Franklin Liquors-The Wonderful World of Wine

Franklin Liquors

Liquor Industry News

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

By: Mark C Lenzi

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

02-10-2025

Liquor Industry Week In Review

The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)

This Weeks Highlights:

New Products

Is Older Wine Better Than Younger Wine?

Wine is Bad for You? Yes, But So is Everything Else

Could cannabis sales cannibalise wine?

What’s the Difference Between High Elevation and Low Elevation Wines?

Does altitude matter? Wine experts break down how elevation impacts what’s in your glass

https://www.foodandwine.com/high-elevation-vs-low-elevation-wines-8779872

Does Labeling Mean the End of the Wine Boom?

New health advisory spurs sober-curiosity

https://www.healdsburgtribune.com/does-labeling-mean-the-end-of-the-wine-boom/

63 Historical Grape Varieties Identified in Bordeaux

As part of investigations in old vineyards of the Gironde, scientists have identified 63 historical grape varieties

https://magazine.wein.plus/news/63-historical-grape-varieties-identified-in-bordeaux-adaptability-to-climate-change-is-being-investigated

Wine is Bad for You? Yes, But So is Everything Else

For anyone who loves wine, it was quite a gut punch to hear the pronouncement that all alcohol consumption is now proven harmful for health.

https://vino-joy.com/2025/01/24/wine-is-bad-for-you-yes-but-so-is-everything-else/

The biggest problem with alcohol-free drinks? They’re too expensive

Alcohol-free versions often approach the same price as their alcoholic counterparts: and that’s hard for consumers to accept. What’s the way forward?

HTTPS://WWW.BEVERAGEDAILY.COM/ARTICLE/2025/01/23/ALCOHOL-FREE-DRINKS-WHATS-THE-ANSWER-TO-HIGH-PRICE-TAGS/

Wine sales drying up as Americans turn elsewhere

U.S. wine sales continued a multiyear decline in 2024, which experts attribute to shifting demographics, health concerns, new competition and economic forces.

https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/data-shows-wine-decline-consumers-spending-less-drinking-less-rcna187628

Five white grapes you might not expect to find in Chile

While Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay take up the lion’s share of white grape plantings in Chile, producers from across the country are experimenting with more unusual varieties.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/01/five-white-grapes-you-might-not-expect-to-find-in-chile/

Top 5 findings from the SVB wine report

Silicon Valley Bank’s 2025 wine industry report, which analyses the state of the US market, suggests this “isn’t like any era” the trade has faced before. Roger Morris reports on the key takeaways.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/01/top-5-findings-from-the-svb-report/

Stop Asking Your Sommelier For ‘Funky’ Wine

If you drink natural wine or know someone who drinks natural wine, then you’ve likely heard the term “funky.”

https://vinepair.com/articles/stop-asking-for-funky-wine/

Italian TV Turns on Tuscany

A TV investigation into Tuscan wines is long on allegations but short on evidence.

https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2025/01/italian-tv-turns-on-tuscany

Putting Warning Labels on Wine Is a Long Process

It can take many years to add new health labels to the back of the bottle.

https://www.meiningers-international.com/wine/news/putting-warning-labels-wine-long-process

Ideum presents digital Tasting Table & Wine Experience software

New interactive experience will be on show at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento

https://blooloop.com/technology/news/ideum-tasting-table-wine-experience/

How the Humble Vin de France Became a Beacon of Cool

Wine culture’s current It girl isn’t new, but it marches to its own beat, charming a new generation of wine drinker in the process.

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/vin-de-france-wine-news-trends

Healthy or Hazardous? Unpacking Wine’s Latest Ride on the Wellness Roller Coaster

Consumers, understandably, are feeling the whiplash.

https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/industry-news/wine-health-debate/

Beer sold in grocery stores drives higher sales in other categories

When a grocery store starts selling beer, its sales grow beyond just six-packs and cases: Households, and beer-purchasing households in particular, visit the store more frequently and increase their total monthly grocery expenditures, according to new Cornell research.

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/01/beer-sold-grocery-stores-drives-higher-sales-other-categories

Can You Turn Wine Into ‘Champagne’ With Your Sodastream?

