The Wine News in 5

This week Sam discusses bordeaux 2024 en primeur, Argentina's 2025 harvest, a new company combining Accolade and Pernod Ricard's wine assets, wildfires in South Africa and the release of Bhutan's first wine. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/bordeaux-2024-ep-bhutans-first-wine-south-african-wildfires-argentinas-2025-harvest.

This week Sam discusses our 2025 wine writing competition, 2023 vintage port declarations, the 2024 Bordeaux en primeur campaign and the Pesticide Action Network Europe's latest report on TFA in wine. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/2025-writing-competition-2024-bordeaux-2023-port-and-forever-chemicals.

This week Sam discusses South Africa's 2025 harvest, a lawsuit against Trump's ‘Liberation Day' tariffs, and the OIV's latest report. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/south-africas-2025-harvest-lawsuit-against-trumps-tariffs-and-oivs-latest-report.

This week Sam discusses The Wine Group's acquisition of six of Constellation's brands, Mexico's first IGP, three new grape varieties approved to be planted in France and Trump's postponement of tariffs. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/six-constellations-wine-brands-sold-mexicos-first-igp-and-three-new-french-grape-varieties.

This week Sam discusses Trump's tariff war, cuts to the FDA, the winners of the Old Vine Hero Awards, and the Gérard Basset Foundation grantees. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/trumps-tariff-war-us-public-health-agencies-gutted-old-vine-heroes-announced.

This week Sam discusses the European Commission's support for the EU wine industry, Thailand's move to end restrictions on alcohol sales, Catena exiting the Irish market, a decline in Germany's wine production and growth in their export volumes, and China's white-wine boom. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/eu-wine-industry-aid-irelands-health-labels-german-exports-grow-chinas-white-wine-boom.

This week Sam discusses Trump's tariff war, declining demand for New Zealand wine, Jumilla's smallest and earliest harvest on record, the winner of the André Simon Drink Book Award, and a new education opportunity for UK-based women and non-binary people. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/nervous-wine-export-markets-jumillas-smallest-ever-harvest-australian-ark-takes-top-prize.

This week Sam discusses Trump's tariff war, higher taxes in South Africa, a possible alternative to using copper in vineyards, a new Regenerative Organic Certified producer, the passing of Rudi Wiest, the Ruinart challenge, and a Rhône wine tasting in London. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/alcohol-tariffs-south-africa-tax-rise-copper-alternative-rip-rudi-wiest-rhone-roots.

This week Sam discusses Trump's tariff war and the responses from Canada, Mexico and China, speculations on Constellation exiting the wine business, Austria's 2024 vintage, the first South African winery awarded Ecological Outcome Verification and the Gérard Basset Foundation's new Laurent-Perrier Champagne Scholarships. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/trumps-tariff-war-hits-us-wine-constellation-brands-rumours-new-wine-studies-scholarship.

This week Sam discusses Trump's job reinstatements and tariff announcements, the legalisation of organic de-alcoholised wine in the EU, the EU lowering the minimum alcohol requirements of sherry, a decline in wine consumption in Germany, Bordeaux's smallest harvest in 30 years, and the passing of Peter M F Sichel. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/rip-peter-sichel-more-trump-tariffs-organic-non-alcoholic-wine-bordeauxs-2024-harvest.

This week Sam discusses four new Masters of Wine, Trump's slashing of federal jobs and the impact on the wine industry, the WHO's crusade to put warning labels on alcohol, and Berkshire Hathaway's investment in Constellation Brands. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/new-mws-trumps-mass-firings-impact-us-wine-who-pushes-health-warning-labels-alcohol.

This week Sam discusses Bordeaux's new cru bourgeois classification, Trump tariffs and funding freezes, UK budget impacts on the wine industry and the passing of Walter Mastroberardino. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/bordeauxs-new-cru-bourgeois-lists-trump-tariffs-and-funding-freezes-uk-budget-impacts.

This week Sam discusses Accolade and Albert Heijn signing the Bottle Weight Accord, rising exports from South Africa, a new study on smoke taint, and an environmentally friendly way to produce non-alcoholic wine. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/bottle-lightweighting-gains-support-south-africas-rising-exports-new-smoke-taint-study.

This week Sam discusses a new State of the US Wine Industry report from Silicon Valley Bank, the TTB's ingredient-labelling proposal for alcoholic beverages, Trump's first week in office, declining champagne sales, and some good news for lovers of Jura wines in the US. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/us-wine-industry-status-report-ingredient-labelling-wine-trumps-proposed-tarriffs.

