Today in Wine News In the last new episode for the 2024 vintage, we take a look back at a year of wine news through past episodes of The Wine Press. But before we delve into the stories that moved us and made us think throughout the year, there’s some big breaking news in an update to a recent feature story. The Federal Trade Commission has sued Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits for predatory pricing practices. In a lawsuit filed on December 12, the FTC claims that Southern Glazer’s has been vi...
Dec 19, 2024•10 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News Recent vineyard acquisitions have been making wine news headlines over the past month. It seems that some of the most prestigious vineyards in California have changed ownership as of late, and it seems to be a trend that concerns an already weary crop of wine enthusiasts. What does this recent fit of vineyard sales have to say about the state of the American wine industry as a whole? And what can wine lovers expect to shift with new ownership of their favorite labels? Keep lis...
Dec 12, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News It’s the third Thursday of November, which means Beaujolais Nouveau can now make its way into the hands and glasses of eager consumers ready for the first taste of the 2024 harvest. Decades after Beaujolais producer Georges Duboeuf popularized the style and made it an unofficial wine holiday, producers from around the world are now starting to make young, easy drinking wines out of any and all colored grapes. Will today’s wine drinkers embrace Beaujolais Nouveau as much as pre...
Nov 21, 2024•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News The Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino recently announced some major changes to their evaluation system for new vintages of wines tasted during the annual en primeur event known as Benvenuto Brunello. By shifting away from the traditional five star rating and moving towards a short description of the wine’s character and key data points, the Consorzio is signaling to the rest of the wine world that the era of numeric wine scores is fading. How will the new classificatio...
Nov 14, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News Rumors began circulating at the end of last week surrounding mass layoffs at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, the largest beverage distribution company in the United States. Unconfirmed reports say up to 3,200 Southern Glazer’s employees were laid off via Zoom, with many accounts claiming the fine wine division has been completely cut. With so much doom and gloom being reported about wine sales in the United States, are the layoffs at Southern Glazer’s a sign that the wine ...
Oct 31, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News Crystal Springs of Napa Valley becomes the first new sub-AVA in Napa Valley since 2011, thanks to some boundary pushing and boundary-pushing bigwigs in the world of wine. Louis Vuitton Moёt Hennessy has inked a deal as a Global Partner for Formula 1, potentially restoring Moёt & Chandon champagnes to the top of racing’s most prominent podium. Alsace is keeping the marketing game alive and well with their new “Gewurz” campaign. And an accomplished New York City sommelier has di...
Oct 24, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News China has been proclaiming the positive effects of “soft power”, or cultural strength, for years. After years of government efforts to raise the country’s cultural capital, China rose from fifth place to third place in Brand Finance London’s Global Soft Power Index this year - its highest placement yet. How will China’s burgeoning wine culture affect the global perception of its soft power? In a globally dwindling wine industry, what role does Chinese wine - and Chinese wine c...
Oct 17, 2024•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News The Duckhorn Portfolio became the first publicly traded wine company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, a major breakthrough for both the company and the wine industry on the whole. Earlier this week, it was announced that private equity firm Butterfly Equity had purchased The Duckhorn Portfolio for an all-cash bid that values the company at $1.95 billion dollars, a move that would automatically delist The Duckhorn Portfolio from public trading. How does Duckhorn’s return...
Oct 10, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News Non-alcoholic options have been steadily increasing in popularity over the past few years, and more and more scientists have been commissioning studies on how much alcohol can affect a person’s overall health. The United States specifically has seen a new wave of teetotalers promoting neo-Prohibitionist rhetoric that has been scaring away wine drinkers present and future, at a critical point when wine is fighting an uphill battle to expand its audience while retaining the ligh...
Oct 03, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News: Harvest has already begun in some of the Northern Hemisphere’s warmer wine regions, but after a rainy spring in notoriously chilly Champagne, Le Comité Champagne has decided to wait until mid-September to start picking grapes for the world’s best sparkling wines. With a heat wave threatening to sweep through Champagne, how will the 2024 crop fare? And how much can Champenoise vineyard managers prepare for temperatures rising well above normal? Keep listening to learn more. Fu...
Aug 30, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News: Alsace recently approved a third Grand Cru vineyard specifically for Pinot Noir. In a major wine region that has thrived on the production and sale of prestigious white wines, Alsace has added three Grand Cru designations for Pinot Noir since 2022. Why would one of the world’s best destinations start to expand their most high end wine production to red grapes now after decades of specialization in white wines? Is Alsace the new Burgundy, or can wine drinkers expect to see mor...
Aug 23, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News: The United States will be holding its presidential election on Tuesday, November 5, but the food and wine industry is already bracing for change no matter who is elected president. In an age where more people are choosing to abstain from alcohol, how will farm workers and restaurants thrive over the next four years? Moreover, how would changes to farm policy and taxes on alcohol and other imports affect life for all Americans in the near future? Keep listening to learn more. ...
Aug 16, 2024•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News One year ago today, the deadliest fire in the United States hit Lahaina, a small town on the northwest side of the island of Maui in Hawaii. More than 2,000 buildings and 102 lives were lost when the fire tore through the historic resort town, leaving many hospitality workers in mourning. How has the hospitality industry changed in one of the most hospitable parts of the United States? And how can a small town rebuild its legacy of attracting tourists when the rebuilding proce...