Sorry, but that dream could quickly morph into a nightmare.

https://www.tastingtable.com/1762647/wine-champagne-hack-sodastream/

Wine Haunted by the Spirit of Premiumization

Market, younger consumers would benefit from approachable, affordable products

https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/297396

Under-age alcohol drinking in the modern world

Now, worldwide, 18 years is the most common minimum age for alcohol consumption (see: Legal drinking age, which has a table and a map). By contrast, the United States of America sets 21 years, instead. This potentially makes things very difficult for them, if regulators and community groups want to do something about ensuring that this limit is adhered to.

http://winegourd.blogspot.com/2025/01/under-age-alcohol-drinking-in-modern.html

Non-Alcoholic Wine: Three Questions

Is non-alcoholic wine really wine?

https://wineeconomist.com/2025/01/21/dry-2/

Champagne sales sink because people don’t want to celebrate

Champagne sales have lost their pop as people around the world aren’t in the mood to say “cheers.”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/20/food/champagne-sales-2024/index.html

Five Farms celebrates Ireland’s cream history

When it comes to growing his Irish cream liqueur brand Five Farms, founder Johnny Harte says it’s all about telling a story. Speaking to The Spirits Business, he shares plans for world domination by way of Glastonbury Festival.

https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2025/01/five-farms-celebrates-irelands-cream-history/

Could a pink powder sabotage California wine’s organic goals?

Firefighters battling the Los Angeles blaze are dropping a pink, powdered flame-retardant from planes in a bid to contain the disaster. But experts say such chemicals may have long-reaching consequences for agriculture. db investigates.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/01/could-a-pink-powder-sabotage-california-wines-organic-goals/

So Long, Chilled Reds. The “Big Red” Renaissance Is Upon Us.

It goes without saying that the “chilled red” movement has gone rogue.

https://punchdrink.com/articles/big-red-wine/

The ingredients in beer that are beneficial to health: how good is it?

Beer is consumed in a large part of the world

https://www.marca.com/en/lifestyle/fitness/2025/01/20/678e416246163f893e8b4573.html

Wine in history: Songs of wine and wine of songs

“The happiness that wine creates emerges most joyously of all in drink-fuelled singing.”

https://worldoffinewine.com/news-features/drinking-song-wine

The ‘Genius’ Wine Hack That Has Us Scratching Our Heads

In a recent video, Jeff shows how he opens a bottle of wine by pushing the cork inside the bottle using a wooden spoon.

https://www.thetakeout.com/1767789/genius-wine-hack-has-us-scratching-our-heads/

The Red Flag You Should Never Ignore At A Beer Store

If you see beer bottles, cans, or cases sitting in direct sunlight, you definitely don’t want to purchase them.

https://www.thetakeout.com/1768528/beer-store-red-flag-window/

Surveys Show Anti-Alcohol Message Works …It’s Time to Respond

The damage done by Surgeon General will get worse

https://tomwark.substack.com/p/surveys-show-anti-alcohol-message-works?utm_medium=newsletter

Is organic wine a gimmick – or a saviour for the wine industry?

Why are organic wines seeing the biggest growth in the wine market – and which are the best? The Independent’s wine columnist Rosamund Hall finds out

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/organic-wine-sales-market-growth-b2685836.html

Could cannabis sales cannibalise wine?

Something about (Dry) January felt different this year. There was the usual blend of aggressively pro and con takes on the movement on social media, the expected headlines heralding a dry new era for wine overall amid shifting demographics and health concerns.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/01/could-cannabis-sales-cannibalise-wine/

The World’s Oldest Bourbon Was Once Owned By A Historic Celebrity

It’s full of bottles that exist in extremely limited quantities or have any number of intriguing stories or unique processes behind them

https://www.tastingtable.com/1765690/worlds-oldest-bourbon-jp-morgan/

What Do Experts Predict for the US Wine Market in 2025?

A new in-depth analysis has plenty to offer

https://www.insidehook.com/wine/experts-predict-wine-market-2025

What are lees in wine?

From that rich mouthfeel in your Chardonnay to those delicious brioche flavors in your Champagne and English sparkling wines, lees can bring significant influence to the texture and taste of a wine.

https://www.decanter.com/learn/advice/what-are-lees-in-wine-ask-decanter-377513/

What Makes Estate Wine More Expensive Than Standard?

Imagine you’re standing in your favorite bottle shop trying to figure out how to decode the wine labels and decide which one to bring home.

https://www.tastingtable.com/1763725/why-estate-wine-expensive/

The big pour: Why large wine formats are soaring in popularity

From exclusive clubs to supermarket shelves, large-format wine bottles continue to captivate wine lovers worldwide. Martin Green explores the trend.

https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/the-big-pour-why-large-wine-formats-are-soaring-in-popularity-549432/

Here’s How Maker’s Mark Bourbon Got Its Famous Red Wax Drip

Standing amid an aisle of other liquor handles, consumers’ attention is immediately drawn to Maker’s Mark, whose caps are sealed with a drop of bright red wax.

https://www.thetakeout.com/1765237/makers-mark-bourbon-red-wax/

A Glimpse into the Wines of Campania

There is a beautiful array of wine selections throughout the region made predominantly of red wines from the Aglianico grape, but also a great white wine selection primarily found from the Fiano, Greco and Falanghina grapes.

https://www.vinotravelsitaly.com/2025/01/wines-of-Campania.html

Why does the world have Three-Tier systems for alcohol supply?

