Liquor Industry News
The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
By: Mark C Lenzi
CSW, CSS, CWAS, FWS, IWS*, SWS, OWE, IWM*
04-07-2025
Liquor Industry Week In Review
The Wonderful World Of Wine (WWW)
This Weeks Highlights:
New Products
Dark Vs White Rum: What’s The Difference?
Is the ritual of wine facing extinction?
How to Tell if a Wine Is ‘Dry’ or ‘Sweet’
Yellow Tail changes its branding for the first time in 20 years, as Gen Z rejects cheap wine
The budget-friendly Australian wine brand is updating its look in moment of decline for the wine industry.
https://www.fastcompany.com/91298025/yellow-tail-branding-kangaroo-update
Avoiding Sugary Wines? Here’s What To Look Out For
The only thing dry during my January was my wine.
https://www.thetakeout.com/1809533/how-to-avoid-sugary-wines/
Why young Americans are turning away from alcohol
It’s a question vexing booze boardrooms: is the younger generation turning away from alcohol? If so, is it a permanent trend or will “normal” patterns eventually re-establish themselves?
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/03/why-young-americans-are-turning-away-from-alcohol/
Why It’s Illegal To Add Sugar To Wine In California
First of all, let’s be clear that it’s impossible to make wine without sugar
https://www.thetakeout.com/1810116/adding-sugar-wine-california-chaptalization/
Here’s the Real Reason You Taste Wine Before the Waiter Pours
Want to impress your friends at a fancy restaurant? Here’s what you’re looking for when a server offers a taste of that newly opened wine.
The Best Red Wines for Chilling
Cold red wine, you ask? That’s right.
https://vinepair.com/articles/best-red-wines-for-chilling/
What Is Malolactic Fermentation in Winemaking?
Hint: It’s key to those big, buttery Chardonnays.
https://www.foodandwine.com/malolactic-fermentation-wine-explainer-11699822
How Constellation Brands’ Wine Exit Reflects a Changing Industry
After 80 years, the giant US company is exiting the wine business. Jeff Siegel reports.
Could Elon Musk learn from the fall of Bud Light?
Speculation surrounding Elon Musk’s Tesla challenges are being compared to those faced by AB InBev during boycotts of its Bud Light brand.
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/03/could-elon-musk-learn-from-the-fall-of-bud-light/
The 4-Digit Number You Should Look For When Buying Your Next Bottle Of Tequila
Head to a liquor store for some tequila, and the selection can feel intimidating.
https://www.chowhound.com/1810814/what-is-a-tequila-nom/
What to do about creeping prohibitionism
Why are there perpetually conflicting reports on either the health benefits or health risks of wine?
https://www.lodiwine.com/blog/What-to-do-about-creeping-prohibitionism
Sparta vs. Athens: The Cultural Divide Over Wine and Its Impact on Greek History
The ancient rivalry between Sparta and Athens represents one of history’s most fascinating dichotomies
J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon Achieves Certified California Sustainable Designation
. Lohr Vineyards & Wines surpasses sustainability milestone with 36 J. Lohr wines, totaling more than 20 million bottles that feature the Certified California Sustainable seal
Putting a Cork in the Wine Closure Argument
The objection to non-cork closures remains curiously persistent, especially among wine people who should know better.
https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2025/03/putting-a-cork-in-the-wine-closure-argument
Moderate alcohol intake boosts cardiovascular health, meta-analysis finds
A new meta-analysis of human intervention studies has reinforced the argument that moderate alcohol consumption plays a beneficial role in cardiovascular health.
How to Tell if a Wine Is ‘Dry’ or ‘Sweet’
Acidity, alcohol, and even tannins can influence our perception of sweetness. Here’s your guide to understanding how sweetness really works in wine.
https://www.foodandwine.com/dry-and-sweet-wine-guide-11699474
The 6 Grapes That Define Alsatian Wine
Alsace is a land of precision and poetry—where German structure meets French soul, and where the wines, like the people, are shaped by both discipline and exuberance.
https://www.wineenthusiast.com/basics/grapes-101/alsace-wine-grapes/
New JD
Brown-Forman has launched Jack & Coca-Cola Vanilla, the newest offshoot of the brand’s line of RTDs. It’s exclusively available in a new Flavors Pack, a 6-pack in which it’s paired with two cans each of the original and Jack & Coca-Cola Cherry. All three are at 7% abv and the suggested retail price of the Flavors Pack is $18 a 6-pack. Last year, Jack Daniel’s RTDs (excluding the malt-based Country Cocktails) were down 13% to 902,000 cases according to Impact Databank.
Zing Zang creates Dill Pickle Bloody Mary mixer
Dill Pickle is the first flavour Chicago-based brand Zing Zang has launched for its Bloody Mary mixer range.
https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2025/03/zing-zang-creates-dill-pickle-bloody-mary-mixer/
How Tariffs on Everything From Aluminum to Barley and Malt Will Impact Beer Pricing
Your favorite beer is about to get more expensive.
https://www.foodandwine.com/aluminum-tariffs-impact-beer-pricing-11698307
Regional power: Extended geographical mentions on labels
Subzones and single vineyard names on wine labels may mark out an elite, and often more expensive, class of wines but with important winemaking regions using more general identifiers, how do extended geographical mentions impact how a wine is perceived? Jacopo Mazzeo explores.
https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/regional-power-extended-geographical-mentions-on-labels-552437/
Cupcake Vineyards Expands Portfolio With Ready-to-serve Mimosas And Alcohol-removed Sauvignon Blanc
New Innovative and Quality Driven Offerings Reinforce Cupcake Vineyards as a Go-To for All Occasions and Joyful, Everyday Celebrations
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/newreleases/article/299536
Contrary to WHO, recent medical research shows that wine is safe for cancer
I thought that it might be interesting to gather together references to publications that refute these claims, or at least suggest that they are exaggerated; and that is what I have done here and in the next post.
https://winegourd.blogspot.com/2025/03/recent-science-reports-suggesting-that.html
Corona Island opens to the public
AB InBev has officially opened the eco-protected luxury destination it calls “Corona Island” to the public.
