This article from “The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)” on Flipboard, titled “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 07-29-25,” compiles recent news and stories related to the wine and liquor industry. The content covers various aspects of the wine world, including regional wines like Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo and Amarone, discussions on no- and low-alcohol wines, and wines that pair well with summer. It also touches upon economic challenges faced by wine producers, such as those in Italy’s Valpolicella bracing for US tariffs, and explores topics like future grape varieties. The article is presented as a collection of stories curated by @MarkLenzi, and it also features links to other daily liquor industry news summaries from the same publisher.
It is possible to start a wine collection on a budget. Here’s how
Wine collecting can be fiercely competitive, but the good news is you do not need to spend a fortune to start putting away quality bottles for later years.
MyOeno Is A Scanner That Can Tell You About The Wine You’re Drinking
Dubbed MyOeno, this is a scanner that you can dip into the glass of wine that you’re drinking, and it will then be able to scan the contents of your wine to give you details about it, such as strengths, tannins, acidity, evolution, and so on
SPARKLER FROM COGNAC PERFUMED WITH SZECHUAN PEPPERCORNS
A sparkling French wine made with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and enhanced with an edible perfume made from Damask rose petals and Szechuan peppercorns has been launched, forging a new category in sparkling wine.
Anyone who doubts the possibility of this happening might like to cast their minds back to the 1980s when Swatch quartz watch movements surprised traditionalists by supplanting mechanical ones.
Valle Reale practices organic viticulture and non-interventionist winemaking. Their wines have a rustic elegance to them that reflects the mountainous regions of Abruzzo where they originate.
14 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MAKER’S MARK BOURBON WHISKY
The brand helped create and define bourbon culture and style, and, in one instance, even set the pricing. Here are 14 things about Maker’s Mark you need to know.
THE SIX BIGGEST BEER PRODUCING COUNTRIES IN EUROPE
The UK imports more beer from both within and outside the EU than any other country in Europe, according to new data from The Brewers of Europe’s annual market report.
MOVE OVER BLUE WINE: GREEN CANNABIS WINE IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Winabis is infused with Cannabidiol (CBD), a compound found in cannabis believed to be non-psychoactive, unlike Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis
KELLOGG’S LAUNCHES BEER MADE WITH REJECTED CORNFLAKES
The brewery used around 60kg of rejected cornflakes for the beer and 10p from each can purchased will be donated to food distribution charity FareShare.
ALTERNATIVE WINE CLOSURES A ‘GOOD FIT’ WITH HIGH END WINE, STUDY FINDS
The study, conducted at Mind Insights, a scientific marketing organization within the University of Louvain in Belgium, was designed to better understand consumer perception of its closures and gauge whether plant-based closures in high-end wine, specifically Vinvention’s bio-based Normacorc Reserva closure, which is partly made from renewable plant-based materials, is seen as inferior to cork.
New wine app promises to revolutionise the wine industry
It said the My Wine Society app, which is free to download, is the first wine app where users can “interact, share, explore, and be rewarded” and will “revolutionise the wine industry using gamification”.
Of all the issues at the heart of fine wine, perhaps one represents the crucial battleground: ripeness. To make good wine, ripe grapes are a prerequisite. But what exactly is ripeness? How is it defined? And when is ripe too ripe?
A new Grateful Dead beer is coming, and it’s brewed with granola
Dogfish Head, the acclaimed Delaware brewing operation, is partnering with iconic jam band the Grateful Dead. American Beauty, a pale ale brewed with granola and wildflower honey named after the band’s landmark 1970 LP.
YOUR DRUNK AUNT WAS RIGHT: THE HOT TODDY IS THE CURE TO THE COMMON COLD
Instead of wasting your money wandering the aisles of your local pharmacy, trying every over the counter remedy you can get your hands on, head to your liquor store, grab a nice bottle of whiskey and make a hot toddy instead.
The Absolute Best Way to Minimize a Hangover, According to a Doctor
Roughly 23 percent of people may be resistant to hangovers. For the other 77 percent of us, well, at least there’s black coffee, next-day bagel sandwiches, and lots of aspirin.
If Prohibition never happened, could Missouri have been Napa? We take an in-depth look at how the 18th amendment changed wine in the U.S., who survived, and how.
Governo is a winemaking technique, which dates back to the fourteenth Century AD. Invented in the region of Tuscany, these selected grape aren’t only saved to help complete fermentation, but they may also help to stabilize the wine. Grapes are allowed to partially dry, not completely, though.
89$17RODNEY STRONGSauvignon Blanc Northern Sonoma Charlotte’s Home 2017California This distinctive version opens with a smoky, toasty note that melts into marmalade, yuzu and pomelo flavors, with vibrant acidity.
88$13LOUIS LATOURChardonnay Ardèche Grand 2016France Pretty, offering ripe pear and apple fruit inlaid with light toasted hazelnut and brioche notes, balanced by good acidity. —James Molesworth
90$20MAISON L’ENVOYÉPinot Noir Willamette Valley Straight Shooter 2016Oregon Generous and lively, with raspberry and baking spice flavors that dance along the vibrant finish. —Tim Fish
90$16BODEGAS CAMPO VIEJORioja Reserva 2013Spain Lean, firm and focused, with cherry, tea, leafy, licorice and spice flavors. —Thomas Matthews
88$13DOMAINE STE. MICHELLEBrut Columbia Valley NVWashington Plump and zesty, this sparkler features easygoing flavors of pear and spice. —Tim Fish
88$18MICHELE CHIARLOMoscato d’Asti Nivole 2017Italy Tea rose and spice notes lace the ripe nectarine and candied pink grapefruit peel flavors in this bright and balanced Moscato. —Alison Napjus
How to name a wine: a look at different approaches
Apart from their brand identities, whether these be large or small in scale, and any collective appellations that designate a place of origin for a wine, be that on the scale of a country, a region, a county or a smaller geographical entity, wine producers still have to decide what to call each of the wines that they produce.
Twenty-five local estates have joined to establish the San Casciano Classico Association, whose aim is the promotion and protection of winegrowing estates in the municipal area of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, in the Chianti Classico production zone.
Wine cooperatives dominate the Abruzzo region. This gives small growers more of a voice in policy decisions being made and allows them to focus on new opportunities and export.
Did you know that much of the wine we see at supermarket chains actually stem from just a handful of major brands? It’s true – and slightly shocking. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between big brands and independent wineries to uncover how where you shop really affects the wines you see and the bottles you bring home.
Delicato Adds To Import Stable, Taking On Schmitt Söhne
California’s Delicato Family Vineyards is expanding its imported wine portfolio, adding Germany’s Schmitt Söhne to its range effective in January. Schmitt Söhne, which previously handled its own U.S. importing, is known for Riesling and includes its namesake flagship brand, as well as Relax Wines, Fünf Wines, and the Thomas Schmitt Private Collection. Delicato will also import luxury estate wines Bischöfliche Weinguter Trier, Schloss Vollrads, Friedrich-Wilhelm-Gymnasium, and Franz Keller, which are distributed but not owned by Schmitt Söhne. Overall, the Schmitt Söhne range totals about 700,000 cases in the U.S. Delicato’s import lineup also includes Chile’s Santa Rita, which joined the portfolio in April.
The Evolution of Three-Tier is Here:
Liberation Distribution (LibDib) and Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) Form a New Partnership
This Hidden Wine Region Is Putting the Midwest on the Wine Map
A little region best known for cherries, sprawling sand dunes, massive blue lakes, and bucolic scenery may just be America’s next great wine touring region.
It’s time to introduce Constantia, the vast farm awarded to Cape commander Simon van der Stel on 13 July 1685, the sub-divisions of which go on to produce (historically) the southern hemisphere’s most famous wine, legendary sweet Constantia,
This invention keeps bottled beer cold, did $1M in sales in 10 days and scored a million-dollar deal on ‘Shark Tank’
Bottlekeeper is a stainless steel bottle insulated with neoprene and padded so that it can hold a glass bottle, keep it cold and protect it from breaking if dropped.
This man was teased for his ‘beer belly.’ It turned out to be a 77-pound cancerous tumor.
At 300 pounds, he said, strangers had started to stare, and friends were cracking jokes about his “beer belly,” even though he said he rarely drank the beverage.
The baking chips, which are non-alcoholic, are available from Amazon and through select retailers, and will be rolled out across the US by Easter 2019.
What is natural wine and does ‘natural’ mean that it’s healthier?
