This Flipboard magazine curated by Mark Lenzi for January 2, 2026, focuses on the transition from New Year’s celebrations into “Dry January” and the emerging trends for the new year.
The following is a summary of the stories featured in the LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 01-01-26 collection:
Understanding “Still-Strength” Spirits: An exploration of what “still-strength” means for curious drinkers. These spirits are bottled directly at the proof they leave the still, without being diluted with water, offering a more intense and pure expression of the production process.
Champagne Industry Challenges: While New Year’s Eve sparked the typical surge in Champagne sales, the industry is currently facing significant headwinds. These include ongoing labor abuse allegations in French vineyards and the looming threat of international tariffs.
The 100 Best Whiskeys of 2025: A year-end retrospective ranking the top whiskeys tasted throughout 2025. The list serves as a guide for enthusiasts looking for the “best of the best” as the new year begins.
Ranking the 100 Best Bourbons of 2025: A specific focus on Bourbon, highlighting the top 100 bottles of the year. The report notes that the whiskey industry faced “existential challenges” in 2025, including trade uncertainty and shifting consumer trends.
Orange Wine Fatigue: For those tired of the skin-fermented “orange wine” trend, experts and sommeliers suggest exploring alternative styles of wine that offer similar complexity without being part of the specific orange wine category.
Global New Year’s Drinks: A cultural look at 10 alcoholic beverages from around the world that are traditionally used for New Year’s toasts, along with travel advice on accepting drinks in different international settings.
Based on the “Liquor Industry News 12-31-25” Flipboard curated by Mark Lenzi, the stories posted on December 31, 2025, focus heavily on New Year’s Eve preparation, sparkling wine education, and the industry outlook for 2026.
This liquor industry news for December 29, 2025, curated by Mark Lenzi, highlights several key trends and stories focusing on non-alcoholic options, health, and industry insights:
Industry & Product Trends
The Rise of Non-Alcoholic (NA) Sparkling Wines: The news highlights 11 alcohol-free sparkling wines that aim to replicate the “Champagne energy” and complexity of traditional bubbly, making them suitable for holiday celebrations without the alcohol content.
Consumer Regret with NA Brands: Not all non-alcoholic entries are hits; the digest includes a review of a specific NA sparkling wine brand from a well-known producer (Josh Cellars) that missed the mark for reviewers.
Prosecco Mixers: For those drinking traditional spirits, the news features five “unexpected” mixers for Prosecco that offer refreshing alternatives to standard cocktails.
Health & Science
Alcohol and Blood Pressure: A featured article explores the physiological effects of alcohol on blood pressure, specifically addressing whether red wine’s reputation for heart health holds up for those with hypertension.
Global Wine Insights
Beyond the Scores: A story from Marca Chile regarding Viña Santa Sofía emphasizes that while wine scores and points are useful guides for consistency, the true definition of a wine’s quality should be determined by the consumer’s experience in the glass.
Curator Note
The digest is part of “The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)” series by Mark Lenzi, an industry expert with multiple certifications (CSW, CSS, FWS), aimed at providing a weekly review of trends and news across the liquor and wine sectors.
This December 25, 2025, edition of Liquor Industry News curated by Mark Lenzi on Flipboard is a specialized roundup focusing on end-of-year trends, holiday spirits, and the evolving economic landscape of the beverage alcohol industry.
As a certified wine and spirits expert (owner of Franklin Liquors in Massachusetts and host of The Wonderful World of Wine), Lenzi’s Christmas edition typically emphasizes celebratory themes and industry forecasts for 2026.
The Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 12-19-25,” curated by Mark Lenzi (The Wonderful World of Wine), features a collection of articles focused on seasonal beverage trends, holiday hosting, and industry insights.
Here is a summary of the featured stories:
Holiday Entertaining & Gift Guides
Best Wines for Holiday Parties: Recommendations include pouring magnums of Saint-Émilion and Soave Classico, along with Champagne, to elevate festive gatherings.
2025 Sparkling Wine Guide: A comprehensive primer on “all things bubbly,” covering essential terms, trivia, and tips for selecting the right sparkling wine for New Year’s toasts.
Festive Cocktail Upgrades: A guide on using simple, everyday refrigerator ingredients to make cocktails look and taste more seasonal.
