Here is a brief summary of the featured stories from the “Liquor Industry News” collection:
Canadian Cider Global Push: The non-profit association Cider Canada has secured federal government support aimed at expanding its footprint and boosting exports into international markets.
Massive Restaurant Wine Markups: Wine pricing at US restaurants has reached a new pain point for consumers, with reports showing some venues are marking up bottles to as much as six times their wholesale cost.
Fireball’s Novelty Sneakers: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky has launched a marketing campaign featuring limited-edition high-top sneakers designed with a custom-built, secret compartment to carry a whiskey pouch.
Laser Tech vs. Counterfeit Alcohol: New laser technology is being highlighted as a potential weapon against illegal and dangerous counterfeit alcohol by allowing quick authentication of spirits.
The Flipboard curation of “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 07-17-26” by Mark Lenzi covers some fascinating developments across the beverage world, ranging from innovative product launches to the science of tasting.
Here is a summary of the featured stories:
1. Trinchero Family Wine and Spirits Launches “Sauvy B”
The Scoop: Trinchero (the third-largest wine supplier in the U.S.) has partnered with famed winemaker Joel Gott to release a new ready-to-drink (RTD) wine spritzer called Sauvy B.
What makes it unique: It targets “better-for-you” trends and younger consumers by introducing added electrolytes sourced from pink Himalayan salt.
The details: The drink is packaged in 12-ounce cans, comes in at a sessionable 4.5% ABV (roughly 100 calories), and is made from 90% sparkling water, 9% California Sauvignon Blanc, and natural citrus flavorings (available in Lime and Grapefruit).
2. WhistlePig Whiskey Joins the Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA)
The Scoop: The Vermont-based, LVMH-backed rye whiskey specialist WhistlePig has officially been welcomed as the newest member of the KDA.
Context: This move aligns with WhistlePig’s growing physical footprint in Kentucky, including the opening of their “WhistlePig PiggyBank” tasting room and retail space in Louisville’s NuLu neighborhood.
3. What the Wine World Teaches Us About Taste and Smell (via BrainFacts)
The Scoop: Drawing from lectures at the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting, this piece explores the incredibly complex neurological processing that happens when we taste wine.
Key takeaways:
The Brain on Wine: Wine tasting is an active, multi-sensory workout. It involves vision (assessing color/legs), smell, taste, and the trigeminal nerve, which processes temperature and mouthfeel. All of this is integrated in the orbitofrontal cortex.
Expectation vs. Reality: Preconceived notions heavily dictate taste. Studies showed that dyeing a white wine red fooled tasters into describing red wine characteristics, and tasting wine in front of flowers led to more positive descriptions.
The “Verbal Overshadowing” Trap: As intermediate tasters focus intensely on trying to find the perfect words to describe a wine, they can actually disconnect from the simple, holistic pleasure of drinking it.
4. The Complete Ultimate List of Craft Tequila Brands (via The Tequila Report)
The Scoop: Written by Jay Baer, this industry-wide deep dive looks to expand the conversation beyond just “additive-free” tequila by establishing a strict definition for what actually constitutes a true “craft” tequila.
The Criteria: To help overwhelmed consumers standing in front of retail shelves, the report evaluates brands on specific production standards, ultimately identifying 231 brands that officially meet the rigorous definition of “craft.”
This specific link is a digital magazine titled “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 07-14-26” on Flipboard.
It is part of a long-running daily aggregation series curated by Mark Lenzi, a highly certified wine and spirits expert based in Massachusetts. Lenzi is the owner of Franklin Liquors and co-host of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW)podcast. He updates these boards daily to track exactly what is shaping the alcoholic beverage industry.
Here are summaries of the top stories featured in the “Liquor Industry News” collection from July 11, 2026:
Uncle Nearest Legal Dispute Involves Claims of Ignored Red Flags The receiver for Uncle Nearest has filed a counterclaim against the lender Farm Credit Mid-America. The filing argues that the lender’s oversights and procedural failures effectively allowed the alleged fraud surrounding the company to continue undetected.