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/03/corona-island-opens-to-the-public/
The Story Behind The Oldest Wine Shop In The US
While Acker lays claim to the title of America’s oldest operational wine seller, Acker’s story is also one that represents the American dream.
https://www.tastingtable.com/1813674/oldest-wine-shop-us-ackers/
Self-service wine vending machine approved for French roadsides
Innovative machines offer convenient wine access while adhering to alcohol laws
Why Vatican City is the world’s top wine importer per capita
Tucked behind the colonnades of St Peter’s Basilica lies the world’s most surprising wine powerhouse. With sacred rites, papal palates and duty-free Prosecco all in the mix, James Bayley investigates how Vatican City became the globe’s top wine importer per capita – and why Italy’s grip on its cellar remains unshaken.
11 Little-Known Ways Prohibition Hurt The US
Prohibition was enacted in 1920 and repealed in 1933.
https://www.tastingtable.com/1812664/how-prohibition-impacted-us/
10 Reasons to Take a California Wine Trip Along the San Andreas Fault Line
Ray Isle explores the distinctive character of some of California’s best wines at stops along a destructive fault line.
https://www.foodandwine.com/san-andreas-fault-line-wine-trip-11701019
Man’s Bedroom Invention Could Radically Change How Americans Drink Beer
The self-cooling can could have broad implications for drinkers and the planet alike.
12 Common Rude Behaviors To Avoid At A Wine Bar
I’ve highlighted some of the most common rude behaviors you’ll want to avoid the next time you go.
https://www.tastingtable.com/1817670/wine-bar-etiquette-tips/
What Technical Terms on Alcohol Labels Actually Mean
Unlike other food and drink products, alcohol products are not required by law to have each and every ingredient listed on the label.
https://vinepair.com/articles/what-alcohol-labels-actually-mean/
Is Ordering the Second-Cheapest Bottle of Wine a Rookie Move?
And no, your server isn’t judging you.
https://www.foodandwine.com/second-cheapest-bottle-of-wine-11705009
Welcome to the New World of Agave With Vodka, Wine, and Zero-Proof Spirits
This new crop of agave-made products have a tequila swagger.
https://www.foodandwine.com/agave-made-wines-vodkas-na-spirits-11703784
How Mechanical Harvesting Impacts Wine Quality
As labor becomes even scarcer, even ultra-premium wineries are expected to turn to mechanical harvesters. Will wine quality suffer?
https://daily.sevenfifty.com/how-mechanical-harvesting-impacts-wine-quality/
The WHO is lying to you about alcohol
Quite simply, the WHO is lying to you. The question is, why?
https://www.northwestwinereport.com/2025/03/the-who-is-lying-about-alcohol.html
Ozempic may reduce alcohol craving and consumption, new study finds
A new clinical trial suggests that semaglutide — the active ingredient in the widely used drugs Ozempic and Wegovy — may help reduce alcohol consumption and cravings in people with alcohol use disorder.
https://www.psypost.org/ozempic-may-reduce-alcohol-craving-and-consumption-new-study-finds/
Why the wine rarely vanishes – the truth about cooking with alcohol
It is a claim often whispered across chopping boards and tasting menus alike – don’t worry, the alcohol all cooks off. But as with so many culinary myths, this one dissolves under scrutiny.
Is the ritual of wine facing extinction?
Traditional wine rituals are falling by the wayside as Gen Z embraces convenience over ceremony. With corkscrews and decanters gathering dust, is this the end of wine’s romance – or the start of a new era?
https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/03/is-the-ritual-of-wine-facing-extinction/
Does Amaro Actually Help with Digestion?
All of these elixirs are renowned for their digestive qualities, supposedly soothing the stomach after a feast. But are these benefits real? Or just romantic?
https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/does-amaro-actually-help-with-digestion/
83% OF CRAFT BEER FANS WANT BEER SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO THEIR DOORS
Nearly eight out of 10 (81%) of regular craft beer drinkers have tried a beer while traveling that they wish they could purchase but it’s not available near their home.
https://www.americancraftbeer.com/83-of-craft-beer-fans-want-beer-shipped-directly-to-their-doors/
New Jim Beam
- Jim Beam is extending its flavor lineup with a Pineapple variant. A blend of pineapple flavor with Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the new entry is Beam’s first flavor launch in four years and is recommended to be served with lemon-lime soda or in a Pica y Piña with lime juice, simple syrup, jalapeños, and a tajin rim. Jim Beam Pineapple (32.5% abv) is now available nationwide at select retailers for a suggested retail price of $20 per 750-ml. bottle. Jim Beam had U.S. volume of 5.5 million cases last year, including flavors but excluding RTDs.
Dark Vs White Rum: What’s The Difference?
Although both white and dark rum are made from sugarcane, they can possess vastly different flavor profiles and nuances.
https://www.tastingtable.com/1814036/dark-rum-vs-white-rum-difference/
How Is French Sauvignon Blanc Different From New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc?
Not sure if you love or loathe this popular white wine? It might be the region.
https://www.foodandwine.com/french-vs-new-zealand-sauvignon-blanc-11702181
12 of the Most Underrated Dessert Wines, According to Sommeliers
Top wine pros share the sweet wines they think deserve more love, from Pedro Ximénez Sherry to Moscato d’Asti
https://www.winespectator.com/articles/underrated-dessert-sweet-wines-2025
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