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📺 Wine behind the scenes

📺 Wine behind the scenes

In this week’s DECORKED digest you will read all about a fresh wine war in Italy, drought resistance, wine and TV, new industry equipment, a nacho cheese spirit, and much more. Keep reading!

December 18, 2023

Collection of important links, information, and more.

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Happy Monday! We hope you have a wonderful week ahead! In this week’s issue, you will find all about a fresh wine war in Italy, drought resistance, wine and TV, new industry equipment, a nacho cheese spirit, and much more. Keep reading!

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INTERESTING THIS WEEK

🥷 Man dressed as cowboy burglarizes family-run winery, destroys $600K in wine READ HERE

🍷 Celebrating the remarkable life and legacy of Miljenko “Mike” Grgich READ HERE

🍿 DORITOS® and Empirical launch first-ever nacho cheese spirit READ HERE

📝 ‘EU Single Market for wine at risk’ from labeling confusion READ HERE

📉 E-commerce alcohol sales slow to 4.5% READ HERE

🇦🇪 First brewery in UAE history to open READ HERE

Collection of partnerships and collaborations.

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We curate, filter, and select only the most exciting and important news for you.

WHAT DO GEN Z AND MILLENNIALS THINK ABOUT BEERS, WINES AND SPIRITS?

A recent study on the drinking habits of Millennials and Gen Z in the USA reveals a decline in alcohol consumption across various categories. The study, titled "Millennials and Gen Z: A Comprehensive Study of Alcohol and Non-Alcohol Beverage Purchase and Consumption Behavior," surveyed over 1,300 participants. Key findings include the growing appeal of soft drinks for diverse occasions and the limited influence of factors like 'healthy,' 'sustainability,' 'organic,' and 'low calorie' in beverage choices. The top drivers for purchasing decisions are identified as 'good flavors,' 'easy to find/buy,' and 'price.' Dissatisfaction with the wine category is also noted, emphasizing the generation's knowledgeable taste. While major beer brands, spirits, craft beer, and hard seltzer remain popular, the study suggests that premium products have potential among these generations. The product's performance on basic aspects such as flavor, accessibility, price, and variety is crucial, with eco-friendliness and low-calorie options being differentiators for some brands, but not crucial for the majority.

MONTEPULCIANO WAR ERUPTS IN ITALY

Italy's Ministry of Agriculture has recently approved the reintroduction of the synonym "Cordisco" into the National Vine Register, endorsing the Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Abruzzo's claim to reserve the term "Montepulciano" exclusively for wines produced in the Abruzzo region. This move aims to restrict the use of "Montepulciano" in other regions like Marche, where the grape variety has historical significance. The term Cordisco, once present in Italy's National Vine Register, disappeared in the digital version in the late 1980s but is now poised for reinstatement. Notably, even Abruzzo producers have refrained from using this synonym for other regional DOC wines based on Montepulciano grapes, such as Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo. This decision is significant, given the substantial production of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, with over 100 million bottles annually, making it one of Italy's popular wines both domestically and internationally.

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FINE WINE NO LONGER ‘PILLAR OF STABILITY’ IN TUMULTUOUS MARKET

In 2022, fine wine emerged as a stable alternative during economic uncertainties, providing a refuge amid volatile equities markets. However, a year later, the scenario has shifted, and major Liv-ex indices, including the benchmark Liv-ex Fine Wine 100, have seen a decline of 13.4% year-to-date, relinquishing the growth achieved in the preceding two years. The economic aftermath of the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine has contributed to this downturn, prompting investors to turn to safer assets like gold, as noted in Liv-Ex's annual fine wine market review. Despite a decrease in inflation figures from the peak of 2022 and early 2023, core inflation (excluding energy and food) remains elevated globally. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) anticipates that most countries will not fully recover to pre-crisis conditions until 2025.

WINE & TV: BEHIND THE SCENES

If you have ever wondered what the process of selecting wines for a popular TV show, this is your chance to find out from an expert with nearly two decades of experience. The context of drinks on the show is crucial, and serious consideration is given to food pairing. The recommender personally cooks recipes at home to ensure successful pairings, anticipating and addressing potential viewer questions. Whenever possible, the recommender seizes the opportunity to highlight lesser-known grape varieties or emerging wine regions, promoting good value and encouraging viewers to explore diverse wines. Price points for drinks are under £10, £8, and £6. While the under £6 price point is becoming more challenging, it allows for the inclusion of cider, beer, non-alcoholic options, and cocktails. Featuring wine on screen involves coordination with retailers, PRs, couriers, and the production team. A minimum of four sample bottles is obtained for rehearsals and live shows, ensuring a smooth on-screen experience, with an extra bottle for filming and a reserve bottle in case of breakage or wine being out of condition.

