News

Issues affecting the wine industry and the wine you drink

  • Electronic Tongue vs Humans

    Electronic Tongue vs Humans

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    Simon Judge

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    A new study evaluates the effectiveness of an electronic tongue (e-tongue) compared to human sensory panels in detecting faults in Riesling wine over a 42-day storage period. Riesling wines either unmodified (control) or inoculated with specific microorganisms known for spoiling wine were assessed every seven days using both the e-tongue and a sensory panel. The…

  • Research Into What Causes Minerality

    Research Into What Causes Minerality

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    Simon Judge

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    There’s new research by University of Reading’s School of Agriculture on Minerality in Wine: Textual Analysis of Chablis Premier Cru Tasting Notes. The concept of minerality in wine, often used to describe the sensory qualities of high-quality white wines from cooler regions like Chablis, has been subject to much debate and analysis. Minerality is typically…

  • New UK Wine Funding Comes with Dubious New Reforms

    New UK Wine Funding Comes with Dubious New Reforms

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    Simon Judge

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    The UK government has launched the Future Winemakers’ Scheme with an investment of £1.5 million to support the burgeoning domestic wine industry, focusing on the education and training of future viticulturists and winemakers. Announced by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay at the WineGB conference, this initiative aims to cultivate skilled professionals to sustain and expand the…

  • New Research Adds to the Story of Wine and Health

    New Research Adds to the Story of Wine and Health

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    Simon Judge

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    Up to recently, there has been an intriguing relationship between culture, diet and health outcomes, particularly focusing on the Mediterranean diet and the historic and cultural significance of wine. The concept of the French Paradox played a central role in this narrative, highlighting the seemingly contradictory observation that the French population enjoys a lower incidence…

  • Free Booze Cruises

    Free Booze Cruises

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    Simon Judge

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    French wine shops Calais Vins and Olivier Vins have collaborated with P&O Ferries to offer British citizens complimentary ferry trips to Calais for wine purchases. This partnership allows customers who spend €300 or more at these stores to receive a free return day trip from Dover to Calais, with a three-day return trip available for…

  • Evolution of the Drinks Industry

    Evolution of the Drinks Industry

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    Simon Judge

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    Drinks retailing news has an interview with Mauricio González-Gordon, president, González Byass known for brands like Beronia, Tio Pepe, Quinta do Noval, Wirra Wirra, Jackson Estate and Disznókő Tokaji. Mauricio González-Gordon has a long background in the drinks industry, spanning over three decades. He has witnessed substantial changes in winemaking origins and global consumption patterns….

  • Do You Want a ‘Watered’ Down Version of a Wine?

    Do You Want a ‘Watered’ Down Version of a Wine?

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    Simon Judge

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    Richard Siddle writes on the London (Trade) Wine Fair web site on how our wines might be changing soon, without our consent. Richard discusses the complexities and strategies behind wine selection and sales in retail outlets, driven primarily by industry dynamics rather than consumer preference. Factors like international currency strength, harvest quality and government taxes…

  • The Challenges of Contemporary Wine Scoring

    The Challenges of Contemporary Wine Scoring

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    Simon Judge

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    WineMag has an informative article by Jamie Goode, who wrote the Wine Science book, that looks into wine scores. Jamie notes a significant expansion in the wine criticism landscape, with numerous critics adopting the 100-point scale, except for a few like Jancis Robinson who opted for a 20-point scale. However, Jamie observes a narrowing in…

  • UK Wine Buying Trends

    UK Wine Buying Trends

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    Simon Judge

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    There’s a new issue of Drink Retailing that contains data from a revealing study of 2000 UK adults, conducted by IPSOS in October 2023. A notable 29% of respondents reported a decrease in their alcohol purchases compared to the previous year, signalling a potential long term shift in consumption habits. However, 16% of individuals have…

  • Neo-Prohibitionists Reshaping Global Alcohol Policy

    Neo-Prohibitionists Reshaping Global Alcohol Policy

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    Simon Judge

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    Wine Business Monthly has an in-depth piece by Felicity Carter on How Neo-Prohibitionists Came to Shape Alcohol Policy. In January 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a startling declaration, stating that there is ‘no safe level’ of alcohol consumption, thereby placing light alcohol consumption under the spotlight as a significant public health concern. This…

  • Cava All-Time Sales Record

    Cava All-Time Sales Record

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    Simon Judge

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    Cava has achieved a new sales record, reaching 252 million bottles, marking a growth of 1.09% from the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by a 4.02% increase in domestic sales, despite a slight 0.25% decrease in international sales. The decrease in foreign markets was attributed to economic challenges, including inflation in Europe and…

  • New Post-Brexit Wine Duty Bands Unworkable?

    New Post-Brexit Wine Duty Bands Unworkable?

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    Simon Judge

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    Jack Simpson from The Guardian newspaper reports on the concerns of UK wine industry about post-Brexit tax changes set to increase the complexity of alcohol duty, leading to higher wine prices for consumers. The new system, effective from February 2025, will introduce 30 tax bands for wine, replacing the previous single band. This change, which…

  • How the Vivino Community Affects Consumer Wine Choice

    How the Vivino Community Affects Consumer Wine Choice

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    Simon Judge

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    A new study Factors influencing wine ratings in an online wine community: The case of Trentino–Alto Adige (PDF) by Giulia Gastaldello, Isabel Schäufele-Elbers, and Günter Schamel explores the dynamics behind consumer ratings of wine on Vivino, a leading online wine community. It examines how various factors, including wine attributes like geographical indications, brand, and a…

  • Australia’s Battle Against Overproduction

    Australia’s Battle Against Overproduction

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Aldi Unveils UK’s First Supermarket Own-Brand Paper Wine Bottles

    Aldi Unveils UK’s First Supermarket Own-Brand Paper Wine Bottles

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Heightened Alcohol Sensitivity After COVID-19 Recovery

    Heightened Alcohol Sensitivity After COVID-19 Recovery

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Italian Wine Exports – Downturn in Both Volume and Value

    Italian Wine Exports – Downturn in Both Volume and Value

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    Simon Judge

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    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%…

  • Sparkling Wine Purchase Factors

    Sparkling Wine Purchase Factors

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • The Rise of Beaujolais and the Decline of Merlot

    The Rise of Beaujolais and the Decline of Merlot

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • UK Bulk Wine Bottlers Embrace Cork for Sustainability

    UK Bulk Wine Bottlers Embrace Cork for Sustainability

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    Simon Judge

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    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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