This week Sam discusses the wildfires in LA, the ICCPUD report on alcohol and health, updates to Collio DOC, Casella Family Brands' sustainable certification, the increase in grapevine-trunk disease in Alsace and the passing of Dr Anita Oberholster. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/la-wildfires-us-alcohol-and-health-reports-collios-orange-wines-alsace-vine-challenges.

This week Sam discusses a statement from the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America regarding the FTC v Southern Glazer's lawsuit, updates to Bordeaux's Blaye appellation, 13 new sizes for wine packaging in the US, and a new technology which could help combat downy mildew. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/update-southern-glazers-lawsuit-blaye-becomes-blavia-new-wine-packaging-sizes.

This week Sam updates you on new forecasts from IWSR on the growth of no- and low-alcohol (NOLO) beverages, the continued decline in champagne sales, Cava's commitment to organic viticulture, the release of the Porto Protocol's Unpacking Wine guide, and the US Surgeon General's new advisory on alcohol. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/us-warnings-alcohol-growing-nolo-sales-cavas-commitment-organics-champagne-slump.

This week Sam updates you on two reports on the benefits of moderate drinking – both released within the last three days, 86 new UGAs in Alto-Adige, the effect of kokumi oligopeptides in sparkling wines, and the Gérard Basset Foundation's latest grantees. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/benefits-moderate-drinking-kokumi-effect-sparkling-wines-new-crus-alto-adige.

This week Sam updates you on the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suing Southern Glazers, a new Geographical Indication in Argentina, Treasury's newest acquisition in China, dietary guidelines in Finland, and harvest estimates for South Africa, You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/ftc-sues-southern-glazers-finnish-dietary-regulations-updated-new-argentine-gi.

This week Sam updates you on protests in Georgia, new premiers crus in Burgundy, the OIV's new numbers on global wine production, and proposed excise taxes in South Africa. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/georgian-wine-danger-burgundys-new-premiers-crus-south-africas-tax-woes.

This week Sam updates you on the winner of the ASI's competition for the Best Sommelier for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the verdict of a labour lawsuit in California, France uprooting 27,500 hectares of vineyards, and a new Regenerative Organic Certified producer. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/napas-newest-roc-winery-california-farm-labour-lawsuit-french-vine-pull-update.

This week Sam updates you on frost in New Zealand, IWSR data on the US wine market, Viña Concha y Toro signing up to the Bottle Weight Accord, China joining the OIV and the passing of Yiannis Boutaris. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/new-zealand-frost-new-us-wine-market-data-light-bottle-weight-wins-china-joins-oiv.

This week Sam updates you on the floods in eastern Spain, what the US election is likely to mean for the wine industry, LWCs response to UK duty hikes, and the OIV's adoption of a definition of ‘old vine' and ‘old vineyard'. You can read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/what-us-elections-mean-wine-industry-defining-old-vines-uk-duty-hike-response.

This week Sam updates you on flooding in eastern and southern Spain, areas of the UK budget that will impact the wine trade, the smallest harvest in Germany since 2017, and a new AVA in Washington state and a new IGP in Lorraine. Read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/spains-devastating-floods-uk-autumn-budget-impacts-germanys-small-harvest.

This week Sam updates you on an ecstasy-spiked champagne case, flooding in the Rhône Valley, the Castel Group's new acquisition, Australia's wine sales to China, and two new technologies in winemaking – one that can take the place of sulphur dioxide and the other that can condense CO2 from winery fermentations to be used later in the winemaking process. Read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/carbon-capture-winery-chestnut-tannins-rhone-floods-castel-group-buys-malard.

This week Sam updates you on a new AVA in Napa Valley, crop losses in the UK, an international wine fraud ring based in Italy, a letter that Constellation's lawyers sent to Adam Lee of Dial Tone Wine, and Hong Kong slashing liquor duties.  Read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/napas-new-ava-massive-wine-fraud-bust-uk-harvest-woes-hidden-sugar-dry-wine.

This week Sam updates you on French vine-pull subsidies, the tiny 2024 harvest in France, Napa securing name protection in Mexico, the sale of The Duckhorn Portfolio, and Come Over October events.  Read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/frances-shrinking-vineyards-napas-name-protected-duckhorn-portfolio-sold.

