Episode description

Today in Wine News

Australian wine has historically fallen into public opinion as one of two stereotypes - Yellow Tail, the cheap bulk wine that is still one of the most highly imported wines in the world, and Penfolds, the classic, high octane Barossa Valley Shiraz blends that put Australian fine wine on the map. But with tariffs in China recently lifted, and Americans looking for delicious and affordable imported table wines, the Australian wine industry is due for a big surge of interest from sommeliers to average wine drinkers.

How can Australian winemakers seize the cultural moment and bring their products to a much larger international audience? And what will these new drinking habits and marketing campaigns focus on saying about the legacy of Australian wine?

Keep listening to learn more.

Further Reading

* “Australian Wine's Great Renaissance” (Kathleen Willcox/WineSearcher)

* Australian Wine Export Report by Wine Australia, 2024

* How To Drink Australian by Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross

In Other News

Here are some additional highlights from the week in wine news:

Semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards have been announced, including three new beverage-oriented categories this year. Check out the show notes below to see if your favorite local chef, sommelier, or bartender made the short list. The eventual nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 9, and winners will be announced on Monday, June 16 at the annual ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.

* “The 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalists” (Press Release/James Beard Foundation)

Pop superstar Pink will be headlining a different type of venue next week. Winemaker and entrepreneur Alecia Moore - known to music lovers as P!nk - will be the keynote speaker at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium, happening from January 28 to 30 in Sacramento, California.

* “Alecia Moore, Winemaker and Two Wolves Wine Founder, Announced as Keynote Speaker for 2025 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium” (Press Release/Wine Business)

And finally, Slanted Door restaurateur Charles Phan passed away unexpectedly on January 20 at age 62. Slanted Door’s Instagram account announced the news with this statement: “It is with profound sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the unexpected passing of our beloved leader, visionary and friend, Chef Charles Phan, due to cardiac arrest… Charles was more than a chef. He was one of the most generous humans… For now, let’s honor Charles’ extraordinary life and legacy by keeping his spirit alive in the way we savor and share meals with one another - always family style.”

* “Charles Phan, the Innovative Chef of SF’s Slanted Door, Has Died” (Luke Tsai/KQED)

That’s all the news this week. Thank you for listening to The Wine Press!

Become a free or paid subscriber and be the first to access new episodes of The Wine Press, as well as Wine and Movie Pairings and more articles every week - now publishing Monday through Friday. And while you’re in the subscribing spirit, be sure to follow The Wine Press on Instagram at thewinepresspodcast, or reach out via email to thewinepresspodcast@gmail.com.

We’ll be back next week with a new crop of wine news. Until then, cheers, and happy drinking!

Disclosure: Brunello Bombshell is an affiliate of Bookshop.org. If you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a commission for that sale. Thank you for supporting your friendly neighborhood sommelier!