Spirits & Mixology
The Best Bloody Mary Recipes: Esquire highlights nine expert-backed recipes for this savory classic, emphasizing its popularity as a “hair-of-the-dog” brunch drink and detailing the best ratios for tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, and horseradish.
Beer & Food Pairings
Beer to Avoid with Hot Wings: An article from Chowhound warns against certain beer styles that may clash with or overwhelm the spice of hot wings, suggesting better alternatives for a balanced pairing.
Industry & Cultural Perspectives
Wine’s Brighter Future: Author Jon Bonné discusses “The Seven Percenters” and how certain movements in the wine world are attempting to bring back missing elements of character and trail-blazing spirit to the industry.
The magazine is part of a daily series curated by Lenzi that explores the intersection of wine culture, industry news, and consumer tips.
The provided link leads to a Flipboard magazine titled “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 12-18-25,” curated by Mark Lenzi for The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW).
The collection features several articles from December 18, 2025, covering wine industry controversies, sustainability, regional guides, and festive tips:
San Francisco Wine Competition Controversy: The San Francisco International Wine Competition is facing allegations of including Russian wines, which would potentially violate U.S. law.
Sustainability Re-imagined: Dr. Laura Catena of Domaine EdeM is featured for her work in reframing the sustainability debate, focusing on more than just carbon footprint to include broader environmental and social impacts.
Regional Wine Labels: A piece on Alto Adige discusses the linguistic complexities of its labels (Italian vs. German) and how this cultural history defines the region’s unique winemaking identity.
Consumer Guides: * Toscana Wines: A guide identifying 8 of the best red Toscana wines available for under $30.
Festive Cocktails: A recipe and feature for a “Gingerbread White Russian” as part of a holiday cocktail countdown.
Holiday Maintenance Tip: A warning from plumbers regarding a specific “Christmas drink” (likely cream-based or fat-heavy beverages) that should not be poured down the kitchen sink to avoid expensive emergency repairs.
The “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 12-16-25” magazine on Flipboard, curated by “The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW),” includes several recent stories covering various aspects of the liquor and wine industry.
Key topics in the collection include:
Non-Alcoholic and Low-Alcohol Trends: There is a rise in consumer and producer interest in dealcoholised and low-alcohol wines, although uncertainties about the market remain. Additionally, there is a recipe for a Non-Alcoholic Mojito, highlighting the growing non-alcoholic beverage segment.
Impact of Health/Weight Loss Drugs: The article “‘The role of Ozempic isn’t just about reduced consumption, it’s about a shift in values’” suggests that weight loss medications are quietly influencing how and why people drink, leading to a more selective and health-aware future for alcohol consumption.
Wine Tourism: A global report indicates that wine tourism drives up to 28% of revenue for small wineries, marking it as a key factor for the global wine industry.
Market Rivals and History:
Americans are increasingly hearing about a “surprising rival to Champagne”: English sparkling wine.
A story discusses The Accidental Origin of One of History’s Best Rye Whiskeys.
The Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 12-14-25” by The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) features several recent stories related to the alcohol and wine industry. Key topics include:
Product Releases and Partnerships: Banshee has released a new wine, Complicated Pinot Noir, in partnership with singer Avril Lavigne.
Regulatory Issues: A discussion about the possibility of banning mini-liquor bottles in Connecticut due to littering concerns raised by an environmental group.
Reviews and Recommendations: A review of the best wine openers, tested and rated, as well as a list of five spiked eggnog brands to potentially avoid this winter based on reviews.
Industry Recognition: A Texas winery earned “world-class” recognition, marking a significant first for the state’s wine industry.
Climate Threats: A new study highlights how an “uncontrollable phenomenon” (climate change) is threatening the production of coffee, wine, and chocolate.
The Flipboard magazine titled “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 11-10-25” curated by Mark Lenzi (@MarkLenzi) features several recent stories related to wine, whiskey, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Here are the most recent stories included in the magazine:
10 Old Fashioned Recipes That Prove Less Is More (from FOOD & WINE): Discusses the essentials and subtle changes that enhance the classic Old Fashioned cocktail.
How Oak Gives Wine and Whiskey Their Character (from FOOD & WINE): Explores the transformative role of oak barrels in aging both wine and spirits.
A Sommelier’s Tips for Ordering Wine With Confidence, Even on a Budget (from CNET): Offers advice on selecting a bottle of wine in a restaurant setting without overspending or feeling intimidated.