This week Sam updates you on Hurricane Helene, harvest in Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rioja, Chianti and Piedmont, Moët Hennessy's investment in non-alcoholic sparkling, the launch of the VITÆVINO declaration, and the controversy surrounding updates to US dietary guidelines. Read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/hurricane-helene-lvmhs-non-alcoholic-fizz-vitaevino-declaration-and-us-dietary-guidelines.

This week Sam updates you on the announcement of the 2024 Taylor's Port Golden Vines Diversity Scholars, devastating fires in Portugal, flash flooding in Bolgheri, France's request for €120 million in subsidies to pull up vineyards, the authorization of government funded crisis distillation in Ribeira Sacra, and the world's first electric furnace for glass-bottle manufacturing. Read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/french-vine-pulls-and-spanish-subsidies-wildfires-portugal-electric-furnace-bottles.

This week Sam updates you on flooding in Central and Eastern Europe, frost in South Australia, a new appellation in the southern Rhône, the first Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) producer in France, the VDP's pending admittance of non-estate fruit for the first time in history, and harvest in the Veneto.  Read the transcript of this newscast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/flooding-europe-frost-australia-veneto-harvest-begins-new-rhone-appellation.

This week Sam updates you on a recently published report on whether wine is good or bad for you, one of the smallest harvests in France in a century, Alpha Estate's acquisition of Boutari Winery in Greece and the start of harvest in Virginia, New York, Washington State, Oregon and the Loire Valley. Read the transcript of this article at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/alcohol-health-debate-frances-tiny-harvest-alpha-estate-buys-boutari-santorini.

This week Sam updates you on a win for Swedish wines and hybrid vines, the release of the 2022 red and 2023 white Grosse Gewächse as well as the start of Germany's harvest, Brown-Forman's abandonment of diversity and inclusion programmes, losses for Australian Vintage and Naked Wines, and the lightweighting of bottles for top wines by Zuccardi.  Read the transcript of this article at...

This week Sam updates you on a new crop of MWs, the elevation of Criolla Chica by Argentina's National Viticulture Institute, hail in the Aude (Ode), the start of harvest in Crimea and Greece, and a new report from the IWSR looking at growth markets for alcohol. Read the transcript of this article at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/new-mws-criolla-chica-promoted-aude-hail-growth-markets-beverage-alcohol.

This week Sam updates you on a new study to add to the ongoing debate on wine and health, the largest transport of wine by sailboat to date, the legalisation of alcohol advertisement on TikTok, Ackley acquiring Charles Smith, and the start of harvest in Austria. Read the transcript of this article at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/new-wine-and-health-study-alcohol-tiktok-ackleys-rapid-growth-early-harvest-austria.

This week Sam updates you on legal changes in Chile that will allow 51 new grape varieties to be varietally labelled and add two wine regions, Treasury selling its entry-level Australian brands, hail in Beaujolais and Barolo, protests in Portugal, the start of harvest in the northern hemisphere, and the theft of $650,000-worth of Burgundy wines.

This week Sam updates you on Alsace limiting yields, Australia regaining its position as China's largest wine supplier, British Columbia's decision to allow wineries to import grapes to make wine, new data from the IWSR, Verallia's incredibly lightweight sparkling-wine bottles, and a shipwreck loaded with Champagne discovered in the Baltic Sea. Read a transcript of this podcast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/new-data-falling-wine-sales-australia-regains-china-market-alsace-limits-yields.

This week Sam updates you on research protocol happenings for US dietary guidelines, an end to the strike in Ontario, a new red Alsace Grand Cru, Champagne yield restrictions, Vintage Wine Estates' bankruptcy, the potential sale of Gusbourne, hail and rain in Sancerre, a brazen wine fraud case, and new features of the Old Vine Registry. Read a transcript of this podcast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/us-dietary-guidelines-alcohol-update-new-red-alsace-grand-cru-champagne-challenges.

This week Sam updates you on the inclusion of white wines in the Gigondas AOC, the strike in Ontario, hail in Ardèche, Accolade's acquisition of Pernod Ricard's wine interests, a new EU subsidy granted for crisis distillation in Portugal, and improvements to the Austrian Digital Wine Atlas. Read the transcript of this podcast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/ontario-strike-update-hail-ardeche-accolade-acquisitions-crisis-distillation-portugal.  