Super-Premium Tequila Projected to Shift by 2030 According to a report from the IWSR, while overall volume growth for some mid-tier super-premium Tequilas is currently experiencing a dip, the ultra-high-end segment of the category is projected to see a dramatic spike in total market value by 2030.
Crémant Gains Ground as an Affordable Champagne Alternative With sparkling wine sales continuing to rise globally, French Crémant is seeing a surge in appreciation. The traditional-method sparkling wine is increasingly favored by consumers looking for the quality and complexity of Champagne without the premium price tag.
Here is a summary of the top stories featured in Mark Lenzi’s curated Flipboard magazine, Liquor Industry News:
Highest-Scoring Tequilas of 2026 (So Far): An article from The Tequila Report sheds light on how they rate tequilas, sharing insider insights and a breakdown of the top-performing tequilas that have earned the highest scores this year.
The “Heavy Bottle” Illusion: Writing for Substack, Sandra E. Taylor dives into the consumer psychology of beverage packaging. She explains how thick, heavy-bottomed glass bottles trick our brains into instantly assuming a product is “premium,” complicating sustainability and packaging choices in the industry.
Why You Should Order the Cheapest Wine on the Menu: A feature in Food & Wine dispels the old advice of never ordering the absolute cheapest wine out of fear of looking cheap or getting low quality. The piece argues that the lowest-priced bottle is often carefully selected and surprises diners by punching well above its weight class.
The 20 Best Vodkas for 2026: VinePair outlines its definitive list of the absolute best vodkas on the market right now, ranking top bottles based on taste, versatility, and value.
The Flipboard collection curated by The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) features several recent updates from across the wine and spirits industries:
Wine’s Place at the Dinner Table: An article by Erik Asimov (originally from The New York Times) discusses the concept of gastronomy. He argues that truly eating well inherently involves drinking well, suggesting that modern dining culture may be losing touch with the essential role wine plays at the dinner table.
The Rosé Lifestyle: An piece from BKWine Magazine by Britt Karlsson explores how the Provence region of France masterfully branded and marketed rosé wine, transforming it from a simple beverage into a global symbol of leisure and lifestyle.
The Reality of Going Organic: Writing for The Drinks Business, Amelie Maurice-Jones interviews global wine producers about their transition to organic farming. The article highlights the practical challenges, unexpected hurdles, and key lessons producers wish they had known before committing to the green agenda.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail Expansion: A report from The Spirits Business notes updates to the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which has recently added new distillery stops to its tourism route.
Here is a summary of the key stories featured in the Liquor Industry News (07-06-26) collection curated by The Wonderful World of Wine:
Wine Digital Marketing Trends: In Episode 319 of The Wonderful World of Wine podcast, hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi interview Molly Bossardt to discuss the evolving landscape of digital marketing specifically tailored for the wine industry.
Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beers: Highlighting one of the fastest-growing sectors in the beverage industry, Tasting Table ranks eight non-alcoholic, low-calorie beers, reflecting a major market shift toward alcohol-free and refreshing alternatives.
Summer Wine Cocktails: Gamin Traveler provides a guide on how to make Spanish Sangria Blanca (White Sangria), positioning it as a lighter, white-wine alternative to traditional red sangria that is perfect for hot afternoons.
Understanding Younger Consumers: An article from Food & Wine explores what wine industry professionals need to know about the newest generation of drinkers, who bring distinct preferences, values, and buying habits compared to previous generations.
This link is a curated collection of Liquor Industry News on Flipboard, put together by Mark Lenzi from The Wonderful World of Wine. Since it’s curated just ahead of Independence Day weekend, several of the top stories tie into American history and patriotic celebrations.
The standout stories featured in the collection include:
Top 10 Oldest Wineries and Distilleries in the US: A feature looking at the ten oldest beverage-making facilities in the country that are still actively running today.