Aug 09, 2024•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Important PSA: Your weekly dose of wine news is available wherever you get your podcasts, now dropping every Thursday . Substack subscribers are the first to know when a new episode hits the airwaves, so if you haven’t done so already, become a free or premium subscriber today. Today in Wine News: Over the last 10 years, the NBA has openly embraced wine culture, to the point where many notable players of past and present have made wine a part of their professional lives and a fun hobby. What sta...
Aug 01, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News Madeira has been celebrated throughout history, but a wide variety of influences - from climate change to tourism to bananas - have severely impacted yields and production methods. Now that fortified wines in general are starting to rise in popularity, how are vintners on the Portuguese island planning to uphold their winemaking traditions and continue bringing Madeira wines to international markets? Keep listening to learn more. In Other News Here are some additional highligh...
Jul 25, 2024•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News: Bulk wine is having a moment of crisis everywhere wine is made, but especially in California. Many states rely on California’s bulk wine grapes to flesh out their own blends, and “family-run” organizations like Gallo Wine depend on bulk grapes for their entry level wines. With vineyard managers unable to sell their grapes, how is the rest of the wine industry affected? Keep listening to learn more. It’s Wednesday, July 17. In other news, here are some additional highlights fr...
Jul 17, 2024•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thank you for your patience! We’ve busted through some technical difficulties to get this episode to your ears. It took longer than we had hoped, but we’re here and ready to party now. Thank you for listening to The Wine Press! Today in Wine News: Oregon’s Willamette Valley has long been a destination for premium American Pinot Noir, but climate change and consumer demands have started shifting the regional focus towards Chardonnay. Winemakers say that they’ve replanted some of their prized Pino...
Jul 11, 2024•9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today in Wine News: California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed State Bill 1524 - The Consumers Legal Remedies Act. Effective as of July 1, the famous “junk fee ban” will be in place throughout California, with a few major exceptions specifically created for the food service industry. The amendment that provides the legal loophole for restaurants to charge service fees was just signed by Governor Newsom on Saturday, June 29, a last minute change after many restaurants had announced fee hikes and...
Jul 03, 2024•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Some exciting news: Your weekly dose of wine news is now available wherever you get your podcasts! The Wine Press podcast will release a new episode every Wednesday. Substack subscribers are the first to know when a new episode drops, so if you haven’t done so already, become a free or paid subscriber today. Today in wine news: Millennials and Gen Z have been trolled by the media for their spending habits for a long time. But the wine world is starting to wake up to the buying power of its young...
Jun 25, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Every year, the best of the best in the food world descend upon the Lyric Opera House in Chicago for the annual James Beard Awards. Presented by the James Beard Foundation, the “Oscars of food” present chefs, restaurateurs, and media figures with medals that represent the year’s finest contributions to the way Americans eat and think about food. But wait a second. Why are we talking about the Oscars of food on a wine-and-movies blog? Reason Number 1: Awards season is the best season. Moira Rose ...
Jun 11, 2024•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here are some highlights from the week in wine news: RIP Drizly (and possibly more alcohol delivery services). Drizly, the alcohol delivery app, will be shutting its doors by the end of March. In an unexpected move, Uber (who had previously bought Drizly for over $1 billion less than three years ago) announced that company restructuring would fold the Drizly name and bring the liquor delivery function into its current Uber Eats program. In addition, speculation is swirling that Drizly was suscep...
Jan 22, 2024•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here are some highlights from the week in wine news: Big deals keep on turnin’... Domaine William Fèvre, one of the most prestigious estates in Chablis, is now under new ownership. Domaines des Barons de Rothschild, the luxury wine conglomerate that also owns Château Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux and Viña Los Vascos in Chile, acquired Fèvre in a deal for an undisclosed sum. Domaine William Fèvre has a total of 72 hectares of vineyards that cover the spectrum of quality levels in Chablis (village...
Jan 15, 2024•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here are some highlights from the week in wine news: The famed Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival is returning for the first time since 2020. One of America’s premiere food and wine events will be making its anticipated return to Monterey from April 4-7 this year. Events on the docket include seminars about La Grande Dame, Opus One, BOND, and Laurent Perrier’s Grand Siècle. Expect to see a lot of celebrity chefs and sommeliers in attendance, including local favorites Chef Suzette Gresham (Acque...
Jan 08, 2024•6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here are some highlights from the week in wine news: Napa Green, the top sustainability certification body in Napa Valley, is outlawing Roundup use in vineyards. Napa Green announced last month that Roundup, the world’s most popular herbicide, will be phased out of certified vineyards by 2026, with a longer term goal of completely eliminating the use of synthetic herbicides in mind. This makes Napa Green the first sustainability credential in the world to completely eliminate Roundup. About 64 p...
Jan 01, 2024•4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Your weekly wine news roundup is now in a new format, available here every Monday. Subscribers are the first to know when a new roundup drops, so if you haven’t done so already, subscribe to Brunello Bombshell today. Here are some highlights from the week in wine news: * American wine pioneer Miljenko “Mike” Grgich has passed away at the age of 100. Mike Grgich is perhaps best known for his contribution to the 1976 Judgment of Paris as the winemaker behind Chateau Montelena’s winning Chardonnay ...
Dec 18, 2023•7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Your weekly wine news roundup is now in a new format, available here every Monday. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit brunellobombshell.substack.com/subscribe
Dec 11, 2023•5 min•Transcript available on Metacast This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit brunellobombshell.substack.com The audio version of The Brunello Bombshell Newsletter, Edition 01.04: G.H. Mumm and T-Day Prep.
Nov 22, 2023•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