Isn’t all wine technically natural? Here’s the answer to that question, and a few more questions you might have about the newest trend for wine enthusiasts:
How to buy the right wine for someone special, according to 3 expert winemakers
We’ve all been there. A family member announces they can make it to Christmas lunch after all, or you realize a treasured friend’s big birthday is tomorrow and you haven’t yet got them a gift.
How to name a wine: a look at different approaches
Apart from their brand identities, whether these be large or small in scale, and any collective appellations that designate a place of origin for a wine, be that on the scale of a country, a region, a county or a smaller geographical entity, wine producers still have to decide what to call each of the wines that they produce.
Not many know Germany consumes more sparkling wine than any country on earth. Even less known are the exceptional bottles they make. Here’s your Sekt 101.
While the country might be associated with Marlborough Sauvignon, New Zealand has much more to offer. Recently returned from the country, Amanda Barnesexplains why Syrah is emerging as one of its most prized varieties, producing complex and cellar-worthy styles
The Needham Select Board found itself in a precarious situation back in October when two separate retailers- Volante Farms and Gordon’s Fine Wines and Liquors- requested a liquor license from the board when there was only one left to spare.
Following a month of deliberation, during which time members reviewed both applications and written input from the public, the Select Board voted on Tuesday to deny both of the applications in favor of reserving the license for future use.
Chelsea MA this year became the first municipality in Massachusetts to ban the sale of the ubiquitous little liquor bottles, blaming them for contributing to public drunkenness in the downtown area it has worked hard to revive.
PUB BUILDS GIANT 20FT SNOWMAN OUT OF 2,000 WINE BOTTLES
The giant snowman stands alongside the pub’s gingerbread house display, first installed last year, which sees the 19th century inn covered in oversized sweets and treats made by two local artists.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT SPARKLING WINE?
From where to turn for bubbly bargains, to food pairing tips, we spoke with some of the country’s leading wine professionals about the biggest misconceptions surrounding sparkling wine.
All told, red wine has over 80 percent of the market. Add that red is a lucky color and it essentially means all other wines are afterthoughts, right? Not necessarily.
Why are there so many holiday movies? Everyone rolls their eyes at most of them, there really aren’t that many good ones, and yet we continue to devour them.
THIS IS WHY PROSECCO IS THE PERFECT BUBBLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
When planning the drinks menu for your holiday gathering, the question arises: Should one serve Champagne? Sparkling cider? Seltzer-spiked cocktails? The best option, however, is something else entirely: Prosecco,!
Internationally renowned for Pinot Noir, the quality of Oregon’s Cabernet Sauvignon has now reached “unprecedented levels,” according to several producers in the state.
Argentina’s top grape varieties: More Malbec and Syrah
The most important grape in Argentina is Malbec and it has doubled its acreage in the last 15 years. It has now 18% of the vine surface in the country. Syrah has also increased its acreage substantially.
Wine By Numbers: How Cathy Huyghe Created Big Data for the Wine Industry
The ability to crunch and analyze trillions of points of data has transformed so many consumer-facing industries: retail, fitness, even groceries. So why, Cathy Huyghe wondered, had it not impacted an industry she (and many of us) loved dearly: wine?
Stumped on how to wrap a bottle of wine you’re gifting for the holidays? We’ve got you covered with 3 creative ways to give your gift a personal touch.
The European Union is considering severely limiting the use of copper sulfate to fight mildew in vineyards; organic farmers argue fungus will run rampant without it
Syrah and Shiraz are made from the same variety of grapes but what you call the wine on the label has a big impact on the price, according to research by Charles Sturt University (CSU).
As reported by Wine Spectator, the Wu-Tang Clan rapper has released Licataa Lambrusco in the US, which comes in a pale blue chrome bottle with an archer logo.
CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE EXPLODES AS MAN TRIES TO SHOW-OFF SABERING SKILLS
A man was left red-faced after his attempt at sabrage didn’t exactly go to plan, with the bottle exploding all over him as he tried to remove the cork with a knife.
INHALABLE ALCOHOLIC BALLOONS TO LAUNCH ON INDIEGOGO
Cloud Buzz is described as a “refreshing” way to enjoy shots of all spirits, served in specially designed balloons that are pressurized, and contain vaporized premixed spirits inside.
MEXICAN TEQUILA REGULATORS NOT A FAN OF ELON MUSK’S ‘TESLAQUILA’
As reported by Reuters, Mexico’s Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) is worried the name will confuse consumers, as “‘Teslaquila’ evokes the word tequila … [and] tequila is a protected word.”
AB INBEV WANTS TO SELL YOU A KEURIG FOR PRE-MIXED COCKTAILS
Drinkworks, a joint venture between the single-serving coffee machine maker, and Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), announced a new pod-based drinks maker.
Pernod Ricard has launched a new podcast highlighting happenings across its portfolio. The bi-weekly podcast will run every other Wednesday, hosted by Tavarus Hogans, Pernod’s manager of performance and learning, and will center on “Four Key Things To Know” each week, including timely, seasonal products in the portfolio alongside material on new-and-noteworthy launches.
Brands are clueless about what consumers think are important (And the consequences can be disastrous)
THE UNLAMENTED DISAPPEARANCE OF RAISIN BLANC
The chances are, of course, that at least 90% percent of Winemag’s readership have never heard of raisin blanc
For thousands of years, wine has been a product that has played a role in festivities, religious events and day to day life. While some of those wines have been made from other fruit sources, the majority have relied on the production of grapes. Could this be set to change?
After revealing its Top 10 Wines of 2018 in a countdown last week, Wine Spectator has now published its full Top 100 Wines list for the year.
Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines reviewed over the previous 12 months and select the Top 100, based on quality, value, availability, and excitement. This annual list honors successful wineries, regions, and vintages around the world.
For detailed profiles of the 2018 picks, check out the complete Top 100 Wines of 2018 package in the upcoming December 31, 2018, issue of Wine Spectator, which hits newsstands on December 4.
New Wine
Cooper & Thief Cellarmasters, part of the Constellation portfolio, has launched a new Cooper & Thief Cabernet Sauvignon ($60) that has aged six months in rye whiskey barrels from Constellation’s High West Distillery in Utah. This is the third entry in Cooper & Thief’s line of wines aged in spirits barrels, joining the Red Blend (primarily Merlot and Syrah) aged in ex-Bourbon barrels and Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc aged in former Casa Noble Añejo Tequila barrels.
9 QUESTIONS ABOUT BEAUJOLAIS YOU’RE TOO EMBARRASSED TO ASK
Made from acidic and fruity Gamay, Beaujolais is lighter-bodied and lower-alcohol than most reds, and offers a (relatively) inexpensive alternative to similar styles from nearby Burgundy.
Tecate is more than a Mexican lager. The self-described “true champion of men” claims to provide legendary nights, lifelong memories, and an ideal grilling companion. It also, somehow, thinks it is the perfect light lager for ladies.
Wineries are forbidden from referring to specific Oregon winegrowing regions on their labels and marketing materials if the grapes are trucked from Oregon to California for production. All such wines are limited to using the word “Oregon” to describe their point of origin.
PORTUGAL RECORDS ‘LOWEST WINE PRODUCTION OF THE LAST TWO DECADES’
Reduction in yields was blamed on a heatwave in August and heavy rains that interrupted harvesting in October, as well as flash floods and storms in the Douro.
The Chinese wine rating system will use a scoring scale of 10 points, different from the more popular 100 point system favoured by critics such as Robert Parker and James Suckling
The U.S. wine culture, one of the world’s youngest, has relied on a few grapes for its table wines. Wine regions in many other areas make table wines from far more grape varieties than most Americans ever imagined.
On average, the value of the wine cellars of self-described wine connoisseurs is between $50,000 and $100,000. The total value of collectible wines and spirits in private hands has been estimated to be between $5 and $10 billion. Less than 10% of those collections are insured.
Organic wine market set to grow dramatically over next five years
According to Reuters, sales of organic wine are forecast to top 1 billion bottles by 2022, up from 676 million last year and nearly three times the 349 million bottles sold in 2012.
Going for a checkup? You may be screened for alcohol use
Is Wine Gluten-Free?
THE 10 MOST POPULAR BEER BRANDS IN THE WORLD (2018)
AND MORE!
HESTON REVEALS TRICK TO MAKE WINE TASTE BETTER
He told the Australian paper that the trick to making any wine taste better is to picture someone “you love dearly” while you’re sipping it. To test the theory, he said you should then take another sip while thinking of someone you actively dislike.
