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.
The following is a summary of the articles featured in the “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 01-14-26” collection on Flipboard:
New U.S. Dietary Guidelines and Alcohol: The Trump administration released new dietary guidelines that emphasize “real food” over highly processed products. However, the guidelines remain vague regarding alcohol consumption, leaving many to wonder about the specific health implications and recommended limits.
The Rise of Oregon Chardonnay: While Oregon is long-established as a benchmark for Pinot Noir, the region’s Chardonnay is now “stepping into the sun.” It is increasingly being recognized for producing some of the best expressions of the varietal in the world.
Pennsylvania Rare Whiskey Lottery: The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has opened a lottery for rare and limited-edition whiskeys. Residents have a specific window to enter for a chance to purchase these highly sought-after bottles.
Wyoming Whiskey’s Latest Release: A feature on Wyoming Whiskey highlights their latest special bourbon. The article focuses on the brand’s commitment to local craftsmanship, from the specific grains used to the barreling process.
Enhancing Classics with “Bubbly Booze”: This piece explores how adding sparkling elements or specific “bubbly” spirits can elevate classic cocktails, transforming standard drinks into more “exalted” versions.
Why Wine Tastes Better at Restaurants: This article explains the psychological and environmental reasons why a bottle of wine often tastes superior in a restaurant setting compared to at home, and provides tips on how to recreate that “magic” in a domestic environment.
Episode 306: A Spirited Sip with a Wine Maverick Raymond Blake A new podcast episode from The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) featuring hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi. They interview wine writer Raymond Blake to explore his unique perspective on the industry.
Introducing New Michelob ULTRA Zero Lime: A Refreshing Alcohol-Free Brew with a Citrus Twist Anheuser-Busch announced the launch of a new non-alcoholic lime-flavored beer under the Michelob ULTRA brand, targeting the growing demand for alcohol-free alternatives.
The 20 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers for 2026 A curated list by VinePair highlighting the top-performing non-alcoholic beers in the current market, noting that the category continues to lead growth in the U.S. beverage sector.
Brassfield Estate Winery Concludes 2025 with Exceptional Sales Growth and Expansion of National Sales Team A report from Wine Industry Advisor regarding the winery’s year-end success, detailing their sales growth and the strategic expansion of their sales force to handle increased demand.
This Flipboard link for Liquor Industry News 01-05-26, curated by Mark Lenzi of “The Wonderful World of Wine,” contains the following articles:
Exploring The Wonderful World of Wine Podcast with Kim & Mark (Franklin Matters) A feature on the radio show/podcast (Episode #1621) where hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi discuss their award-winning wine series.
The Cheap Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon You Shouldn’t Look Down On (Tasting Table) An article exploring the prestige of the “Bottled-in-Bond” label and highlighting affordable options that enthusiasts often overlook despite their high quality.
How to Make The Americano, With Amaro (A Lush Life Manual) A guide on upgrading the classic low-proof Americano cocktail by incorporating Amaro for a more complex flavor profile.
What’s The Actual Difference Between A Bar And Cantina? (Chowhound) An educational piece explaining the cultural and functional differences between these two types of establishments.
Taste Test: Cult Distillery Willett’s New Bourbon Doesn’t Live Up to Its Unicorn Bottles (Robb Report) A review by critic Jonah Flicker of a new whiskey release from the famous Willett distillery, noting that while solid, it lacks the “unicorn” status of their previous rare bottles.
10 Best Whisky Stories of 2025 (Man of Many) A retrospective of the year’s top whisky news, including a highlight on the House of Suntory’s partnership with artist Hiroshi Senju for ultra-rare Hibiki releases.
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 Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 12-30-25,” curated by Mark Lenzi (The Wonderful World of Wine), features several key stories reflecting the state of the alcohol industry at the end of 2025. Here is a summary of the featured content:
Industry Trends & Economic Outlook
Whiskey Trends of 2025: Industry insiders report that 2025 was a challenging year for whiskey producers. Factors like tighter economics, category growth slowdown, and tariffs led to a surplus of well-aged barrels. Trends shifted toward ultra-aged bourbons and smaller bottle formats to adapt to changing consumer habits.
The “Breakout” Wines: Despite reports of declining wine consumption, retailers and beverage professionals identified nine “breakout” wines that managed to capture consumer interest in 2025 by offering something unique or high-value.
Resilience of Sustainable Labels: While overall wine sales slumped, brands with sustainable, organic, or biodynamic certifications resisted the downward trend, as consumers increasingly prioritize environmental and political values in their purchases.