Champagne on Course for Earliest Harvest Ever: An update on the wine industry showing that following a heavily frost-damaged start to the season and recent intense heatwaves, the Champagne region in France is on track for an unprecedentedly early harvest.
Beer Considered the ‘Most American’ of Drinks: Highlighting newly released polling data and statistics ahead of the July 4th weekend showing that the vast majority of U.S. adults view beer as the ultimate patriotic drink.
Ten Whiskeys for the US 250th Anniversary: A spotlight on ten commemorative American whiskeys—including a special America250 Commemorative Edition from Evan Williams—released to celebrate the country’s milestone anniversary.
The magazine contains 16 stories in total, primarily pulling insights from industry trade publications like The Drinks Business and The Spirits Business.
This Flipboard magazine, curated by Mark Lenzi (The Wonderful World of Wine), features a collection of recent updates shaking up the beverage world.
Here are the top stories highlighted in that collection:
Are Low-Cal Beers the Next Big Thing? (from Beervana) This piece covers how breweries are shifting their attention toward low-alcohol beers (sitting at or below 3% ABV) as an emerging market trend, leveraging consumer interest in lower-calorie and lighter alternatives.
The No. 1 Nonalcoholic Beer in America (from Food & Wine) Detailing the results of the inaugural North American Nonalcoholic Cup (NANA)—a blind-judged competition that evaluated over 100 alcohol-free options—this story highlights Best Day Brewing’s Wild American Pilsner, which took home the coveted “Best in Show” title.
The Ultimate Champagne Flavor Map (from VinePair) An article featuring an infographic mapping out Champagne flavors. It explores how critical brand recognition and a distinct “estate identity” are for Champagne houses compared to other winemaking regions.
Toast America the Way Thomas Jefferson Intended (from Slate) A historical look at American drinking traditions, diving into how founding figures like Thomas Jefferson approached their wine and spirits.
Here is a summary of the featured stories shared in that liquor industry news collection:
Buffalo Trace’s Prohibition Revival: Buffalo Trace Distillery has revived five historic whiskey brands for its new Prohibition Collection. The unique lineup includes the distillery’s highest-proof rye whiskey in modern history, drawing inspiration from the medical exemptions that allowed legal spirits production during the Prohibition era (1920–1933).
California Grape Labeling Debate: A legislative piece touches on how California can protect local agriculture by ensuring that any wine labeled as “American” is made exclusively with American grapes. The state legislature faces a choice between global beverage corporations and local wine growers regarding iconic labeling rights.
Sazerac’s Expansion: Tom Collins Distilling, an affiliate of Buffalo Trace owner Sazerac, has purchased the former Garrard County Distilling property for $20 million, continuing the massive beverage company’s expansion in Kentucky.
New RTD Flavors: The popular ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail brand, The Finnish Long Drink, is expanding its lineup by exploring a new raspberry flavor.
Mark Lenzi regularly builds these daily roundups to pull together articles focusing on:
Wine & Spirit Trends: Deep dives into rising regions, grape varieties, or changes in how younger generations (like Gen Z) are shifting the drinking culture toward lower-ABV options or earlier hours.
Industry Analysis & Market News: Frequent coverage of how economic changes, distillery expansions, or global trade issues are currently affecting major alcohol brands.
Consumer Guides: Practical advice ranging from wine bottle math and how to read craft beer labels, to identifying high-quality tequilas or finding budget-friendly spirits at major retailers.
This Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 06-29-26”, curated by Mark Lenzi from The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), contains 17 stories covering a mix of alcohol news, cocktail recipes, history, and wine culture.
Several prominent stories are highlighted from the collection:
Liquor Industry News Overview (from thewonderfulworldofwine.education): This serves as the anchor post for the newsletter/roundup, authored by Mark C. Lenzi (who holds multiple industry credentials like CSW, CSS, and FWS). It introduces new products hitting the market and gives an overview of recent developments across the industry.