Just scan the front label, and the animal will come to life to tell the consumer about the product in an accent reflecting the source country of the wine.
The average American consumes nearly 3 gallons of wine per year, and a new device from France is revamping how Americans choose its wine by delivering enology to the smartphone.
Winery Websites Must Comply With The Americans With Disability Act, But How?
Under Title III of the federal ADA law, businesses open to the public are required to provide individuals with disabilities full and equal access to “goods, services, facilities and accommodations.”
SMIRNOFF MADE VODKA-FILLED ORNAMENTS SO YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE CAN GET LIT
The holiday season is fast-approaching and Smirnoff is helping you, and your Christmas tree, get lit this year with its newly-released vodka-filled ornaments.
The U.S. buys almost 1/3 of all European wine exports — #1 in the world
You can’t copyright taste, EU court says in setback for food industry
Unlike a literary, pictorial, cinematographic or musical work, the taste of a food product cannot be identified with precision and objectivity, judges said.
GUINNESS RELEASES ITS FIRST-EVER BARREL-AGED STOUT
According to an announcement from Diageo, parent company of both Guinness and Bulleit, the beer is brewed at the Guinness brewery in Dublin, then aged for eight months in Bulleit bourbon barrels in Baltimore.
Going for a checkup? You may be screened for alcohol use
Screening and counseling for unhealthy alcohol use could become part of a standard doctor’s visit, according to the United States Preventive Services Task Force.
Study: More people drink alcohol in darker, colder climates
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have confirmed, by studying global data, that it’s true around the world: Climate and drinking patterns are inversely related, meaning the warmer and sunnier the climate, the less people drink alcohol.
Thinking outside the wine barrel: 1000 Stories creator Bob Blue talks bourbon barrel-aged Zinfandel
When I first started out as a winemaker, wine barrels were not widely available and American oak barrels were for whisky, not wine. So we ended up purchasing used bourbon barrels, which we then neutralized.
First lady of champagne: The extraordinary woman behind Veuve Clicquot
The French champagne house takes its name (which translates as “Widow Clicquot”) from an extraordinary, pioneering lady who overcame unimaginable hurdles to transform Veuve Clicquot into one of the world’s most sought-after fine wines.
Could the Finger Lakes be the next Napa Valley for whites?
The Finger Lakes were named the “Best Wine Region in the United States” by national daily USA Today. Around 130 wineries strive to turn the spotlight on a region where admittedly the climate can be harsh, but whose potential for growing top Rieslings is undeniable.
Wine grape vineyards on the road to recovery after debilitating drought
The South African wine industry expects at this early stage that the 2019 wine grape crop will return to normal levels in most regions thanks to good rainfall hot on the heels of a three year-long drought. The Klein Karoo however, is still experiencing a serious water shortage.
When I was a retailer this list made customers go crazy, they would scramble for the wines, and call every day from around America to see what we have in stock. As a retailer we did not like the list because:
Patrón Tequila has debuted a new large-size, limited release bottle for its Silver Tequila ahead of the holiday season. Decorated with a white and green ribbon design, the new one-liter bottling features a metal label and a metallic stopper, both engraved with the signature Patrón bee. The 2018 Limited Edition 1-Liter Patrón Silver Tequila is available nationwide, retail priced at $70 a 750-ml. Bacardi fully acquired Patrón Spirits back in May, in a transaction that valued the company at around $5.1 billion.
Handle Old Fashioneds With Care
Tips and tricks for making excellent Old Fashioneds. Here is everything you need to know.
Launched in 1979, when interest in Napa winemaking was still nascent, Opus One is an ambitious joint venture between two of the world’s most esteemed winemaking figures.
There are bottles that can amplify the smoky, fatty greatness of perfect brisket or a rack of tender ribs. It’s true: Barbecue is great, but wine — specifically Côte-Rôtie from the Rhône Valley of France — can make it even better.
The ability to calculate sugar levels in a liquid, such as grape must or a wort, allows winemakers and brewers to calculate what its alcohol content will be after fermentation.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery has introduced Apocalypse Now Red Blend in celebration of the namesake film’s 40th anniversary. A blend of Sonoma County-sourced Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Malbec, the new wine features a label that, when scanned by a smartphone, reveals rare videos related to the production of Apocalypse Now, including commentary from director Francis Ford Coppola. The 2015 Apocalypse Now Red Blend ($30 a 750-ml.) is a limited edition offering that will be available online and at the Francis Ford Coppola Winery tasting room in Geyserville, California starting November 10.
Exploring Ancient Alchemy and Remote Terrain to Find France’s Best-Kept Wine Secret
Four hundred years before Portugal began producing Port, an alchemist in France discovered the method, known as mutage, of creating fortified wines.
Italy has been the largest wine producer since 2015 when it overtook France, now in second place. Spain is in third place, while Australia maintains its fifth position.
Saka Wines Launches World’s First Cannabis-Infused Alcohol-Removed Sparkling Brut and Still Rose’ Wines From Napa Valley
Wines are blended with a proprietary formulation of tasteless, odorless water-soluble ratio of THC and CBD derived from organic craft cannabis and powered by cutting edge technology. The first infused beverages of their kind, Saka promises to deliver a truly elevated infused experience.
The main objective of almost any wine is giving pleasure. And we can’t assist a wine’s manifest destiny unless we give it a chance to prove its worth by providing it a proper setting.
There are no wine appellations in Normandy. Grapes, revered elsewhere in France, are an afterthought in this region that stretches out into the English Channel on France’s northwest coast, about a two hour drive from Paris.
Massachusetts’ Artifact Cider Project has partnered with the Massachusetts Beverage Alliance to expand distribution across the state. The cidery, which produces a range of dry ciders sourced from Northeastern orchards, has grown from 500 cases in 2014 to a projected 40,000 cases from the 2018 harvest. In addition, the company will be moving to a new location in the Pioneer Valley and plans to open a new production facility with a taproom in 2019. Artifact’s ciders are available in 16-ounce cans and on draft in six states.
Why Younger Consumers Are Cause for Concern in Alcoholic Beverages Category
Now, as Generation Z comes of age and millennials continue to wield extraordinary spending power, convenience store retailers need to begin looking at their impact on the beer cave.
The U.S. is home to a preponderance of the world’s indigenous grapes species and yet, only a few producers vinify choice heritage vines into quality wine.
Don’t think of New Hampshire as wine country? A number of pioneering producers have turned to local grapes, fruits and honey to craft unique offerings.
The Science Behind Why “Low Alcohol” Wine Matters for Your Health
Alcohol is one of the most controversial topics health and wellness practitioners must navigate. Frequently, readers of this blog ask if alcohol consumption can be a part of a healthy lifestyle — my answer is, it depends.
Despite the passing of its two iconic founding brothers – Robert and Peter – and the sale of the Robert Mondavi Winery in 2004, the current and third generation of Mondavi family members continues to show a keen interest in the wine business.
The Aston Martin in question was in fact modified to run on a fuel called E85, which is a mixture of bioethanol and petrol. Bioethanol, a biofuel and fuel additive, can be derived from a huge number of sources – including, but not limited to, waste biomass such as surplus wine…
Italy’s wine industry is being tested by the effects of climate change in its vineyards
In a region celebrated for the prosecco and pinot grigio it ships around the world, Italy’s particularly sensitive white wine grapes have become a telltale of even gradual temperature increases — a climate slipping from ideal to nearly ideal.
Adding sulphur (Sulphur dioxide, SO2) to wine is standard practice in winemaking. Its main function is to inhibit or kill unwanted yeasts and bacteria, and to protect wine from oxidation.
14 things you didn’t know about the history of beer
You probably don’t think about it every time you crack open a cold one, but beer is one of the oldest bedrocks of human civilization, brewed all over the world for longer than recorded history.
Shopping at a smaller store means that the cheaper options are more curated—if a store has limited space, they want to make sure they offer quality options at a variety of prices.
‘UNCRUSHABLE’ IS A MOVIE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN MADE
apturing the most intimate moments of despair and heroism during the 2017 wildfires, celebrity chef Tyler Florence’s ‘Uncrushable’ looks unflinchingly at a cross-section of Sonoma and Napa disaster survivors bonded by loss.
Here are some of the new producers we discovered in our tastings in 2018, as well as a few established growers who surprised us with their latest releases. Watch for these 14 names in the year ahead.
If you want to argue that the world of fine wine is never confusing, you should probably avert your eyes from Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
BREWERS ASSOCIATION MAY CHANGE ITS DEFINITION OF CRAFT BEER
American trade group the Brewers Association has informed its members of proposed changes to its official definition of ‘craft beer’ as it considers dropping one of its three current requirements.