Regional News & Sustainability
California Wine Country’s New Strategy: A proposal is being discussed to implement a small fee on every bottle of wine sold to help fund and “save” California’s wine regions, which have seen a decrease in weekend tourism from major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Biodynamics in Champagne: In the face of mounting climate pressures, growers in regions like Épernay and Côte des Bar are arguing that biodynamic farming—focusing on soil health—is essential for producing precise and vibrant wines in a changing climate.
Demographic Shifts
The Gen Z Influence: Marketing experts highlight how Gen Z (born 1997–2012) is quietly reshaping the wine industry. Their relationship with alcohol is different from previous generations, forcing brands to rethink how they communicate and what types of products they offer.
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.
The following summary covers the articles featured in the “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 12-28-25” collection curated by Mark Lenzi:
Wine Highlights
The Rise of Alsatian Pinot Noir: This region is gaining significant attention for its bright and juicy Pinot Noirs. The recent addition of this grape variety to the Grand Cru sites of Hengst and Kirchberg de Barr (as of late 2022) has solidified Alsace as a serious contender for high-quality red wine.
Top Affordable Wines of 2025: Critic Henry Jeffreys reflects on the year’s best “budget-friendly” bottles, providing a curated list of high-value wines for consumers looking to maximize quality at a lower price point.
New Year’s Eve Bubbly Guide: A guide for holiday celebrations categorizes the best sparkling wines for New Year’s Eve, offering recommendations ranging from $10 budget finds to $100 premium bottles.
Beer Trends
Lagers to Dominate 2026: Industry analysts predict that lagers will continue their strong re-ascendance in the market. The style is expected to be the dominant choice for American beer drinkers heading into 2026.
The Italian Pilsner: The industry is shining a spotlight on the “Italian Pilsner” style, highlighting how Italian brewers are refining traditional beer styles with unique dry-hopping techniques.
Industry & History
Historical Liquor Establishments: A look at the oldest liquor store in the U.S., which has been in operation for over 300 years. The article discusses how bars and liquor stores have served as historical landmarks, including sites that hosted meetings during the American Revolution.
This Flipboard magazine “Liquor Industry News 12-26-25,” curated by Mark Lenzi (owner of Franklin Liquors and host of The Wonderful World of Wine), is a collection of articles focusing on current trends, market shifts, and consumer guides for the wine and spirits industry.
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 Flipboard magazine “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 12-17-25,” curated by Mark Lenzi of The Wonderful World of Wine, features a collection of articles highlighting current trends in the wine and spirits sectors.
Here is a summary of the key stories from the December 17, 2025, edition:
Wine Market Trends
Shift Toward Lighter Styles: Consumers are increasingly moving away from heavy, “classic” wine styles in favor of fruit-forward, aromatic, and expressive wines like Sauvignon Blanc.
Gen Z’s Impact: Data indicates that Gen Z is rewriting the wine industry’s rules. They prioritize transparency, values-focused brands, and lighter styles. Their preference for tasting rooms emphasizes social connection over traditional wine-tasting formalities.
The Need for Advertising: One featured article argues that the wine industry must “go to the mattresses” and invest heavily in broad-scale advertising to pull itself out of a current market slump.
Spirit & Cocktail News
New Product Launch: Stoli Group has introduced Stoli Halapeño Pepper, a flavored vodka specifically designed to enhance Bloody Mary cocktails.
Scotch for Beginners: Experts and bartenders suggest that the common misconception of Scotch being exclusively “smoke bombs” is fading. Recommendations are provided for entry-level Scotch whiskies to help newcomers enter the category in 2025.
Health & Science
Alcohol Metabolism: An article from Women’s Health explores how hormonal fluctuations—specifically during the luteal phase—can change how a woman’s body metabolizes alcohol, causing a single glass of wine to feel more potent at certain times of the month.
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 “LIQUOR INDUSTRY NEWS 12-12-25” curated by The Wonderful World of Wine (WWW) features several stories related to the alcohol industry and wine, including:
An article discussing the effect of alcohol consumption on medical strokes, suggesting the effect of wine on medical conditions is not all bad.
News about Fowles Wine’s “BatNav” system, which received a $500,000 grant to develop technology with the potential to save millions.
A piece arguing that Misguided USDA Guidelines Regarding Alcohol Need to be Fixed.
A discussion about Magnum Bottles and the effect of bottle size on wine aging and chemistry.
A recipe guide on How to Make the Spiced Apple Cider Old Fashioned.
A recipe for a No-Added-Sugar Mulled “Wine” (a non-alcoholic mocktail).
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