News
Issues affecting the wine industry and the wine you drink
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Australia’s Battle Against Overproduction
The Independent Newspaper is reporting that Australia’s wine industry is facing severe challenges due to a significant oversupply of wine, driven by declining global demand, especially for lower-priced red wines which are a major product of the country. Australia, the world’s fifth largest wine exporter, found itself with over two billion litres of wine in…
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Aldi Unveils UK’s First Supermarket Own-Brand Paper Wine Bottles
Aldi has announced the launch of the UK’s first supermarket own-brand paper wine bottles, marking a significant step in sustainable packaging. The products, Cambalala South African Shiraz and Cambalala South African Sauvignon Blanc, priced at £7.99 for a 75cl bottle, will be available from 18th March, coinciding with Global Recycling Day. These innovative bottles are…
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Heightened Alcohol Sensitivity After COVID-19 Recovery
There’s new research that looks into alcohol sensitivity experienced by individuals after recovering from COVID-19, known as Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). It presents case series of patients who, after contracting COVID-19, began experiencing adverse reactions to alcohol that they hadn’t faced before, such as severe hangover symptoms from small amounts of alcohol. This suggests…
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Italian Wine Exports – Downturn in Both Volume and Value
European Supermarket Magazine is reporting that in 2023, Italian wine exports experienced a downturn in both volume and value across its five principal export markets, decreasing by 4.4% and 7.3% respectively, amounting to €4.45 billion. This decline was particularly marked in the United States, Canada, Japan and the UK, with only Germany witnessing a 7%…
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Sparkling Wine Purchase Factors
There’s new study-based research (PDF download) into recent sparkling wine consumers in Ontario, Canada, offering insights into the cues that drive their purchase decisions. Sparkling wine’s global market is experiencing significant growth. This uptrend is notable given the distinct nature of sparkling wine, often purchased for celebrations rather than regular consumption. Research has highlighted the…
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The Rise of Beaujolais and the Decline of Merlot
Decanter Magazine is reporting there’s been a notable shift in wine preferences in the UK, particularly in the red wine market. Merlot, once a popular choice, has seen a significant decrease in sales within bars and restaurants, spurred by a demand for lighter red wines. On the flip side, Beaujolais is experiencing a surge in…
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UK Bulk Wine Bottlers Embrace Cork for Sustainability
The Drinks Business is reporting that two leading UK bulk wine bottlers are making a move back to traditional cork stoppers. This change comes amidst growing demand among wine brands for more sustainable packaging solutions. This trend is largely driven by cork’s sustainable credentials, which are becoming more valued by both consumers and wine brands….
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Calls for UK Budget Alcohol Relief to Boost Business and Curb Inflation
The Independent Newspaper is reporting that the alcohol industry is calling for cut to punishing duty rates. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has voiced concerns over the detrimental effects of last year’s significant increases in alcohol duty, highlighting the negative repercussions on UK businesses and the broader economy. These increases, described as the…
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Global Warming and the Wine Industry
In a new study, Adapting and Thriving: Global Warming and the Wine Industry, researchers from Israel Universities look into the issue of global warming’s impact on the wine industry and propose a suite of innovative agricultural practices to combat these challenges. As the planet warms, the wine industry faces shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns…
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Navigating the Rise of Alcohol in Wine
A new article Balancing act: Managing High Alcohol in Wine by Andy Neather discusses the growing concern in the wine industry regarding rising alcohol levels in wine, attributed to climate change and evolving consumer preferences for riper, more powerful wines. It specifically notes the trend of increasing alcohol content in wines from traditional regions like…
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Educators vs Seducers
There’s a thought provoking article at Meininger’s International that argues against the notion that increasing wine knowledge is the key to addressing the industry’s challenges. Instead, it emphasises the importance of sparking interest through fascination and seduction, rather than focusing solely on education. The piece illustrates this point with anecdotes about people in the wine…
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How Label Colour Shapes Wine Buying Decisions
New research looks into the psychological impact of wine label colour on consumers, examining how black and white versus colour labels affect the perceived value and appeal of red and white wines. It highlights that black and white labels significantly elevate the perceived quality and exclusivity of red wines, thereby increasing consumer interest and willingness…
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Adapting Winemaking Due to Climate Change
Wine Searcher has an informative article titled Short and Sweet: The New Vintage Paradigm, exploring the challenges and adaptations facing the wine industry in the wake of climate change. As the globe warms, winemakers are have to cope with a significant shift in their traditional practices due to a compressed growing season for grapes. The…
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How Modern Branding Could Revitalise the Wine Industry
Just Drinks has a thought-provoking article on ‘Why Branding Could Be Behind Falling Wine Consumption‘. The wine industry is facing a challenging time with global wine consumption gradually declining since 2007, a trend that is accelerating. The article explains how the decline might be partially attributed to the wine industry’s approach to branding and marketing,…
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Saperavi Grape
The Metro newspaper recently shed light on the ‘Saperavi’, a grape that originates from Georgia, between Eastern Europe and West Asia. Saperavi bears a striking resemblance in taste and character to Cabernet Sauvignon but with a twist. It also has the warming spice and rich texture reminiscent of a hearty Argentinian Malbec. What sets Saperavi…
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Reducing Wine Consumption Through Serving Size
New research titled ‘Impact on wine sales of removing the largest serving size by the glass‘, published in PLOS Medicine, explores the effect of reducing wine serving sizes on wine sales. The study, conducted across 21 licensed premises in England, used an A-B-A method to compare wine sales during periods with and without the availability…
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Ways Out of the Wine Crisis
A new report titled Ways out of the crisis, commissioned by ProWein, from Geisenheim University, based on a survey of over 2,000 wine industry members, highlights several key challenges and trends. Economic factors are the primary concerns in the industry. Cost increases, global economic downturn and decreasing wine consumption are significant threats, with 73%, 59%,…
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Champagne Industry 2023 Retrospective
Recent data has highlighted a notable shift in the Champagne market for the year 2023. Following three years of exceptional performance, Champagne shipments have reverted to pre-pandemic levels, with a total of 299 million bottles shipped, marking an 8.2% decrease from the previous year. The industry witnessed a significant slump in 2020 with an 18%…
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AI-Assisted Wine Discovery
Last year, the BBC highlighted the growing trend of AI-powered wine recommendation apps, such as FinpåVin, which are changing the way people select their next bottle of wine. However, Sippd, a notable application in this field, has recently shut down, raising doubts about the necessity of such technology for simplifying the process of choosing wine….
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Young Britons Lead the Surge in Low and No Alcohol Drinks
Harpers is reporting revealing insight into the changing habits of UK drinkers. The latest YouGov poll, conducted in partnership with the Portman Group, has highlighted a significant shift towards low and no alcohol beverages, particularly among the younger generation. The survey, now in its sixth year, shows that nearly half of the 18-24 age group,…