A Texas-based tech firm has launched a resealable drinks can called SipNShut in response to consumer demand, which it hopes will disrupt the canned drinks market.
BOOMING CHINESE WINE MARKET SPAWNS BULK SPECIALISTS
China’s bullish demand for wine has spawned a growing industry of bulk wine business that specialise in creating commercial wines specially tailored for the Chinese market.
Wine Fest Drone Show Ends in Wine Fest Drones Crashing Out of Sky
Huge LED formations of fanciful wine bottles and Champagne flutes lighting up the sky in a drone show over Victoria Harbor at last week’s Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival. But the show, and 46 drones, came to an abrupt end when said drones unexpectedly made a plummet-out-of-the-sky formation into the water. Authorities are now investigating what went wrong.
We’re here to help guide you from cocktail hour to dessert, including innovative side dishes, wine pairing tips and tasty options for your main course.
How Moldova is fast putting itself on the world wine map
Moldova has more vines per capita than anywhere else in the world – over 7% of arable land and 4% of total land – with wine accounting for anything up to one quarter of foreign currency earnings; historically, Russia has accounted for some 95% of wine exports.
Napa County formulating new rules for winery rule-breakers
A winery might be entitled to make a maximum of 20,000 gallons annually of wine and be caught making 30,000 gallons. It would then have to stick with 20,000 gallons for a year before the county would consider a higher number.
There’s more to what makes a wine expensive than just the materials that made the wine. Sure, a $100 wine is much more expensive to make than a $10 wine. But is there such a big gap between a $100 wine and a $100,000 wine? What makes the world’s most expensive wines so expensive?
While some wine bottles are indeed made from recycled glass, it’s true that many are not, and the production of a new glass bottle is responsible for a large part of a bottle of wine’s carbon footprint. The good news is that glass is recyclable, and in the Netherlands, more than 90 percent of glass containers end up being recycled. That’s far more than here in the U.S., where various agencies report that only about a quarter to a third of our glass containers are recycled. America needs to do a better job of going Dutch!
One of the reasons that wine bottles in particular are sometimes not recycled is because they’re often dyed green or brown, and they need to be sorted by color, if not by the consumer then by the recycling facility. Additionally, glass is heavy, and that makes transporting it to sometimes-far-away recycling facilities expensive if not cost-prohibitive.
After being collected, glass bottles are crushed and ground into what’s called “cullet,” and this ground glass is sold back to glass manufacturers to be melted into new products, including new bottles. “New” glass can contain as much as 70 percent cullet.
For more insight, I spoke to Sarah Bar, project manager at Gallo Glass Company (founded in 1958 by vintners Ernest and Julio Gallo). Gallo Glass is the largest consumer of recycled glass in California, purchasing more than 30 percent of all the glass recycled in the state, and Bar says that on average, the bottles for E.&J. Gallo’s wines are made from about 50 percent recycled glass. “Any time I can talk about recycling, I’m a happy camper,” she said.
She explained that glass manufacturers actually prefer to use recycled glass. Cullet not only requires less energy to melt, but melting it also generates fewer emissions. “Once you melt that recycled bottle for the first time, we no longer release the emissions from raw materials,” Bar explained. “So the more we use recycled bottles, the better the impact on the environment.”
States With Legal Marijuana Have a Higher Rate of Car Accidents, Study Says
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said that car accidents reported to police in three states that had legalized marijuana sales—Colorado, Washington, and Oregon—saw 5.2% more accidents than did their neighboring states.
CONSTELLATION BRANDS RUMOURED TO BE SELLING OFF US WINE BRANDS
US-based drinks giant Constellation Brands is reported to be considering the sale of some of its US wine brands, having announced a public offering of US$2.15 billion senior notes yesterday in order to help finance its $4 billion investment in cannabis company Canopy Growth.
Women lack confidence in their knowledge of wine despite knowing as much as men, report finds
The report showed women were more likely than men to have an interest in buying ethical and sustainable wine and were more likely to purchase vintages made by female winemakers when this was brought to their attention.
Ireland’s West Cork Distillers has partnered with Massachusetts brewer Castle Island Brewing Co. on a new limited edition whiskey. Aged up to eight months in barrels that first held West Cork Bourbon Cask Irish Whiskey and later matured Castle Island Imperial Stout, Export Stout Cask Finish is a limited edition blend of 75% grain and 25% malt. 3,900 bottles of the new whiskey are available across the northeastern U.S., retail priced at $30 a 750-ml. Boston-based importer M.S. Walker handles West Cork in the U.S.
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO PAIRING CHILEAN WINE AND BARBECUE
It’s been said that drinking wine goes best with a good meal. And in Chile, it’s been said that drinking wine goes best with a good meal from the grill.
Data shows Boston beer drinkers have an affinity for craft brews
According to stats from alcohol delivery company Drizly, majority of beer sales in Boston come from craft. In fact, Boston has the second highest percentage of beer sales from craft brewers on Drizly’s platform, behind only Seattle.
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE LAUNCHES EDIBLE PAINT FOR GIN AND TONIC
Bacardi-owned gin brand Bombay Sapphire has launched an edible blue paint which can be used both to colour glasses and also release flavour in gin and tonics.
Wine and storytelling are often entwined. Winemakers spin yarns about a noble relative who planted the family plot centuries earlier, while sommeliers rave about the magical quality of sea breezes.
Nine MA Liquor Stores to Appeal License Commission’s ‘nip’ Ban
“The Board’s action in prohibiting the sale of containers of spirits of 100mL or less and imposing a voluntary ban on containers priced below $3 is a modification of the liquor license within state law,” read the complaint.
Do you think towns should ban what sizes of liquor are sold?
Colour Me Wine From Marks & Spencer Lets You Draw On The Bottle While You Drink It
In an increasingly chaotic world, it’s often the little things that can help you relax — things like coloring in a beautiful design, or spending time with friends, or sipping a nice glass of wine.
Sopexa’s world trends: which varieties and countries are most in demand
Which country’s wines feature most prominently on global wine lists, what varietals are most in demand, and what trends are likely to emerge in the next two years?
If you want to know who’s making delicious Malbec right across the price spectrum, then read on – our results will surprise you, especially this year’s top scorer…
Just because I’m learning it doesn’t mean I’m stupid
Most introduction to wine books are deeply unsatisfying. Why?
It’s because when people try to take the role of educator, they forget that many of their readers are actually quite smart. In many cases, the educator is dealing with people who are significantly smarter than they are.
The Ultimate Guide To Pairing Halloween Candy With Wine
BEER PAIRINGS FOR AMERICA’S 10 FAVORITE PIZZAS
Top five drinking dos and don’ts
AND MORE!
ELON MUSK ANNOUNCES BID TO PRODUCE TESLA-BRANDED TEQUILA
Entrepreneur and CEO of electric car and solar power company Tesla, Elon Musk, has revealed his company has filed an application to trademark ‘Teslaquila’, meaning that what was originally an April Fool’s prank could become a reality.
PROSECCO DRINKERS ‘DON’T CARE’ IF IT’S DOC OR DOCG
During a masterclass in London last month, Stefano Ferrante, head winemaker at leading Italian sparkling wine producer Zonin1821, told attendees that most Prosecco drinkers ‘don’t care’ if the fizz is DOC or DOCG.
FRENCH-CHINESE WINE LAB CREATED TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE
A new research lab has been set up by China and France that will enable 30 researchers and scientists to look into the creation of new grape varieties that are better adapted to climate change.
The world’s largest wine companies look tiny compared with the overall global market
How aware are wine drinkers of wine regions?
How can we expect the average wine drinker to know where their wines come from? It turns out that we can’t. Even awareness of the names of wine regions is very poor amongst the average wine drinker.
By swapping the one-note vodka for some legitimately amazing alcohol and pairing each spirit with more appropriate filling flavors and cookie varieties, you can have a treat that satisfies your sweet tooth and your liquor-loving palate, too.
Good publicists know the writer, but more importantly, know who their audience is and what appeals to them. They pitch what’s relevant, and that’s the way it’s always worked,
Big-box liquor store gets Braintree MA board’s OK despite opposition
The transfer was opposed by a citizens’ group calling itself No to Big Box Liquors Braintree and other liquor retailers who said Total would be the size of all the town’s other retailers combined and would be a threat to local small businesses.
