finished in barrels with 100% locally sourced honey
Why Brix Matters in Tequila, and Why it’s Also Overrated
A practical guide to the number producers care about, and what it actually tells a drinker.
https://www.tequilareport.com/p/why-brix-matters-in-tequila-and-why-it-s-also-overrated
Pabst Puts Schlitz on Ice
Places Brand ‘on Hiatus’ and Stops Production
Diners ditching bottles of wine for the table as healthy living and rising costs reshape restaurant habits
Non-alcoholic cocktails are commanding same $16 price point as craft cocktails at many restaurants
Supermarkets Roll Out AI Somm
The AI Panzer rolls relentlessly on, while there is also a ray of hope for US winemakers.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2026/05/supermarkets-roll-out-ai-somm
New Seagrams 7
- Diageo is launching a new flavored offshoot for Seagram’s 7 Crown, Apple Pie. The new flavored blended whiskey is at 35% abv, carries a suggested price of $12 a bottle, and will be available nationwide for a limited time beginning in June. According to the company, the new release combines Seagram’s 7 Crown’s blended whiskey with baked apple, vanilla, and spiced flavors, and is recommended to make variant on the 7 & 7 serve. Seagram’s 7 Crown Apple Pie joins the original Seagram’s 7 Crown, Dark Honey, and Apple in the brand’s portfolio.
Which US states are the most ‘cocktail-obsessed’?
The states considered the ‘most cocktail-obsessed’ in the US have been revealed, with the northeast region dominating the top 10.
Abstract Ice brings customizable craft ice to on-trade
California-based Abstract Ice is expanding its US footprint to bring its patented ice-making technology to the wider hospitality industry
The Year Every State Got Its First Craft Brewery
Today, beer geeks flock to their local craft brewery to sit at picnic tables and sip small-batch brews — a culture that stems from the Great American Craft Beer Boom that gained traction in the 1960s and ’70s. However, the existence of craft breweries predates that sudden rise by over a century.
https://vinepair.com/articles/first-craft-brewery-in-every-state-map
New Evan Williams
- Heaven Hill is debuting a trio of limited edition Evan Williams bottlings to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. The whiskies—all “officially licensed America250 commemorative products”—come with new blue labels with red accents and prominently showcase “America 250” and the Statue of Liberty. The first release is a 1.75-liter bottling of Evan Williams flagship Black Label Bourbon ($25). The second is a commemorative bottling of Evan Williams 1783 ($40 a 1.75L and $24 a 750-ml.). The final whiskey is a higher-proof single barrel bottling, sourced from 250 barrels ($40 a 750-ml.). Heaven Hill has also formed a partnership with the Folds of Honor non-profit to donate $75,000 in scholarships for families of deceased and wounded service members and first responders. Last year, Evan Williams, including flavors, was at roughly 2.9 million cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
Change of guard: Four Roses Bourbon
Gallo has completed the acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon, marking the brand’s return to US family ownership for the first time in 83 years.
Tennessee Wine Industry Hits New Milestone with American Viticultural Area Approval
Tennessee is now home to four American Viticultural Areas (AVA), further establishing the state as an emerging leader in the Southeast’s wine industry.
Virginia winemakers lose up to 90% of vines to deep freeze
The biting frost that struck Virginia in late April “will go down in the record books”, the Virginia Wine Board told db, but reassured “there is still hope for the vintage”. Sarah Neish reports.
AI Won’t Replace Sommeliers
But It Could Help Save
https://vinepair.com/articles/can-artificial-intelligence-save-wine
Why Screw Caps May Actually Be Better For Wine, According To Experts
Forget what you think you know about screw caps.
https://www.delish.com/food/a71178622/screw-cap-wine-vs-cork
We Asked 13 Pitmasters
What’s the Best Beer to Bring to a BBQ?
https://vinepair.com/articles/wa-best-beers-for-summer-bbq-2026
New Whiskey
Vermont-based WhistlePig Whiskey is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States with two new limited edition offerings: Rye, White & Blue PiggyBank; and Declaration Wheat Whiskey. The new PiggyBank release is a 10-year-old Straight Rye whiskey bottled at 55% abv and packaged in a pig-shaped decanter with a red, white, and blue label. The second release, Declaration Wheat Whiskey, is bottled at 43% abv and made from a “high wheat” mash bill that is double-aged in American oak before bottling. The new releases are launching in limited quantities across the U.S. as well as through WhistlePig’s website, where the PiggyBank release sells for $230 a liter and the wheat whiskey goes for $74 a 750-ml.
Buffalo Trace Is Bringing Back 2 E.H. Taylor Bourbons Whiskey Fans Haven’t Seen in Years
Both bottled-in-bond whiskeys were aged for 10 years and will retail for $80 when they arrive later this year.
https://www.foodandwine.com/buffalo-trace-eh-taylor-four-grain-and-eh-taylor-cured-oak-2026-11980110
Plain talk about how the wine industry is (actually) doing very well
Or, the rain in Spain falls mainly in the plain
https://caparoso.substack.com/p/plain-talk-about-how-the-wine-industry
The Perils and Pleasures of Pairing
A group of sommeliers from around the United States, Canada and Mexico spent last week in Sonoma County tasting wines, touring vineyards, and competing in a time-honored contest of skill and creativity – food and wine pairing.
Europe’s oldest vineyards threatened by solar power
Home to Spain’s oldest Tempranillo plantings, D.O. Toro’s ancient vineyards are under threat – not from climate change, but subsidies that encourage the installation of solar panels on farmland.
Trump in trademark war with California winery
A Republican producer based in Monterey is embroiled in a dispute with Trump-affiliated companies over the name of one of its wines as the US President moves to protect his ‘brand’
The U.S. Is One Step Closer to Legalizing Home Distilling.
Here’s Everything You Need to Know.
https://vinepair.com/articles/home-distilling-tips-to-know
New Sugarlands
New Gatlinburg, Tennessee’s Sugarlands Distillery has released Eggo Blueberry Waffle Moonshine, the latest collaboration between the distillery and the staple breakfast brand. The 30% abv moonshine is now available at Sugarlands’ distillery with a national rollout underway. The new entry follows 2022’s EggoNog and 2024’s Eggo Brunch in a Jar Waffles & Syrup Sippin’ Cream, and is the first Eggo-flavored moonshine created by the two brands. While Sugarlands is primarily known for their moonshine-based drinks, the company has diversified lately, announcing a strategic partnership with Tequila-maker Azul Imports in March, as well as expanding Broken Antler Flavored Whiskey to national distribution in late 2025.
Hennessy’s New Pre-Mixed Cocktails Are Quietly Landing on Liquor Store Shelves
Liquor stores have begun receiving shipments of three pre-mixed Hennessy cocktails that combine the fan-favorite cognac with a variety of summery flavors.
Inside the chemistry of the Paloma
Why do tequila and grapefruit work so well together? db takes a closer look at the chemistry, flavour compounds and production choices that make the iconic Paloma work so well.
Why mezcal could be the spirit for wine lovers
Could mezcal be the next spirit for wine lovers? Andrew Maidment, former marketing director of Wines of Argentina UK and co-founder of Zacal Mezcal, tells the db why agave has more in common with fine wine than many might think.
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