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Happy Sunday! In this week’s issue, you will read about breaking records, new products in the industry, the infamous wine thief, and much more. Keep reading!

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INTERESTING THIS WEEK

🏞 Top California wineries are taking their tasting rooms to the Midwest READ HERE

🍾 Veuve Clicquot brings 250-year anniversary exhibition to London READ HERE

🚫 Stop Calling Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan, ‘Rhône Varieties’ READ HERE

🍷 Bollinger Group purchases Château d’Etroyes in Burgundy READ HERE

🎸 Iron Maiden singer to speak at Wine Future 2023 READ HERE

📃 Bordeaux 2021: Back to Basics READ HERE

VALUE OF GLOBAL WINE EXPORTS BREAKS RECORDS AS INFLATION SOARS

Recent data released by the International Organization of Vine & Wine (OIV) showed that global wine exports were the highest they have ever been in 2022. Over the course of the year, global wine exports reached an estimated €37.6bn in value – the highest figure ever recorded and marking a 9% rise compared to 2021. In a year marked by “high inflation, the energy crisis caused by the conflict in Ukraine, and global supply chain disruptions… many markets saw significant increases in wine prices, which lead to a slight decrease in volumes consumed worldwide”, the OIV said. Despite ongoing supply chain disruptions, however, wine is more global than ever.

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TANKS FOR WINE, INC. INTRODUCES THE "VINO PROTANK" LINE OF PORTABLE POLY WINE TANKS

Manufactured by Innovative Tanks Projects Pty Ltd., this partnership with Tanks For Wine to distribute Vino ProTank in North America will help change the industry for winemakers across the nation. These tanks by Tanks for Wine Inc. come in a variety of sizes and functionality. "Our new Vino ProTank provides a quarter-turn locking lid, sloped bottom, and stainless-steel ferment lock that absolutely changes the game," Sean Clancy, CEO of Tanks for Wine, Inc., said. "We are proud to have truly listened to the market to provide a product that makes our customers’ lives much easier."

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VINFAMOUS: THE BRUNELLO “KILLER” WHO DESTROYED $25 MILLION WORTH OF IRREPLACEABLE WINE

In 2012, news rocketed around the world about the destruction of Gianfranco Soldera’s wine. More than 16 thousand gallons—or the equivalent of 80,000 bottles—of his world-class Brunello di Montalcino was found in puddles at the Case Basse cellar in Montalcino, Italy. Days later, police would make a surprising arrest. This incident brought to the surface the values that are connected to the brands we drink, not only every day but the brands we like. After the incident, Soldera had much less wine to sell. He lost six vintages in the sabotage. Remember, Case Basse only produces 10,000 bottles per year. That is a huge financial loss, not only for Case Basse but for the larger community as well. In fact, this destruction led to a 10 million Euro commercial loss for the whole region.

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WINELIKES, THE SOCIAL MEDIA APP FOR WINE LOVERS, IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL USERS

After two years of creating the program and months of testing, the free app is ready to connect wine enthusiasts with friends, educational quizzes, wine and food pairing recommendations, travel ideas, and more. Individuals can download the app for free and immediately begin using it to connect with other admirers of one of the world's oldest and most beloved beverages. Founder Jeff Gillis first developed the idea for Winelikes in February 2021, when he found himself wishing there was an app designed to help him meet people who shared his love of wine -- and, more specifically, pairing wine with friendship, food, travel and experiences. The app has moved from idea to reality over the past two years. After a two-month beta-testing period, Winelikes is now ready to connect users all over the world.

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OFF-PREMISE SALES FALL 3%

Sales of domestic table and sparkling wines through NIQ (formerly NielsenIQ) off-premise outlets approached $891 million in the four weeks ended Mar. 25, down 3% versus a year ago. Volume in the period fell 6% to nearly 8.5 million cases. Table wine sales fell 3% versus a year ago while sparkling wine sales fell more than 4%. Volumes of both wine types fell, with table wines down 6% and sparkling wines down nearly 8%. In the latest 52 weeks, domestic table and sparkling wine sales declined 3% to more than $12.2 billion. Sales volumes in the latest 52 weeks fell 6% to 116.2 million cases, with table wines down nearly 6% and sparkling wines down 7%. The declines were similar to those reported in recent periods, indicating a stabilization in year-over-year trends. The off-premise data is one of the regular Industry Metrics reported in the monthly Wine Analytics Report.