Diageo has unveiled the 50-year-old John Walker Masters’ Edition, made using whiskies from distilleries that existed during the lifetime of the Johnnie Walker brand founder.
The rules of drinking etiquette vary from place to place, with some countries maintaining superstitions around eye contact and crossing your arms. Here’s a list of the drinking dos and don’ts from around the globe.
A “master” title is like an Oscar: The recipient makes twice as much money, has his or her choice of jobs, and enjoys lavish travel paid for by vineyards.
Follow these guidelines when searching for a $10 bottle of wine
Most in this category tend to be over-oaked, too sweet, or simply something out of a wine factory with no soul or distinction, but, if you follow some guidelines, you will find quality bargains, and the suggestions apply to wines in the $10-15 range, too.
U.S. Wine Sales Led by Value Increases Direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipments posted the strongest growth in September, driven by the arrival of the cooler weather that invites shipping.
Production remained nearly stable in the United States, the world’s fourth largest producer, and China, which has become the world’s seventh largest wine producer behind Australia and Argentina.
More millennials are drinking wine, looking for high-end options with low price tags. And on demand online grocery shopping is causing brands to rethink their brick-and-mortar strategy.
5 Secret Wine Regions You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Many of the world’s best wine regions are popular vacation spots in their own right: California, France, South Africa, and New Zealand. But there are still some undiscovered, award-winning wine regions with hidden treasures like “floating” vineyards and castle wineries—and fewer tipsy tourists.
What if you could make wine by putting grapes in a bag and pushing a button? Meet the GOfermentor, an automated, spill-proof, kitchen-size vino machine.
Augmented Reality for Wine: Past, Present & Future
With Treasury, Gallo, and other wine producers launching their own augmented reality wine apps, it’s worth reviewing the evolution of this digital marketing tactic within the wine industry and what to expect in the future.
Give artificial taste and olfactory intelligence for automatic wine analysis
Electronic olfactory system constructed with a model nose was proposed for the first time to mimic the biological olfactory mechanism as early as in 1982
There’s a lot that goes into determining a wine’s price. Sure, money doesn’t grow on vines, but there can be big differences between a $10 bottle and a $50 bottle.
Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials – researchers have been studying how the differences between these generations impact their wine purchase decisions.
California Wineries will be allowed to post photos to social media ahead of special events
The bill was introduced to update tied-house rules that prohibited alcohol producers from posting photos of a venue hosting a special wine tasting event. Posting a photo of such a venue was prohibited advertising – an illegal gift of “something of value” to the retailer under “tied-house” rules.
Whisky expert Jim Murray has revealed the ‘world’s best whisky’ in his Whisky Bible 2019. Here are the expressions that have secured the top accolades.
The calendar will launch on 19 November through supermarket Asda, and will also be available to purchase from mid-November online via the Jack Store at an RRP of £60 (US$79).
The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas has moved to invalidate the results of the tasting portion of this year’s Diploma Examination after “clear evidence” an existing MS revealed the wines that were to be tasted in advance.
The U.S. three-tier wine distribution system must accommodate three groups — winery, wholesaler, retailer, and that’s not counting something for the grape farmer. You really must cut corners to put the product on the shelf for $5.
Why the Majority of Beer Drinkers Would Pay Over $1 More per Six-Pack
Turns out a lot of environmentally-conscious drinkers would be happy to pay significantly more for their brews according to a new study, assuming those beers are produced in a more sustainable manner.
PRESERVING ACIDITY IS ‘THE BIGGEST ISSUE IN CHAMPAGNE’
While growers in Champagne have historically struggled to ripen their grapes, the biggest challenge facing the region today is preserving acidity levels, according to one family-owned house.
I know many of the arguments on both sides. Kids in France have wine with lunch. Letting kids drink early helps de-mystify alcohol, hopefully taking some of the prohibited fun aspect away from drinking.
Investigation of California wine labeled as Oregonian
Sen. Merkely has asked the federal government to investigate whether copper cane broke the law in labeling it’s wine with Oregon names despite being processed in California.
Are Wine Reviews Aimed Primarily at Purchasing Decisions?
What are these evaluations aiming to achieve? Is wine criticism similar to film, book, or art criticism? Or is it more akin to the evaluation of consumer products?
For most people, selecting a nice bottle of wine is a daunting proposition. With an overwhelming volume of options, be it at the liquor store or when pursuing a restaurant’s wine list, it can be really hard to know whether what’s in the bottle will be exactly what you were expecting.
THE FIVE BEST COCKTAIL CHERRIES FOR YOUR MANHATTANS AND OLD FASHIONEDS, RANKED
In advance of this year’s Old Fashioned and Manhattan season, we tasted an array of cocktail cherries to determine the best ones for all your drinking needs.
MAPPED & RANKED: THE STATES WITH THE MOST CRAFT BREWERIES IN 2017
In the interests of clarity, we mapped the number of craft breweries by state as well as breweries per capita. The BA defines the latter as per 100,000 adults over the age of 21.
A Danish company has launched a watch called Décantheure on funding platform Kickstarter which allows users to track the time it takes to decant wines made from different grape varieties.
#ATTR, which stands for “Ale to the Redskins,” is the first beer in team history brewed just for the Redskins. The beer will be sold at all Devils Backbone stands and in sections 137, 121, 319 and 408 on gamedays.
Abruzzo’s winemaking traditions go back hundreds of years, and producers are now showing just how great the native grapes Montepulciano and Trebbiano can be.
HOW THE PERFECT SOIL MADE YOUR FAVORITE ITALIAN WINE
In Italy, soil composition really shines through its grape varieties, with each region boasting its own microclimate and rich geological history — a unique “special sauce.”
THE BOOZE TO PAIR WITH YOUR FAVORITE HALLOWEEN CANDY
Does Pumpkin Beer Deserve a Bad Rap?
AND MORE!
It’s In Your Best Interests to Become a Wine Snob
Are you worried that you might be turning into a little bit of a wine snob? Do your friends worry, before they bring a bottle over to your place, that it won’t meet your standards?
Sommelier Develops Plastic Wine Glasses That Double As ‘Good’ Wine Glasses
It took almost two years of work and fundraising to get her prototype, and the result is HaloVino, a glass made of number 5 plastic that is stackable, recyclable and dishwasher-safe.
Of course, no season is complete without perfect wine pairings. These five wines will be the perfect accompaniments to the myriad of dishes created with fall’s favorite fruits and vegetables.
Titanic shipping firm’s letter apologizing for losing 69 cases of wine
A letter from Titanic’s shipping company apologizing for losing a wine delivery because the liner sank has been uncovered after lying uncovered in a wine merchant’s desk drawer for decades.
Croatian Vintner Ages Wines in Amphoras on Adriatic Sea Floor
ine-filled amphoras are once again being found on the sea floor, not from sunken ships, but deliberately placed there by a special Eastern European winery. Faith Lapidus explains.
In the wine world, imitations are nothing new. How many wineries around the globe are working furiously to reproduce New Zealand’s Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc style?
Grown in Lake County, the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was first aged in traditional French and American oak barrels for 15 months, followed by 3 months in freshly emptied, or ‘wet’ Kentucky Bourbon barrels.
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS DECLARES WORLD’S HIGHEST VINEYARD
The Guinness Book of World Records has declared a vineyard in Tibet to be the highest in the world, beating even vines planted in the foothills of the Andes in Argentina.
Diageo has released an extended range of whiskies based on HBO’s hit TV series Game of Thrones, comprising the limited edition White Walker by Johnnie Walker and The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection.
While the wine industry has been busy riding the pink wine wave, it is becoming clear that the “green wine” wave is worth catching as well. Millennials’ interest in organically grown wines is leading to double-digit growth in sales
: Germans have a fondness for sparkling wine they call Sekt. Typically made from Riesling and Pinots noir, blanc, and gris, German Sekt comes in different quality categories. Learn about Sekt and why bubbles aren’t just for special occasions.
PINK TO RELEASE HER FIRST WINES UNDER TWO WOLVES LABEL
Pop star turned winemaker Pink has revealed that she will be releasing her first commercial wines under the label Two Wolves, having bought an 10-hectare vineyard in Los Olivos, north of Santa Barbara, five years ago.
The Vin de France category continues to see strong growth in the U.S., rising 45% to 850,000 cases in the six months through June, with value up 38% to $30 million, according to Anivin de France. Strong growth was seen in both single varietal wines and blends, the trade group noted. At 1.3 million cases in calendar 2017, the U.S. is the fifth-largest export market for Vin de France wines, which have a global volume of 21.8 million cases.