25 Non-Alcoholic Thanksgiving Drinks Everyone Can Toast To (from immigrantstable.com): Provides recipes for non-alcoholic mocktails suitable for Thanksgiving.
It’s not a wine train — it’s Amtrak. But it takes you to California’s coolest wine region (from sfstandard.com): Highlights using Amtrak to travel to the Paso Robles wine region in California.
Not all joven tequila is equal: Know the difference (from The Manual): Explains the nature and characteristics of Joven tequila.
The Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 10-30-25” curated by The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) focuses on various topics in the liquor and wine industry.
The most recent stories included in the magazine cover:
Wine and Health:
The beneficial effects of moderate wine consumption on blood clotting markers in patients with coronary heart disease (a Greek intervention study).
The short-term health effects of de-alcoholized red wine.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages:
The redefining of non-alcoholic beer, featuring John Mulaney & Years.
Alcohol’s Effects:
An exploration of whether different types of alcohol affect people differently.
Wine and Sports:
The potential for a pairing between fine wine and professional sport, mentioning former American football quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
Whiskey:
A look at the 10 most important American Single Malt Whiskeys ever released.
The Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 10-25-25” curated by @MarkLenzi, covers several recent topics in the beverage industry, including:
Craft Beer Trends: The end of the “craft brewery-loving IPA guy” is suggested, with reports of declining craft beer sales and a decreasing focus on highly specific hop and flavor profiles. There is also an article explaining why IPAs and hot wings are a poor food pairing.
Wine: The magazine features a closer look at the world of Mexican wine and lists eight highly-rated Prosecco values from the Veneto region of Italy.
Spirits: Topics include a podcast discussion asserting that bourbon will be “fine,” and a professional bartender’s explanation of common mistakes that cause homemade cocktails to fall flat.
The Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 10-24-25” curated by @MarkLenzi includes the following stories:
Legal Dispute: Surfside is suing AB InBev, alleging that the beverage giant copied its packaging for its vodka-based hard tea brand.
Wine Aesthetics: A discussion on the importance and “charm” of wine labels, and whether they influence consumer choice more than the wine itself.
Chinese Wine Market: An argument suggesting that China’s wine industry should focus on overall quality rather than trying to establish a single “signature grape” variety.
Local Sales Data: A report on the top 25 towns in Connecticut based on the sales of “nip bottles” (small liquor bottles).
Spirits Guides: Features on liquor categories, including a timeline of 16 essential bottles of gin and an article advising beginner bourbon drinkers on how to navigate and avoid getting misled by hype.
The Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 10-23-25” curated by Mark Lenzi of “The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)” covers several recent topics in the alcohol and liquor industry:
Non-Alcoholic Wine: A story discusses the challenges and methods for creating non-alcoholic wine that is considered high-quality enough for fine dining.
Hemp Drinks Lobbying: The alcohol industry is increasing its lobbying efforts on hemp drinks as the U.S. Congress debates a potential ban on THC products.
High-Alcohol Beer: A new Sam Adams beer is mentioned, noting that it is so strong it is illegal to purchase in 15 U.S. states.
Dry Weddings Trend: An article explores the growing trend of couples opting for “dry weddings” (alcohol-free receptions).
Wine History: A historical piece details how Prohibition and the Mexican Revolution influenced the shaping of an iconic California wine family.
Argentinian Wine Exports: Wines of Argentina has launched a global campaign, “The Wine for Now,” as exports to the U.S. and Brazil surge.
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Mark C Lenzi CSW,CSS,CWAS,FWS,IWS*,SWS,IWM owner of Franklin Liquors, is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Spirits( CSS) by the Society of Wine Educators. The first in MA to hold a California Wine Appellation Specialist (CWAS) title from the San Francisco Wine School. French Wine Scholar(FWS)/instructor and Spanish Wine Scholar (SWS) by the Wine Scholar Guild. Italian Wine Specialist (IWS*) by the North American Sommelier Association. Oregon Wine Expert (OWE) by the Napa Valley Wine Academy, Italian Wine Maestro (IWM) Vinitaly International (First USA Class), Italian Wine Scholar (IWS*) by The Wine Scholar Guild
Co Host-Podcast/Radio Show The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)
Founder-The Franklin Wine Club
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