VINES AND THE SCIENCE OF DROUGHT RESISTANCE

Wine regions worldwide, including the Western Cape, face a significant challenge due to drought, exacerbated by climate change. The Western Cape has experienced dry years since 2015, causing widespread issues beyond viticulture. The region typically has a Mediterranean climate with dry summers and winter rainfall replenishing ground reserves. Factors affecting drought resilience include soil type (clay or limestone is better than sand and gravel), planting density (favoring bush vines in hot, dry climates), and irrigation practices (infrequent, deep watering enhances root system and resilience). The understanding of vine material's drought resistance mechanisms is limited, with conflicting theories. Current strategies involve implementing effective management practices for existing vineyards and selecting grape varieties suited to drier conditions, coupled with drought-resistant rootstocks, for new plantings. The evolving science of drought resistance remains a crucial aspect of future vineyard sustainability.

WHAT’S UP WITH WHISKEY AND WATCHES?

The latest trend in luxury drinks involves pairing beverages with limited-edition timepieces. Few Spirits distillery in Chicago collaborates with Oak & Oscar to create a Bourbon-infused watch. Similarly, Château Latour partners with Girard-Perregaux, using pebbles from its vineyard to create an exclusive watch. This trend reflects a broader pattern of drinks brands aligning with luxury watches to appeal to a younger generation seeking experience-inspired products. Anna Kim of Camus Cognac notes that discerning young consumers are drawn to products emphasizing authenticity, terroir, and heritage.

TRENDS: FLAT BOTTLE PRODUCTION

Eco flat bottle company Packamama, known for the redesigned Banrock Station, is expanding its capacity with a new bottling line. The recent run produced nearly 100,000 units, and the company plans to increase this to meet the rising demand for sustainable bottling solutions globally, particularly in the UK. Focusing on recycled PET bottles (rPET), Packamama emphasizes beautiful, environmentally friendly bottles over alternative packaging like cans or Bag-in-Box. The move towards sustainability is evident as the company replaces an old glass bottling line with a state-of-the-art GAI monoblock bottling line. Glass bottles still dominate in Australia, comprising 70% of wine by volume, according to Wine Australia.

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WINE REGION OF THE WEEK: CENTRAL VALLEY, USA

In the center of California, the Central Valley is the engine room of the state's agricultural output. The Central Valley is vast, running parallel to California's Pacific coastline for more than 400 miles (650km). There is no Central Valley appellation per se, but the valley is home to several lesser-known AVAs, the most notable of which is Lodi, just south of Sacramento. The Central Valley produces more than half of the state's grapes. The hot, dry conditions that prevail here are conducive to high yields, with the majority of the harvest going into the bulk wine market. In selected sub-regions, increasing quantities of high-quality wines are also being produced. Grapes with higher natural acidity, such as Chenin Blanc, Colombard, Barbera, and Chardonnay, are the best performers. Technically speaking, the Central Valley has two valleys: the Sacramento Valley in the north and the San Joaquin Valley in the south. They converge at the extensive and hydrologically complex Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.

GRAPE OF THE WEEK: BARBERA

Often set in the shadow of Nebbiolo, its fellow Piedmont native, Barbera nonetheless produces distinctive and highly attractive aromatic and versatile red wines with all the appeal of Nebbiolo and none of the vices. Best known for its starring role in Piedmont's Barbera d'Alba and Barbera d'Asti wines, Barbera is a northern Italian grape producing fresh, light-bodied red wines with low tannins. As such, Barbera is encountered in both blended wines and varietals – the latter are becoming increasingly common as Italy continues its move towards varietal labeling. When young, most Barbera wines have a bright-red cherry character, distinguished from Nebbiolo (which often overshadows Barbera) by softer tannins and a certain roundness. When matured in a barrel and allowed to age in a bottle for a few years, this turns into a denser, sour-cherry note. Its high acidity levels and good color, sometimes mean it is grown in hotter climes than its native, sub-alpine Piedmont. Its adaptability means that in this regard it has done somewhat better than its regional stablemates although hot-climate Barbera can risk becoming flabby and overcooked.

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