TOP 100 BEST BUYS OF 2018
Top 100 Best Buys list, a ranking of the most attainable, buzzworthy, well-priced and simply delicious pours available.
Sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming practices are using insects and animals in innovative ways to shape their vineyards and care for the planet.
Perhaps you think a couple drinks improves your mood. Perhaps you think you’re much funnier when you’re drunk, or perhaps you’re scared that you’re much meaner when you’re drunk. Turns out you’re not. You’re just you.
But there is no reason that the foil-wrapped rolls can’t also be the thing you eat while enjoying something to drink — especially if that something is a bottle of Santorini.
Does a Glass of Wine Before Bed Help You Sleep Better?
We have been conditioned by the beautiful people of TV and film to associate a few drinks on the couch in the evening as the ultimate way to wind down and prepare for bed.
USACM is an organization of cider and perry producers in the United States. Their mission is to grow a diverse and successful U.S. cider industry by providing valuable information, resources and services to our members and by advocating on their behalf.
As boozy advent calendars become all the rage, Daffy’s Gin has taken a different approach and created a gin-filled Christmas card for this year’s festive season.
Analog has created five strap color options, all of which are cork, but two of which are dyed with actual blueberry and red wines—and even smell like them.
THE UNDERGROUND WINE SHOP THAT SAVED A HOTEL FROM TWO WORLD WARS
One of the best-preserved grand hotels of the 19th century, Grand Hotel Kronenhof was founded by Andreas Gredig in 1848 as the Rössli Guesthouse, a casual operation.
While some white grape varieties, such as Chardonnay and Semillon, are particularly well suited to barrel maturation, others, with more fragile aromas, can experience a decline in typical characters due to maturation in casks that are not well suited.
Rodney Strong Wine Estates Announces Launch of Rowen Wine Company
Rowen Wine Company is a study in terroir focused on the Cooley Ranch, a remote and historic property high atop undulating mountains around a glistering lake in the northern reaches of Sonoma County.
Yes, the only thing more predictable than pumpkin beer seemingly arriving earlier and earlier each year is people complaining about it with incredibly trite jokes. How did we get to this point? Didn’t pumpkin beer used to be wildly popular?
The 2018 Direct to Consumer Wine Shipping Report by Sovos and Wines & Vines documents that wineries shipped 5.78 million cases of wine in 2017, to the tune of $2.69 billion.
Having a good selection of cheeses is fairly standard in Europe, especially in France, but in the U.S. the idea has dimmed a good deal and the inevitable conversations about which wine would go best with which cheese died down too
THE FIVE BEST BLOODY MARY MIXES, TASTED AND RANKED
Beer lovers, listen up: New book has some life hacks for you
The science behind those painful wine headaches
AND MORE!
New MA Beer Distributor
Homegrown Distribution, a new distribution company spun off from Massachusetts Beverage Alliance, will begin operations on October 1. The spinoff will handle distribution for brands including Brewmaster Jack, Grimm, Captain Lawrence, Slumbrew, Lone Pine, Foley Brothers, King’s Highway Fine Cider, and Vermont Craft Mead in Massachusetts. Homegrown will also distribute beers from beyond the Northeast, like Almanac, Brauhaus Riegele, Coronado, DC Brau, and others, from time to time. The new distribution company is based out of Massachusetts Beverage Alliance’s 40,000-square-foot facility in Bellingham, Massachusetts.
The Key to Mastering Margaritas Is Attention to Detail
Here are six dos and don’ts for mastering Margaritas.
Grappa may be to parts of Europe what tequila is often to Americans—a fiery lozenge shotted down the gullet to wake the senses, steam the throat and catch a buzz. But good quality production can lead both drinks to being far more.
A tech sheet, if not familiar, is a single page document about a specific wine usually written by the winery or in some cases the importer or distributor. The sheet lists all the pertinent technical information about the wine including how and where the fruit was grown, how the wine made and aged, and potentially much more. Tech sheets are important
THE PHYSICAL IMPACT OF SOIL AND SELECTION ON LODI ZINFANDELS
The Lodi Native project has endeavored to demonstrate the distinctions in terms of sensory qualities manifested in the wines. But each year, the differences are actually demonstrable in comparisons of clusters and berries from each vineyard.
The World’s Best Places for Growing Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is an international success story, planted in almost every wine region worldwide. Its widespread popularity is a result of the grape’s remarkable versatility.
There are many legends associated with alcohol throughout history, from the mythical Stingy Jack, a drunkard who roamed the earth with a hollowed-out turnip filled with hellfire, to the very real Jack Daniel, who may or may not have died from trying to kick a safe open at his distillery.
Watching Football? Grab One of These Unexpected Sparkling Wines
Beer, of course, is the classic football–viewing beverage, so it makes sense that classic football snacks — pretzels, nachos, wings, pigs in a blanket — go well with a bottle of Budweiser, which helps wash away the food’s salty, often-fried carbiness and fat. These are the exact same attributes that make the food great for sparkling wine.
Why are the best wine magazines still worth a subscription? If you’re invested in wine and anything related to it, it’s only natural that you want to learn more about the drink from various perspectives and sources.
Beam Suntory’s Knob Creek Bourbon brand has partnered with New Belgium Brewing on a new limited edition beer. Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale features a base of New Belgium high rye ale that’s aged with Knob Creek Bourbon-soaked oak spirals and barrel char in a proprietary steel, missile-shaped vessel created by New Belgium engineers. The 9% abv brew is currently available nationwide for a limited time, both in 12-ounce bottles and on draft. Knob Creek surpassed 400,000 cases in the U.S. last year on growth of 8%.
New regulations over wine wastewater
The state of Washington, the nation’s second-largest premium wine producer, has created new winery wastewater regulations that will take effect next year.
I tried alcohol-free ‘wine water’ and it was more depressing than it sounds
Napa Hills’ vineyard-enriched water boasts a key ingredient called VitaRes, a heart-healthy antioxidant blend with extracts of resveratrol and natural grape skin and red wine polyphenols.
The world of Italian wine is a complex one for many consumers. While pairing Italian wine and food offers great pleasure, knowing what wine to pair with what food is still a mystery to many.
Independent fine wine retailers are at risk of commercial irrelevancy by being permanently shut out of the lucrative wine shipping channel and the expanded markets they need for future survival.
Many people who are popping open that $15 Chardonnay, Riesling, Rosé, Merlot or Pinot Noir are going to switch to cannabis in order to get their daily “come down”.
A New Cannabis Infusion Bubbles Its Way Into The Non-Alcohol Wine Category
“the sparkling beverage contains no alcohol, yet has a flavor profile similar to champagne and will be marketed in luxurious packaging suitable for bottle service at a nightclub.”
Sorry to break it to you, but sulphites don’t give you headaches, you, erm, possibly just drank a tad too much and are dehydrated because you forgot to drink enough water over the course of the evening.
The Right Wine To Pair With Your Most Dreaded Fall Chores
HERE’S WHY YOU NEVER SEE NFL PLAYERS IN BEER ADS
HOW TO SAY CHEERS AROUND THE WORLD
AND MORE!
Survey finds 21% of Americans pick guacamole over alcohol
The survey, which was carried out to mark national guacamole day (16 September) in the US, asked 2,000 Americans what luxury items they would be prepared to give up for a year in order to maintain their cravings for the avocado-based dip.
Bacardi is relaunching Grey Goose La Vanille in the U.S. for the first time in 15 years. The 40%-abv spirit is made with flavor derived from vanilla from Madagascar and has no added sugar. Grey Goose La Vanille will begin rolling out this month and will be available through the holiday season across the U.S., retailing for $30 a 750-ml. Last year, Grey Goose depleted 2.2 million cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
How Two Buck Chuck made wine less douchey
The tale of two men, one wine brand, and the economic revolution of an entire industry.
U.S. now has 12,573 wineries and wine facilities – one for every 30,000 persons in the country!
There’s a threshold for how much you should spend on wine — and it’s lower than you might think
There’s nothing like the taste of a fine wine. But with certain winesselling in the thousands and even tens of thousands per bottle, it begs the question: Is it really worth it?
The wine label has a central role in wine marketing, but – some notable exceptions aside – is often the last thing a producer thinks about before they finish a product.
New app lets you rate and reserve wines as you sip
The wine tasting experience just got easier. A new app developed in Huntsville allows attendees at wine tastings and festivals to easily locate, rate and reserve wines as they sip.