The United States of America has a Three-Tier alcohol distribution system, so that each commercial bottle of wine has a producer, a distributor and a retailer; and I cannot see why it is compulsory to have the distributor.

http://winegourd.blogspot.com/2025/01/why-does-world-have-three-tier-systems.html

Are heavy wine drinkers responding to health warnings?

As Dry January comes to an end (without my participation) the alcohol industries, including wine, are still beset with health alarmism – and nervous of the consequences of further reduced consumption

https://winemag.co.za/wine/opinion/tim-james-are-heavy-wine-drinkers-responding-to-health-warnings/

I’m a server at a winery. Here are 5 things I wish more people would do when they come in for a tasting.

Here are five things I wish every guest at a wine tasting would do

https://www.businessinsider.com/things-people-should-do-at-wine-tasting-server-advice

What Temperature Does Beer Typically Freeze At?

One thing that is well-known about alcoholic beverages is that they can be quite difficult to freeze depending on their alcoholic proof or ABV (alcohol by volume).

https://www.thetakeout.com/1768170/what-temp-beer-freeze/

New On The Rocks

• Global Spirits’ On the Rockshas added a new ready-to-serve cocktail, the Lemon Drop Martini. The 20% abv cocktail is made with Effen vodka and elderflower liqueur with basil, lemon, and vanilla flavorings. The new permanent addition to the On the Rocks portfolio is now available in 375-ml. bottles nationwide. On the Rocks is among the leading ready-to-serve cocktail brands in the U.S. at an estimated 800,000 cases, according to Impact Databank.

The Science of Old Vines

To what degree does vine age influence wine quality? Winemakers and scientists explore the empirical and anecdotal evidence

https://daily.sevenfifty.com/the-science-of-old-vines/

The Japanese American experience in Lodi and California documented by Dorothea Lange

The first immigrants from Japan arrived in the Lodi area in 1869 to work in Delta sugar beet fields, and by the 1890s a growing number were playing an active role in the rapid expansion of Lodi’s vaunted agricultural industry, dominated by grapes.

https://www.lodiwine.com/blog/The-Japanese-American-experience-in-Lodi-and-California-documented-by-Dorothea-Lange

Alcohol app could save 4,500 lives, study finds

A smartphone app designed to help people reduce their alcohol intake could save lives and cut hospital admissions, according to experts in Sheffield.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c334rk84zn5o

Falling consumption threatens Australia’s wine export rebound, industry body says

The lifting of trade tariffs by China triggered a surge in Australian wine exports last year, but it is unclear whether Chinese demand will remain strong after buyers have restocked, an industry body said

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/falling-consumption-threatens-australias-wine-export-rebound-industry-body-says-2025-01-29/

Why Ice Wines Are So Misunderstood — Plus 5 to Try Right Now

This sweet, concentrated wine, made in below-freezing temperatures, pairs with everything from briny anchovies and foie gras to creamy custards and fruit.

https://www.foodandwine.com/ice-wine-explainer-8781931

Why You Should Drink Vodka Within One Year Of Opening

It’s best to consume the liquor within a year or two for maximum quality.

https://www.chowhound.com/1769622/why-drink-bottle-vodka-one-year/

Nearly Half of Americans Plan to Cut Back on Alcohol in 2025

Meanwhile, purchases of nonalcoholic drinks are on the rise

https://csnews.com/nearly-half-americans-plan-cut-back-alcohol-2025

A Complete Guide to the Major Champagne Houses

Champagne can be divided into two major camps: the big houses and the grower-producers.

https://vinepair.com/articles/guide-to-major-champagne-houses/

14 Absolute Best Spiced Rum Brands

While spiced rum may feel like a modern spirit, it’s older than you might think.

https://www.tastingtable.com/1765375/best-spiced-rum-brands/

Is Older Wine Better Than Younger Wine? Wine Pros Weigh In

The truth about back-vintage wines versus youthful bottles.

https://www.foodandwine.com/older-wine-versus-younger-wine-8783994

PROSECCO VS. CRÉMANT: A GUIDE TO TWO SPARKLING WINE STYLES

Prosecco and Crémant are both sparkling wines, but their differences lie in production methods, flavor, and origin. Learn about the Charmat and traditional methods, the taste profiles, and the best food pairings for each wine.

https://www.millesima-usa.com/blog/prosecco-vs-cremant-a-guide-to-two-sparkling-wine-styles.html

The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) Podcast

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Podcast Award Nominations 2019, 21, 22 ,23, 24 AND 2025!!

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