This week Sam updates you on the LCBO strike in Ontario before discussing sales of spirits overtaking those of wine, the surprising growth in the wine capsule market, fires in California, hail in Bordeaux, vine-pull plans in the EU, and the 'Come Over October' campaign. Read the transcript of this podcast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/ontario-strike-intensifies-hail-hits-bordeaux-california-fires-eu-vine-pulls-spirits-sales.

This week Sam covers the 'ReuseReady Campaign', the expansion of UK vineyards, the strike of more than 9,000 Ontario liquor store employees, and the downsizing of the Australian Wine Research Institute.  Read the transcript of this podcast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/promoting-bottle-reuse-ontario-liquor-store-strike-awri-downsizes-uk-vineyards-expand.

This week Sam covers the Old Vine Registry's 'Heritage Vine Hunt' contest, Appellation Marlborough Wine's ever increasing standards, Antinori's aquisition of the rest of Col Solare, where to find the JancisRobinson.com team over the coming months, and extends our team's congratulations to the latest winners of Golden Vines Wine Scholar Guild Scholarships. Congratulations to Deniz Bayram (UK), Denman Chan (Hong Kong), Eduardo Contreras (Mexico), Harnil Mathur (Hong Kong), Jounghwa Yi (Korea), Junqi Peng (USA), Karene Vilela (Brazil), Sammy Lam (USA), Valeria Tenison (France) and Xeniya Volosnikova (France). Read the transcript of this podcast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/hunt-old-vines-higher-standards-marlborough-and-antinori-buys-col-solare.

This week Sam covers a disappointing finish to Bordeaux's en primeur campaign, the release of the 2024 Master of Wine exam questions and wines, hail in France, fires in California, and the discovery of the world's oldest wine. Read the transcript of the article at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/hail-and-wildfires-worlds-oldest-wine-discovered-bordeauxs-weak-en-primeur-campaign.

Just back from taking the Master of Wine Stage 2 practical exam, Sam tackles the hot topic of calories and wine, catches us up on Australia's wine industry, pays tribute to wine legend Warren Winiarski and celebrates Jancis's latest award. Read the transcript of this article at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/diet-wine-australian-struggles-warren-winiarski-and-sustainability-award-jancis.

Plus the first viable, scalable, wine-bottle reuse company in the Americas.  Read the transcript of this article at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/accolade-wines-update-tescos-bottle-weight-pledge-us-wine-bottle-reuse-oregon-wildfire.

Extreme weather in Europe, the US Federal Government's impending update to dietary guidelines, James Millton's conviction for smuggling vine cuttings, and the end of one of the most iconic wine celebrations in the US. Read the transcript of this episode at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/hail-and-floods-alcohol-and-health-smuggled-vines-and-end-pinot-noir-celebration.

Devastating flooding continues to impact Brazil (see the destruction on the Speranza property in Bento Gonçalves shown above) and Australia's wine business is considering a concerning level of market consolidation. But there is good news today, in a report on US wine sales.

The warming climate continues to wreak havoc on wine regions around the world. Sam has some smart advice on how to help – and how prioritize the planet with all your wine-buying choices. Read the transcript of this episode at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/brazil-floods-sea-smoke-sale-rising-temperatures-one-less-wine-magazine.

The good news is that en primeur Bordeaux prices have been slashed by as much as 40%. The bad news is that the weather is not cooperating with winegrowers in France, Germany and Spain, and Türkiye's wineries are facing crippling taxes … Read the transcript of this podcast at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/bordeaux-price-cuts-hail-frost-and-drought-damage-europe-turkiyes-threatening-taxes.

Single-quinta vintage port announcements are a rare bright spot in a week of frost reports and new data on falling consumption, production and trade. Read the transcript of this episode at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/frosts-devastates-eu-vineyards-port-2022-releases-falling-wine-consumption.

Which houses have made 2022 vintage port declarations? What is en primeur and what was Bordeaux's 2023 vintage like? How was the 2024 harvest in South Africa? And how has Vinea Wachau gone the extra mile in committing to sustainability? Read the transcript of this episode at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/vintage-port-declarations-bordeaux-en-primeur-austrias-wachau-certified-sustainable. *Correction: The Fladgate Partnership sold Krohn to WineStone in October 2023.

Tam is shortlisted for the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards' Drink Writer of the year. There is a new global database for female winemakers, viticulturists, brewers and distillers. And wineries that use 100% British Columbia grown grapes are struggling to stay afloat. Read the transcript of this episode at https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/women-wine-bc-challenges-fortnum-mason-shortlist.