The league office announced on Tuesday that it has entered an official agreement with liquor brand Jagermeister to bring fans “the official shot of the NHL.”
CAN YOU COOK WITH A WINE EVEN IF IT’S OLD OR CORKED?
There’s an age-old adage about cooking with wine: “If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with it.” It’s a nice idea in theory, but one that doesn’t always make practical or financial sense.
Antioxidant in red wine ‘may relieve pain for millions of arthritis sufferers’
Now, a study has found that a compound named resveratrol – found in red grapes – could potentially bring significant pain relief to osteoarthritis patients.
In this era of allegations of widespread fibbing, I began to muse about all of the “facts” we see on wine labels, some of which are conscious mistruths.
The government partnered with the nonprofit Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information in a three-year effort to calculate life expectancy for 65,662 Census tracts nationwide.
The boom in beer culture in the 2000s, however, has finally spawned a society where craft beer has become ubiquitous, and now most of us can speak somewhat intelligently about it.
To learn about wine, drink it — but there are other ways, too
We have other sources of information at our service, pretty much around the clock, to help put what we have drunk into context, and all of it contributes to the joy of the lifelong wine journey.
Five Wine Regions Producing America’s Finest Ciders
It might be surprising to learn that many of America’s best winegrowing regions, such as Sonoma and Columbia Valley, are also home to exceptional cideries.
How to Pair Beer with Italian Food, According to Italians
Pizza and beer. Beer and pizza. They’re the peanut butter and jelly of Italian-American food. But beer and pasta? Beer and a nice rare Fiorentina steak?
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE THREE GREAT REDS OF ITALY
Italy has more than 1,300 estimated grape varieties, but three red grapes are more noble than all others: Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Aglianico, as they are generally believed to be the three best native red grapes in the entire country
The Napa-based winery Flora Springs Winery has been one of the emoji’s biggest supporters. “Flora Springs’ campaign for a white wine emoji began in December 2017
Bad Wine Is Just a Great Cocktail Waiting to Happen
So I am here to tell you that yes, you can still drink that bad wine. Maybe not straight from the bottle—I would absolutely not recommend that. But, when poured over ice, topped with a little seltzer (or trendy sparkling beverage of your choosing) and a healthy squeeze of fresh citrus, it can be better than good—it can be great.
Did winemaker Joe Wagner misrepresent where his Oregon Pinot Noirs came from?
The wine’s back label reads “Sourced from: Territory of Oregon.” But “Territory of Oregon” is not an AVA — nor is Oregon, which was granted statehood in 1859, a territory.
Treasury Wine Estates introducing new Italian wine to the US market
The new brand was introduced this week at Castello di Gabbiano, a historic winery Treasury Wine Estates owns in the Chianti Classico appellation in Tuscany. Castello di Gabbiano was built in the 12th century south of Florence; it has been producing wine since 1124, according to Treasury.
Whether the tree leaves around you have begun to change colors and drop or you still are wishing that they soon would, it’s a good time to start thinking about pairing fall fruits and vegetables with wine.
Made with cinnamon-infused apple juice, a splash of pomegranate, citrus, and crisp white wine, it’s the perfect way to embrace autumn without totally kissing summer goodbye.
Automated tractors a ‘game changer’ for wine industry
Marlborough vineyards can now employ autonomous vehicles to trundle around their fields, following a GPS-mapped route, performing tasks and collecting data.
The vineyard and winery business in Napa Valley has, over the past 50-some years, largely shifted from small, family-owned wineries, to multi-brand corporate ownership,
Tequila maker Patrón is pushing the boundaries again with the release of a smoky expression made from agave roasted with mesquite for a week in small stone pits.
Consumer data analytics firm Nielsen recently released figures on the total sales of beer in the US based on a variety of factors, from brands, to parent companies, right down to styles.
No, seriously. Chinese wine is booming, and there are three regions ready and waiting for visitors. Here’s a guide to navigating the next frontier of wine tourism.
PROSECCO TO PRODUCE 600 MILLION BOTTLES FROM 2018 HARVEST
According to the conzorzio for DOC Prosecco, this year’s vintage is expected to yield “3,700,000 hl of certifiable wine”, from the 23,000 hectares of vineyards in the region
Firefly Hill Vineyards in Elliston, Virginia has reported losses of US$50,000 after thieves stole two and a half tons of soon-to-be harvested grapes over night from the 37-acre family-owned estate.
Willamette Valley winemakers propose major labeling changes
Large sections of the Willamette Valley Viticultural area, particularly the valley floor, aren’t suitable for growing premium wine grapes. It’s feared companies interested only in the bottom line will grow grapes there, make inferior wines and put the valuable “Willamette Valley” name on their labels.
Blind Taste Research Confirms Consumer Preference For Cork
A recent study published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management found that wine drinkers in a blind taste test rated the same wine 10 – 13 points higher for appearance, taste, aroma, and overall quality, when they were led to believe by visual cues that the wine was closed with a natural cork as opposed to a screw cap or a synthetic cork
9 QUESTIONS ABOUT PUMPKIN BEERS YOU’RE TOO AFRAID TO ASK
Love it or hate it, the seasonal beer style that’s inspired as many “best of” listiclesas it has angry think pieces is here to stay — at least for now.
Can this tabletop Krups keg really deliver a perfect pour?
AND MORE!
Can this tabletop Krups keg really deliver a perfect pour?
KRUPS has partnered with HOPSY, a growler shop-turned-beer delivery service, to bring craft beer directly to your home. It’s unbelievably easy to use, and their website boasts that the device keeps your beer fresh for up to 14 days after you tap it.
Looks like grass but smells of citrus – lemongrass is a highly aromatic tropical plant that is widely used in Asian cooking as well as herbal remedies.
PROSECCO ROSÉ SHOULD BECOME A REALITY WITH 2018 HARVEST
it is believed that red grapes from this year’s vintage will finally be allowed to make Prosecco rosé (or rosato) – a major step for the region, considering the powerful pull of pink drinks, be they from Champagne, Provence, or the world of gin and mixers.
Following news that DOC Prosecco may be authorising the production of pink versions of this highly successful Italian fizz,dbhas been told that this won’t happen within the smaller DOCG.
BRIDE RENTS OUT WEDDING DRESS THAT HOLDS 50 GLASSES OF PROSECCO
A woman who commissioned a custom-made wedding dress with a metal frame that holds 50 glasses of Prosecco has decided to rent it out to would-be brides so that it doesn’t “go to waste”.
Increasing the cost to buy things like bottles and cardboard boxes as much as 25 percent — businesses are having to think about soaking up the cost themselves, or passing it on to the consumer.
California’s Edgiest, Riskiest Wine Region Is About to Get a New Name
It’s not clear yet if a West Sonoma Coast label will persuade wine lovers to pay more, but it’s not the first area to attempt to bring order and meaning to the Sonoma Coast.
These are the top 20 best-selling whiskey brands in America, according to IRI Worldwide, a market research firm that measures off-premise sales such as those in liquor, grocery, and convenience stores.
WINE SPECTATOR’S PUBLISHER IS SUING WEED SPECTATOR OVER TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT
While producers from Heineken to boutique wineries are dipping their toes in the cannabis drinks market, recent legal action in the US suggests that companies are still at odds on the publishing side of things.
The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Prosecco Superiore DOCG
In order to fully understand what makes Prosecco Superiore so superior, we travel to Northern Italy and visit the heartland where the most prestigious Prosecco on the planet is produced: Conegliano Valdobbiadene.
See the most bizarre wine flavors and find out what wines have these flavors. If wine tasted only like flowers and fruit, it wouldn’t be as awesome as it is.
Constellation is rolling out a new Washington wine brand, Spoken Barrel. Sourced from the Columbia Valley, Spoken Barrel initially will include a Cabernet Sauvignon and Meritage Red Blend, both retailing at $20 a 750-ml. The brand is aimed at both wine consumers and craft beer drinkers, according to the company, with its bottle design highlighting its Washington provenance. Spoken Barrel is launching nationally.
The ties between wine and sports
It’s fall and that is the time for both sports and wine.
Some of Europe’s most interesting wine regions are islands – environments and cultures preserved by a frame of sea. Whether planning a trip or a meal, get to know these five tempting island wine regions.
We’ve always been rather skeptical about their claim that their variety-specific glasses actually make a significant difference in the flavor of each different wine
Served a one-day suspension of its federal permit to sell wine as a result of a national investigation into consignment sales, an illegal practice in which a winery or wholesaler buys back bottles that retailers are unable to sell.