11 Discontinued Light Beers Your Grandparents Probably Remember (from mashed.com): A nostalgic look back at the history of light beer. While light beers sometimes get a bad rap for being weak, this piece dives into classic, crisp, and refreshing light brews from decades past that have since been phased out.
Kentucky Coffee Is A Bourbon Cocktail That’s Perfect For Brunch (from mashed.com): An alternative to the classic brunch standard. Instead of a Mimosa or a Bloody Mary, this story highlights a unique, bourbon-infused coffee cocktail designed to elevate brunch for whiskey lovers.
Not France, Not Italy — This Underrated Wine Region Has Some Of The World’s Oldest Producing Grape Vines (from islands.com): An exploratory piece focused on an underrated global wine destination. It skips over traditional powerhouses like France and Italy to look at an overlooked region that boasts incredibly deep historical roots and ancient, still-producing vines.
Here is a summary of the key stories featured in Mark Lenzi’s “Liquor Industry News” collection:
Mindful Drinking Podcast: An episode from The Wonderful World of Wine podcast (Episode 318) featuring hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi. They interview Carrie Boyle to discuss “Sip, Sense, and Savor: Unlocking the Mindful Glass,” focusing on mindful wine consumption and tasting practices.
Rethinking Sauternes: A feature from Robb Report suggesting that many wine drinkers are enjoying Sauternes all wrong. The article encourages readers to open up their palates to new possibilities and alternative food pairings for this famous French sweet wine.
Green River Bourbon Upgrades: An article via Inc. Magazine highlighting Green River distilling company, which previously made waves by winning a “World’s Best Bourbon” title with an affordable $35 bottle. The distillery has now released a highly anticipated, upgraded full-proof version of that award-winning whiskey.
The Classic Sherry Cobbler: A piece from Tasting Table providing a spotlight and recipe for the classic Sherry Cobbler cocktail, a historic, refreshing drink making a modern comeback.
This Flipboard link leads to a curated digital magazine titled “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 06-02-26”, compiled by the profile The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), which is run by wine and spirits educator Mark Lenzi.
The magazine acts as a daily industry digest, aggregating major news stories, op-eds, and press releases impacting the global beverage market. The main stories featured in this specific collection include:
“The Empty Chair: What Sports Betting, Cannabis, and Weight-Loss Drugs Taught Me About the Wine Business” (via Wine Industry Advisor): A piece analyzing the unexpected macroeconomic and behavioral competitors taking market share away from traditional wine. It highlights how consumer discretionary spending and lifestyle habits are shifting toward modern alternatives like legal cannabis, mobile sports gambling, and appetite-suppressing GLP-1 weight-loss medications.
“Wine Losing the Class War” (via Wine-Searcher): An industry critique focusing on systemic diversity and socioeconomic barriers within the wine world. Citing a survey by Drinks United, the article argues that wine’s struggle to connect with younger, broader demographics is deeply tied to an ongoing “class war” and cultural gatekeeping that limits its accessibility.
“Why Wine Investors Need to Rethink Everything They Know Before Buying Whisky” (via The Whiskey Wash): Written by spirit expert Mark Littler, this article serves as a warning and guide for fine wine collectors looking to cross over into alternative spirit investing. It breaks down why the mechanics, aging processes, market valuations, and liquidation strategies for high-end whisky are fundamentally different from traditional wine cellaring.
“Best Canned Craft Beers Available Everywhere” (via The Manual): A commercial round-up focusing on consumer trends in the beer sector, specifically highlighting highly accessible, national-distribution canned craft beers that maintain artisanal quality while meeting the high demand for outdoor and casual summer drinking.
The specific link provides a daily curated digital magazine briefing on Flipboard for today, May 28, 2026.
Compiled by Mark Lenzi—a highly certified wine/spirits educator and owner of Franklin Liquors in Massachusetts—this link acts as a professional “snapshot” of the global beverage alcohol industry.