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TOUGH CONDITIONS FOR AUSTRALIAN WINE EXPORTS AS KEY MARKETS FALL

The value of Australian wine exports fell by 7% in the last year to $1.90 billion, driven by a 20% year-on-year decline in exports to the UK, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report. Overall wine exports from Australia declined by 7% in value to $1.90 billion, the report said, with volumes falling 1% to 620 million liters (equivalent to 69 million 9-liter cases) in the year to 31 March 2023. This marks a drop of 18% below the 10-year average in value terms ($2.30 billion) and 16% below the 10-year average volume of 736 million liters. However, because Australia traditionally exports lower-priced products to its key traditional markets, such as the UK and the US, this consumer trend was “disproportionally” affecting Australia and impacting its export performance.

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HOW WE DECIDED ALCOHOL WAS A HEALTH BOON IN THE ’90S—AND HOW IT ALL FELL APART

In 1991 an academic debate spilled out of ivory towers and into the popular imagination. That year, Serge Renaud, a celebrated and charismatic alcohol researcher at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research—who also hailed from a winemaking family in Bordeaux—made a fateful appearance on 60 Minutes. Asked why the French had lower rates of cardiovascular disease than Americans did, even though people in both countries consumed high-fat diets, Renaud replied, without missing a beat, “The consumption of alcohol.” Renaud suspected that the so-called French paradox could be explained by the red wine at French dinner tables.

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WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: THE BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA

The Barossa Valley is an extremely important wine-producing region within the Barossa zone of South Australia, particularly associated with powerful red wines from the red wine grape variety Shiraz. A prestigious and internationally renowned region, it is not only home to some of the oldest vineyards and wineries in Australia but produces some of its most recognizable and sought-after brands.

The region lies in the (very flat) 'Valley' created by the North Para River, which connects the main towns of Nuriootpa, Tanunda, and Lyndoch. Together with its cooler-climate neighbor Eden Valley - which is best known for dry white wines from the Riesling grape variety - it forms the larger Barossa wine zone.

Many of Australia's best-known wine names are based in the Barossa Valley, where wineries range from small boutique vineyards to those owned by multinational corporations.

A striking feature of the Barossa Valley's wine landscape is the presence of very old vines, proudly showcased on many wine labels and during vineyard tours. These yield low quantities of fruit but the grapes are packed with flavor and color and represent some of the best offerings from the region. This part of Australia has never been affected by the phylloxera louse, thanks to strict quarantine laws – hence the age of the vines.

Text by: Wine-Searcher

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GRAPE OF THE WEEK: SHIRAZ

Shiraz is the name given to the dark-skinned Syrah grape when grown in Australia and selected pockets of the New World. Shiraz is so important to Australian viticulture that it is the most planted grape variety in the majority of the country's vineyards. It has become virtually synonymous with the country's main wine regions, and in particular the Barossa Valley.

The name Shiraz has become so widely recognized and so highly marketable that it has been used to label Syrah wines in countries other than Australia. It can imply a riper, fuller style, though this is not set in stone. Similarly, it does not guarantee the point of origin of cuttings used to plant a vineyard.

In South Africa, the Shiraz naming convention is commonplace and in the US, South America, and Israel either Syrah or Shiraz may be used depending on fashion. Even a handful of producers in France's Languedoc-Roussillon have taken to labeling their wines as Shiraz.

Text by: Wine-Searcher

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DID YOU KNOW THAT?

🥂 The tradition of clinking glasses and saying "cheers" originated in ancient Rome, where it was believed that the sound of the clinking glasses would ward off evil spirits.

🇦🇲 The oldest winery in the world is believed to be the Areni-1 winery in Armenia, which dates back to around 4000 BC.

🫗 The aroma and flavor of wine are influenced by a variety of factors, including the grape variety, soil, climate, and winemaking techniques.

💧 The "legs" or "tears" that appear on the sides of a wine glass after swirling indicate the alcohol content and viscosity of the wine.

🍾 A standard bottle of wine contains around 750 milliliters of liquid, which is roughly equivalent to five glasses of wine.

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