Estimates of cork taint from the Wine Spectator Napa office
The Wine Spectator magazine’s Napa office tracked the number of apparently cork-tainted bottles in their tastings of California wines from 2005 to 2016
ZONIN DISCOVERS A NATIVE ITALIAN RED GRAPE THAT’S GREAT FOR FIZZ
What red grape other than Pinot Noir can be used to make great traditional method fizz and top-end still red wines? Francesco Zonin thinks he has found the answer.
A man has launched an app which features virtual contestants running the Beer Mile with the description: “Chugging! Running! Barfing! All the fun of the beer mile without the public intoxication
Couples who drink together tend to be happier together, study finds
The study found that: “Concordant drinking couples reported decreased negative marital quality over time, and these links were significantly greater among wives.”
Metallica launches ‘sound-enhanced’ American whiskey
Members of heavy metal band Metallica have partnered with WhistlePig master distiller Dave Pickerell to launch ‘sonic-aged’ Blackened American Whiskey.
A recently launched app via Amazon Echo has sought to increase the wine and food pairing ability of Alexa, the company’s virtual personal assistant service.
Few things in life are as frustrating as uncorking a highly anticipated bottle of wine after a long day and pouring a glass only to discover that the bottle is spoiled.
Kahlúa is tapping into the trend for at-home drinking with the launch of a ready-to-drink (RTD) Espresso Martini, said to be the first product of its kind.
How big is Big Beer, exactly? It’s a $350 billion business in America, according to figures compiled by the Beer Institute and National Beer Wholesalers Association.
Supertasters were more able to notice the similarities in the wines and less likely would experience a perceptual bias on flavor ratings, which shows that sensation can drive choice decisions even in the presence of extreme learning and experience,
90 percent of wine sold in the United States came from the 30 top producers, and more than half of the wine sold domestically came from E. & J. Gallo, The Wine Group and Constellation Brands (“the big three”).
Winemakers are playing music to their fermented grapes in an attempt to coax more flavor from the bottles. It sounds odd, but they say the waves help improve the way the wine develops.
PORTUGAL WANTS ALCOHOL WARNING LABELS TO ‘SHOW THE BENEFITS TOO’
Portuguese and Italian officials have hit out at Ireland’s plans to include health warnings on alcohol products which link drinking to a higher risk of developing cancer, with Portugal suggesting they should “show the benefits too.”
VINEYARDS IN THE DORDOGNE INVEST IN BATS TO PROTECT CROPS
Following a study, published earlier this year, which concluded that certain species of bat hunt grapevine moths, wine producers in the Dordogne are installing bat boxes around their vineyards to encourage the flying mammals to act as a natural ‘pesticide’.
Wine lovers are used to thinking about horizontal and vertical, especially when it comes to tasting. A horizontal tasting enables a range of wines from the same year to be compared: the emphasis is on the difference between wines. A vertical tasting looks at just one wine through a range of different years, emphasizing the difference in vintages. That’s a useful distinction.
Is the Japanese drink beer or wine? Does it even matter?
Sake” in Japanese could refer to any alcoholic drink, so you have to specifically say “nihonshu” to get the rice brew, which many there believe is the drink of the Shinto gods.
While renowned for its Riesling, Germany boasts a bevy of other varietals that deserve our attention. From a sleeper white grape to Europe’s next great red, learn about six of the country’s most important wines.
Spirits producer Heaven Hill Distilleries has filed a lawsuit against the Bob Dylan-owned whiskey brand Heaven’s Door Spirits, claiming it infringes its trademark rights.
With this year having already witnessed the launch of a whiskey flavoured with beaver secretions, New Zealand brewery Moa has now unveiled a wheat beer brewed with deer velvet for the Chinese market, which sold out in 48 hours.
HEINEKEN HAS LAUNCHED A NON-ALCOHOLIC, ‘LAGUNITAS’ FLAVOURED SPARKLING WATER
Attractively-named “Hop Water”, the new beverage contains no alcohol, no calories, and zero carbohydrates, but is “made using everything we know about hops,” according to the Heineken-owned beer brand’s website.
Training your wine palate isn’t difficult. We spoke with expert Filippo Bartolotta on simple ways to gain a better understanding of what’s in your glass.
CANNABIS APPELLATION SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA CLOSE TO REALITY
An appellation system for the cultivation of marijuana in California, modelled on the French AOC or American AVA systems for wine, is already in the early planning stages and could become a reality by 2021.
AMERICA’S POT CAPITAL? IT’S MASSACHUSETTS, NOT COLORADO
Massachusetts is emerging as the nation’s pot capital, according to statistics compiled in a state legislative report released to the public last month.
I Asked a Bunch of Dumb Questions About Wine So You Don’t Have To
Because drinking should never be stressful, and wine knowledge should be as accessible as the closest liquor store, I asked sommelier Victoria James, author of Drink Pink, A Celebration of Rosé and beverage director of New York City’s Cote, a bunch of dumb questions about wine (so you don’t have to!).
Right In The Feels: How Touch Might Influence How A Wine Tastes
Some more recent research has focused on the sensation of physical touch, and has found that the flavors and overall acceptability of various food and beverages can be influenced by the texture of the packaging itself.
U.S. regulators took a serious look at requiring allergen warning labels on wine in the early 2000s, but the wine industry resisted, arguing that it would be unfair to require a warning for a substance that was used briefly but is no longer in the bottle
Fish routinely marries well with white wine, but there’s good reason for palate confusion when it comes to paella. That classic part fish, part pork melting pot is a subtle swirl of shrimp, clams, sausage, red peppers and peas.
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 312 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Parenting, Wine, and Playful Rhymes 🍷 Grab a glass and settle in! In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), Kim and Mark sit down with the witty and insightful Danielle Frank, author […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 311 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! The Liquid Jazz Experience with Inventor Michael Fors In this episode, Kim and Mark dive into the art of aeration with Michael Fors, a Massachusetts-based wine inventor and the creator of The Liquid Jazz Experience. […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 310 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Uncorking a New Way to Learn with Mistral Wine Cards In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), Kim and Mark sit down with Seth Cysewski, the visionary founder and inventor of Mistral […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 309 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Decoding Non-Alcoholic Wine with Rachel Martin Get ready for groundbreaking wine education on The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) as Kim and Mark host Rachel Martin, the visionary Founder and CEO of Oceano Wines ( […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 308 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Talking Whiskey With Colonel Craig Duncan Grab a glass 🥃 and join us for a very special episode as Kim and Mark take their first deep dive into the world of whiskey! We're thrilled to […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 307 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Wine Social Media Star Kelly Axelrad Dive into a fascinating episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) as hosts Kim and Mark sit down with the powerhouse wine entrepreneur and social media superstar, Kelly […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 306 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! A Spirited Sip with a Wine Maverick Raymond Blake Join hosts Kim and Mark on as they uncork a fantastic conversation with acclaimed Irish wine author, Raymond Blake. In this spirited episode, Raymond takes us […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 305 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! All Things Bubbly For New Years Bubbly Bonanza! 🍾 Join your hosts, the effervescent Kim, the Bubbly Queen, and Mark, for the last show of 2025, where they pop the cork on a year of […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 304 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Holiday/Christmas Songs Paired With Wine Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! Get ready to deck the halls and pour the wine with hosts Kim and Mark in this festive holiday special of The Wonderful World of […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 303 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Get ready for a Thanksgiving episode that's anything but ordinary! The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) hosts Kim and Mark are celebrating a classic: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving! Ever wondered what wine […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 302 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! The Umami King Tim Hanni MW Join hosts Kim and Mark as they welcome a true icon of the wine world: Master of Wine (MW)Tim Hanni. Tim, the first American to earn the prestigious MW […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 301 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Kiana Keys-The Unpolished Grape On this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine(WWW), Kim and Mark sit down with Kiana Keys, author of Unpolished Grape 101-The Basics of WineAnd Little Black Book of Food + […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 300 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Celebrating Our 300th Episode With Len Presutti A lot can happen in 300 episodes. Kim and Mark, the hosts of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), celebrate this incredible milestone with their good friend and […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 299 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Vino Therapy With Kelly Lewis Kim and Mark of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) welcome the visionary Kelly Lewis to the show to uncork the secrets of vino therapy. The founder of the first-ever […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 298 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore all things wine with you! Wine Illustration talk with Maryse Chevriere Join The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) hosts Kim and Mark for a conversation with Maryse Chevriere. A certified sommelier, acclaimed illustrator, author, and James Beard award winner, Maryse […]
