News
Issues affecting the wine industry and the wine you drink
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The Controversy of Terroir in Wine
The French term ‘terroir’, often bandied about by winemakers, sommeliers and marketers, refers to the unique environmental factors that impart distinctive characteristics to wine. Terroir encompasses a myriad of factors including the soil, climate, topography and even the local flora and fauna, all of which interact with the grapevines. It is this intricate blend of…
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Understanding Light Strike in Wine Degradation
Sometimes, wine doesn’t quite live up to expectations. I’ve encountered this when comparing wine at tastings to subsequent purchases, more so with rosé and white wines. After looking into this deeper, I suspect one culprit might be light strike. One trend in the wine industry is the increased use of white flint bottles. These bottles…
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Wine Chemical Parameters, Quality and Price
There’s new research from Romania, published in the Scientific Bulletin of Biotechnologies, into how certain chemical parameters in wine influence its sensory properties. The study shows that while wines may be chemically sound and meet all the required standards, these chemical values alone do not guarantee that the wine will be well-received by consumers. This…
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Strangely, Non-Volatile Parts of Wine Also Affect Aromas
The research The remarkable effects of the non-volatile matrix of wine on the release of volatile compounds explores how different components in wine affect the release of aroma compounds. Researchers studied six Spanish wines that were first stripped of their original aromas and then mixed with a standard solution of 15 different aroma compounds. The…
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The Science Behind Sparkling Wines
New research Understanding the tasting of champagne and other sparkling wines from a scientific perspective provides a comprehensive exploration of the processes involved in the tasting of champagne and other sparkling wines. The study looks into the dynamics from the moment the bottle is uncorked to the bursting of bubbles in the glass, emphasising the…
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UK Surpasses 1,000 Vineyards
UK vineyards have surpassed the milestone of 1,000 vineyards, marking a 9.2% increase from the previous year, with 1,030 vineyards now registered. Sales of English and Welsh wines grew by 10% in 2023. There are now 221 wineries, and the total area under vine has reached 4,209 hectares, reflecting a 123% growth over the past…
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Women Judge Wine More Stringently
A new study Factors explaining differences in wine experts’ ratings: The case of gender, credentials, occupation and peer effects by researchers from Spain and France investigates the reasons behind the variability in scores given by wine experts to the same wines under identical tasting conditions. The research examines how personal characteristics such as gender, industry…
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Jam Shed ‘Spin to Win’ Promotion
Jam Shed is launching a new promotion featuring a ‘Spin to Win’, offering consumers a chance to win from over 25,000 prizes. The promotion runs from 1st July to 30th September and includes 1,695,894 neck flags across six SKUs: Shiraz, Chardonnay, Malbec, Rosé, Tempranillo, and Red Blend. Available in major grocery stores and retailers nationwide,…
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Cheapest UK Supermarket for Branded Wine
A Which? investigation has found that Tesco is the cheapest supermarket for branded wines if you have a Clubcard. An analysis of prices for 15 branded wines at major UK supermarkets (Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose) from 1 February to 30 April 2024 revealed Tesco’s Clubcard discounts made it the most affordable, with…
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Italian Wine Production Fell by 17% Last Year
The Drinks Business is reporting that, in 2023, Italian agriculture suffered significantly due to extreme weather, with wine production being particularly affected. Europe experienced its hottest summer in 2,000 years, leading to a 3.9% drop in agricultural output in Italy. Specifically, the production of vines, fruits, and olives decreased by 11.1%, and overall wine production…
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UK Vineyard Visits Surge
A new WineGB tourism report (PDF) reveals a significant rise in vineyard visits in the UK, with a 55% increase in two years. The report highlights WineGB’s initiatives to support wine tourism and outlines seven policy changes it urges the government to implement to boost growth. The report shows that 300 vineyards and wineries are…
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UK Wine and Spirits Contributes £76 Billion to UK Economy
Drinks Retailing News mentions a recent report commissioned by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) revealing that the UK’s wine and spirits industry contributed over £76 billion to the economy in 2022, a significant increase from £49 billion in 2017. The study, conducted by economic consultancy Cebr, found the industry generated over £22 billion…
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French Rosé Market Slows After Boom
Meininger’s is reporting that French rosé sales, which had seen significant growth, are now slowing down. The decline in sales is attributed to reduced purchasing power and adverse weather conditions in early summer 2023. Despite a drop in domestic sales and exports, regions like Provence and Pays d’Oc are focusing on premium segments and innovative…
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The Value of PDO Labels for Spanish Wines
The Spanish wine industry has long experienced tension between innovation and tradition, particularly concerning the DOC system and efforts to modernise. This raises the question, does the DOC system truly have positive impact on wineries and consumers? New research Determining the influence of belonging to a wine protected designation of origin on profitability, by researchers…
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Diluting the Integrity of Our Wines?
The VinePair Podcast discusses whether most wine drinkers care about the origin of their wine. The hosts, Adam, Joanna, and Zach, explore if regular consumers focus more on flavour and price than appellations and vintages, especially for wines below a certain price point. They compare this to the fashion industry, where the origin of a…
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Enhanced Recycling to Affect Wine Prices
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has advised UK wine businesses to include the costs of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations in their financial forecasts. At the London Wine Fair, WSTA’s Director of Policy, Simon Stannard, highlighted the need for businesses to prepare for these regulations, set to come into effect in October 2025….
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New Research into Corked Wine
New research provides deeper insights into corked wine. Corked wine is primarily caused by the compound 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (2,4,6-TCA), which imparts a musty, mouldy smell to the wine. This compound is mainly produced through a microbial process and can originate from cork stoppers or the winemaking environment. Cork is the primary source due to potential contamination…
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Wine is All the Rave
The Drinks Business is reporting that wine raves are becoming a popular way to introduce Generation Z to wine. Instead of traditional wine tastings, these events combine wine with rave-style parties in locations like Hackney studios or warehouses. Initiatives like New Theory and Close Ties host these events, featuring local DJs and offering an immersive…
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Not Enough Wine: Short Measures
According to a study reported by The Guardian, more than two-thirds of beer and wine sold in UK pubs and bars are short-measured, costing the average consumer approximately £115 annually. Trading standards officers, who visited 77 venues and conducted 137 test purchases, found 70% had less drink than declared. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)…
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Wine Demand is Back Up – At Least in the US
An article on Wine Searcher Wine Comes Roaring Back discusses the surprising rebound of the wine industry in the USA after pandemic-induced declines. Recent data shows Millennials are increasingly consuming and spending more on wine than Baby Boomers. Wineries are adapting by appealing to younger demographics with eco-friendly practices and inclusive marketing. Notable growth is…