The link aggregates 10 to 20 trending stories, expert reviews, and market insights from primary trade and culinary outlets (such as The Drinks Business, VinePair, The Spirits Business, Food & Wine, and Mashed).
While the individual articles cycle in real time on Flipboard to reflect the exact news breaking on this specific day, these daily briefings consistently synthesize the following core themes:
Market Dynamics & Business Shifts: Real-time updates on global supply chains, economic pressures facing vineyards and craft breweries, and inventory tracking (such as fluctuations in bourbon demand or the impact of inflation on high-end vs. value-tier brands).
Consumer Trends: Tracking the ongoing mainstream expansion of non-alcoholic (No-and-Low) wine, beer, and ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktails.
Production & Agtech: Articles exploring how wineries and distilleries are navigating climate weather challenges and adopting sustainable packaging or predictive AI tools.
Consumer Advice & Trivia: Lighter, educational deep dives covering wine/food pairings, distillery secrets (such as the origins behind store-brand spirits like Costco’s Kirkland Signature), and closure debates (e.g., screw caps vs. corks).
Ultimately, the link serves as a one-stop digital dashboard designed for sommeliers, beverage retailers, and passionate consumers to efficiently catch up on the day’s global alcohol industry headlines.
January 26, 2026, the liquor industry news roundup curated by Mark Lenzi includes the following stories:
Santa Barbara’s New Wine Experience: The Hilt Estate has launched “The Hideaway Experience” at The Barn in Santa Ynez, which is being described as a premier destination for wine tasting in the region.
Brewery Etiquette: A guide on brewery “faux pas” highlights common behaviors—such as indecisiveness at the tap—that cause frustration for staff and other patrons.
Old Fashioned Alternatives: For fans of the classic Old Fashioned, a new feature recommends various cocktail “riffs” and similar drinks to try next.
Non-Alcoholic Beer Rankings: An updated list evaluates the non-alcoholic beer market, identifying 15 brands worth buying and 10 that consumers should avoid.
Weekly Industry Roundup: Mark Lenzi (CSW, CSS, FWS) provides his “Liquor Industry Week In Review,” covering broader trends and insights across the wine and spirits sector.
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.
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 320 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! Unveiling Perfection: Napa’s New Icon with Jayson Hu From a world-class collector to a visionary creator, Jayson Hu is redefining the pinnacle of Napa Valley luxury. In this episode, Kim and Mark sit down with […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 319 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! Wine Digital Marketing With Molly Bossardt In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), hosts Kim and Mark sit down with Molly Bossardt of Bread & Butter Digital Marketing to pull back the […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 318 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! Sip, Sense, and Savor: Unlocking the Mindful Glass with Carrie Boyle Cheers, wine lovers! In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), your hosts Kim and Mark sit down with the incredibly multi-talented […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 317 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! Tariffs, Triumphs, and the Supreme Court: A Conversation with Victor Owen Schwartz In this landmark episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), hosts Kim and Mark sit down with a true titan of the […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 316 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! From Food Critic to Wine Titan With Meridith May In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), Kim and Mark sit down with a true powerhouse of the industry: Meridith May. As the […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 315 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! Sustainability with Sandra Taylor In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), hosts Kim and Mark dive deep into the world of sustainable viticulture with special guest Sandra Taylor. As the author of […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 314 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! From Prescriptions to Stills with GlenPharmer Distillery In this episode of The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW), hosts Kim and Mark sit down with Beth and Patrick Downing, the visionary owners of Franklin, Massachusetts’ own […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 313 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring all things wine with you! Decoding the Wine Label with Marie Cheslik Ever feel like you need a PhD and a Rosetta Stone just to pick a decent bottle of Cabernet? You aren’t alone. This week on The Wonderful World […]
The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Episode 312 Hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi exploring 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 exploring 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 exploring 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 exploring 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 exploring 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 exploring 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 exploring 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 […]
